[blindkid] math for blind students

[Heather Field]

Hello Melissa,
I'm not aware of special lesson plans for blind math students. Usually, by 
the time they are studying geometry, it is understood that all that is 
necessary are alternative, nonvisual techniques. so, graphics will be 
represented by raised lines, sometimes using something as simple as wikki 
sticks, string and glue, a puff pain pent or a tracing wheel. Shapes will be 
touchable objects, such as solids, rather than pictures, and graphs will be 
represented using paper with raised lines on them. Students can also use the 
raised line drawing kits from the American Printing House or even a simple 
board with screen, such as is used on a screen door, placed on it. They 
draw, or the teacher or aide draws, on the paper resting on the screen and 
it makes a mark; the student turns it over and can feel the drawing. So, 
with explanations and a few, nonvisual, tactile techniques, geometry 
concepts are taught and learned.

Braille math books are also used and the Nemmeth code for mathematics is 
used to present the problems. sometimes, the teacher of blind students is 
required to braille out problems or prepare diagrams ahead of time.

I hope this summary is useful, even though it's pretty basic. The truth is 
that it's not really that complicated to teach this kind of mathematics, it 
just requires a bit of creative thinking to organise a tactile method of 
presenting the concepts.
Warmest regards,
Heather Field

-----Original Message----- 
From: melissa R green
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 7:33 PM
To: Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] math for blind students

thank you joy.
I completely support your view about math and blind children.
The reason why I am asking all of these questions.  I am taking a class on
teaching children math.  The teacher has asked me about lesson plans and
adaptation for blind students.
Like, we are doing lots and lots of geometry.  In this class.
So I figured I would ask the question on the list about lesson plans and
adaptations.

Have a blessed day.
Many Blessings, Warmly,
Melissa and Pj
Twitter: melissa5674

I never change, I simply become more myself.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JoyO" <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 5:32 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] math for blind students



>

Dear Melissa,

I agree that math lesson plans are generally the same for blind students as
sighted students, only using Braille and Nemeth.

In addition, blind students can learn to use a Cranmer abacus which is
adapted for the blind.

The abacus is fast and elegant, and can allow blind students to work
problems at a similar pace to their sighted classmates who are using pencil
and paper. It is one way to help avoid the issue that blind students
sometimes face: that is, they are assigned half as many problems as their
classmates. Long division and long multiplication problems can involve lots
of brailling and lots of rolling the paper back and forth, when worked on
the Braille writer. With the abacus, the problem can be set about as fast as
it can be copied with a pencil.

The Hadley school has an abacus course for families. It is free to families
of blind kids. I really like my teacher for the correspondence course.

There is also information on the "print-compatible" abacus in the _Handbook
for Itinerant and Resource Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired
Students_.

Fred Gissoni has a book on using the Cranmer abacus, and we have that book
in braille for my daughter.

In addition to abacus and Nemeth, young blind students need to have
manipulatives in their hands so that they can experience the concepts by
touch. Using manipulatives is good practice for all young students.

Hope this helps!
Joy

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