Research on dyscalculia has focused almost exclusively on elementary-aged students' deficits in speed and accuracy in arithmetic calculation. This case study expands our understanding of dyscalculia by documenting how one college student with dyscalculia understood algebra during a one-on-one design experiment. A detailed case study of 19 video…

Productive engagement in fractional reasoning is essential for abstracting fundamental algebraic concepts vital to college and career success. Yet, data suggest students with learning disabilities (LDs), in particular, display pervasive shortfalls in learning and mastering fraction content. We argue that shortfalls in understanding are in fact…

This implementation project focused on supporting teachers who provide mathematics instruction and/or intervention to students with mathematics learning disabilities (MLD) and mathematics difficulties (MD). The research team worked with three schools, over three years. Instructional delivery differed across schools, primarily in setting and amount…

The researchers conducted a qualitative case study on a learning community comprising special education and psychology majors. This community was strategically organized to foster interdisciplinary learning among its members and to design interventions for students struggling with mathematics anxiety, specifically in classes like Algebra 1.…

Algebra is a gatekeeper. For the 6% of students with dyscalculia (i.e., mathematical learning disabilities), an inability to pass algebra may significantly limit academic and career opportunities. Unfortunately, prior research on dyscalculia has focused almost exclusively on elementary-aged students' deficits in speed and accuracy in arithmetic…

The researcher conducted a qualitative case study of two sessions of a preservice teacher tutoring a student with a learning disability on Algebra 1 content. In this study, the focus was the tutor's use of gestures overlaid on the students' offloaded work on paper to help the student make sense of the problems. The student also demonstrated how…

Algebra is considered by many to be a gateway to higher-level mathematics and eventual economic success yet students with and without disabilities often struggle to develop algebra skills. This study builds on the limited understanding of how virtual manipulatives support students with disabilities in the area of algebra by investigating their use…

Proportional reasoning and knowledge of fractions are critical skills for completing algebra successfully, yet many students with mathematics learning disabilities (MLD) enter algebra classes without adequate prior knowledge of these skills. This study used a single-subject/case research, combined multiple-baseline and alternating-treatment design…

Posing questions is a direct way for teachers to push students to verbalize justifications and make connections among ideas--a crucial component of giving students with learning disabilities access to high levels of mathematical reasoning--but this skill is difficult to learn. We recruited four pre-service special education teachers to provide 1-1…

We provide a detailed description of a purposefully sampled tutoring session during which a student with a learning disability displayed common tendencies we have seen in our work on algebra teaching. The student struggled with solving equations in general and especially with distribution and knowing how to distribute terms and what steps to take…

Adults with learning disabilities (LD) face educational and employment challenges and may also have other disabilities and health conditions. Little is known about these adults' numeracy skills and how they use numeracy at work or home. The article's objective was to investigate numeracy skills and skill use for U.S. adults with LD. The author…

This pilot study examined the promise of a Tier 2 sixth grade intervention program for students at-risk for difficulties in mathematics. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design. The final sample included 112 students in treatment (Promoting Algebra Readiness) and 86 students in control (standard district practice) conditions. The Promoting…

This pilot study examined the promise of a Tier 2 Grade 6 intervention program for students at risk for difficulties in mathematics. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design. The final sample included 112 students in treatment (Promoting Algebra Readiness) and 86 students in control (standard district practice) conditions. The Promoting…

The researchers conducted a microanalysis of two purposefully sampled sessions of a tutor working with a student with a learning disability (LD) engaging with multi-step equations with and without fractions. During the tutoring sessions, the student experienced quick, independent success on equations without fractions, but struggled considerably…

Improving the algebraic concepts and skills of secondary school students with learning disabilities is critical for their success in college and in the job market. This research reviewed 12 studies to examine interventions for students with learning disabilities in relation to algebraic notions and competencies. The results indicate that in regard…