​Learning Math*

*The information on this page was originally developed by a​ team that created​ a website for families focused on “raising deaf kids” (See About Us). Minor edits may have been made.

Math is about learning to solve problems.
Children learn formulas to help them. Formulas are rules for solving problems.

Children learn to ask questions about their work:

• How did I solve this problem?

• What steps did I use?

• Did I do it right?

• Why didn't the answer come out like I thought it would?

• How will I know how to solve a problem like this if I see it again?
  

Help with Math

Studies show that children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) may not get enough practice with real life math problems.

Some children who are DHH have a hard time thinking of a variety of ways to solve a problem.

• They may not know whether to add or multiply.

• They may be unsure of which steps to do first.
  

Some children who are DHH have trouble looking over their work.

• They may skip a step.

• They may forget to check their answers.
  

Children who are DHH may have a hard time reading and also have a hard time solving word problems.

• They don't understand what the problem is asking them to do.

• They may get confused by words they don't know.
  

There is help!

Children who are DHH can learn math just as well as hearing children!

You can help your child at home. Here are some ways to make math homework easier.

• Make sure your child understands what problems to do for homework.

• Ask your child to look over any class notes.

• Read over the start of each chapter.

• Do the practice problems in the book.

• Check over your child's work.

• Use the answer key in the back of the book.

• See if your child has a "study buddy," a friend who can help.
  

Help your child at school. Ask for help from your child's school:

• Ask your child's teacher about getting after-school help.

• See if your child's school has any tutors.

• Talk to your child about joining a study group.

• Make sure your child is taking the math classes that are right for him.
  

Practice problems

Children learn best by watching others do something and then trying it on their own. If your child sees how you do math, he will learn how to do it, too! Try talking about math this way:

Help your child see how math helps in real life.

• Talk about when your child will need to solve problems.

• Practice solving problems with your child.
  

Teach your child problem solving skills.

• Ask your child to practice counting change and adding totals at the grocery store.

• Ask your child to help you make a shopping list. Your child can list items by aisle. For example, in the produce section, your child can list all the fruits and vegetables you want to buy.

• Ask your child to make a table for his weekly chores, your family's weekly food menu, or weekly calendar of activities.

• Practice word problems that ask about cause and effect. Ask your child, Why did this happen, and what was the result of it? Use words like because and since.

• Ask your child to draw or write what he thinks will happen.
  

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing may have trouble doing all the steps to the math problem:

• They need practice in breaking down the whole problem into smaller parts.

• They need help in solving the problem step by step.

• They need to learn how to show all their work so the teacher can see how they got their        final answer.
  

Practice math word problems as much as you can with your child.

• Practice problems are available in your child's schoolbooks, and from the teachers.

• Check out practice problems online.
  

Here are some practice problems you and your child can do together.
The problems on the next pages may be too easy or too hard for your child. If this is so, read  the problems anyways. They will give you ideas for helping your child with math problems.

Problem 1 - Using a list or table

Your child can give names to the friends (we used John, Sandy, and Mary). Then, your child can write out a list or table that looks like this:

To get the answer, add up the number of rows, and you get 6!

You can give your child 3 different coins - a penny, a nickel, and a dime - and have your child practice putting the coins in different orders. Then, count how many different orders the coins were put in, and the answer should be 6!

Can you think of any other ways you can get the answer of 6?

Problem 2 - Turning word problems into equations

Practice turning word problems into number sentences, formulas, or equations.

Show your child how to write out the equation 20 ÷ 4 = 5.

• Explain to your child how 5 is the number of pennies in each group, there are 4 groups, and there are 20 pennies in all.

• Your child may need to see how all these numbers connect.
  

Give your child 20 items (we used pennies).

• Ask your child to put the items into 4 groups, with an even number of items in each  group (2, 4, 6, 10, etc.).

• After a few tries, your child should put the items into 5 groups of 4.

• Count up the items when your child is done to show your child there are still 20 items  total.
  

Problem 3 - Solving problems backwards and forwards

It is important for your child to learn how to solve problems backwards and forwards. Ask your child questions like these.

Then ask your child, how should you solve this problem?​

• Help your child see that in order to get the answer, work backwards.

• Subtract 4 from 12 to get the answer.

• Then practice writing the problem into a math sentence, called an equation: 12 - 4 = 8.

• Help your child see that for this problem, you must work forward.

• Add 4 to 8 to get the answer.

• Then, write out the problem as an equation: 8 + 4 = 12.
  
  

Problem 4 - Drawing out answers to problems

Your child can draw out the answers to the problem if it helps .

Ask your child questions like:

Your child may have trouble writing out 3 + 2 + 1 = 6

• Ask your child to draw 6 circles and then count the circles together to get the total.

• Or give your child 3 small balls, then 2 balls, then 1 ball, and have your child count the number of balls
  
  

Encouraging Math in Everyday Situations: Guessing games 

• Your child needs to learn how to make guesses that make sense based on the information that's given.

• Your child needs to learn how to come up with other ways to solve problems.

• And your child needs to know how to choose the best way to solve problems.

• Teach your child to ask questions:

• What operation makes most sense to do with this problem - should you add, subtract, multiple, or divide?

• Why do you think so?

• What steps should you take next to solve this problem?

• Here are some practice problems you and your child can do together.

• The problems on the next pages may be too easy or too hard for your child. If this is so, read the problems anyways. They will give you ideas to help your child with guessing games.
  
  

Guessing Games - Problem 1 – Use Objects when Guessing

Pick an object, such as a pumpkin, and have your child guess how much it weighs.

• If your child says an amount like 2,000 pounds, ask your child if that makes sense.

• Talk about other things that way close to a ton (such as a car).

• Talk about how a pumpkin's weight compares to those other things.

• You want your child to see why the guess was too much or too little.
  
  

Guessing Games - Problem 2 – Count Items

Count a number of items (we use small pieces of candy or pennies). Then put the items  in a clear glass jar.

• Your child has to guess how many items are in the jar.
• This is a fun game for the whole family to play.

Guessing Games - Problem 3 – Practice Adding and Subtracting

Practice adding and subtracting items.

• As you eat dinner, make up problems for your child to solve.

• Let your child guess the answer.

• Show your child how to check to see if the guess is right.
  

Mom and Dad have 10 carrots altogether. Mom has 2 more carrots than Dad. How many carrots do we each have?.

• Your child can try adding different numbers, like 4 and 6, or 5 and 2, to figure out the  right answer.

• You can use real carrots when you guess!
  
  

Guessing Games - Problem 4 – Use Objects when writing Equations

If I have 2 apples and you take one away, how many apples do I have left?.

• Use real apples to show your child how to figure out the problem.

• Then write out the sentence into an equation: 2 - 1 = 1.
  

Guessing Games - Problem 5 – Practice Word Problems

Practice word problems that talk about what a person can or will do with words like  should and could. Use examples from real life.

You need to pay $1 for lunch.​

• You have 3 quarters, 2 dimes, and 6 nickels.
• ​Which coins should you give to the cashier?
• You can use real or paper money to figure out the answer.
  
  

Guessing Games - Problem 6 – Practice Words that talk about Maybe

Practice words that talk about "maybe" and what would happen if the event takes place.  Use phrases like "If this happens, then…" and "When this happens, this also happens."

If it is raining and I don't have an umbrella, what might happen?

• Talk with your child about what will happen.

• Ask why your child thinks this will happen.
  
  

Guessing Games - Problem 7 – Change, compare and combine

Practice as many problems as you can that ask your child to change, compare, and  combine.

• These words are especially hard for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Use words such as greater than, the most, more than, less than, and least.
  

Which is more, 10 or 12? How do you know?

Guessing Games - Problem 8 – Using Math Signs

Practice using signs of equality and inequality for greater than, less than, and equal to.

What do each of these symbols mean? >, ≥, <, ≤, = Ask your child to use these signs in equations.

How do I write out 2 is less than 5?

Show your child how to write 2 < 5

Guessing Games - Problem 9 – Problems with Negative Words

In the Smith family there are 2 parents and 3 children: Pamela, Tim, and Gary. Tim is going to his friend's birthday party, so the family decides to go to the mall without Tim. How many people go to the mall?

Use items to represent the family members if it helps!

Guessing Games - Problem 10- Find Patterns

Practice finding patterns

What number should come next in this sequence?

2 4 6 8 10 ___