Anyone use Numicon?

[laurasnowbird]

Wondering if anyone here has experience with using Numicon to teach math to kids with DS? If not, is there another program that you've used that is good?

[Emilysmom]

Laura,
A few years ago, Ruth (Rickismom) posted that she was using it with Ricki, and she had great things to say about it.
Sorry...that's all I know!

[Jodi]

Laura,

We bought it, and used it for a while but it is the kind of system that should be used both at school and at home for it to really work. We couldn't get the school on board so we ended up dropping it. We did, however, started using touchmath, and Ryan has been very successful with that system.

Both systems go with a kind of visual and memorization approach. Just like learning anything, making it fun is part of the program. You should be able to do a search on touchmath and find sample sheets to download. Touchmath is a "dot" based system. Dots are placed on the number. The number "1" has one dot placed on it. If you have ever moved a pencil in the air as you are counting, that is the very idea behind touchmath. Eventually the dots are removed, but the "dots" are in the mind to help with solving the problem.

Ryan started using touchmath a couple of years ago. When he transitioned to his new placement, we pushed harder this time to keep the touchmath system going. Although they refused to put in it his IEP (that would have really forced the district's hand), we negotiated enough to have it established in his classroom. MB taught me to pick my battles The district purchased the classroom program for Ryan's class.

He has learned how to add and subtract up to 3 digits with regrouping. They have just started multiplication.

I think that both systems are good so long as there is the appropriate support at home and at school.

Jodi

[mg12061]

We used Touch Math and loved it. It really gave Kathleen a great tool to use for the math facts she couldn't memorize. We started in 1st grade but honestly we could have stqrted in Kindergarden when she was leanring the numbers and very early addition.
Mary Grace

[Jackie]

I would love something to teach math to Emily with...but you know...just don't think she is really interested...but it drives me nuts.

[Chris too]

MathUSee is great. I haven't tried it with Stevie yet - LOL
It is great for place value - the foundation for all math - and uses a visual/tactile method for remembering the math facts.
Still, I have been supplementing it with my own lessons to help in remembering those addition facts & have had great success so far with that.

Is your school going to get Numicon for Ethan?

[joydiane]

I just answered your post on Downsed and then saw this - they recommended and used Numicon math. They have material on using it which I think you can download for free.

Joy