Digital Promise Signature Workspace
Supporting Deaf Students' Math Learning
It is important to recognize the impact that hearing loss can have on learning, and accommodate each student's communication preferences to support math learning.
74 percent of students with hearing loss are mainstreamed in public schools. However, deaf students have been shown to have reduced rates of success in academics, indicated by lower test scores on standardized tests and grades. Teachers may struggle to determine how best to support their deaf students. Check out the infographic below to read more about how math, sign language, and learning factors contribute to a student’s math learning. We also break down helpful strategies from the Learner Models. Read the note attached to each strategy to see how they can be used in the classroom!
SaraBeth Sullivan has a PhD in Educational Neuroscience from Gallaudet University. SaraBeth studies how deaf native signers process arithmetic and how the involvement of sign language supports math learning. She is also interested in translating research into clear, targeted, evidence-based support for teachers to help their learners succeed.
Hearing factors k-12
We typically learn to understand many foundational math concepts through what we hear, but also what we can touch, see, and manipulate.
We typically learn to understand many early math concepts through what we hear, but also what we can touch, see, and manipulate.
We typically learn to understand many math concepts through what we hear, but also what we can touch, see, and manipulate.
Strategies to use for PK-2
Math PK-2
Instruction in multiple formats allows students to activate different cognitive skills to understand and remember the steps they are to take in their math work.
Math PK-2
Multiple display spaces help develop oral language skills as well as Social Awareness & Relationship Skills by allowing groups to share information easily as they work.
Math PK-2
Visual representations help students understand what a number represents as well as recognize relationships between numbers.
Math PK-2
CRA is a sequential instructional approach during which students move from working with concrete materials to creating representational drawings to using abstract symbols.
Math PK-2
Adding motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding.
Math PK-2
Math games use numbers and Spatial Skills, allowing students to practice many math skills in a fun, applied context.
strategies to use for 3-6
Math 3-6
Math games allow students to practice many math skills in a fun, applied context.
Math 3-6
Multiple display spaces help develop oral language skills as well as Social Awareness & Relationship Skills by allowing groups to share information easily as they work.
Math 3-6
Adding motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding.
Math 3-6
A word wall helps build the Math Communication and vocabulary skills that are necessary for problem solving.
Math 3-6
Students activate more cognitive processes by exploring and representing their understandings in visual form.
Math 3-6
Instruction in multiple formats allows students to activate different cognitive skills to understand and remember the steps they are to take in their math work.
Math 3-6
CRA is a sequential instructional approach during which students move from working with concrete materials to creating representational drawings to using abstract symbols.
Math 3-6
Visual representations help students understand what a number represents as well as recognize relationships between numbers.
strategies to use for 7-9
Math 7-10
Students activate more cognitive processes by exploring and representing their understandings in visual form.
Math 7-10
Math games allow students to practice many math skills in a fun, applied context.
Math 7-10
Sentence frames or stems can serve as language support to enrich students' participation in academic discussions.
Math 7-10
Visualizing how ideas fit together helps students construct meaning and strengthens recall.
Math 7-10
Instruction in multiple formats allows students to activate different cognitive skills to understand and remember the steps they are to take in their math work.
Math 7-10
Multiple display spaces help develop oral language skills as well as Social Awareness & Relationship Skills by allowing groups to share information easily as they work.
Math 7-10
Adding motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding.
Math 7-10
As students walk through stations working in small groups, the social and physical nature of the learning supports deeper understanding.
Math 7-10
A word wall helps build the Math Communication and vocabulary skills that are necessary for problem solving.
