
Special education students don’t just feel nervousness or fear about math. It’s deeper than mistakes with calculations or reversals in writing and recalling numbers. These students want to understand the concepts and do well in math class. Other challenges make it more difficult but not impossible.
Why math can be challenging for students with special education needs
Math uses strong visual-spatial skills. It involves abstract concepts and recall of math facts and processes. Communication, language skills, and visualization are used. Putting all of these together can be particularly arduous for students with special education needs. Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and language processing difficulties, make it hard for students to process information efficiently, making math class challenging.
Understanding math learning disabilities
Math learning disabilities make it difficult for students to understand basic math concepts, such as number recognition, counting, and even comparing greater and less in relation to other numbers. Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that specifically affects the ability to understand math and information based on numbers. With dyscalculia, the area of the brain associated with math and number-related skills is affected. It can make all areas of math tricky.
The writing process itself can be complicated. Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder characterized by writing disabilities that can be diagnosed and treated. It’s not limited to letters and words. Learners with dysgraphia in math class may experience frustrations with place value, fractions, equations, and word problems.
Barriers to math fact fluency in special education
Students with math special education needs may have trouble with math facts. Learning disabilities, including dyscalculia, dyslexia, and dysgraphia, can impede success with math fact fluency. Lack of exposure to math facts can also be an issue. Limited resources may be an additional concern, not just special education products but other math programs focusing on math fact fluency.
How Reflex supports special education students
Reduce the resource barrier by bringing a research-backed product on board. ExploreLearning Reflex targets students’ critical learning needs in an impactful and motivating way. Full of games that students love, Reflex helps grades 2+ students at every level quickly gain math fact fluency and confidence. Teachers can scaffold instruction using comprehensive teacher support materials. With real-time reporting, teachers can help students stay on track regardless of difficulties. Students begin to see themselves as math people instead of dreading math class!
Personalized learning paths for diverse needs
A personalized learning path involves customizing lessons and activities to meet each student's unique needs. Teachers are pros at discovering their students' interests and learning styles! Capitalizing on strengths and weaknesses and giving students time to progress at their own pace through content allows teachers to address the diverse learning needs in the classroom effectively.
Interactive and engaging math fact practice
Math fact practice doesn’t have to be boring. Reflex boosts math fact fluency, driving measurable student success with proven, engaging methods while meeting the needs of students with learning disabilities. Take a look at how Reflex has helped a few teachers reach all students.
Everybody's Talking About Reflex
“Reflex and Frax are transformative tools for our educators to leverage to meet the needs of students of all levels.”
-K-12 Director of Mathematics and Instructional Technology, New York“One of my tier 3 math students has started enjoying math because of Reflex. He enjoys ‘playing’ Reflex and has greater confidence during math because of it. Since starting the program his fact fluency has increased by 90%.”
-Teacher, Georgia“One of my students did not like to try work in any subject due to dyslexia. After a few weeks on Reflex, she has seen that she can succeed in math. Even when doing word problems, she tries because she has half the battle—the basic math—under control and has the confidence to try the reading. ”
-Teacher, Mississippi“Reflex and Frax are transformative tools for our educators to leverage to meet the needs of students of all levels.”
-K-12 Director of Mathematics and Instructional Technology, New York“One of my tier 3 math students has started enjoying math because of Reflex. He enjoys ‘playing’ Reflex and has greater confidence during math because of it. Since starting the program his fact fluency has increased by 90%.”
-Teacher, Georgia“One of my students did not like to try work in any subject due to dyslexia. After a few weeks on Reflex, she has seen that she can succeed in math. Even when doing word problems, she tries because she has half the battle—the basic math—under control and has the confidence to try the reading. ”
-Teacher, Mississippi“Reflex and Frax are transformative tools for our educators to leverage to meet the needs of students of all levels.”
-K-12 Director of Mathematics and Instructional Technology, New YorkBuilt-in progress monitoring for teachers
Reflex makes learning fun for students with visual aids and interactive challenges while making progress monitoring easy for teachers. With real-time feedback, adjustments for students with disabilities can also happen in real-time. Progress monitoring tools help teachers quickly discover when students are struggling and how to help. Utilizing student data leads to individualized pacing for each learner. For example, the Individual Fact Detail Report shows the facts in which a student is fluent, and those in which they are still developing fluency.
Benefits of Reflex for special education classrooms
Numerous independent academic efficacy studies demonstrate that students who use Reflex score higher and grow faster than their peers. Across multiple grade levels, standardized tests, and benchmark assessments, the data shows gains in student achievement with Reflex. Special education classrooms benefit as well because Reflex:
- Reduces math anxiety through gamification.
- Encourages repeated practice with positive reinforcement.
- Aligns with MTSS strategies for intervention support.
How to use Reflex as a supplemental special education resource
Because Reflex is evidence-based and packed with engaging challenges, personalization, and motivating student milestones, it is a great option for supplemental special education resources. Reflex supports the three RTI tiers, including students working on grade level, at-risk students, and students with learning disabilities.
Accessibility features help to meet the needs of every student. Reflex factors out keyboard input speed from fluency calculations, so students with reduced skills in keyboarding or processing visual information can still take full advantage of the program. For supplemental ELL resources, look to Reflex, which can be experienced in Spanish and French to help English language learners develop math proficiency alongside their peers.
Steps for implementing Reflex in special education classrooms
Reflex can be used for remediation intervention. The intuitive program continuously monitors progress and adjusts as students work to achieve math fact fluency at their own pace. Students get the right level of challenge at the right time. Take a closer look!
- Strategies for diverse learners
- Accessibility features for individualized experiences
- Fact families deliver the right facts at the right time
- Meets students where they are—at grade level, with special needs, and at-risk students
- Motivating Green Light is a big goal
Using Reflex for math intervention and IEP goals
IEP goals steer instruction with interventions, accommodations, and modifications to help students reach their full potential within the classroom setting. Teachers monitor progress and adjust for students with IEP goals and everyone else in the class. When looking for math solutions that work with IEP goals, Reflex fits that role. Targeted support ensures students develop foundational skills. The built-in progress monitoring tools allow teachers to track student performance and make those adjustments.
Building long-term math success with Reflex
Reflex provides teachers and students with the tools for success. With professional development and insightful student reporting dashboards, it’s easy to celebrate the growth of all students. Discover the Reflex difference with your special education students. Take a free trial today.