Formative assessment IP Unit

Formative Assessment Action Plan PGCERT IP unit 

‘The Dyscalculia /Dyslexia Board”

I’ve been softballing this idea in my head for at least a year or so for a variety of reasons- one of which is my own personal struggle with Dyscalculia (a learning disability that hinders the individual’s ability to comprehend and utilise mathematics- consider it a dyslexia for numbers) and the others being my observations of the positive effect my previous attempts had made on my student body. 

In the past I’ve researched how to help people with D/D (Dysclacluia and Dyslexia) and came up with some quick ‘hot fixes’ such as recommended by multiple institutions built to help accommodate D/D people into the classroom; Printing large and colourful dates onto paper to hang on the wall for easy referencing, for example hand in dates or formative assessment dates, to help students quickly check and remember important dates. Having the dates be referenced in both formats, E,g “Tuesday the 14th of February” and “14/02/25” in every mention, Having a week timeline printed out and the important date as a uniquely coloured block. 

These have worked well for my student body so far, but as we frequently move classrooms and adjust timelines I found the technique fell to the wayside; hence my new idea a mobile and permanent “Friendly Date Board” that is a dedicated board that only displays important dates in a D/D friendly manner which is always up in the classroom (and moved to new ones). In the past I’ve stuck the dates onto the wall with bluetack, but with a more dedicated set up I could make a whole board with D/D legible colours and format that my students can always reference. 

Ideally this will help take pressure off from losing key dates on their phones or feeling unsure of how many weeks are in a project- all the details they need including a little week by week checklist would help reassure and guide their time management. 

References:

1. British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
   British Dyslexia Association (n.d.) Dyscalculia. Available at: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyscalculia[Accessed 27 May 2025].
2. Dyscalculia Network
   Dyscalculia Network (n.d.) Resources and support. Available at: https://dyscalculianetwork.com [Accessed 27 May 2025].
3. The Dyscalculia Association
   The Dyscalculia Association (n.d.) Home. Available at: https://www.dyscalculiaassociation.uk [Accessed 27 May 2025].
4. Twinkl
   Twinkl (n.d.) Dyscalculia resources. Available at: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/send-inclusion-teaching-resources/specific-learning-difficulty-areas-of-need-primary-send-inclusion-key-stage-1/dyscalculia-cognition-and-learning-difficulties-areas-of-need-primary-send-inclusion [Accessed 27 May 2025].
5. TTS Group
   TTS Group (n.d.) Dyscalculia & maths support. Available at: https://www.tts-group.co.uk/primary/sen-special-direct/dyscalculia-maths-support/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].
6. Dyscalculia Information Centre
   Dyscalculia Information Centre (n.d.) Home. Available at: https://www.dyscalculia.me.uk [Accessed 27 May 2025].
7. Dyslexia UK
   Dyslexia UK (n.d.) Free resources. Available at: https://www.dyslexiauk.co.uk/resources [Accessed 27 May 2025].
8. The Brain Charity
   The Brain Charity (n.d.) Dyscalculia. Available at: https://www.thebraincharity.org.uk/condition/dyscalculia/[Accessed 27 May 2025].
9. Imperial College London – Disability Advisory Service
   Imperial College London (n.d.) Dyscalculia support. Available at: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/disability-advisory-service/support-available/splds-and-autism/specific-learning-difficulties/dyscalculia/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].
10. Aim Forward
    Aim Forward (n.d.) Dyscalculia assessments and support. Available at: https://aimforward.co.uk/services/dyscalculia/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].