6 Benefits of CTC Math For Students With Dyslexia

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Using CTC Math for students with dyslexia often addresses a wide range of side issues that make it a great fit for many students. Finding a curriculum for math for students with dyslexia is often a much greater challenge than traditional learners.

Children with dyslexia often face unique challenges that impact their ability to process mathematical concepts, such as difficulty with number sense, short-term memory, or computational skills. Using the right tools, however, can make all the difference. For us, CTCMath has been a huge help.

From the time one of my sons was little, it was clear that we were dealing with some kind of learning disability. We were uncertain of the cause, but he could not retain information. If you asked him to do something, he would forget 20 seconds later.

When he tried to learn to read, he would forget the basic sounds almost instantly despite a lot of practice. And of course, if a student can’t read, math problems can be a challenge especially word problems or anything with multiple steps.

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Over the years, we have worked very hard to help him overcome his reading challenges. But on that journey, we have also looked for curriculum that he could do independently as well. It can be very discouraging for a young teen to need to rely on mom to get their work done. It’s hard on parents too!

In helping our son become independent with math, we tried A LOT of different curriculum. And in the end, it was either too simple or too complicated…too much reading or an inflexible learning sequence. Finding something that worked was HARD.

Why Dyslexic Students Struggle with Math

Math for students with dyslexia is often full of challenges processing language-based information, short-term memory limitations, and organizational skills. This can make seemingly simple number concepts, like understanding place value or performing basic operations, feel insurmountable. Words and numbers on a page can blur together, leading to frustration and disengagement.

Dyslexic learners might also struggle with:

• Number sense: Grasping the size or value of numbers.
• Concepts of time: Understanding sequences or timelines.
• Written calculations: Aligning numbers correctly in a problem.
• Long-term memory: Retaining math facts or recalling steps for problem-solving.

What we noticed with our son was that as we got him help with reading, his math did improve, but he was grasping some concepts and not others…and that became a barrier to him making progress.

Like, I could see that he was improving…and I knew that eventually he would understand the concepts he was struggling with…but in the mean time, it might as well have been a brick wall.

Adapting Math Instruction for Dyslexic Learners

Traditional math programs often rely heavily on visual or auditory learning. While effective for many students, these methods can leave dyslexic children feeling lost. Hands-on activities, visual aids, and multi-sensory teaching methods provide the support they need to grasp challenging concepts.

Here’s how you can adapt math for a dyslexic child:

1. Incorporate manipulatives: Tools like math cubes, number lines, and place value cards help students model abstract concepts physically.
2. Provide untimed tests: Removing time pressure allows students to focus on accuracy and reduces anxiety.
3. Use evidence-based strategies: Techniques like the spiral approach, which revisits topics in a structured way, support long-term retention.
4. Offer number-rich learning environments: Label objects with numbers or integrate counting into everyday activities to strengthen number sense.

Many of these strategies can be incorporated into CTCMath seamlessly. The focus on one problem at a time, spiral and mastery of content as well as the easy addition of manipulatives as needed make CTCMath a great option for students with reading struggles.

Benefits of Using CTCMath with Dyslexic Students

When we discovered CTCMath, it was such a relief to find a curriculum that  breaks concepts into manageable pieces with short lessons and allows them to focus on one skill at a time. Because my son had reading delays, it had affected his math. He was “behind” by at least a grade level. But that was no problem because we could access lessons from earlier grade levels to work on skills he was weak in. 

Things We Loved About CTCMath:

1. Spiral Lessons: Grade over grade, concepts repeat and build. It is simple to drop down into earlier levels to practice concepts from lower grade levels.
2. Short Lessons: The 3-5 minute lessons are perfect for students with short attention spans or auditory processing difficulties. This keeps them engaged without overwhelming them.
3. Visual and Interactive: CTCMath includes visual aids, such as graphs and animated demonstrations, to reinforce understanding. These visuals provide a huge help for children who struggle with language-heavy explanations.
4. ​Audio In Lesson: Students can usually be independent with CTCMath because there is an audio button inside each lesson where students can have the questions read to them (and sometimes the answers too). 
5. Progress Tracking: The program highlights progress and makes it easy to identify concepts where a student needs more practice or reinforcement
6. Customizable Pace: Students can repeat lessons as often as needed, reinforcing their understanding and building confidence in areas of difficulty.

Enhancing CTCMath with Hands-On Activities

Dyslexic learners often need to see and touch concepts to understand them fully. That can look different for each student. Here’s how we’ve enhanced our experience with CTCMath using hands-on tools:

• Math Basket: We created a math basket with items like counting cubes, an abacus, and play money. These tools help turn abstract concepts into tangible ones.
• Number Lines: Using number lines during lessons helps reinforce spatial reasoning skills and supports students who have difficulty visualizing number combinations.
• Clocks and Timelines: To teach concepts of time, we use analog clocks and simple timelines. These visual strategies have made a notable difference in comprehension.
• Interactive Games: We incorporate games and flash card activities to make learning fun and engaging.

Best Practices for Teaching Dyslexic Learners

One of the most important things to remember when a student has a hard time learning to due to reading challenges is that it is ok to slow down and create a custom learning experience. If your child learns multiplication before they are comfortable with subtraction…ok. If they need to go back and practice addition when they are learning subtraction…ok. 

We like to think that learning is linear. Sometimes it is and sometimes it looks more like a knotted ball of yarn. 

Here are tips to help dyslexic learners with math and other subjects: 

1. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Celebrate every small win. This helps keep students motivated and builds their confidence.
2. Use Multi-Sensory Learning: Combine auditory, visual, and kinesthetic elements to engage all learning channels. For example, when teaching long division, have students write, say, and model the steps.
3. Create a Safe Space: Encourage your child to ask questions and express frustration. Understanding that mistakes are part of the process is essential for their growth.
4. Collaborate with Others: In our case that has meant using tutors for language arts which trickles down to every other subject.
5. Customize what works: If your student finds a way of learning that works for them…do more of THAT and less of the things that don’t work. Adjust as often as necessary.

When using CTCMath with our son with reading challeges, there were times he was finding it difficult…not to do the math but just to find the right pacing. He was behind…but trying to catch up. There was usually one day a week he couldn’t do math at all and sometimes that happened more than once. One day he was expressing frustration. The math wasn’t getting done as frequently as I wanted. So we talked about how you have to come up with hacks that work for your own brain. 

We counted up the number of topic modules were in the grade level math. They were roughly the same number as the remaining weeks of school. So he decided that he would do one module/topic a week. Some weeks that means 7 (SHORT) lessons…and some weeks that might mean 10.

Either is fine as long as he gets the whole topic done. Yes there are Fridays where he is rushing to do 4 or 5 lessons. But most weeks he does a lesson or two a day and keeps up just fine. Once he learned the hack that worked for HIS brain, he was able to find a lot more success.

Use CTCMath To Transform Your Child’s Learning

CTCMath, combined with the right teaching methods and tools, can transform your dyslexic child’s experience with math. By tailoring lessons to their specific needs, you can help them build essential skills, improve their understanding of mathematical concepts, and gain confidence in their abilities.

If your child struggles with math due to dyslexia, give CTCMath a try. Pair it with hands-on manipulatives and evidence-based strategies to create a learning environment that empowers your student to succeed. You might just discover that math can be enjoyable for both of you!

More Reading:

• CTCMATH: Help Homeschool Students Catch Up in Math
• CTC Math: Our Favorite Online Homeschool Math Curriculum
• Guide to Farm School Homeschool Programs For Kids