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Here are some suggestions to help you use technology, low-tech adaptations and alternative teaching strategies to promote student participation in learning math.

Magnetic Manipulatives
Manipulatives provide concrete samples of abstract concepts in both primary and secondary education. To make manipulatives accessible to students with decreased fine motor skills, attach small strips of magnetic tape to teddy bear counters, cubes or parquetry blocks. Students can use gross movements to slide the magnets on a cookie sheet to count, sort or make patterns.

Manageable Money
Add magnets to plastic coins or attach paper clips to paper bills so students with limited fine motor skills can count or sort money using a magnetic wand and gross motor movements.

Calculated Moves!
Offer students calculators. Many students will depend upon calculators to manage money at home or on the job. Talking calculators create access for students with low vision and assist others develop metacognition for learning math facts. Create calculator access for students that use a single switch with computer software. BIG:Calc, from Don Johnston Inc. (1-800-999-4660) displays large switch-accessible screens and auditory feedback.

Workable Worksheets
To help students that struggle to complete math with a pencil and paper, explore MathPad and MathPad Plus from IntelliTools, Inc. (1-800-899-6687). These electronic worksheets enable students to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems directly on the computer. Students do all their own calculations.

Multimedia Mathematics
Computer-based learning activities enable students to explore different shapes, and numbers through interactive activities. Animation and auditory feedback engage students with decreased attention skills or low vision in classroom tasks. Try IntelliPics software from IntelliTools, Inc. (1-800-899-6687) to create lessons that meet the needs and abilities of diverse students.

Project Based Learning
Assign open-ended projects to address the needs of individual students. Even a statistics assignment can be structured to promote the participation of diverse students. While some students may collect, analyze and graph data pertaining to the standard deviation, others can count items in the environment and write simple sentences. In a study of probability, some students will toss pennies and record the numbers of heads vs. tails while others may pick up pennies to meet a fine motor related IEP goal.

Off the Shelf Software
Explore ready-to-go software for the classroom to help students learning to tell time and manage money, contact Attainment Company, Inc. (1-800-327-4269). IntelliMathics software from IntelliTools, Inc. (1-800-899-6687) enables students to use on-screen sorting bins, geoboards, Venn Diagrams and more! IntelliMathics is switch-accessible and compatible with the IntelliKeys keyboard.