Discovering Dyscalculia | The Podcast

Laura M Jackson

Discovering Dyscalculia | The Podcast is a resource and support for those with a learning disability in math. Author, dyscalculia consultant, and parent Laura M. Jackson, shares engaging interviews, monthly newsletters, and her own personal journey of supporting a child with this little-known learning disability.

  1. 18 Aug

    Email Templates, Fractions, Percentages, Digital Tool | March 2026 News

    This is your Discovering Dyscalculia monthly newsletter with the latest in dyscalculia awareness, education, and support. In this month’s issue: Recommendation for Teaching ResourcesEmail Template for Parents + Template PollDigital Tool for Fractions, Decimals, PercentagesLatest Writing Pieces on DyscalculiaThe Book’s 4th Anniversary A Recommendation for Teaching ResourcesThis past year I joined Made for Math’s new CRA Club (stands for Concrete, Representational, Abstract). I needed help with the next steps of instruction for a dyscalculic student I am working with. We were ready to tackle Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages, however, my favorite dyscalculia authors and educators did not have the best teaching tools for these topics.  So I joined The CRA Club and am so grateful I did! It’s been a wealth of information and support, both on dyscalculia, and also how other learning disabilities impact math understanding. What I appreciate about the club: A terrific Base Camp section to get a solid overview of how to teach for dyscalculia.Easily accessible sections for specific topics that include videos, worksheets, reference sheets, and more. Twice monthly coaching calls where you can submit a question and they will walk it through with you live at the session, or you can watch the replays. I had a specific question and Heather spent 20 minutes walking me through options for instruction.The CRA Club has more information than I have time to take in, and what I have received has been worth the membership cost! I highly recommend this resource for any tutor, teacher, or parent who is working with dyscalculic learners or students struggling in math. Learn more about the CRA Club here. My Current Writing on DyscalculiaHere are some of my latest written pieces on dyscalculia. Each article is written by me (not AI). Your paid subscription to this content enables me to do this ongoing dyscalculia work and help support my family financially. How to Write an Email to Teachers about Your Child’s Learning Disability Every school year I dreaded writing an email to my daughter’s teachers informing them of her learning disability. In this post I share 3 tips for making it easier, plus an email template you can use. Teaching Strategy: Focus on Understanding Instead of Procedures.Contrary to how most math is taught in school, dyscalculic learners need math instruction that helps them to understand math concepts before teaching how to calculate and solve. Read more in this article. Begin with the Foundations of Math - it’s going back further than you think. This is the most important teaching strategy for supporting dyscalculic learners. Let’s talk about what the foundations are.  Email Template for ParentsThis past year I sent out a poll asking what types of resources you all would like. Many of you requested email templates for communicating with schools. I have written my first template for you, which is an initial email to send to all teachers at the beginning of the year, or when you have a new diagnosis. This template can easily be modified to include additional or alternative learning disabilities, or your middle or high school student can modify it to send to their teachers.Download Template in this Post This downloadable PDF resource can be accessed in Substack as a paid subscriber. Want more templates? Please fill out this poll to let me know what other templates would be helpful for you!  What Email Templates Would Be Helpful to You?To EmployersTo Drivers Education InstructorsTo History and Science TeachersTo CoachesTo School, Accommodation Request Digital Tool for Fractions, Decimals, PercentagesI mentioned that I’ve joined Made for Math’s CRA Club to help me with teaching the concepts of fractions, decimals, and percentages for a dyscalculic student I work with.  After creating a deeper understanding of these concepts, we are now learning how to use a digital tool to help my student make these same calculations in the faster-paced classroom and for everyday life. This tool is the DysCalculator App. One feature that I love is that the DysCalculator can translate between fractions, decimals, and percentages easily in one button. To figure out the decimal and percentage for one half: enter 1/2 using the fraction button, then [EQUALS]. The DysCalculator will give you the percentage and decimal that are equal to one half, including a helpful visual for the fraction. It can also be used the other way around, enter 50%, then = and it will tell you the fraction and decimal equivalent to 50%. For those of you who are concerned students will not learn how to correctly compute these, I understand your concern. And I agree it’s critical for students to understand the concept and how to calculate with fractions, decimals, and percentages. But after that is solid, and especially as these students are navigating the school classroom and everyday life, it’s important they have a tool like the DysCalculator App at their fingertips to lessen anxiety and help them quickly compute. DysCalculator App Website My Book’s 4th AnniversaryThis month was the 4th year anniversary of my book’s publication. I continue to hear from you all how helpful it has been for navigating your child’s, or your student’s, or your own dyscalculia journey. I also hear from parents of children with other learning disabilities that this book has helped them with the school system and their feelings about their child’s learning disability. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend picking up a copy, and consider an additional copy to share with family member or educator.  I’m honored to hear how the book is helping families, educators, students, and adults from all around the world.  Thank you also to those of you who help to spread the word by leaving your positive reviews on Amazon. Thank you! Listen to the Introduction here: Listen or Read Introduction Here Join me on SubstackThis monthly newsletter is now hosted on Substack, an online newsletter platform. Substack was created for writers like me who are not fans of Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms.  You can receive this free monthly newsletter in your email inbox, or receive extra resources and support as a paid subscriber, including: Exclusive content. Twice a month, receive a personal email post from me with a downloadable PDF, audio recording, email template, or guidance,Community and connection. Ask questions, leave comments, or respond to myself and others about the dyscalculia articles.Full archives of dyscalculia resources. Access all the resources in past newsletters and exclusive content posts.Your paid subscription enables me to provide ongoing dyscalculia resources while providing financially for my family. I am so grateful for your support and commitment to spreading dyscalculia awareness, education, and support. Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

  2. 18 Aug

    5 Inaccurate Assumptions Parents Can Make

    5 Inaccurate Assumptions Parents Can MakeParents want to support their dyscalculic students in the best possible ways. Yet even with the best intentions, most of us can make inaccurate assumptions about our student and what they need. I assumed many inaccurate things about my daughter and her learning disability. As parent, we may not fully understand dyscalculia and the impact it has on learning and life. These inaccurate beliefs can have a negative impact over time. Now, 9+ years into our dyscalculia exploration, I can see how inaccurate and unhelpful these assumptions were and how a better understanding of dyscalculia has helped our family support our dyscalculic daughter in life-changing ways.  Here are 5 common, and inaccurate, assumptions parents can make about their dyscalculic children. Inaccurate Assumption #1: My student would be fine if they would just apply themselves and focus.I remember being frustrated when my daughter would struggle to focus on flashcards or get her homework done efficiently. The tasks didn’t seem too complicated to me. I wished she would just apply herself and get it done.  But more focus and applying herself were not what was required for her to grasp concepts or complete the work. My encouragement of “try harder” and “focus” only caused exhaustion, stress, and shut down her brain’s capacity to learn. Inaccurate Assumption #2: The school will know how to support my student.This is one that most parents make, including myself. After surviving the school evaluation process and enrolling in special education, I assumed my daughter would receive the support she needed from trained math specialists and special education teachers. I was wrong. This inaccurate assumption led us to waiting 2+ years before starting the right supports and intervention.  We tried two public schools in two districts, interviewed several private schools, signed up for every extra after-school math support available, had an IEP for 2+ years, and still my daughter did not make any progress in math comprehension.  This is a common experience I hear from many families. Families assume the school will know how to support a student with dyscalculia and so they rely on the school to set up appropriate education and accommodations. But what they don’t know is that teachers are not trained on how to identify students with dyscalculia, nor how to provide the necessary math intervention required for student success. Even most special education teachers in the US do not receive training on dyscalculia.  It is understandable that we parents would assume the school will know how to help, but sadly this is an inaccurate assumption. Inaccurate Assumption #3: Repetition of concepts such as drills, flashcards, worksheets, and memorization will help my student learn.While these are common methods for neurotypical students, these methods are unsuccessful for dyscalculic students. Math comprehension and recall of math facts does not happen for dyscalculics through rote, drills, or constant repetition. An understanding of dyscalculia is needed to help parents know to how to help dyscalculic students successfully grasp math concepts. Support must also be in place for the memory issues that accompany dyscalculia. Inaccurate Assumption #4: Any math tutor or math program is better than none.Almost all evaluation reports from psychologists encourage parents to get a math tutor. Most parents I consult with have already tried math tutors or have enrolled their students in math support programs. I tried this as well in the beginning with my own daughter, While this seems reasonable, hiring just any math tutor can cause more harm than good. Even if the tutor is warm and patient, if they do not understand the unique difficulties of dyscalculia or have not received adequate training on how to help dyscalculic students, the work can set a student back even further. When a student is receiving tutoring support, and still struggling, they begin to lose confidence in their abilities and become more discouraged, believing that even with help they are hopeless at math. They don’t realize that the “help” they are receiving is not the specific support their dyscalculic mind’s needs to succeed at math. Inaccurate Assumption #5: My student just needs to make it through math in school and they will be fine.I too thought, “We just need to get my daughter through elementary and middle school math class. Then she can use a calculator.” That was before I understood all the areas of everyday life that dyscalculia impacts.  Simply getting our students through school is not a helpful goal. Dyscalculics need help building numeracy skills and a foundational sense for number they can successfully apply to everyday life. If not, they will feel limited in their life choices and may experience significant anxiety as a result. They need understanding of how their mind works, self-advocacy skills, and practical tools to navigate jobs, money, time, and anything in life involving numbers. (Spend a few minutes reading any Reddit posts on dyscalculia and you will see the difficult impact of those who did not receive adequate supports growing up).  Becoming better informed about dyscalculia helps us see the areas we need to provide supports and creative out-of-the-box solutions. I can’t say this enough: dyscalculia does not only impact math class, it impacts anything in life involving numbers, quantities, and amounts.  Question for Further ThoughtDo any of these assumptions sound familiar to you? If so, which ones?Please share which ones resonate in the comments below! Your dyscalculia advocate and guide, Laura M. Jackson This article was published on the Discovering Dyscalculia Blog here: https://discoveringdyscalculia.com/blog/5-inaccurate-assumptions-about-dyscalculia New to Discovering Dyscalculia? I’m Laura M. Jackson, parent, author, and dyscalculia specialist supporting families, educators, students, and adults in their journey with dyscalculia. I write and speak for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support on Substack and at DiscoveringDyscalculia.com. Looking for further dyscalculia support and resources? 🧭 Book a 1:1 dyscalculia consult call 📖 Read my book 🧑‍💻 Check out the Discovering Dyscalculia website Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

  3. 18 Aug

    Our Story Exploring Math for Dyscalculia

    I am deviating from my usual monthly newsletter format to share more of our family’s story with you. Most of the early days of our dyscalculia journey I detailed in my book. But I wrote that five years ago, and so much has happened in that time.  I have shared this part of my story with some of you in consultations and speaking engagements, but I wanted to share it with this community here in Substack. This is the story of how my daughter and I explored math together at home, navigated middle school and high school math, and where we find ourselves now in this adventure. Teaching my dyscalculic daughter math at home was not something I thought possible, especially through the middle school years. This was a decision I made out of desperation, not a dream or desire. This is the story of how I ended up teaching math, and the surprising success we experienced. Special Education Begins | 4th and 5th Grade In fourth grade, after receiving a math learning disability diagnosis, I figured the school would know how to teach a student with this challenge. The school established an IEP (individual education program) for my daughter. I remember filling out form after form, completely unsure about the confusing language on types of supports, learning objectives, and accommodations. I simply assumed the school knew what my daughter needed to succeed in math. My daughter began receiving pull-out help from the special education teacher, a couple of times a week in a small group. She also received accommodations in the classroom like a multiplication chart, and access to a teacher aid for questions. I was hopeful these supports would be enough for my daughter’s math struggles. Yet, as the weeks went on, I slowly came to realize that the school didn’t know how to help students with a math learning disability. There was no specific program or curriculum in place to help students with dyscalculia, no understanding of it, and no teacher training. Even the special education teacher had not received any university training for this learning disability. It was devastating to realize that no one at the school had any idea how to teach this bright kid with a math learning disability. I spent hours searching online for curriculum and programs, comparing my findings with the special education teacher. We both couldn’t find clear answers on how to teach math for dyscalculia. We found only a hodge-podge of books, with no clear way forward. I was discouraged, realizing that support for my daughter’s math education, was only just beginning. That fourth grade year, and all through fifth grade, I witnessed my daughter struggle her way through special education math, making no progress in her math understanding. She became more discouraged and anxious. Now, even with “help,” she still didn’t have any grasp of basic math concepts. New School and New IEP | 6th Grade The following year we tried a new school, in a new district, with the promise of a separate math class and help five days a week. But one month into her 6th grade year, the hope of learning math in this new setting was shattered. My daughter was once again stressed, anxious, dreading math class, and spending hours after school slogging through math homework. The special education teacher was not open to collaborating or trying any of the new methods I was finding in my research on dyscalculia. It was clear she didn’t know how to help either. At this point I knew we needed to do something drastically different. I didn’t feel equipped or prepared to take on my daughter’s math learning. But I did not want to waste another year without any math progress. My investigation ramped up and I read every book I could find on teaching for dyscalculia. Since I couldn’t find adequate dyscalculia math resources in the US, I turned to researchers and educators in the UK who seemed to have a better grasp of the subject. With these new resources to try, I pulled my daughter from 6th grade math class, to explore math together at home. My daughter began with math class at home in the morning, then I would drive her to school for the rest of the day. Building Number-Sense | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade I didn’t know how long we would do math at home. It ended up being for three years, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. During this time, we explored a new way of learning math. And most importantly we worked to help my daughter develop a better sense for numbers and quantity. I was surprised to see first-hand all the concepts she did not grasp, math concepts I assumed everyone innately knew. I could more clearly see why math at school had been so difficult. And it was exciting to see her make new connections about numbers, experience new ways to explore quantities, and to shed that anxiety and confusion that had been a part of her life for so long. It was slow, developmental work that couldn’t be rushed or forced. As we looked ahead to my daughter’s transition to high school, she wanted what she called “the high school experience.” Math at home with mom was not part of the image a now 15-year-old wanted for high school. And she was tired of explaining to her peers why she wasn’t at school for the full day. That summer before 9th grade, I met with the school and showed them the dyscalculia math books we had worked through. One teacher looked at me with her eyebrows raised skeptically, “You know this material only goes through fourth grade, right?” I was aware. But it was all foundational numeracy skills my daughter never mastered before, and now she had. The High School Experience | 9th - 12th Grade With my daughter determined to attend high school full time, I figured we could always pull her out of Algebra later and continue at home if needed. So, with new accommodations, a smaller classroom, and a flexible teacher, my daughter took her newly developed numeracy understanding and applied them to Algebra class. My daughter and I were both surprised as the year went on. She was hardly ever stressed about homework, received “As” on most of her exams and quizzes, and even helped struggling peers with their homework. I did not expect this kind of success! I had mentally prepared for hours of helping her after school, many after-school teacher meetings, and her just barely making it through with the same anxiety and stress we had experienced in elementary school. Even my daughter was surprised at the difference. Now, the dyscalculia and math struggles had not gone away. She was still very dyscalculic. We were still uncovering the many struggles with number and quantity in other school subjects, as well as many aspects of daily life. What was new was the better self-understanding she had for her unique experience with numbers. She had language and new visuals for quantities to help her when things were confusing. Many times, she did not understand the teacher’s instruction in class, so she would put on her headphones and draw out the visuals she had learned to help her grasp the math concepts. She ended the year with an A in algebra. We were shocked. The following school year, an A in geometry. She became her own peer advocate, giving questionnaires to friends struggling in math to help them determine if the struggles were because of dyslexia, or perhaps dyscalculia like her. Several peers reached out to her for help. I remember hearing her on the phone with a friend, asking them questions, and helping them think through their difficulties in math to determine if they might also have a learning disability. A Way Forward My daughter has commented to me many times over the past few years, just how lost she would still be without those years exploring dot patterns and digging into early number sense together. If you’ve read my book, you’ve read the letter she wrote to another struggling student about this time of learning a new way. If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to get a copy. It’s encouraging to any student on a similar journey of developing numeracy later in life. This kind of intensive math learning does not make the dyscalculia go away. My daughter will always experience numbers and quantity differently than most of her friends and society around her. She will always need to self-advocate and find her own solutions with tasks involving number and quantity. We are continually becoming more aware of the impact dyscalculia has on other areas of daily life – time, money, dates, memory, driving, cooking… the list continues to grow. But we also understand dyscalculia so much better now, so we are better able to make pivots, provide adequate supports, and know when and where our daughter will need specific help. Learning this way has also done so much for her mental and emotional health, growing her confidence and self-advocacy, and acceptance of herself. I’m not saying it’s been easy. I have had many frustrating, exasperated, and overwhelmed moments. My daughter has too. There are highs and there are lows, just like all of life’s complicated journeys. I am grateful for the help, guidance, and support we have received along the way. We will continue to lean into those supports ourselves, as we are still very much on the journey. My daughter is now finishing her senior year of high school, and enrolled in the honors program at her first-choice university for next year. I could never have imagined this all was possible years ago, given our start of her crying in 3rd grade and asking me, “Mommy, am I stupid?” There is no recipe for an unexpected experience like this. Every student is different and has their own challenges and unique circumstances to work through. But I want to encourage you that it is possible to support dyscalculic students in tangible and life-changing ways. It’s also possible to teach math in a way that these students can connect with and translate to everyday life. Supporting a loved one with dyscalculia is a process, a journey, a

  4. 15 Aug

    How to Write an Email to Teachers about Your Child's Learning Disability

    How to Write an Email to Teachers about Your Child's Learning Disability Every school year I dreaded writing an email to my daughter’s teachers informing them of her learning disability. I felt overwhelmed, and would procrastinate, setting down my laptop in search of something crunchy to munch on.  Sometimes because it felt so heavy, I would wait until my daughter really began to struggle in class before I would finally sit down to write that email. This one task held so much emotional weight. Underneath the surface, frustration simmered. Why must I detail and explain what dyscalculia was and how it impacted my daughter? Schools should already be informed about this learning disability. If my child was ADHD, I wouldn’t have to explain what it was and how it impacted learning. And I had enough experience to know that dyscalculia awareness in school was rare. In the early years of learning about dyscalculia, it felt daunting to describe something that I was only just beginning to understand myself, let alone describe to a principal or teacher. I also felt uncertain at what sort of response I would receive. Would the teacher be open and curious, or unaware and defensive? Common unhelpful responses included “I’ve never heard of that, it must be really rare,” or “She can just use a calculator or multiplication chart.” It was understandable that this seemingly small task was no small thing. It brought up so many uncomfortable feelings and frustrating experiences. My daughter will graduate from high school this coming spring, and while I am finally done writing these school emails, I imagine that my daughter will be calling me from university asking me to edit her self-advocacy emails to her professors. In truth, I began helping her craft emails to her teachers each year beginning in 8th grade. It has never been an easy task because the responses she received from her teachers were often mixed. In 11th grade, one of my daughter’s teachers referred to her dyscalculia as a “perceived struggle” and denied my daughter’s request to meet and talk about her specific struggles in the class. My daughter felt humiliated and misunderstood. That same year my daughter’s social studies teacher responded with openess and curiosity, inviting my daughter to meet and discuss the particular difficulties her dyscalculia caused in class. Together they discussed the specific challenges and came up with a few simple accommodations to make the content more accessible. My daughter felt seen and empowered. It’s hard to be vulnerable with others when we don’t know how we will be received. If I could do those years over again, I would be gentle with myself for the resistance and dread I felt each year. This seemingly simple task was so much more involved emotionally. If you are parent in this stage, I hope you will be gentle with yourself too. Communicating with teachers about your child’s learning disability can be overwhelming and difficult. In looking back at our years of writing emails to teachers, I thought it might be helpful to offer a few tips to make this task easier for you, and to provide an email template you can use. Here are a few tips to consider when communicating with teachers: Keep the initial email simple. The first email is just a notification of the specific learning disability(ies) or diagnosis(es), and the impact on learning. You are not requesting accommodations or supports. You are simply informing the teacher. Include an invitation to meet and speak together more in-depth about your child’s needs. This longer conversation about supports and teaching methods should happen when the teacher is ready and receptive. They too don’t want to be bombarded with too much information and requests all at once. Keep the resources simple. List one or two resources for learning more, not an exhaustive list of everything you’ve read or watched on this learning disability. That’s it! If you’d like to use my Email Template, you can download it in this post. It can easily be modified to include additional or alternative learning disabilities, or your older student can modify it to send to their teachers. This template is available for paid Substack subscribers. Thank you for supporting my dyscalculia advocacy work! I hope this helps make this task a bit more doable for you. Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section. You can also post any helpful or unhelpful responses you receive from these communications, and share this process with other families in the same boat. Your dyscalculia guide, Laura Jackson New to Discovering Dyscalculia? I’m Laura M. Jackson, parent, author, and dyscalculia specialist supporting families, educators, students, and adults in their journey with dyscalculia. I write and speak for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support on Substack and on DiscoveringDyscalculia.com. Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

  5. 13 Aug

    Graduation, Summer Math, Math Guide | June News 2026

    June News: Graduation, Summer Math, Parenting Podcast, Math GuideMonthly Dyscalculia Newsletter | June 2026 This is your monthly newsletter with the latest in dyscalculia awareness, education, and support.  In this month’s issue: Graduation Summer Number-Sense Lessons  Impact Parenting Podcast Guide to Math Education - now on Substack Laura’s Latest Writing GraduationMy oldest daughter is graduating from high school, and our family is in the middle of ceremonies, award nights, and celebrations. It’s been a sweet time recognizing the talents, interests, and accomplishments of her high school experience; she qualified and sailed at two national sailing competitions (the only girl on her team), received several awards and scholarships for her visual art, and attained top grades even with the complication of having a under-supported learning disability. Friends tried to warn me how busy this season would be, but I had no realistic idea of what they meant. It’s not only the numerous extra events on the calendar, but the big and small decisions to be made, random checklist to finish, and all this while in a mixer of swirling emotions – for weeks and weeks. Parenting this daughter began with her infant heart surgery, then navigating life with severe food allergies, asthma, and a little-known learning disability, on top of all the regular parenting struggles. It was not easy. But also, parenting both our girls has been one of the most rewarding and wonderful experiences of my life. This June, I am a messy mix of gratitude and love for this amazing young woman – her depth, emotional intelligence, confidence, creativity, connection, her wisdom beyond her years, her curiosity, and her passion.  And I am grieving the loss of her launching. I’ll miss the daily life interactions, hearing what’s she’s thinking, dreaming, doing, and musing about; her request for a hug while I’m loading the dishwasher. It’s a bitter-sweet season. Sometimes I can’t discern if my tears are from love and pride, or from sadness and grief. Like I said, it all swirls together. It is new, unknown, and more complicated than I’d like it to be. Summer Number-Sense Are you looking for a realistic and doable math plan for your struggling student this summer? If so, I have a great option for you! This summer I am offering another Summer Number-Sense lesson plans and group for parents and educators. This is specifically to support students with dyscalculia who are struggling with basic number-sense. I’ll provide you with six weeks of step-by-step lesson plans, games, and activities + live group coaching. This program is engaging, educational, and dare I say, fun?! “This has been fantastic! I love the prepared lessons. I don’t have any other feedback other than I want to keep going with this... It’s much easier for me to tutor them with this activity based math vs. taking them to someone else.” - parent from last cohort New Podcast on Impact Parenting I enjoyed talking with Elaine Taylor-Klaus about dyscalculia and hope you find this interview informative and helpful. This one is great to share with teachers and family members who are just learning about dyscalculia. iTunes  Spotify  YouTube  Apple Guide to Math Education for DyscalculiaThe Guide to Math Education for Dyscalculia is now available on Substack. It includes 16 articles with pictures, links, and downloadable pdfs, all about how to teach math for students struggling with dyscalculia. This resource is for parents and educators. The guide and ongoing Substack membership is a great way to provide continuing education and professional development for your school’s team. Subscriptions of 5 or more receive a 20% discount. Reach out to me for details, or to preview the content for your school staff.  To access the guide, start here: Guide to Math Education for Dyscalculia Laura’s Latest Writing on DyscalculiaHere are some of my latest written pieces on dyscalculia inside Substack. For Free Subscribers: Our Story Exploring Math for Dyscalculia April News: Dyscalculia on Netflix, Adult Lens, New Podcast, Parent Guide For Paid Subscribers: Top 10 Multisensory Math Tools for DyscalculiaTop 6 Accommodations for DyscalculiaRecommended Books for Math LessonsPlanning the Frequency and Timing for Math LessonsBooks & Websites for Games, Activities, and WorksheetsNew to Discovering Dyscalculia? I’m Laura M. Jackson, parent, author, and dyscalculia specialist supporting families, educators, students, and adults in their journey with dyscalculia. I write and speak for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here on Substack and on DiscoveringDyscalculia.com. Looking for further dyscalculia support and resources? 🧭 Book a 1:1 dyscalculia consult call 📖 Read my book 🧑‍💻 Check out the Discovering Dyscalculia website Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

  6. 11 Aug

    Calendar Help. How I Write. How to Pronounce Dyscalculia | 2026 Newsletter

    January News: How I write on dyscalculia. How to pronounce it. Upcoming Dyscalculia Day Events. Hello, New Year greetings! This is your Discovering Dyscalculia monthly newsletter with the latest in dyscalculia awareness, education, and support. In this month’s issue:Writing on Substack means more resources for you! How to say dyscalculia – help from a children’s book How I write on dyscalculia Download the 2026 calendar for dyscalculia Book review Dyscalculia Day Events I’m Writing on SubstackI have just transitioned this newsletter to Substack, an online newsletter platform. What does this mean for you? Through Substack you can sign up for more than just this free monthly newsletter. Receive extra resources and support as a paid subscriber, including: Exclusive content. Twice a month, receive a personal email post with a downloadable PDF, audio recording, email template, or guidance - something to help you on your dyscalculia journey. Community and connection. Ask questions and join the discussion to connect with me and others around dyscalculia. Full archives of dyscalculia resources. Access all the resources in past newsletters and exclusive content posts. I am so grateful for your support and commitment to spreading dyscalculia awareness, education, and support. How to Say Dyscalculia – help from a children’s bookIn The Dafoompah and Me: a Story for Children with Dyscalculia, author and psychologist Dr. Brennan Whitley provides a helpful tip on how to say dyscalculia. Dr. Whitley breaks this complicated word down in this way:  “DYS (rhymes with miss) – CAL (rhymes with pal) – CULIA (rhymes with Julia)”  I have found this so helpful in guiding others on how to pronounce it correctly and confidently. To learn more about Dr. Brennan Whitley, author of this imaginative children’s book, check out this YouTube interview. Dr. Whitley talks about her journey discovering her own dyscalculia and the work she does supporting students with learning disabilities.  How I Write on DyscalculiaHere are some of my latest written pieces on dyscalculia. Each article is written fully by me, on my laptop, usually with a short extra-hot latte on my desk. I like to print out my drafts to edit with pen and paper, and then my husband does the final edit of each piece. Old school, real person writing. My husband joked that I write with BI (biological intelligence) rather than AI. To the Tired Parent Raising a Child with Learning Disabilities. In this piece I share about how exhausting it can be to support a child with learning disabilities, while offering some hope and encouragement as well. I tell of a recent moment of success our family celebrated in our current journey with dyscalculia.Let’s Talk about Learning Strategies for Dyscalculia. This is a written piece and audio recording from my paid product, the Audio Guide to Math Education for Dyscalculia and helpful for parents and teachers who want to know how to help struggling students succeed in the math classroom.Why Calendars are Problematic + Downloadable PDF Calendar. While this post is for all, paid subscribers can download the printable PDF of my daughter’s calendar in this article. Use it to help your student better understand calendars this new year. 2026 Calendar and Planner for DyscalculiaDo you ever wonder why your child asks you when something will happen instead of just checking the calendar? Or why your student resists using a planner to organize their schoolwork? If your student is dyscalculic, their ability to understand and successfully use a calendar as a tool is impacted by their dyscalculia. Using her own experience, my dyscalculic daughter redesigned a calendar so it would make more sense for dyscalculic minds. She uses this calendar as her daily planner to track due dates for schoolwork, appointments, and events. I use it as our family wall calendar for easy reference for our whole family. The feedback from other dyscalculics is that it has been immensely helpful for them! Learn more about her calendar in this free post on Substack. Paid subscribers can download her 2026 Calendar and Planner for themselves. Book ReviewThank you to a parent from Thailand who wrote me this week and had this to say about my book:  “You have written a hands-on story, very relatable…Your book is like a roadmap for us parents…Your book was the best starting point ever.”  I’m honored to hear how the book is helping families around the world. If you haven’t read it yet, get your copy here. It’s a short, easy read packed with helpful information and relatable stories. Dyscalculia Day 2026 EventsDyscalculia Day is coming up in March! The Dyscalculia Network UK hosts this global annual event for parents, educators, and dyscalculic individuals. There are separate days for each specific group so you can register for whichever is of most interest to you – for Teachers, Parents, or Adults. Because of the time zone difference, I register each year and listen to the replays. Learn more and register on the Dyscalculia Network website.  Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter!  To connect more often than monthly, or access exclusive dyscalculia resources, become a paid subscriber here on Substack. Visit my website for my blog, book, speaking events, or consulting services. Your dyscalculia specialist and guide, Laura M. Jackson Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

  7. 10 Aug

    Take the Stress Out of School Planning | August News

    August News: Just 3 things this summerMonthly Dyscalculia Newsletter | August 2026 Hello Discovering Dyscalculia Community! This summer I’ve been at my desk a lot less and outside a lot more soaking up time with my girls before my oldest daughter heads off to college. It is a big shift coming up for our family, and I’m trying to give space for this important time. So, this newsletter edition is short and sweet with just a few things I don’t want you to miss! In this month’s short issue: Take the Stress out of School Planning Last Day for Global Math Intervention Summit - get the pass! Professional Development for Teachers Take the Stress Out of School Year PlanningSchool is starting soon, and I know well the overwhelm that can quickly rise in your chest as a parent. It’s so much work to set up adequate supports for your child, especially when you aren’t sure what they really need.  I’ve tried a lot of things in the past 10 years with my own daughter, and have worked with hundreds of other families navigating these same challenges. If you are looking for help, I would love to help make this easier for you. My top recommendation is to utilize the resources available to you as a paid subscriber to my Discovering Dyscalculia Substack and Resource Library because there are several things inside that will save you hours of time and loads of energy: Email Template: How to Write an Email to Teachers about Your Child’s Learning Disability. Use this email template to save you hours of work. Send this to all teachers, principals, and coaches. Tutor Inquiry Form: Ask These 5 Questions When Hiring a Math TutorUse this downloadable PDF to know what questions to ask and the responses you want to hear. Accommodations List and Information. There are several articles on accommodations for 504s, IEPs, SLPs and homeschool supports. Search for “Accommodations” in the search bar for resources on choosing supports, favorites for dyscalculia, involving your student, and more. Homeschooling Math? I’ve got you. Inside you’ll find detailed info on what books to use for lessons, favorite multisensory tools, how to structure your time, where to start your lessons, and much more.  To access these resources and more, click on the Subscribe button and Choose a Paid Subscription option. A paid subscription is $15 a month, or pay $150 for a full year of supports and resources. Global Math Intervention Summit - TODAY!Today, Saturday, August 8 is the last day of the Global Math Intervention Summit! This is for educators and parents on the topic of specific math intervention for students struggling in math due to dyscalculia, dyslexia, and ADHD.  There is still time to sign up to watch today’s speakers for free, or sign up for the All-Access Pass to watch or listen to all speakers from the 3-day event, including my own interview with Adrianne Meldrum. The All-Access Pass is high value for what you get: one-year access to session recordings and private podcast, a workbook, and more. Sign up here: https://resources.madeformath.com/global-math-intervention-summit?wpam_id=5 P.S. This summit is hosted by my friends at Made for Math. If you join the Summit with this link, I receive a portion of the proceeds from your All-Access pass purchased. Made for Math is also donating a portion of proceeds to math intervention research.  Teacher Professional DevelopmentLooking for professional development for your teaching team? Consider providing them with a year membership to Discovering Dyscalculia on Substack! Your teachers will receive a monthly newsletter with the latest on dyscalculia research, information, and resources, plus two additional articles on dyscalculia per month, access to a library of information including my Guide to Math Education for Dyscalculia series, and personalized support in the community through comments, questions, and chat threads with me. At only $150 per year, or $15 per month, this professional development is an affordable resource for educators. Teachers can learn in bite-size increments by reading articles, listening to audio recordings, or downloading pdf resources, all available as they need it. Purchase 5 or more subscriptions and receive a 20% discount on all subscriptions.  Parents - give your teacher the gift of dyscalculia trainingHave a teacher who you know would like to learn more but doesn’t have time to join a course? Give your teacher the gift of ongoing dyscalculia education through a gift subscription to the Discovering Dyscalculia Substack.  I’ll show up in their email inbox at least 3 times per month with resources and education on dyscalculia, so you don’t have to be a squeaky wheel and remember to send them resources and information throughout the year. Let me take care of that for you. Laura’s Latest WritingHere are some of my latest written pieces on dyscalculia inside Substack. For All Subscribers (Free and Paid): Welcome to My Substack | Start Here! July News: Math Summit, New Tween Book, Dyscalculia Resource Library For Paid Subscribers Only: How to Ensure Accommodations are Implemented in the Classroom Times Tables Ask These 5 Questions When Hiring a Math Tutor  Thank you so much for joining this community! Your dyscalculia advocate and guide, Laura Jackson New to Discovering Dyscalculia? I’m Laura M. Jackson, parent, author, and dyscalculia specialist supporting families, educators, students, and adults in their journey with dyscalculia. I write and speak for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support on Substack and at  DiscoveringDyscalculia.com. Looking for further dyscalculia support and resources? Book a 1:1 dyscalculia consult call Read my book Check out the Discovering Dyscalculia website Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

  8. 03/12/2025

    Butterworth Interview, Georgia Tech Research, Substack Recommendation

    Hello Everyone, November greetings to you. This newsletter contains the latest news in dyscalculia awareness, education, and supports.  In this month’s issue: Interview with Brian ButterworthGeorgia Tech Student ResearchHomeschooling a Child with Math ChallengesSubstack RecommendationsThe Learning Disabilities Association of America's (LDA) Statement Introduction to Math Education for DyscalculiaBook Review RequestInterview with Brian Butterworth As you know, Brian Butterworth is my favorite dyscalculia researcher and advocate for dyscalculia awareness, and the 2nd Edition of his book, Dyscalculia: From Science to Education, was published this fall. In this new blog post, I asked Brian a few questions about this new edition and the state of the world's recognition, research, and policy changes regarding dyscalculia. Check out this interview blog post here.​ Georgia Tech Student Research Project I recently met with some students at Georgia Tech who are doing a research project on dyscalculia and interviewing people in the field. They are looking for students who would be willing to share their experience in school as part of their data collection. If you are interested in helping with this research project in this way, please let me know and I will put in touch with the students there. Your student's participation could be an exciting part of critical research to move dyscalculia awareness forward! Reply to me from this newsletter if you'd like to participate. Homeschooling a Child with Math Challenges In GHF's October edition of their monthly publication, Journey, I wrote an article about homeschooling my daughter's math class.  It's been almost four years since GHF Press published my book, Discovering Dyscalculia, and so much has happened since then. I finished the book when we had just started exploring the new math education strategies we learned from UK dyscalculia experts. This article shares what happened as my daughter went through middle school math at home and then transitioned to public high school. Whether or not you are home-educating your student, you will find this story encouraging for your own journey. Read the article here. Substack Recommendation Are you joining the masses on Substack? If so, I have a subscription recommendation for you! Follow On Dyscalculia for thoughtfully researched and articulated pieces on dyscalculia and its impact on everyday life. Sasu Laukkanen is an adult with lived experience who is raising dyscalculia awareness and bringing to light the unique mental health issues dyscalculic individuals face. Check out the most recent post, "Rethinking numeracy: the hidden story behind dyscalculia."​ Statement by The Learning Disabilities Association of America's (LDA) The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) has made a statement about their stance on the termination of Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) staff. Join them and over 60 other national organizations requesting that Congress work to protect our students with disabilities and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Read and share their statement here. As a member of the LDA, I recommend joining their membership to support their ongoing efforts in learning disability advocacy. Membership is only $55 a year, and in exchange for the financial support, the LDA provides members with free trainings and resources. Learn more about LDA membership.​ Introduction to Math Education for Dyscalculia Since 2017 I've been learning from experts like Brian Butterworth, Dorian Yeo, Ronit Bird, Jane Emerson, Steve Chinn, Patricia Babtie, Eva Grauberg, the Dyscalculia Network, and others on how to teach math for students with dyscalculia.  I have compiled these past years of reading, collaboration, and experience into an easy-to-listen audio guide for parents, teachers, and psychologists. Learn about effective teaching strategies, number-sense growth, learning materials, accommodations, and more in my Audio Guide to Math Education for Dyscalculia.​ Book Review Request If you have read my book and found it helpful, would you be willing to leave a 5-star review on Amazon? Your positive review will help other individuals and families find this support for their own journey. Thank you for helping me and others out in this way! Write a short review ​Stay tuned for next month's newsletter! To learn about other ways to engage, please check out my website, blog, parent page, teacher page, and podcast.  Your dyscalculia specialist and guide, Laura Jackson Discovering Dyscalculia website Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter for dyscalculia awareness, education, and support here.

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Discovering Dyscalculia | The Podcast is a resource and support for those with a learning disability in math. Author, dyscalculia consultant, and parent Laura M. Jackson, shares engaging interviews, monthly newsletters, and her own personal journey of supporting a child with this little-known learning disability.

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