Mar 24 2014
help for dyscalculia


Feb 5 2014
Classroom Packs Now Available in our New Online Shop
Buy Now and Get Up to 15% Off!
Over Christmas we launched a new online shop on our Beat Dyscalculia site (and already we’ve had enquiries and orders from Zambia and Australia!). In response to feedback from some of the schools we’re working with (several of whom are now using Beat Dyscalculia with whole classes to deliver the numeracy curriculum), we’ve now added a selection of Classroom Packs. These are designed to extend the Beat Dyscalculia packs so that you can work with groups of children from small groups to whole classes. Each pack contains:
- Beat Dyscalculia Box 1,
- 101 More Ways with Addacus book,
- extra Addacus machines,
- extra Discovery Packs
We’ve created packs with the right number of resources for either 3, 6 or 10 pupils, at a discounted price (compared to buying each item separately). Several packs can be bought together to make up the right number for your class.
We’ll be adding Classroom Packs for Boxes 2 and 3 shortly.
And we’ve now added all 6 Beat Dyslexia books (our original step-by-step, multi-sensory programme!), which, as the authors, we’re allowed to sell at a very competitive price!
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact us.
The Shop
The shop also currently sells our main items:
- each of the three Beat Dyscalculia packs,
- extra Addacus machines and Beat Dyscalculia workbooks
- Discovery Packs (designed to give you a taste of the Beat Dyscalculia programme before you buy)
- and 101 More Ways with Addacus (designed to give you more ideas once you’ve bought a pack).
Payments can be made via credit card or PayPal.
We’ll be adding more items in due course, but in the meantime, if you’re interested in buying anything that isn’t listed, please contact us.
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, Beat Dyscalculia Special Offers • 0 • Tags: Addacus, Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia Classroom Packs, Beat Dyscalculia multi-sensory programme, Beat Dyscalculia Shop, Beat Dyscalculia Special Offers, Beat Dyscalculia the complete maths programme in a box, Dyscalculia, help for dyscalculia, maths intervention, Multi-sensory maths, numeracy problems, remedial maths programme

Jan 22 2014
Beat Dyscalculia Training Videos Coming Soon!
We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who volunteered their services (including Vicky McKinnell and Farnley Tyas First School, Allison Deighton and Bowling Green Primary School, Cassandra Rei from Laidlaw Hall, Amita Shah, and Sheila Capewell) and helped to make the filming of our training videos a big success last week. In particular, we’d like to thank Jo Liversidge and Betty Stathers from Nature’s Footprints Forest Play and Education CIC, and Helen Collier, Specialist Speech and Language teacher, who feature in the videos with Celia.
Altogether we filmed 12 short videos, covering all the essential elements of the Beat Dyscalculia kits (including stringalongs, the Addacus, rainbow numbers etc.) and how to use them, plus how to use the resources to teach key topics such as time, times tables, fractions and decimals, and money.
The videos are designed to work together as a course to supplement the classroom-based training courses that we offer, or as a refresher for schools who’ve had some training or who need to train up additional members of staff.
The videos will be available along with other downloadable resources via our website shortly.
Please contact us if you’d like to know more or alternatively, you can find out about our classroom-based training and packages of resources and training.
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, Beat Dyscalculia Training • 0 • Tags: Addacus, Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia multi-sensory programme, Beat Dyscalculia the complete maths programme in a box, Beat Dyscalculia Training, Celia Stone, help for dyscalculia, maths intervention, remedial maths programme

Nov 13 2013
Case Study: Using Beat Dyscalculia To Plug Gaps in Numeracy Learning
In recent months, a number of schools have approached us who are in the process of reviewing the whole of their maths provision and are looking for a new way of teaching numeracy. Even though our products work as an effective intervention (and we’ve chosen to call our kits, ‘Beat Dyscalculia), our multi-sensory approach works for any child and learning style and makes sure that children have a good understanding of number concepts rather than just learning by rote. And our boxes fit with the new National Curriculum in Numeracy which will be brought in in 2014. (Read more here)
Here’s a recent case study from Helen Cusack, Head Teacher of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Birmingham:
Rationale
In St. Mary’s, the learning of early mathematics had been characterised by the children engaging with a ‘coded system’ of digits and numbers before gaining a solid grasp of number. Despite much discussion and in spite of some very high results at both KS1 and especially at KS2 there was a growing concern about the quality of real grasp of number amongst our youngest pupils. Believing that concrete and visual learning are necessary before abstract learning can develop we decided to purchase Beat Dyscalculia from Addacus to strengthen this gap.
Training
All teachers and teaching assistants have undergone 6 hours of training, led by facilitator Celia Stone, who developed these resources.
The training offered the staff the opportunity to use all of the equipment and to be taken through Books 1, 2 and 3 very methodically with opportunities to try out some of the pupil exercises, to reflect on the inter relationships between the cards, strips and Addacus (e.g. colour coding) and to discuss what constituted a solid grasp of the number 3(i.e. the ‘threeness’ of three) or 10 or 100.
The staff have been absolutely on board with the philosophy of Beat Dyscalculia from Addacus and are in the process of reformulating their own thinking and teaching of maths. It has become a ‘hot topic’ in the staffroom and the professional support and discussions are truly wonderful. To this end, it has been a very unifying experience.
The staff has piloted the scheme in several year groups. Some of their comments highlight the gaps in numerosity and mathematical understanding of the children as well as raising questions on how best to employ the resources – how to assess which children need it most.
Year 5:
“The children enjoy using the equipment. Its logical links of colour and shape to number digits and dot cards make it easier for children to “see” the quantities they are asked to work with and compare one number with another to answer questions such as, “What is 1 more or less than this number?” The children’s vocabulary has been strengthened by the short narratives about the number 1, 2 and 3 and they enjoy using such vocabulary as “unique, solitary, pair, twin, trio” and they have told their own stories using similar terminology.
One difficulty that has emerged for these children is the use of the symbol =; the word cards help to explain this means “is” but the children also need to know that the balance between both sides of an equation should have the same value though may have a different appearance.”
To find out more about Beat Dyscalculia or to book training for your school, please contact us.
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, front page • 0 • Tags: Addacus, Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia Case Studies, Beat Dyscalculia multi-sensory programme, Beat Dyscalculia Reviews, Beat Dyscalculia Testimonials, Beat Dyscalculia the complete maths programme in a box, Beat Dyscalculia Training, Celia Stone, changes to maths curriculum, changes to numeracy curriculum, Dyscalculia, help for dyscalculia, new national curriculum in numeracy, new national curriculum maths, numeracy problems, St Mary's Catholic Primary School Birmingham

May 20 2013
New Pupil Premium Offers
Our Pupil Premium special offers have now been updated to reflect the increase in the premiums from £600 to £900 per pupil on free school meals.
We’re now offering:
- 3 boxes of your choice, plus a half day’s training for up to 20 teachers and teaching assistants, for the cost of 1 Pupil Premium (£900*)
- 9 boxes of your choice, and 2 half days’ training for up to 20 teachers and teaching assistants, for the cost of 2 Pupil Premiums (£1800*)
(* plus reasonable travel expenses up to a maximum of £250, as required.)
Benefits include:
- Fully measurable and proven results
- Accountability for Ofsted or other reporting
- A programme and training that can be used throughout the school
- An effective intervention strategy or different way to support class learning as part of the standard curriculum
- Works for any child but particularly for children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism and other learning difficulties
To find out more and order your Pupil Premium Package call us now on 01943 871 902 or email c.stone@addacus.co.uk quoting PPOFFEROCT13
For further information about Beat Dyscalculia see our website and to find out what’s included in each pack see our how to buy section.
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, Beat Dyscalculia Special Offers • 1 • Tags: Beat Dyscalculia, Dyscalculia, help for dyscalculia, numeracy problems, Pupil Premium

Nov 13 2013
More Things To Do With Your Pack 2 Resources: Card Games
Five Games for Playing with Hedgehog Number Cards
Here are some additional games to play with your Hedgehog Cards from Beat Dyscalculia Pack 2. These are designed to build confidence, check understanding, and let children get used to playing with and using numbers and help them practise:
- Recognition of numbers 1 to 100
- Reading numbers in ascending, descending and random order
- Basic functions
- Times tables
- Mental maths
- Numeracy language, speaking and listening
GAME ONE
- Deal 10 cards to each child, one gets numbers 1 to 10; the next numbers 11 to 20, the next 21 to 30 etc.
- Ask children to:
- Arrange and read the cards in ascending order
- Arrange and read the cards in descending order
- Shuffle the cards and read in random order
- Place shuffled cards face-down on the table and on the signal, pick up cards, read them and place them in the approximate position which will enable the whole set to be arranged in ascending order
3. Swap cards with someone and repeat
GAME TWO
As game one, but use cards that are not in sequence (e.g. 7, 18, 35, 68, 12, 49, 3, 55, 74, 92)
GAME THREE
- Choose a selection of cards, depending on the ability of the child (e.g. numbers 1 to 10 or 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or the teen numbers or a random selection of higher numbers) and place them in a stack in the middle of the table.
- Prepare another pack of “challenge” cards (which reflect the stage and ability of the child or children), with functions on them such as:
3. Deal a hedgehog card to each child.
4. Turn over the first challenge card
5. Children work out their answer and then indicate when they have it.
6. Pupils get 1 point for a correct answer and an extra point for speed.
7. When pupils have worked through these they can be shuffled and turned over and the game can continue
GAME FOUR
- Use numbers 1 to 10 or 12 to practice times tables using times tables cards (as demonstrated at the front of Book Two)
GAME FIVE
- Arrange the cards from 1 to 20 in order, 1 to 10 on the first row and 11 to 20 on the second row (can be done up to 24 if required)
- Children now pick up the multiples of 2 (i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc) and arrange them in order across the table
- Pointing to the 2 they say 1 two is 2; 2 twos are 4 etc
- Next they scatter them on the table at random and the teacher asks, “How many twos in 8?” etc
- Repeat for other multiplication tables using additional rows of numbers (e.g. for x4 your will need the numbers 1 to 40, or 48 if doing 12×4)
To find out more about Beat Dyscalculia or to get more ideas or training. Please contact us.
By lisa kendrick • About Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia Tips • 0 • Tags: Addacus, Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia multi-sensory programme, Beat Dyscalculia Pack 2, Beat Dyscalculia the complete maths programme in a box, Beat Dyscalculia Tips, Beat Dyscalculia Training, Celia Stone, help for dyscalculia, maths intervention, Multi-sensory maths, numeracy problems
Oct 24 2013
Problems with filling in the missing number questions
I have been thinking again about problems with the empty box calculations and came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to practise with the children using the reading pack sentence cards and a blank card to replace the empty box, before giving them the written work. This would get them prepared.
So when making sentences you would do lots of:
2+3=5; 3+2=5; 5=3+2; 5=2+3
Now place the blank card on top of one of the numbers and say, “What am I hiding?”
“What is the “something” under here?”
2+?(blank card;) =5; ?+3=5; 5=3+?; 5= ?+2; ? =2+3 ?=3+2
Follow with
5-3=2 5-2=3 3=5-2 2=5-3
5- ? =2 5-?=3 3=?-2 2=?-3
Then progress to the written exercises in the book
Just thought of that!! It’s hot off the press!!
So I hope it helps.
By Celia Stone • About Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia News, Beat Dyscalculia Tips, Celia Stone • 0 • Tags: Addacus, Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia multi-sensory programme, Beat Dyscalculia the complete maths programme in a box, Beat Dyscalculia Tips, Celia Stone, empty box calculations, help for dyscalculia, missing number problems, Multi-sensory maths, numeracy problems

Jul 18 2013
Schools Use Beat Dyscalculia To Get Ready for the New Curriculum in Numeracy
Since the announcement of the new national curriculum from September 2014, schools have been contacting us about using Beat Dyscalculia as the basis of their numeracy teaching.
Beat Dyscalculia uses a multi-sensory approach which appeals to a wide range of children and caters to their different learning styles. It creates solid foundations, and then allows children to build on that knowledge at their own pace, by using repetition, and using a specially designed set of tools to explore and visualise numbers, and use for problem solving.
Beat Dyscalculia Founder and Creator, Celia Stone said, ‘Our programme focusses on teaching the language of numbers which is one of the key elements of the new national curriculum. Although, it has been designed to help children who are struggling with maths and number concepts, our evidence shows that it works for any children by working in small achievable steps, letting them use different tools and methods for to explore the same ideas and functions, and allowing to work at a speed that suits them. We think it’s ideal for introducing ideas like fractions and times tables at a younger age, as the new maths framework proposes.’
In particular, Beat Dyscalculia puts an emphasis on maths vocabulary, understanding each number, number bonds and place value. The course comes in 3 boxes and uses colour, shape, sound and touch to progressively build understanding and covers:
- Numbers from 0 to 999
- The concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- The language of numeracy
- Place value, fractions and decimals
- Money, time, and times tables
Special Offer:
Order before the end of term and get
-
the full Beat Dyscalculia programme – 3 boxes, plus training for just £900 (the equivalent of 1 Pupil Premium)
-
or 3 full sets (9 boxes) plus training for just £1800 (the equivalent of 2 Pupil Premiums)
To find out more and order your package:
-
Call us now on 01943 871 902
-
or email c.stone@addacus.co.uk
quoting PPOFFERSUMMER13
For more information about our Pupil Premium Special Offers, see New Pupil Premium Offers.
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, Celia Stone • 0 • Tags: Beat Dyscalculia, Celia Stone, changes to maths curriculum, changes to numeracy curriculum, Dyscalculia, help for dyscalculia, national curriculum 2014, New national curriculum, new national curriculum in numeracy, new national curriculum maths, numeracy problems, Pupil Premium

Jun 3 2013
New Offers from Beat Dyscalculia for Secondary Schools
Fun Numeracy Ideas for Pupil Premium Summer Schools and Year 7 Catch-Up Initiatives.
OUR MULTI-SENSORY MATHS PROGRAMME PACKAGES GIVE YOU:
- Everything you need in a single box to provide fun educational activities for Summer Schools or Catch-Up Initiatives for the cost of a single premium
- 3 box levels progressively work through from basic number concepts through to working with 3-figure numbers, fractions, decimals, times tables etc
- Package includes full multi-sensory teaching programme plus staff training
-
Ideal as an intervention programme for children with SEN and for providing differentiated learning.
- Reported average improvements have been 1.5 sub-levels in 10 weeks
Choose from our 3 Pupil Premium and Catch-Up Premium Offers:
- Use 1 Summer School Premium or Year 7 Catch-Up Premium (£500*) and get 1 box of your choice plus a half day’s training for up to 10 teachers and teaching assistants
- Use 1 Pupil Premium (£900*) and get 3 boxes of your choice plus a half day’s training for up to 20 teachers and teaching assistants
- Use 2 Pupil Premiums (£1800*) and get 9 boxes of your choice and 2 half days’ training for up to 20 teachers and teaching assistants
(* plus reasonable travel expenses up to a maximum of £250, as required.)
To Find Out More and Order Your Pupil Premium Package
Call us now on 01943 871 902
or email c.stone@addacus.co.uk
quoting PPOFFERSUMMER13
Offer Expires: 19th July 2013
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, Beat Dyscalculia Special Offers • 0 • Tags: Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia for Secondary Schools, Dyscalculia, help for dyscalculia, numeracy problems, Pupil Premium, Pupil Premium Summer Schools, Year 7 Catch-Up Premium
Jun 5 2014
Beat Dyscalculia Video Training Available Now
Once you’ve bought your Beat Dyscalculia packs we want you to be able to get the most from them, and so we’ve created a video training course that goes through all the essential elements (such as the Addacus and Number Strips) and looks at how to use the resources to teach certain key topics (such as time and times tables). The course is designed so that you can work your way through it, from start to finish, in your own time, or you can dip in and out to refresh your memory. Ideally, we’d recommend that you use the videos to supplement the face to face classroom training that we offer (with our founder and creator, Celia Stone), and as an additional training tool for you and your colleagues. Find out more about our training packages here.
Beat Dyscalculia Accredited Trainers
However, we’re also starting to create a network of Beat Dyscalculia accredited trainers and would like to hear from you if you are interested in finding out more.
The Videos
Each of the 12 videos was filmed with local teachers who volunteered to be trained by Celia, and were learning about Beat Dyscalculia for the first time. Each one is between about 5 and 15 minutes long and is designed for you to watch and work through the exercises shown for yourself. Key topics and teaching points are highlighted with pop-up captions, and each video is split into sections covering each pack (1, 2 and 3), so that you can find the bits that are relevant to you.
Members’ Area
The videos are available via a new secure Members’ Section of our website for a yearly subscription of £180. This can be bought via our shop. However, you can watch the first video for free here, which gives you an introduction to and overview of the Beat Dyscalculia programme. Once you’ve subscribed, you can access this section whenever you want, as often as you want. Plus we’ll use this section to give you access to other resources such as electronic versions of the CDs and books, training hand-outs, and additional ideas and resources as we create them. Let us know if there’s anything you’d particularly like to see in this section.
Sign up for the training videos and Members’ Area now.
Talk to us about additional training or resources.
By lisa kendrick • Beat Dyscalculia News, Beat Dyscalculia Training, front page, Videos • 0 • Tags: Addacus, Beat Dyscalculia, Beat Dyscalculia multi-sensory programme, Beat Dyscalculia the complete maths programme in a box, Beat Dyscalculia Training, Beat Dyscalculia Training Videos, Celia Stone, help for dyscalculia, maths intervention, numeracy problems, remedial maths programme