Teaching Math in the Special Education Classroom: Strategies and Success Stories
I’m excited to share this article, which was featured in the December 2024 issue of One Classroom Over™, the digital teacher magazine. In it, I discuss some of my favorite tips and tricks for teaching math in the special education classroom—strategies I rely on every single day with my students.
I hope these ideas inspire and support you in your own teaching journey!
Teaching math in a special education classroom is not for the faint of heart. On any given day, I might find myself teaching PEMDAS (the order of operations) to my higher-level learners while simultaneously working on basic addition within 10 with my struggling students. It requires creativity, patience, and the ability to pivot at a moment’s notice.
Whenever I see teachers in the lounge prepping lessons from the math curriculum, I’ll admit—I feel a twinge of jealousy. Those neatly packaged workbooks and pre-made worksheets seem so convenient. For my students, however, those materials offer little structure or accessibility. While it would be easier to rely on the curriculum as my go-to resource, I’ve come to appreciate the freedom and flexibility of creating customized lessons for my class. This customization not only meets their unique needs but also allows me to incorporate fun and real-world applications into our math instruction.
Here are some of my favorite strategies for teaching math in my grades 3–5 LLD (Learning and Language Disabilities) self-contained classroom.
Playing Cards: My Favorite Teaching Tool
It’s incredible how much math you can teach with a simple deck of playing cards! My students light up when they see me pull out a deck. They have no clue that it’s not just a game– I am reinforcing key math concepts and assessing along the way.
1. Practicing Perimeter and Area
We start by drawing shapes on blank paper—anything from rectangles to octagons. Each student is given the amount of cards to match the sides of their shape, with each card representing the length of a side. We calculate the perimeter together, playing variations of the game: “Who has the smallest perimeter?” or “Who has the largest perimeter?” We will do the same thing for area. The winner might get a sticker or simply bragging rights, but the competition keeps them motivated and excited.
2. Basic Operations
Using cards, we practice addition, subtraction, or multiplication. For example, I’ll deal a set number of cards to each student, and they calculate the total of their cards. The student with the highest number wins, sometimes the student with the lowest number wins- they just never know what I’ll be looking for that day. Playing cards are amazing for your students still learning addition, because they can count the number of each suit on the cards for easy addition.
3. Place Value Fun
Place value games are another hit. I give students blank place value charts and the students use their cards to create the largest (or smallest) number possible. For an added challenge, I assign values to face cards to deepen their critical thinking. This always adds a fun twist to the game- especially when I add in the random wild card!
These games make math hands-on, engaging, and collaborative—exactly what my students need.
Bringing Math to Life with the School Store
Another way I connect math to real-world applications is through our monthly school store. This project, run by our self-contained classes, allows students to practice using money in real-life situations.
Each month, students take turns running the register, giving them hands-on experience with addition and subtraction. I’ll never forget the first time we ran the store; my students were a bit shell-shocked. It was as if all the lessons on quick calculations and “knowing your facts” clicked at that moment.
The school store isn’t just about math; it’s a confidence booster and a tangible way to show students why these skills matter. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for our self contained classes!
Custom Resources for Individual Needs
In my classroom, creating and modifying resources is non-negotiable. I absolutely have to do this in order to address the unique challenges my students face.
For example, a few of my students struggled with two-step word problems. To help them, I designed a resource that broke down the steps in a very simple way. One student was so proud of himself when he mastered the process that he asked to work on these problems every day! Moments like that remind me why I put in the extra effort.
Another common hurdle is aligning numbers correctly in multi-digit problems. Many standard worksheets don’t provide enough workspace, leading to mistakes and frustration. By creating materials with larger workspaces and clear alignment guides, I’ve seen my students’ confidence and accuracy improve dramatically. I am constantly working on creating new materials for my students and I honestly can’t keep up, but I do have a growing collection of math resources and one day, I hope to have everything I need!
The Importance of Manipulatives and Accommodations
Manipulatives are another essential tool in my math instruction. Whether it’s base-ten blocks, fraction tiles, or counters, these hands-on resources make abstract concepts tangible for my students. Manipulatives help bridge the gap between understanding and application, giving students a clearer picture of what’s happening in a math problem.
Accommodations, too, are unique to each student, but critical for their success. Make sure you’re careful to review each student’s IEP and have the accommodations they are entitled to ready to go. For some students, it might mean extra time to complete tasks; for others, it’s providing visual aids or step-by-step instructions, a hundreds chart or graph paper. These small adjustments ensure that every student can engage with the material at their own pace and ability level.
A Final Note
Teaching math in a special education classroom is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s also deeply rewarding. Every day brings new opportunities to be creative, adapt, and celebrate progress—no matter how small. While it may require more effort and creativity, the payoff is worth it when you see your students light up with understanding or pride in their accomplishments.
If you’re looking for ready-made resources to support your math instruction, check out my math resources on Teachers Pay Teachers. My materials are designed with special education students in mind, featuring spacious layouts, visual aids, and scaffolded support. Whether you’re tackling two-step word problems, place value, or basic operations, you’ll find tools that have been tested and loved by my students.
Let’s keep inspiring our students to see math as more than numbers on a page—it’s a gateway to solving real-world problems and unlocking their potential.
