Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 

Resource: Daily Herald

MELISSA MAYNTZ - North County Staff
Some students fear it, others dread it. It balances checkbooks, tabulates bills, measures for recipes and keeps sports scores. It's math, and for many students, it's their most difficult and confusing subject.

At the Dyslexia Testing and Learning Center in Pleasant Grove, however, math is welcomed, not feared.

In addition to offering assessment and treatment programs for individuals with dyslexia, a reading disorder, the Center now offers basic math tutoring and treatment for dyscalcula.

Dyscalcula is a processing disorder that creates math difficulties, inhibiting a student's ability to transfer information between long and short term memories.

"They forget easily," said Dennis Davis, owner of Dyslexia TLC.

"That's why they panic. Through our individualized instruction, we can stop and go back to whatever they need help with."

The early signs of dyscalcula include seeing reversed numbers or unintentionally swapping digits, such as confusing 18 with 81. Students with dyscalcula may be one to two years behind their peers in basic math skills.

"If they don't have the basics, they just can't do it," said Evelyn Fannin, Dyslexia TLC's math tutor.

A former elementary and junior high teacher, Fannin has more than 30 years of experience dealing with math difficulties and how to effectively teach students the basics.

Because many students naturally have difficulty with math, dyscalcula is often overlooked in schools. Fannin saw many of her students having problems, and throughout the years she developed a fun and efficient tutoring program to enhance their learning ability.

"In about five minutes I can teach them times tables," said Fannin. "I'm giving them the memory clues to remember."

Fannin's program involves a series of charts, tables and mathematical games that start with basic calculations and progress to more difficult levels. She focuses on one number at a time, such as multiplying by six, and helps students not only learn the basic functions, but also how to use their new knowledge in a variety of ways and to see the numeric relationship from different perspectives.

Fannin's workbooks include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, measurements, ratios and roman numerals, with multiple methods for each function. The workbooks are designed to be tools, giving students reference charts and building up their skills in a self-paced, adaptable program.

Bright colors and fun images make the tutoring a game, while oversized grids keep numbers lined up for proper calculation. Each activity book is coated to be used with wipe-off pens for frequent reuse and practice, allowing students to continue the activities at home.

"The key to a child's success," said Davis, "is using the people around them who care."

Fannin became a part of Dyslexia TLC's program after teaching community education classes using her workbooks, and now she works with approximately ten students at the Center, helping them with math difficulties. While many students demonstrate dyscalcula tendencies in early elementary school, her program will work for any grade level and any age.

"If they have problems," said Fannin, "I teach them."

"Don't wait until they hate math," agreed Davis. Students typically attend one or two 45-minute lessons per week, and it takes from three to six months to complete the math program. Fannin said she has seen her students improve as many as four grade levels in math ability by the end of her tutoring.

To learn more about dyscalcula and Fannin's innovative tutoring program, contact Dyslexia TLC from 9-5 on weekdays at 26 S. Main St. or call the center at 785-6094.