Some of these terms you may have encountered during visits with your education psychologist or speech therapist. Children with Down syndrome do not develop these systems naturally therefore we need to maintain this focus so that we can stimulate and encourage this crucial area of development.
2. Abstract Number System
Numerals are abstract without meaning. It is like hearing someone speak in French and you can’t understand a word of it! The abstract nature of our number system makes it impossible to grasp meaning, so accessing the curriculum requires a key to decoding these symbols.
Stern’s Structural arithmetic provides the key, by using two sets of representations of numbers in the form of a series of blocks and a series of patterns for the numbers 1 to 10. This enables them to visibly see the meaning behind numerals. They also enable children to take in information from touch, sight and hearing, through the simple games and activities it motivates the learner and allows the learning to transfer to long-term memory (). At the same time as work continues with gaining understanding of number properties – size, position, order, 10 combinations to 10, and for numbers less than 10. The apparatus is also stimulating the child’s processing systems.
Children work with the Counting Board, the Pattern Boards and the Number boxes 1 – 10
 Every time your child places a block into a board or makes a pattern with cubes we are developing spatial thinking. When searching for a particular sized block from the randomly placed blocks on the table, he/she is also developing his/her ability to discriminate. The very visual impact of the games and by following simple instructions, children are stimulating both their visual and auditory processing ability. Children also develop maths language from demonstration, and action with the equipment. 
We are here to help
Contact us now to see how we can encourage your child to gain maths understanding from our supportive and nurturing programmes 0044(0)1747 861503.
Understanding and using money (supported with Kit A materials) Link
 Once your child has worked through the programme and now knows h/his addition and subtraction facts to 10, we can begin the money strand where pupils will learn to recognise the value of coins up to 10p, 10c, €10 and apply this using their known knowledge of basic addition and subtraction facts to ten.
Can you see how the blocks support this new learning? Pennies are pasted to the cubes with blue-tac, as is a 2p coin, 5p coin and 10p coin on their equivalent blocks. Simple games such as lotto provide practice with coin recognition and their equivalence. If a child forgets or is confused with the value of a coin, simply point to the block below where h/she should be able to tell you its number name, thus connections can be made. After a while you will see that you can remove the blocks and simply use the coins with the games.
Children make up amounts for example 7p by selecting a 5-block and two 1ps or a 2p.
Or 10p with two 5ps or a 5p, two 2ps and a penny. It’s simple, supportive and a fun
way to learn!
If you think our money approach will help your child contact us now on 0044(0)1747 861503
Teen numbers and beyond (This is taught with Kit B apparatus) Link
As your child moves further forward, the focus is now teen numbers, teen facts, 2-place value, adding and subtracting two 2-digit numbers, more money practice is introduced.
Place Value
With the Dual Board we are seeing the structure of tens and units. First the concept is taught, then money is dealt with in a using and applying activities.
By placing ten lots of 10-Blocks each with a 10p (or other currency) into the board, children see that there are ten 10p’s to £1.
Take five 10-blocks stuck together with blue-tac to make a solid block representing 5 tens or 50p.
Two of these solids are equal to £1.
The same applies to introducing 20p supported by two stuck together 10-blocks. Thus five of these 20s equal to £1.
Do you want to teach your child how to tell the time?
Then look at the Charlotte Clock
For teaching content click here
You won’t need anything else
until you need this!
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