Chapter 15 (VBS) - The Exceptional Student

            There are four variables that can influence the math ability of students – cognitive, education, personality factors, and neuropsychological patterns all can have a say in how well or poorly for that matter a student performs in mathematics.  Cognitive factors – the intelligence or cognitive ability of the student, educational factors – the quality or amount of instruction, personality factors – the amount of persistence or self concept towards mathematics, and neuropsychological patterns – issues with perception, memory, or even trauma influence are all things that most people agree happen and is pretty self explanatory.  However, an idea that is completely new to myself is one that is concerned with the developmental arithmetic disorder.  This is a disorder I have never heard of but brings about mixed emotions.  First is relief because I knew there had to be some kind of scientific reasoning as to why there are such large numbers of people who struggle with mathematics.  Second came empathy – although I don’t consider myself a person who has the disorder, I can empathize with those who do, because I know the frustrations and the feelings that come with learning arithmetic.  Thankfully we as educators know that there are tools and methods in which we can help those who are struggling with complications such as the developmental arithmetic disorder.