You will explore, from a neurocognitive perspective, how young children acquire basic mathematical skills in the elementary school years. Dr. Feifer will explain the specific brain pathways that assist in children being able to recall basic math facts and the order of numbers into sets, calculate multiple-step equations, and tackle word problems. You will also examine the relationship between anxiety and mathematical performance, as well as two critical constructs often overlooked when evaluating students with math difficulty: working memory and executive functions. Dr. Feifer will discuss the three primary ways in which numbers are formatted in the brain and the central role of language to expand upon conceptually ordered number sets. You will come away with a better understanding of math disabilities in children along with some critical assessment techniques for these disabilities and more efficient ways to diagnose and remediate math disorders in children.
This seminar runs from 8:15 am to 2:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham Hotel & Conference Center.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:
• Introduce a neurocognitive educational model of math by identifying three basic subtypes of math disabilities in children and developing targeted intervention strategies for each subtype.
• Explore the role of various neurocognitive processes including language, working memory, visual-spatial functioning, and executive functioning, with respect to math problem-solving ability and quantitative reasoning
• Discover games and activities for your classroom to help teach mathematical concepts and engage students
• Identify the relationship between anxiety and mathematical performance
• Diagnose and remediate math disorders in children
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This seminar will be applicable for special education teachers, elementary education teachers, school psychologists, K-6 math instructors, private psychologist, administrators, and parents.
WORKSHOP LEADER
Steven G. Feifer, DEd, NCSP, ABSNP, has more than 20 years of experience as a school psychologist and is a diplomate in school neuropsychology. He was voted the Maryland School Psychologist of the Year in 2008 and named the National School Psychologist of the Year in 2009. Dr. Feifer has authored seven books on the neuropsychology or learning and emotional disorders in children, as well as two tests, the FAR and the FAM, both published by PAR. He currently assesses children at the Monocacy Neurodevelopmental Center in Frederick, MD.
