Purposeful Use of High-Leverage Practices to Teach Number Sense

Abstract

High-leverage practices are essential components of specially designed instruction required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. High-leverage practices such as explicit instruction and use of instructional and assistive technology have research evidence demonstrating their effectiveness when teaching students with learning and other disabilities. Although high-leverage practices are appropriate for many content areas, this article illustrates their use when teaching number sense. Number sense involves fluidity with (a) estimating and naming quantities, (b) evaluating accuracy of answers, (c) calculating mentally, and (d) drawing or representing problems. Development of number sense predicts later math achievement for students with and at risk for learning disabilities, making it an essential skill for teachers to address. Peppering common number sense activities with high-leverage practices enhances their impact for students with learning disabilities.