Are your students struggling with learning math?
Are you struggling with how to best teach math?
Are you wondering what the most effective way to teach math is, if there even is one?
Are you looking for a solution for math interventions that actually works?
Take a deep breath and relax… you are in the right place.
Based on my 10+ years of experience in K-8 math and special education, I strongly believe the reason so many students are struggling with math is because the methods we have traditionally used are misaligned with how the brain actually learns.
Research in the science of math shows that we have an innate ability to subitize, or see small quantities and just know how many there are without counting. This visual ability is housed in the right hemisphere of the brain, while language and symbolic representations are housed in the left hemisphere.
Methods used successfully for decades in teaching students with dyscalculia demonstrate that strengthening this subitizing ability is at the heart of what is needed to develop number sense and further mathematical skills.
Yet most math curriculums are missing the mark! They focus on visual representations that emphasize counting, rather than subitizing, along with a heavy load of language and symbolic forms that do not yet have meaning to students.
Interested in learning more?
Decoding Math
Decoding Math is our signature teacher training program. It begins with laying groundwork in the science of math, dyscalculia, and math learning disabilities, then moves into effective instructional approaches, tools, and methodology for developing number sense, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, and fractions. The training concludes with a deep dive into math assessments, planning effective math interventions, and writing the math-related components of IEPs.
What is Decoding Math? Decoding Math is an approach to instruction that first and foremost is aligned with the science of teaching and learning. Next, it uses effective visual representations and tools like dot patterns and Cuisenaire rods to develop conceptual understanding and efficient strategies. Third, it uses a methodology that is explicit, systematic, multisensory, and cumulative in nature. Put together, this approach can be thought of as Structured Numeracy, similar to Structured Literacy.
Decoding Math training is available for educators, schools and districts through:
- Professional Development (in person or online)
- Online Courses
- A combination of both
Multi-day packages and group rates are available. Contact Becky at becky@lordmath.com or submit this Contact form to receive a service brochure with more information, Decoding Math course group rates, and a questionnaire to provide more details. You can also click here to set up a time to chat, ask questions, and learn more.
About Our Services
Becky Lord offers professional development, online courses, consultations, and coaching services for schools related to the science of math, dyscalculia, and MLD, as well as effective instruction and interventions for students with or without disabilities. Becky can consult on developing math programming for students with learning disabilities or evaluate current programming.
Professional Development
Becky provides professional development to educators in schools and districts on the neuroscience of math, dyscalculia, and math learning disabilities, effective math instruction for all, and the math-related components of special education.
Online Courses
To make this training accessible to all, Becky offers the online self-paced course Decoding Math. The course is intended to teach educators the neuroscience of math, dyscalculia, and math learning disabilities, as well as effective instructional methods and strategies for students in tier 1, 2, and 3.
Coaching & Consulting
Becky offers consultations on school- and district-based math programs, helping schools develop and implement effective math instruction for all students, including those with disabilities. She also provides in-class coaching for teachers, supporting effective instruction for students with dyscalculia or math learning disabilities through observations, modeling lessons, providing feedback, and recommending resources.
Mathemagical™ Structured Numeracy
The Mathemagical™ Structured Numeracy Curriculum provides teachers with daily, sequenced lessons and supporting resources to deliver effective math instruction. Grounded in the Science of Math, it emphasizes multisensory, explicit teaching to build foundational numeracy skills, number sense, and problem-solving abilities.
Interested in inquiring about our services? Submit this Contact form to receive a service brochure with more information and a questionnaire to provide more details. You can also click here to set up a time to chat, ask questions, and learn more.
Testimonials
What people are saying about Becky’s professional development:
“We have been so fortunate to have the opportunity to have Becky provide Professional Development to both Special Education teachers and classroom teachers within the district on two occasions. Her expertise and easy way to relate to teachers and provide a way to problem solve is outstanding! Teachers have asked repeatedly for her to provide more training to them and have stated her training is the best they have ever had. She is so willing to design PD that meets our needs rather than a one size fits all. We look forward to her providing more PD in the near future.”
Sandra Donah, Ed.D.
Director of Student Support
Holyoke Public Schools, MA
“Becky Lord has been a tremendous support and resource to the teachers in our district. Her presentations and knowledge about dyscalculia, the brain, and best practices in teaching mathematics are delivered in an engaging and hands-on way. Teachers walk away not only wanting more but also able to implement newly-learned strategies immediately.”
Janet Donovan and Kristen Parsons
Math Coaches
Gloucester Public Schools, MA
“Becky Lord’s professional development sessions have provided educators with an invaluable understanding of the cognitive processes involved in learning mathematics, bridging the gap between theory and practice. By emphasizing that math is not merely a set of rules and formulas, but a complex cognitive activity that engages various brain functions, she’s helping teachers approach math instruction with a deeper awareness of how students learn.
Another important aspect of her sessions is her focus on dyscalculia, a learning difference that can significantly affect how students approach math. By giving teachers the knowledge to identify signs of dyscalculia early on, she’s ensuring that educators are better equipped to support students who may struggle with math in unique ways. This proactive approach can lead to more personalized and effective interventions, helping students with dyscalculia overcome obstacles and thrive in math.
Overall, Becky Lord’s PD sessions are built around the idea that effective math teaching requires both an understanding of cognitive science and practical strategies that cater to the brain’s natural learning processes. By grounding math instruction in research and providing educators with the right tools and strategies, she’s empowering teachers to create more engaging, inclusive, and effective math experiences for their students.”
Danielle Johnson and Jeannine Hatch
K-5 Math Coaches
Marshfield Public Schools, MA
Interested in chatting? Contact Becky at becky@lordmath.com or submit this Contact form to receive a service brochure with more information, Decoding Math group rates, and a questionnaire to provide more details. You can also click here to set up a time to chat, ask questions, and learn more.