Difficulties in learning mathematics frequently result from prior relationship with the surroundings such as difficulty with orientation in space. Once the child achieves spatial perception, he will be prepared to understand the significance of mathematical operations. If the child does not automatically relate arithmetical operations to the environment, then intensive remediation will be indicated. It will be necessary to review the stages of child development and identify which functions are deficient. The common denominator of all of the stages is the process of transforming an abstract object into something practical. Mathematics is an abstract subject which needs to undergo some processing in order to be practical through the senses.
Understanding of Mathematics depends on understanding four necessary concepts:
- Size- big, little, small, large, long, short, tall, high, low, wide, fat, narrow, thin, deep, broad ,great, light, heavy, etc.
- Amount- few, more, less, least, much, often, fast, slow, all, enough, none, some, many, several, any, etc.
- Placement (Direction)- up, down, around, across, to, from, toward, away, through, top, bottom, close, far, etc.
- Sequence (Distance)- near, far, close, here, there, where, top, bottom, first, last, second, third, next, etc.