Child with autism really struggling to add

[PeaBrazilCoco]

DS is 7. He had a bit of a rocky start to school but has settled massively and his teacher this year has managed to identify activities which have helped him to READ!!

When he was younger, he much preferred counting and can definitely count numbers and objects to 30. I had a catch up with his teacher today and she said she'd like to try adding with him. I've tried a few times and she's tried gently with Numicon but he wasn't taking to it.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas?

Combining two groups. So count the cars in this hoop (5) and count the cars in this hoop (4). Now count them altogether (9). You could write the numbers for him as an addition calculation.

I tried passengers on two different trains and he just kept saying, No, four (pointing at four) and five (pointing at five).

When I said nine he laughed and said silly mummy

Combining two groups. So count the cars in this hoop (5) and count the cars in this hoop (4). Now count them altogether (9). You could write the numbers for him as an addition calculation.

Sorry for repeat post. Just keep going with similar things in a natural play sort of way. Or when eating - ‘you’ve got 3 raisins, here are 2 more. That’s 1,2,3,4,5 altogether.’

I taught this with small objects in separate piles, then pushing the piles together so they jumble together.

Then after a bit I’d start putting the words “4+5” in as I was sweeping the piles together.

And eventually I’d write the sum out as we did it.

Start further back than pp have suggested. Try getting him to tell you what would be one more and then, one less, before you start combining groups of objects. (I teach maths).

Thank you. I actually think he might be able to do one more!