What is Making Math Real?
What Is Making Math Real?
Why This Approach Helps Kids With Dyslexia Understand Math
If your child struggles with math, you may have already seen the frustration: tears over homework, blank stares when asked to memorize math facts, or the dreaded words, “I’m just not good at math.” The truth is, many kids who struggle with math are incredibly smart — they just need math explained in a way that makes sense to their brain.
That’s where Making Math Real (MMR) comes in. This structured, multisensory approach has completely changed the way I teach math, and it’s helped my students go from confused and discouraged to confident problem-solvers.
So what is Making Math Real, and why does it work so well for kids with dyslexia or other learning challenges?
1. Math You Can See and Touch
Instead of jumping straight to numbers on a page, MMR begins with hands-on tools like counters, blocks, or drawings. Kids build the math and see what’s happening before they’re asked to memorize.
➡️ Example: Before learning that 3 × 4 = 12, a child sees we build a row of three four times which makes 12 in all. Suddenly, multiplication isn’t a rule to memorize — it’s a story they can picture.
2. Step-by-Step, With No Gaps
Many struggling learners have “holes” in their math foundation because concepts were taught too quickly or too abstractly. MMR instruction is incremental and systematic. Concepts are presented step by little step, with each step building on the last so kids are never asked to make leaps in their understanding and are never confused about what is going on. This gives them the confidence of knowing: I actually get this.
3. Multisensory = Memory That Sticks
Kids with dyslexia often learn best when multiple senses are involved. In MMR, students see, hear, say, and do the math. Color coding, consistent, carefully chosen language, and connection between the concrete model and abstract numbers on the page help math stick in long-term memory — not just for the test, but for life.
4. The Big Picture AND the Details
Many kids with dyslexia are natural “big picture” thinkers. MMR honors that by helping them feel the big idea first. Division is always sharing. Multiplication is always building. Then we zoom into the details of how to solve problems on paper. Kids aren’t left with random steps; they understand the why behind them.
5. From Frustration to Confidence
Perhaps the most powerful part of Making Math Real is how it changes a child’s belief about themselves. Because concepts are introduced carefully and support is faded gradually, kids experience success at every stage. Little by little, confidence grows. They stop saying, “I’m bad at math,” and start realizing, “I can do this.”
A Parent-Friendly Analogy
Making Math Real is like teaching a child to ride a bike with training wheels. At first, they’ve got lots of support — hands-on tools, color coding, step-by-step guidance. As they grow steadier, the supports fade. Eventually, they’re riding independently — and they never forget the balance they built at the start.
Final Encouragement
If your child has been struggling with math, please know this: they are not broken, and they are not “bad at math.” They just need math taught in a way that makes sense to their brain. Making Math Real is one of the most powerful approaches I’ve seen for unlocking that understanding.
If you’d like to talk about how this approach could help your child, I’d love to chat. You can schedule a free consultation [here] (insert link).