Dyscalculia

Hi Sarah and welcome here,

Numbers are something that we concieve of with spatial thinking, which gives numbers a sense of quantity. So that we think of 3 as a group.
But with Dyscalculia, people have a spatial thinking difficulty. So that they don't sense 3 as a group. In the same way, that if you count using the alphabet: A,B,C instead of 1,2,3 ?
You would have no sense of C as a group?
So that for Dyscalculics, 2+3= ?
Makes no more sense than: B+C= ?
Which causes a great difficulty with basic arithmetic.

But, it causes a different problem with algebra?
Where spatial thinking is also what we use to organize our thoughts, and then think through a process.
But with Dyscalculia, people have a difficulty with recalling and then working through the algebraic process.
So that when you wrote that 'She will work a math problem, with help, and then when asked to do it herself she doesn't know what to do' ?
It is quite likely that she can't recall and think through the algebraic process?
Which uses algebraic thinking, that is also termed as pattern thinking.
Where this needs to be understood as a separate problem with Dyscalculia?
As simply giving someone with Dyscalculia a calculator to do the arithmetic.
Wont help with algebraic thinking and working through the math problem?

Though I have a forum for Dyscalculia, which you are welcome to visit.
http://www.dyscalculiaforum.com/news.php