About Katie Vaughan

Building math skills for individuals with Down syndrome increases independence in their school, in the community, and in the workplace. The aim of this program is to help promote a positive experience of learning mathematics with a sound foundation of basic number understanding.

Our program is built based on the ways in which individuals with Down syndrome learn best. Knowing that our participants vary greatly in their abilities and challenges in comprehensive math, we combine multiple approaches that utilize multi-sensory teaching. Graduated levels of purposeful progressions lead to an increase of skills and self-confidence. These methods are aligned with topics taught in the classroom, to provide a comprehensive and cohesive program. Students can start in our program as early as age 3 or any year after that. It is never too late to start! Weekly lessons last 45-60 minutes for 10-12 weeks at a time. Family members attend each tutoring lesson and leave with practical activities to continue learning at home.

Benefits of our math tutoring program:

Increase a range of math skills from number recognition and patterns, to knowledge of addition and subtraction, to money and telling time, to fractions and algebra
Increase self-esteem and confidence
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Greater independence and autonomy
Greater inclusion in general education classrooms
More active role in schools and community
Increase peer interaction through purposeful games and activities
Enhanced fine motor development
Principles of GiGi’s 1:1 Math Tutoring Programs

We teach using materials that are meaningful and relevant to the students
Teach with a multi-sensory approach to build confidence and reinforce learning
We teach students to practice, transfer, and generalize newly learned skills
We teach students to apply math skills in their real-world experiences.
Summer Session: June 6 - August 21, with training in May