Aishah Binte Abdullah (Albel)

Fellow

Mdm Aishah, a pioneer member of the Maths core team at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) since 2007, provides Mathematics intervention for dyslexic learners through the SES Mathematics Programme. She believes in making Math meaningful and fun for students, while also conducting talks, workshops, and teacher training. With years of curriculum planning experience, Mdm Aishah actively contributes to the development of teaching approaches and lesson materials for the Upper Primary Mathematics Curriculum, particularly for Problem Sums.

Why did you choose to work in the field of SpLD?

I am able to make friends with students and their parents. I am able to simplify mathematical concepts which are difficult for the students by using suitable manipulatives to act out the question sum so that students can visualize the events happening and so solve the questions sums confidently. I have the opportunity of discovering how best students learn, their learning styles and teach them according to their learning styles.

What is one thing that never fails to make you smile in the work that you do?

When I teach my students a certain strategy to solve a type of problem sum.

My students listen with full focus and attention and then they try to apply the strategy with other similar type word problems – they are able to show the grouping with the omnifix cubes, then go up to the whiteboard, draw the grouping in the comparison model and they explain the solution steps using the correct Mathematics terms that I introduced in my teaching.

This brings me the greatest joy. I have reached out and touched the student. The student has successfully received, retained and retold the learning.

What do you think is the most important quality/value/belief a person must have when working in the field of Special Education?

• Respect the student for who the student is
• Get to know the student well so that I can relate effectively with the student
• Bring myself to each student level, speak pleasantly and gently with the student
• Read up on the student to know the student’s strengths and weakness and present myself in the best way to win the student over

What is the one thing you would do to improve special education in your country?

I would like to be part of a school management team and ensure that students with special education needs study comfortably alongside non special needs students in the same classroom. I would encourage classmates and schoolmates to buddy the special needs students to help them manage daily classroom learning and do activities with them (eg. eating together at recess and participating actively in school team events). I would also ensure that teachers are professionally trained in special education and can effectively teach quality lessons to the special needs students and non-special needs students simultaneously.

What motivated you to become a RETA member and how has it benefitted you?

As a very senior Educational Therapist with many years of teaching students, RETA presents a platform for me to reach out to younger educational therapists to share educational skills and strategies for teaching students with special needs. As a member, I also attend and listen to presentations from experts in the field of special education and pick up valuable tips that can help improve my own educational knowledge and teaching skills.

What advice would you give someone who has special educational needs or lives/works with people with special educational needs?

For the individual who has special education needs:
Accept your condition, Be patient with yourself, You have a special place in this universe, so see how best you can contribute within your special ability and means, Try your best to do things within your ability and means, Ask for help politely when you need it, Smile and stay happy, Believe and achieve what others can achieve but in your own way.