The Effectiveness of Easy Mind Method on Planning, Mental Maintenance and Academic Achievement of Students with Math Learning Disabilities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of easy mind method on planning, mental maintenance and academic achievement of students with math learning disabilities. The research design was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design with control group. The statistical population included all students referred to Bushehr Learning Disabilities Center who received a diagnosis of learning disability. Among them, 16 people (8 girls, 8 boys) who were studying in the first and second grades of elementary school were selected by purposive sampling method and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Assessment tools included Pertussis maze test (1914), Piaget mental retention test (1969), and field researcher test to measure academic achievement. First, pre-test was performed on both groups. The experimental group received 12 sessions of easy mind therapy (45 minute) intervention but the control group did not receive any intervention. After the intervention sessions, the variables were measured again to record post-test scores.The results of covariance analysis showed that between the experimental and control groups in planning (F=8.56 and P=0.011), mental maintenance (F=96.43 and P=0.001) and academic achievement (27 F=52 and P=0.001) there was a significant difference after the implementation of the Easy Mind method and this method improved planning, mental maintenance and academic progress in mathematics.Therefore, according to the findings of the present study, the use of this method by counselors, therapists and school teachers can reduce the burden of these students by affecting the three variables mentioned.

Keywords

• math learning disabilities
• easy mind
• planning
• mental maintenance