Investigating the effects of perceptual-motor skills on mathematics performance and educational progress in students with mathematics disorders in Ilam city

Since learning disorders can be a basic problem for children, family and society, finding ways to deal with the problem are important. One of the treatment methods is building and developing perceptual-motor skills. This study aimed at investigating the effect of training perceptual-motor skills on mathematics performance in students with mathematics disorders in Ilam city. The population of the study comprised of the all elementary level students with mathematics disorders in governmental and private centers for mathematics disorders in Ilam city; of which a sample of 20 students were selected based on convenient sampling. This quasi-experimental study was carried out through pretest-posttest method. The sample students were assessed for mathematical capability and degree of mathematical disorder by means of Key Math mathematics standard. Then perceptual-motor skills were taught for 8 sessions using Werner and Rainy method. The results of the study showed that in general training perceptual-motor skills positively affected mathematics performance of the students and caused better performance of in Key Math test. Likewise, this training course brought about an increase in general educational progress of the students. The results showed that this training course had positive effects on all elementary students from grade1 to 5, and there was no difference between various grades regarding mathematics performance.