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Adapting page layouts: Math problems

Tools and strategies for adapting page layouts for math assignments in large print.

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Math assignments often use multi-column layouts and place text or page elements close to each other to save space, which can be challenging for students with low vision that are already dealing with the high demand visual tasks that come with studying math. While some math subjects have more high demand visual tasks than others, every subject area from basic arithmetic to calculus requires students to read every single number, letter and symbol in order to use the appropriate strategies to solve the problem. This is more intensive than subjects like English, where a student can read a few letters of a word and guess what the word is based on context.

I’m grateful that I had several math teachers who were awesome about providing materials in an accessible format, but there were also times where I blamed myself for failing a math problem, when in reality the math problem failed me by not being in a format that I could read. Here are my tips for adapting page layouts for math assignments and formatting math assignments in large print, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.

Why are page layouts for math hard to see?

For worksheets and classwork, multiple math problems are often displayed on one page next to each other. With my double vision, some of the problems or answer choices would collide with each other and distort their appearance, or I would find it more difficult to focus on the individual problems. This was especially true for “speed math” worksheets, where I would feel the pressure to get as many problems done as possible and rush through reading things in favor of solving as many as possible. If I took my time to read something, I could solve it on the first try, but if I didn’t, I would make a lot of careless mistakes because I would misread things.

Visually cluttered pages that contain a lot of text and/or graphics on one page can be overwhelming for students, and difficult to enlarge while maintaining the original vertical page layout; there were some instances where my enlarged assignment would be missing symbols, entire math problems or multiple-choice answers, and my teachers wouldn’t realize this until they went to grade my assignment and noticed I got the problem wrong. As a result, I would get a lower grade because the essential information I needed was either missing or inaccessible, and I would often get visual fatigue from trying to read everything in the classroom environment.

Identify if the student prefers single or multi-column layouts

Are double column layouts bad for low vision? Should triple column text layouts be avoided entirely? The answer will depend on a number of factors, including the student’s eye condition and the type of prescription glasses they use.

Single column layouts display information from top-to-bottom for more straightforward scrolling or line tracking. With a single column layout, one problem or one answer choice would be visible in a given line/row for a document. This can be helpful for readers that have difficulty with line tracking, visual clutter or prefer larger font sizes.

Double column or triple column layouts display information side-by-side, requiring the reader to read the first column from top-to-bottom before reading text from the next column, which may be used to save space. This can be helpful for readers that have progressive bifocals or that use a screen magnification tool, as the lines are shorter and do not require the user to use horizontal scrolling or movements to read an entire line of text.

Ultimately, the student will be the expert on their own usable vision and can share what layout they prefer. I personally prefer single column layouts since I have double vision and a lined bifocal, but I do have a few strategies for reading multi-column layouts that I share throughout this post.

Add line dividers to separate problems or answer choices

When working with multi-column layouts, one of the strategies that helps me with line tracking is the use of line dividers to separate problems or answer choices, so that I can establish clear boundaries for where one problem/answer choice ends and another begins. This can be as simple as drawing a line straight down or straight across the page with marker to visually indicate where the columns are, or to separate answer choices.

Use a focus window or line guide to focus on text

I wish I had learned about this strategy sooner, as it has been a tremendous help for reading with double vision! A focus window or line guide blocks out surrounding text on a page or displays a certain number of lines at a time so the reader can focus on one section at a time. There are a few different ways to use this strategy for accessible math, including:

Increase line spacing between answer choices

Also referred to as leading, line spacing plays a significant role in text readability, as having white space between lines can help readers track lines of text more easily. This white space is helpful for math since it can give students more space to write large and work out problems, but it can also help with line tracking for answer choices and make it easier for students to circle or highlight the answer choice they want to use. This can also make it easier for students to use line guides or write out answers in a size that they can read.

In terms of spacing, 1.5x or 2.0x (double spacing) are common recommendations for improving text readability. 1.5x and 2x spacing refers to the spacing between lines being equivalent to 150% or 200% of the font size used in the text. For example, if a 24-pt font is used, the line spacing would be set to 36 points (1.5x) or 48 points (2x).

Display fewer problems on each page

For students that need to get rid of visual clutter on a page and find it easier to focus on a few problems at a time, one option for adapting page layouts for low vision math is to display fewer problems on each page, or to display one problem and its answer choices on each page. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the student has to complete fewer problems or easier problems than the other students, rather it means that the problems are more spread out on a page so that the student has more space to read a problem or to work out a solution.

One of my middle school math teachers noticed that the original page layout with four problems on each page was difficult to display in large print or with display scaling, so they reformatted the page so only one or two problems were displayed, and there were no more than two graphics on any page. This was a lot easier for me to see, since I didn’t have several identical images stacked next to each other on a page, and I also had more space to write. This strategy was also used in my college math classes and for creating/adapting formula sheets for tests.

Display one problem at a time on a screen

I prefer to complete math assignments on my iPad or computer whenever possible, because I find it easier to enlarge math problems on a screen and can more easily erase/edit my scratch work compared to my paper assignments where I have to use pen. Another reason I like digital math is because I can display one problem at a time on the screen more effectively than I can on paper. Some strategies I’ve used for displaying one problem at a time include:

Try out a slant board or slanted display

Another tool that can help students access math assignments and adapted page layouts is the use of a slant board or slanted display, which positions content at an angle instead of flat on a desk or on a vertical surface like the board or a wall. This can be used in conjunction with other reading tools for math, and can make it easier for students to see content or adjust it to their visual field. For students that have difficulty positioning their head or that use a lined bifocal, this strategy can be really helpful for both reading math problems and writing out answers.

This is another example of a tool that I wish I had used when I was a student, especially since I had chronic pain in the back of my head and wore a lined bifocal due to a condition called Chiari Malformation (also known as Chiari 1 Malformation). While this tool is helpful for several other low vision and neurological conditions, I always share this recommendation whenever I work with teachers, families or students that are living with confirmed or suspected Chiari Malformation or work with someone who has the condition.

Other tips for adapting page layouts for math and low vision

By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com

Post published August 2024.

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