Teaching Students the Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation: A Free Totally Accessible Online Approach
Tina Herzberg
University of South Carolina Upstate
Susan Osterhaus
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Sara Larkin
Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

NFB Science and Engineering Division, July 7, 2022

Nemeth Curriculum Field Study
When:
September 5, 2022 - December 16, 2022
Where:
•	Schools
•	Home School
•	Remote Administration
Who:
•	Tactile Learners
•	Parents
•	Teachers of Blind and Low Vision Students

Pearson Nemeth Curriculum Materials Page
https://accessibility.pearson.com/resources/nemeth-curriculum/ 
Pre-K – Second Grade Nemeth Braille Code Curriculum

Pre-Kindergarten – Building a Train
Materials
•	Foam stickers
•	Craft sticks
•	Flash cards labeled 1- 7
Steps
•	Student shuffles flash cards
•	Student draws a card and reads the numeral on the card
•	Student uses stickers to “build” the train
If you add print numbers to the flash cards, your student can do the activity with a friend.

Kindergarten – Tens and Ones
Kindergarten – Maze
Kindergarten - Rebuild a Hundreds Chart
First Grade – Find the Path Activity and Help the Pilot Get to the Airplane!
First Grade – Determine the Shape and Then Write the Missing Numbers 
Second Grade – 
Connect Four

Strategies for Supporting the Student in Building Math Skills
Brailling the Equals Sign (=) .k
•	Begin brailling using two fingers of the right hand.
•	Then follow with two fingers of the left hand.
•	Memory cues: 
•	Two fingers are “equal to” two fingers.
•	Two dots are “equal to” two dots.

Nemeth Braille Code Focused Lessons
Focused Nemeth Lessons
The Nemeth Braille Code Focused Lessons are designed to help students learn the Nemeth symbols primarily used in grades 3-8 and increase their knowledge and understanding of key mathematical concepts. 
Students of any age may enjoy and learn from the lessons, especially if they need a refresher or additional practice with Nemeth symbols.
•	Five-Step Rule and Exceptions
•	Fractions and Mixed Numbers
•	Multiplication and Division
•	Number Lines
•	Radical Expressions

Five-Step Rule and Exceptions
Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Multiplication and Division
Creating Braille Number Lines
Graphing Points on a Number Line
Graphing and Interpreting Inequalities on a Number Line
Reading and Writing Radical Expressions

Nemeth Symbol Library Webpage
Nemeth Symbol Library
•	Began with higher grade levels
•	Has extended down through all grade levels
•	Incorporates over 600 examples at different grade levels
•	Includes tutorial and list of commands used to access library
•	Contains 240 terms, 136 definitions

Organization of the Nemeth Symbol Library
•	The glossary of terms used in math are linked to a description of how to write each in Nemeth Code related to that content. 
•	Several terms land you on the same description so if your terminology is slightly different, you still get the same description.
•	There are lots of examples from easy first to more complex later in the file.

Examples in the Nemeth Symbol Library
Include the following:
•	Nemeth in EBAE as a brf file for students
•	Nemeth within UEB Contexts as a brf file for students
•	Nemeth in Print and SimBraille for teachers

Nemeth Symbol Library Contents
•	Absolute Value
•	Alpha (lowercase)
•	Angle
¦
•	Exponent
•	Exponent of an exponent 
•	Fahrenheit
 ¦
•	Vectors
•	Wavelength
•	Whole numbers

Tutorial
•	Learn more about how the library is structured 
•	Learn keystrokes for navigating to a webpage and around a webpage within the context of the library
•	Practice looking up definitions and examples

Nemeth Field Study
•	Pearson and the NFB are seeking participants who are Teachers of the Visually Impaired, parents of blind students, or blind students who are either using or learning to use braille materials.
•	If you are interested in participating in this field study, please complete the Nemeth Code Curriculum Field Study Recruiting Survey:
https://accessibility.pearson.com/research/2022studies/nemeth/
•	The study is being conducted between September 5th and December 16th and will explore the effectiveness and usability of the curriculum.
•	Each participant will receive compensation. In addition, everyone involved in the study will have access to the new updated curriculum materials.

Let’s hear from you!
•	Thank you for your kind attention.
•	Now, it’s time for questions…

•	Or contact us at:
herzberg@uscupstate.edu
susanosterhaus@tsbvi.edu
sara.larkin@iaedb.org