Many parents don’t realize that their child’s math struggles may actually stem from reading difficulties. Understanding this connection can transform your approach to helping them succeed.
Has this scenario ever played out in your home?
Your child can easily solve straightforward math problems like 24 × 7 or 312 ÷ 8, but the moment they encounter word problems, everything falls apart.
You might hear frustrated sighs or the classic “I don’t even know what they’re asking!”
If this sounds familiar, you’re witnessing firsthand how reading comprehension directly impacts math performance, a connection that’s often overlooked in traditional educational approaches.
The Reading-Math Connection: What Research Shows
The idea that math and reading are separate academic domains is one of education’s most persistent myths. Research consistently demonstrates otherwise. A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that early reading comprehension skills were significant predictors of later mathematical achievement, even after controlling for early math skills.
According to Dr. Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, “When students struggle with word problems, they’re often not struggling with the math itself, but with translating the language into mathematical expressions.”
This makes perfect sense when we consider what’s actually happening during mathematical problem-solving:
Beyond Word Problems: Where Reading Impacts Math Learning
The connection runs deeper than just word problems. Consider these scenarios where reading comprehension directly affects math performance:
Textbook and Assignment Instructions
Math textbooks often contain dense explanations with specialized vocabulary. Students with weak reading comprehension may:
- Misinterpret directions
- Skip important steps or qualifiers
- Miss key information in examples
- Struggle to connect written explanations to mathematical concepts
Test-Taking
On standardized tests like the SAT, PSAT, and state assessments, approximately 70% of math questions are presented as word problems or scenarios requiring careful reading. Students must:
- Identify what’s being asked
- Determine which information is relevant
- Recognize when to apply specific formulas or procedures
- Understand subtle language that signals mathematical operations
One study by the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that when students misinterpret math questions due to reading difficulties, their scores can drop by as much as 30 points. That’s often the difference between proficiency levels.
Signs Your Child’s Math Struggles May Be Reading-Related
How can you tell if reading comprehension is affecting your child’s math performance? Watch for these indicators:
- They can solve numeric problems but struggle with word problems
- They repeatedly ask “What am I supposed to do here?” when reading directions
- They miss key words like “except,” “not,” “each,” or “altogether” that change a problem’s meaning
- They have difficulty explaining their mathematical reasoning verbally or in writing
- They perform inconsistently on similar problems presented differently
If your child is showing signs of math struggles related to reading skills, our personalized math tutoring can help. Our expert tutors create strategies tailored to your child’s unique learning style.
Practical Strategies to Support Both Skills at Home
The good news is that strengthening reading comprehension naturally enhances math performance. Here are actionable strategies you can implement today:
1. Practice “Math Talk” with Everyday Text
Turn ordinary reading into math comprehension practice:
- While reading recipes, ask: “If we doubled this recipe, how much flour would we need?”
- With news articles, discuss: “What does this percentage mean in real numbers?”
- During sports, question: “If they need 7 points to tie, what combinations of scores would work?”
This helps children see the mathematical relationships embedded in everyday language.
2. Encourage Visualization
Strong readers create mental images of what they’re reading—a skill equally valuable in math:
- Have your child draw pictures representing word problems
- Ask them to explain what’s happening in a problem “like a movie”
- Practice translating between words, pictures, and equations
3. Build Mathematical Vocabulary Intentionally
Many math terms have specific meanings that differ from everyday usage:
- Create a personal math dictionary where your child writes definitions in their own words
- Discuss how words like “product,” “table,” and “power” mean something different in math
- Play word association games connecting math terms to their operations
4. Model Active Reading of Math Problems
Show your child how to approach math text strategically:
- Read problems multiple times with different purposes (first for general understanding, then for details)
- Highlight key words that indicate operations (altogether = addition, distributed = division)
- Circle what the problem is asking for (the actual question)
- Underline relevant information and cross out distractors
5. Make Connections Between Reading and Math Explicit
Help your child see how their reading strategies apply to math:
- Making predictions (“What do you think this problem will involve?”)
- Monitoring comprehension (“Does my answer make sense with the story?”)
- Using context clues to understand unfamiliar terms
The Long-Term Impact
Strengthening this reading-math connection doesn’t just improve current grades, it builds critical thinking skills essential for advanced academics and professional success. Students who can effectively translate between verbal, visual, and symbolic representations develop a deeper conceptual understanding that transfers across subjects.
On standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, this integrated approach pays significant dividends. According to the College Board, students who score highly on both verbal and math sections show stronger performance in college across all majors, even those that seem exclusively quantitative.
Moving Forward Together
At S4 Study Skills, we’ve seen countless students transform their mathematical performance through targeted reading comprehension strategies. The connection between these seemingly separate skills reminds us that learning is holistic and interconnected, just like the world our children are preparing to navigate. Now that summer is quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to build on these skills and help your child make that connection before they hit the summer math loss curve.
If your child is struggling with math, consider evaluating their reading comprehension as a potential factor. By addressing both skills simultaneously, you’ll not only improve their academic outcomes but also help them develop the integrated thinking that modern education and careers demand.
Ready to help your child strengthen the reading-math connection? Contact S4 Study Skills today for personalized math strategies tailored to your child’s unique learning profile.
