Growing up, many of us picked up the idea that math and language are opposites. Math is science; it’s all about precision, while language is more abstract and fluid.
Boy were we wrong!
Math is a language — arguably the most universal one we have. And like any language, you have to be able to read it before you can use it.
Today, we'll look at five specific ways reading struggles show up in math performance, and what parents can do to help.
Math is a language-heavy subject, and the skills required to read a paragraph and work through a multi-step problem overlap quite a bit.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that reading comprehension and math word-problem solving draw on the same underlying language processes.
Both require a student to build a mental picture of a situation, pull out what matters, and filter out what does not. Students who struggle in one area are more than twice as likely to struggle in the other.
A separate longitudinal study backs this up from a different angle.
Following first graders over time, researchers found that early reading fluency predicted later math outcomes, particularly in word-problem solving.
In other words, a reading gap in first grade tends to slow math growth in the years that follow, particularly in the kind of math that requires language to navigate.
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We have put together a list of ways reading skills impact math performance, mostly based on what we’ve observed in our work with thousands of K-12 students.
We’ll pair them with examples to make it easier to recognize at home.
Reading gaps surface in word problems most clearly.
Researchers looking at word problems as a form of text comprehension have found that reading comprehension and language skills predict word-problem performance more strongly than they predict basic calculation. Once math is embedded in sentences, it starts behaving more like reading than arithmetic.
Here are a few ways this may show up:
Give a student 3 × 8 on a drill and they knock it out in seconds. Wrap it in "A baker makes 3 trays of cookies with 8 cookies on each tray. How many cookies did he bake in all?" and you have lost them entirely.
A 4th grader moves through long division problems without hesitation, then sits stuck in front of "A school orders 144 notebooks to distribute equally among 12 classrooms. How many does each classroom get?"
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This is a common pattern on tests: The math is correct, but a single word flipped the answer. We see this in our sessions too, and it is one of the clearest signs that a reading gap is at work.
We’ll show you a few examples:
"Which of the following is NOT a factor of 12?" Your child circles 6. They know their factors of 12 perfectly. Their eyes skimmed past the one word that changed everything.
"How many marbles does Ana have left?" Your child adds. They know how to subtract, but "left" did not signal subtraction the way it should have.
"Choose the expression that shows how many apples are remaining after 5 are given away." Your child picks 8 + 5. The word "remaining" didn’t land, so they worked with the numbers and guessed at the operation.
In each case, the math knowledge is there. What breaks down is the reading of the question itself.
Sections C, D, and E all have the right idea but need examples the way A and B have them. Here's the expanded version:
"Reduce this fraction." "Find the product." "What is the difference?"
These terms carry precise meanings in math that have little to do with how we use them in everyday conversation.
"Difference" means something was different. "Product" is something you buy at a store. "Reduce" means to make something smaller, which, to a child, might mean the answer should be a smaller number, not a simplified fraction.
Students with reading gaps have a harder time holding onto this vocabulary and retrieving it when it counts.
On timed assessments, there is no time to pause and work out what a word means. If your student hasn’t internalized math vocabulary, they will be making their best guess under pressure.
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A multi-step problem asks your child to read, hold information, complete an operation, then return to the problem and continue. That is a sustained language task as much as a math one and reading struggles can break that chain early.
Here is what the breakdown looks like:
Your child reads "Emma has 3 times as many stickers as Jake. If Jake has 8 stickers, how many do they have altogether?" They calculate 3 × 8 = 24 and stop. They found a number that felt like an answer and missed that the question asked for a combined total.
Or, for example, they reach the final question of a multi-step problem — "how many more cupcakes than cookies were sold on Tuesday?" — and cannot remember what Monday's numbers were, even though they processed them correctly two sentences earlier.
So, the math knowledge might be intact, but what breaks down is the ability to hold and track language across multiple sentences while also doing the math.
This is the one that frustrates parents most, and for good reason. A test is supposed to show what a student knows. When reading gaps are involved, it shows something else entirely.
Your child may understand the concept they are tested on, but if they misread the question, they are answering an entirely different one. Then the score drops, and the assumption is a math problem.
Here is what that gap between knowledge and performance can look like:
Your child can solve equations independently at home, but circles the wrong multiple choice answer because they misread "which value does NOT satisfy the equation" as "which value satisfies the equation."
Or, let’s say they finish a test early, feeling good. The grade comes back lower than expected. When you sit down and go through it together, they can solve nearly every problem… once you read the questions aloud.
When a student knows the math but misreads the question, the test score reflects neither.
If you’ve noticed your child struggling with math in the ways we’ve described, whether on your own or through a remark from their teacher, our education specialists recommend a few deliberate, easy-to-apply strategies you can try at home.
Have your child read every word problem three times, each time with a different purpose.
The first read is for context: what is this story about?
The second is for the goal: what does the problem want me to find?
The third is for the details: which numbers and information actually matter here?
This technique comes from Supporting Mathematical Problem Solving at Home, a practice guide published by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). It works because it separates the reading task from the math task before any calculation begins.
This is something we encourage in our sessions all the time.
Before writing any equation, we ask students to underline key numbers, circle words they are unsure about, and cross out information the problem does not need.
This agrees with the landmark work on cognitive load theory by John Sweller, who found that breaking complex material into smaller, more manageable parts frees up mental resources and allows students to process information more accurately.
Here is what that might look like in practice with a problem like "Sarah has 48 stickers. She gives 12 to her friend and divides the rest equally among 4 boxes. How many stickers are in each box?"
Underline "48," "12," and "4 boxes" as the key numbers.
Circle "the rest" as a word that signals a second step is coming.
Cross out "to her friend" since it is context, not a number needed for the calculation.
Cover the numbers in any homework problem and ask, "What is happening in this story?" Once the story makes sense, bring the numbers back in.
We use this approach ourselves because it separates the comprehension step from the calculation entirely. Your student gets to practice understanding what a problem is asking without the pressure of solving it at the same time.
If you notice math vocabulary is where things break down for your child, treat these terms the way you would spelling words: short, regular, deliberate practice.
Pick three to five words for the week, say "sum," "difference," "per," "factor," and "remaining," and review them outside of problem-solving.
Say the word, have your child explain it in their own words, and come up with a quick example together. That way, when the word shows up in a problem, they are not decoding it for the first time while also trying to do the math.
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Mathnasium’s diagnostic assessment can reveal what is really behind a math struggle, so we can build a learning plan that addresses it directly.
Mathnasium is a math-only learning center dedicated to helping K-12 students of all skill levels excel in math.
When students come to us for math support, whether word problems have become a source of frustration or test scores have stopped reflecting how hard they are working, we do not rely on a one-size-fits-all system.
Every student goes through the Mathnasium Method™, our proprietary teaching approach built around what each student actually needs to be able to learn and master math.
It starts with a diagnostic assessment that gives us a clear picture of your child's strengths and knowledge gaps. This is where we often identify that the root of a math struggle is reading comprehension, not the math itself.
From those insights, we build a personalized learning plan. For students where reading is a factor, this might include targeted support for math vocabulary, structured approaches to word-problem comprehension, or slowing down on multi-step problems until the language processing and the math reasoning are working together.
Our specially trained instructors follow the plan closely, delivering face-to-face instruction in a supportive setting. We teach for true understanding, using plain language and a mix of verbal, visual, mental, tactile, and written techniques so concepts land the way they should.
When students get stuck, we break the problem into manageable steps and walk them through both the how and the why. Over time, they develop the problem-solving skills and critical thinking to work through challenges on their own.
Fun is a core part of how we work. We use game-based activities, earned rewards, and celebrate progress at every level, because students who feel good about what they are learning stay motivated and keep moving forward.
The results speak for themselves:
94% of parents report an improvement in their child's math skills and understanding
93% of parents report their child's improved attitude toward math after attending Mathnasium
90% of students saw an improvement in their school grades
Mathnasium operates over 1,100 learning centers, bringing our proven method close to your home.
For families in and around Chester, VA, Mathnasium of Chester is a trusted local center with years of experience helping K-12 students grow into confident math thinkers.
Whether your child is looking to catch up, keep up, or get ahead, our team is ready to help.
📅 Schedule a Free Diagnostic Assessment at Mathnasium of Chester
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Mathnasium of Chester is a math-only learning center for K-12 students in Chester, VA. Trusted by over a million parents, Mathnasium uses personalized learning plans and the proprietary Mathnasium Method™ to help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead on their math journey.
Our specially trained tutors deliver face-to-face instruction in a supportive and fun small-group environment, working with students to develop a deep understanding of math, build confidence, and improve academic performance.
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