**When you are teaching reading in mathematics you are teaching mathematics comprehension.**

Usually when problems arise in mathematics they are to do with the student not understanding what the question is. So they either can’t answer the question or they get the wrong answer. The teacher should know whether the student can read the question or not. Because the students are not going

to tell the teacher they can’t read. Here you have to explain what the mathematics question means and the specific way the question is written. If you look at the mathematics answer and you can see what the student went wrong, then explain it so the student shouldn’t make that same mathematics mistake again.

If you have time pick a question and ask the student to tell you what they have to do to answer the mathematics question.

Then you will know if the problem is a reading problem or a mathematics problem. In a number of cases it is a reading problem. If the students have problems with reading it will affect all aspects of school so jump on the problem.

I have found the best way is a buddy system if you can set it up. A number of problem children are just plain antisocial but you can still try a buddy system. You just never know. Pair up a good student or a student who knows what is going on with a student who doesn’t and see the magic begin. I usually start with friends and ask the good student to help the student who doesn’t know what is going on. Students will not do this on their own so you have to intervene.

For more information about reading courses I recommend including a Montessori course see our Teach Reading page.