Improving Reading to Improve Math

Improving Reading to Improve Math reports on experiments in which children in the
third and fourth grades read by simulating text content using the two-part, embodied
Moved by Reading intervention. While reading six initial texts, children literally manipulated pictures on a computer screen to simulate sentence content; next, for additional texts the children imagined the manipulation of the pictures. These additional texts were in the form of mathematical story problems.

Compared to a control condition, children using Moved by Reading solved more problems correctly, and this improvement is mainly attributed to a 35% reduction in the use of irrelevant numerical information in solution attempts. Thus, Moved by Reading teaches a fundamental strategy that encourages the sense-making that can aid mathematical story problem solution.

Earlier research in the same vein showed direct improvement in reading comprehension skills of first and second graders.