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Literacy Position Statement
The Current Status of Adolescent Literacy
Within adolescent literacy, there have been many statements about the “literacy crisis”.
“America is facing a literacy crisis. Our youngest students are falling behind, with only 47% of
kindergarten students reading at grade level during the 2021-2022 school year. Pandemic school
closures exacerbated the problem, but these challenges predate COVID-19” (Bhatia, 2024). Although my
main focus is on secondary education, there has been some complaints as well about the learning aspect
in secondary schools. For instance, “In order to be successful during high school and into adulthood,
secondary students need to develop not only the ability to read, but also the ability to comprehend
difficult texts and to communicate socially and electronically in effective and meaningful ways” (Wendt,
2013). The main focus tends to be in grades third through eighth that seem to struggle the most. The
Virginia Department of Education has put out a Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) in 2022, that provides
information for all students, educators, and parents. “The VLA requires that “each local school board
shall provide a program of literacy instruction that is aligned with science-based reading research and
provides evidenced-based literacy instruction to students in kindergarten through grade eight”’
(Approved Core Instructional Programs for Grades K-5).
The Importance of Being Literate in Mathematics
When you are literate in mathematics, it means you’re you are able to comprehend things such
as word problems, formulas, and many other things. “Secondary education teachers, according to
national standards, are required to help students develop literacy skills (specifically communication).
With this added requirement, mathematics teachers are trying to weave literacy skills into the lessons
they are teaching” (Steinhilber, 2011, p. 5). In my opinion, putting literacy in a mathematical classroom,
could help students be able to use their reading skills in any one of their other classes. Reading is not
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only for an English class, but it is for everything. Students, parents, and educators all read every day,
even if it’s not a book. When using literacy in a mathematical classroom, students should be able to
read, write, and communicate. Something that would particularly help students be able to do this inside
the classroom, would be by using word problems, instead of educators just using worksheets they
printed out. “Teachers can create opportunities for students to develop strong academic language in
math instruction while also supporting students’ confidence and self-efficacy in their math skills…
When students hear mathematic vocabulary pronounced correctly and frequently by their teacher,
they begin to internalize the terms for future use. For example, when reading numbers, the teacher
can model place value by reading the number “one hundred and nine” rather than “one ‘O’ nine”
(Vasquez et al., 2021).
Literacy and Mathematics
Students who tend to struggle with vocabulary tend to struggle with mathematics.
Mathematics has always been a struggle for some students, but other students can understand it better.
Ever since the pandemic, educators have seen a drastic change when it comes to mathematics because
of virtual learning. Virtual learning took a toll on some students because the educator could not keep
students engaged in their learning (Novak, 2022). As someone who was a student during the pandemic, I
believe it brought students so many challenges during that time. The pandemic started in March of
2020, and that’s when everything went south. Students were forced to result to virtual learning, and in
my opinion trying to do mathematics while learning online puts another challenge on students. In my
opinion, I feel as though, mathematics is one subject that is hard to teach in a virtual setting. I am
currently taking a mathematics class online, and it is way harder than it would be in a classroom. I used
to be the type of student that had good grades in math, when I was taking it in person. Now, since I am
virtual, it has put a bigger challenge on me, and now I am getting grades that are roughly a 70% or lower.
I have never struggled so hard in math, than I am now, just because I am virtual. But it is okay though,
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because according to the Bible, Philippians 4:13 state, “I can do all things through Christ who
strengtheneth me” (King James Version, Philippians 4.13). Now, there are many other reasons why
students tend to struggle in a math class. For instance, students with certain disabilities, can struggle
more than normal students. Students with dyslexia may have difficulties because of the way they read
numbers and follow word problems. Students with ADD/ADHD can jump ahead and skip a step, and not
go back and check their work. Another thing, students with dysgraphia and dyspraxia, could easily get
distracted by number formation, and make careless mistakes (What causes students to be struggling
with math?).
Word Count: 780 words total.
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References
Bhatia, Y. (2024, February 28). America's Early Childhood Literacy Crisis. Real Clear Education.
https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2024/02/28/americas_early_childhood_literacy_crisis_10
14926.html#:~:text=America%20is%20facing%20a%20literacy,these%20challenges%20predate
%20COVID%2D19.
Novak, D. (2022, December 6). Why Did Students Struggle Most in Math during the Pandemic?
Learningenglish.Voanews.com. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/why-did-students-struggle-most-
in-math-during-the-pandemic-/6863400.html
Steinhilber, R. A. (2011). How Secondary Mathematics Teachers are Incorporating Literacy in their
Classrooms and To What Extent? [Thesis, St. John Fisher University].
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1269&context=education_ETD_masters
Vasquez, T., Sanchez, D., & Remy, D. (2021, October 12). Teaching Tuesday: Literacy in Mathematics
Content Instruction. Gcu.edu. https://www.gcu.edu/blog/teaching-school-administration/teaching-
tuesday-literacy-mathematics-content-instruction
Virginia Department of Education (n.d.). Approved Core Instructional Programs for Grades K-5.
Doe.Virginia.gov. https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-
instruction/english-reading-literacy/literacy/approved-core-instructional-programs-for-grades-k-5
Wendt, J. L. (2013). Combating the Crisis in Adolescent Literacy: Exploring Literacy in the Secondary
Classroom. American Secondary Education, 41(2), 38–48. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43694157
What causes students to be struggling with math? Readandspell.com.
https://www.readandspell.com/us/struggling-with-math
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