Helping Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Build Math Skills Through Literacy: The Language of Numbers
- Katie Buda, MAT, LSLS Cert. AVEd
- Aug 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 29
By Katie Buda, MAT, LSLS Cert. AVEd
When we think of math, we often picture numbers, formulas, and equations. But math is much more than that—it is a language for understanding patterns, relationships, and ideas.
Language provides the foundation for literacy, which will help your child learn math. By supporting your child’s literacy and language skills at home, you can help them approach math with confidence and explain their thinking clearly.
Why Literacy Matters in Math
At the Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC), we see how important literacy is for learning math. Before a child can add or subtract, they need to understand words that describe math ideas, such as more, less, bigger, and smaller. Families can support this learning by reading together and pointing out math words in stories, using them during daily routines, and reinforcing them through play. Consistently exposing your child to math vocabulary through reading and everyday experiences helps them build a clear understanding of concepts and feel confident working with numbers.
Reading together also naturally introduces math concepts. A bedtime story about animals of different sizes can teach descriptive words and measurement, while nursery rhymes with repeating lines highlight rhythm and patterns. Families can further support learning by counting objects in a story, sorting and categorizing items, sequencing events, or comparing sizes. These activities make math meaningful and fun while strengthening thinking and communication skills.
Connecting Math to Language and Literacy
Our Teachers of the Deaf are professionally trained in Stern Math, a research-based curriculum that builds conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills while emphasizing language. By explicitly teaching math vocabulary and encouraging children to explain their thinking, Stern Math strengthens both math and overall literacy and language development. Linking concepts to clear language and visual models helps children build confidence, deepen understanding, and connect math to literacy skills.
Supporting Math Through Literacy at Home
You and your child can use everyday literacy activities, such as reading books, telling stories, or following simple directions, to explore math together. For example, while reading a story, you might say, “Look, one, two, three apples!” or “First the cat wakes up, then it eats, then it goes outside.” Narrating numbers, order, and patterns during stories helps your child practice counting, understand concepts, and build problem-solving skills all while enjoying reading and storytelling together.
Tips for Exploring Math with Your Child
Use and repeat math words during reading and storytelling: more, less, bigger, smaller, first, last.
Point out numbers, sequences, and patterns in pictures or illustrations.
Ask questions like, “How many ducks do you see?” or “What happens next in the story?”
Encourage your child to describe size, quantity, or order when retelling the story.
Incorporate counting, sorting, or measuring while acting out the story with toys or props.
Notice and talk about patterns in rhymes, songs, or repeated story phrases.
You can also explore Hearing First's Math Through Reading, which offers books and activities that build math concepts while supporting literacy development.
CHC's Education Center Staff
CHC is By Your Side
The start of the school year can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. The Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) is here to partner with you and your child with hearing loss—offering guidance, encouragement, and the tools you both need to succeed.
Educational support is a key part of your child’s growth. Our team of Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing helps bridge the transition from therapy sessions to the classroom, making sure skills learned at CHC carry over into academic life. We provide individualized services such as reading and writing support, math support, organizational and classroom strategies, IEP guidance, school visits, teacher in-services, special instruction (EI), and more. Many of these supports are also available through telehealth, so we can meet your child's needs regardless of where you live.
If you’d like to talk about your child’s learning needs or explore the range of educational support services we offer, please feel free to reach me directly at (917) 305-7855 or kbuda@chchearing.org.
Here’s to a successful and exciting back-to-school season!
About the Author
Katie Buda, MAT, LSLS Cert. AVEd is a certified Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at CHC-NY providing hearing education services for deaf and hard of hearing children in mainstream educational settings. She is dedicated to collaborating with school staff, families, and audiology professionals to maximize accessibility and optimize student success. Katie received both her B.S. and M.A.T. in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education from The College of New Jersey and is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Certified Auditory-Verbal Educator.
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