The majority of the school population at the research site struggles in reading and mathematics, particularly the English language learner (ELL) students. ELL students typically score lower than non-ELL students and perform at various levels of English language proficiency in reading and math. The purpose of the study was to identify and implement effective research-based strategies during math instruction to support and increase ELL students’ academic performance. This experimental research was composed of a between-subjects approach with a pre- and posttest control group design with a simple random sample selection. The objective was to measure the effectiveness of integrating guided reading instructional strategies in ELL students’ third grade math class. Students received instruction inclusively in the form of word problems. The study consisted of an experimental and control group, a total of 36 participants. The period of implementation for the experimental group occurred over a 2-week period, 5 days a week, for 60 minutes each day. Data analysis consisted of an independent samples t test on pre- and posttest scores and a Mann Whitney U test on end of semester grade level progress reading scores to detect two groups are significantly different. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) revealed the mean scores for the two groups. The objective was to evaluate the impact of teaching literacy in the content of math to increase ELL students’ academic achievement.