History Class Can Foster Literacy Skills: A Hidden Power in the Curriculum

Reading Like a Historian: Beyond the Textbook
Unlike fiction or standard informational texts, historical materials require students to engage with complex primary and secondary sources. Reading a letter from a Civil War soldier, for instance, demands both comprehension and context. Students must interpret language that’s often unfamiliar, evaluate perspective, and connect it to broader events. These are not passive reading tasks—they mirror the expectations of close reading and text analysis found in ELA standards.
Programs like “Reading Like a Historian” have demonstrated how integrating source analysis into history instruction improves reading stamina and inference skills. When students learn to question the reliability, bias, and purpose of a document, they’re building the foundation for strong literacy across subjects.
Writing With Purpose: History as a Framework for Argumentative Writing
Literacy isn’t just about reading—it’s also about writing clearly and persuasively. History class provides an authentic context for students to make claims, support them with evidence, and refine their reasoning. Whether it’s writing a short-response to a guiding question or crafting a full essay on the causes of World War I, students are practicing structured, academic writing.
In many cases, historical writing is aligned with argumentative writing standards. Students must not only know what happened, but also why it matters—and back up their ideas using textual evidence. This helps them move from surface-level summaries to deeper interpretations, an essential literacy skill for college and beyond.
Building Vocabulary and Language Skills Through Historical Context
History exposes students to disciplinary-specific vocabulary as well as rich, descriptive language drawn from historical narratives. Terms like “suffrage,” “isolationism,” or “feudalism” require students to not only learn new words but to understand them in nuanced contexts. This is vastly more effective for vocabulary development than rote memorization.
Moreover, because history naturally incorporates speeches, letters, and personal accounts, students engage with a wide range of syntax and tone. Reading Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address or Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” challenges students to interpret figurative language, rhetorical devices, and varying sentence structures—enhancing both their reading fluency and comprehension.
Discussion and Oral Literacy: History as a Forum for Dialogue
Strong literacy includes speaking and listening, and history class is uniquely suited to fostering oral literacy through structured discussion. Debates over historical events, Socratic seminars, and collaborative document analysis encourage students to speak with clarity, listen actively, and respond thoughtfully to differing viewpoints.
These oral interactions mirror real-world literacy demands, from college seminars to workplace meetings. Students learn to summarize, synthesize, and respectfully challenge ideas. By engaging with controversial or complex topics, history becomes a training ground for civil discourse and persuasive communication.
History and Literacy for Equity: Closing Achievement Gaps
Integrating literacy instruction into history is not only academically beneficial—it’s also an equity strategy. Students from underserved backgrounds often enter middle and high school with literacy gaps that widen over time. When history teachers intentionally support reading and writing, they create more access points to rigorous content.
Culturally responsive history instruction—incorporating diverse voices, perspectives, and narratives—also boosts student engagement and language development. It allows all learners to see themselves reflected in the curriculum while practicing essential literacy skills. This dual focus can be a powerful way to close opportunity gaps and promote academic confidence.
History as a Core Player in Literacy Development
The traditional view of history as a content-only subject no longer holds up in a 21st-century classroom. Today, educators and administrators must embrace the reality that history instruction plays a vital role in developing literacy. From reading complex texts and writing analytical essays to discussing big ideas and building vocabulary, history is rich with opportunities to enhance student language skills.
For schools focused on improving literacy outcomes, the solution may be hiding in plain sight. With thoughtful planning, cross-curricular collaboration, and support for teachers, history class can become a cornerstone of the literacy curriculum—not just a requirement to be checked off, but a discipline that truly shapes how students read, write, and think about the world.