What is a multisensory approach to reading?

Smart Start Tutors uses a multisensory approach to teach students how to read. This approach was first pioneered by Dr. Samuel Orton and Dr. Anna Gillingham, the founders of Orton-Gillingham in the 1930s. The method is highly recognized and incorporated in teachings across the country.
What makes the method especially successful is it engages different parts of the brain through:
- Sight (visual)
- Sounds (auditory)
- Touch (tactile) and
- Movement (kinesthetic)
By activating different parts of the brain, teachers create a lasting experience to help students recall concepts. The key is to use two or more senses at a time, for example, tracing letters and saying them out loud. Teaching in this manner helps children become more confident readers, as they have multiple ways to access and learn the material.
The Benefits of Multisensory Learning
Multisensory techniques are an effective teaching method. It is especially beneficial for struggling learners and those learning to read, particularly students with dyslexia. The benefits of a multisensory approach:
Engages multiple senses: visual, auditory, tactile (touch) and kinesthetic (movement)
Enhances memory and the ability to learn
Helps children retain more information
Good for all types of learning styles
Improves concentration and focus
Develops critical thinking
Useful for teaching any subject
Activates different parts of the brain
Effective for all types of learners, especially effective for dyslexic students
Improves communication and reading skills
Allows for more individualized lesson planning
Easy Multisensory Reading Activities
Kinesthetic Reading Activities
Scavenger hunts to find and spell words or letters
Stacking blocks for each rhyming word
Learn letters in sign language
Use facial expressions while reading
Add movements for letter sounds
Use nonsense words
Air write words and letters
Use a clothespin to sort rhyming words and letter sounds
Auditory Reading Activities
Read tongue twisters together
Say and find sight Words
Play "Guess Who" using sight words
Listen to Audiobooks (Read our recommended list)
Read text with lots of dialogue and act out voices
Read books in different voices (daddy, baby, grandma)
Practice sounds in front of a mirror
Use mnemonic devices for memorization
Tactile Reading Activities
Hide and Go Seek toys with letter sounds
Cut out letters from magazines or newspapers
Use puppets for kids to talk to using sight words, rhyming, etc.
Writing letters and words in sand
Writing letters or words using paint in a ziplock bag
Use playdoh or clay to make letters
Use phonics manipulatives
Play a game of memory with sight words or letters
Visual Reading Activities
Label items around your house for easy visual reference
Watch Education TV shows on PBS or YouTube
Download Reading Apps
Use Big Books
Have them draw a comic strip while listening to books to improve reading comprehension
Visit an art gallery and talk about the art
Use word magnets and letter tiles for building words and sentences
Hidden picture activities to find words or letters
Online Multisensory Reading Instruction
If your child is a struggling reader, you may be wondering how effective multisensory reading instruction can take place in an online setting. Although traditionally reading instruction has been conducted in person, online tutoring i