Muliti-sensory Learning

What is multisensory learning? It is learning which involves as many senses as possible and research has shown that this is the most effective way to teach dyslexic pupils. This links to the pupil's learning style. According to Hickey, 'they [the pupils] use their visual, auditory, tactile, kinaesthetic and oral-kinaesthetic perceptual systems to make learning secure.' (Ott, 1997).

Reading

The origin of multisensory teaching for reading began in the 30's in Columbia University with Dr Samuel Orton a Professor of neurology. Orton asked Anna Gillingham who was an educator and psychologist to devise a method for the teaching and remedying of problems he had identified in children. Later he and Gillingham joined forces with Bessie Stillman, an experienced teacher who was dyslexic herself and the techniques became known as the Orton-Gillingham method.

It is important for teachers to remember that each child is an individual and as such they need to be flexible; if a child is not responsing to a particular method of teaching, the teacher should think about why. According to Ott, 'evidence suggests that a teacher needs more than single theory and the techniques derived from it to be able to teach reading. The teacher needs to know and have at her disposal all the different methods.' (Ott, 1997)(pg 65).

The following are other reading programmes which are based on the Orton-Gillingham approach:

* Alpha to Omega
* The Bangor Dyslexia Teaching System
* The Hickey Multi-sensory language course
*Barton Reading and Spelling system
*Alphabetic Phonics
 
The Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Method is different from other reading methods in two ways: what  is taught, and how it is taught. The programme should be structured, sequential, cumulative and thorough.

See here for more about the elements of the Orton-Gillinham method:

http://www.jwor.com/orton.htm