Why Multisensory Learning is Food for the Brain: 3 Key Benefits for Students
Multisensory learning is one of the most effective ways to teach children, especially those with dyslexia and other learning differences. By engaging multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, and movement—students strengthen neural connections and retain information more effectively. But why is this approach so powerful? Let’s explore three key reasons why multisensory learning is truly ‘food for the brain.’
- Strengthens Memory and Retention
Multisensory learning helps students encode and retrieve information more efficiently. When students see, hear, say, and physically engage with a concept, they create multiple pathways in the brain to store that information. For example, tracing letters in sand while saying their sounds out loud reinforces both visual and kinesthetic memory, making it easier to recall later.
🔹 Tip for Parents & Teachers: Use hands-on activities like tapping out syllables, writing in the air, or using textured letters to reinforce learning.
- Engages Different Learning Styles
Every child has a unique way of learning—some are visual learners, others auditory, and many benefit from kinesthetic experiences. Multisensory instruction ensures that lessons reach all learners by incorporating various modalities. This not only boosts comprehension but also helps children stay engaged and motivated.
- Builds Stronger Brain Connections
Research shows that when multiple senses are engaged, the brain forms stronger, more lasting connections. Multisensory learning taps into neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and strengthen neural pathways—leading to deeper understanding and skill development. This is especially beneficial for students who struggle with traditional, text-heavy instruction.
🔹 Tip for Parents & Teachers: Incorporate multisensory tools like colored markers, manipulatives, or rhythm clapping to reinforce literacy and math concepts.
Multisensory learning is not just an instructional approach—it’s brain-friendly and makes learning more effective, engaging, and accessible for all students. By integrating sight, sound, touch, and movement, parents and teachers can provide a richer educational experience that nurtures every child’s potential.
Here’s a list of effective multisensory strategies you can use in the classroom, organized by type:
🔤 Phonics & Word Study
1. Skywriting / Air Writing
Students use their whole arm to write letters or words in the air while saying the sounds out loud.
Engages: Kinesthetic, Visual, Auditory
2. Sand or Salt Tray Writing
Students trace letters or words in a tray of sand or salt using their finger or a tool while saying the sounds the letters represent or the words simultaneously.
Engages: Tactile, Visual, Auditory
3. Arm Tapping
Students tap out letters, phonemes, or syllables on their arm from shoulder to wrist while saying the letters, sounds, or syllables aloud. Then, the student swipes down the arm with the non-dominant hand to say the whole word. For example, the student says, “/c/ /a/ /t/” tapping each sound on the arm with the non-dominant hand from the shoulder to the wrist. Then, the student says, “cat,” while swiping the arm from shoulder to wrist with the non-dominant hand.
Engages: Kinesthetic, Auditory
4. Phoneme Tiles or Sound Boxes (Elkonin Boxes)
Students push colored tiles into boxes for each sound they hear in a word.
Engages: Visual, Tactile, Auditory
5. Magnetic Letters / Letter Tiles
Students build words using tactile letter tiles while saying the sounds aloud.
Engages: Tactile, Visual, Auditory
📚 Reading Comprehension
6. Graphic Organizers
Use color-coded charts or diagrams (e.g., story maps, cause/effect) that students can fill in with markers or sticky notes.
Engages: Visual, Kinesthetic
7. Read and Act It Out
Students dramatize stories or act out vocabulary words.
Engages: Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual
8. Color-Coded Highlighting
Highlight different parts of a text (e.g., main idea, details, vocabulary) using color-coding.
Engages: Visual, Tactile
✍️ Writing & Spelling
9. Rainbow Writing
Students write words in multiple colors, saying each letter or sound as they go.
Engages: Visual, Tactile, Auditory
10. Textured Writing
Students write symbols on bumpy surfaces (e.g., mesh, sandpaper, needle point canvas) while saying the sounds of the symbols to enhance letter formation and build letter-sound correspondence.
Engages: Tactile, Kinesthetic
11. Word Building with Manipulatives
Use clay, wiki sticks, pipe cleaners, or yarn to shape letters or build words.
Engages: Tactile, Visual, Kinesthetic
🔢 Math Connections (Cross-curricular)
12. Use of Manipulatives
Base-ten blocks, number lines, or counters that students move while solving problems.
Engages: Visual, Tactile, Kinesthetic
13. Math Facts Chants & Movement
Students chant math facts while clapping, jumping, or using hand motions.
Engages: Auditory, Kinesthetic
🎯 General Engagement Strategies
14. Anchor Charts with Icons
Create classroom “word wall” visuals with symbols and images tied to concepts (e.g., posters with pictures representing vocabulary words).
Engages: Visual
15. Music & Rhythm
Use songs, rhymes, or rhythmic patterns to reinforce concepts like spelling rules or grammar.
Engages: Auditory, Kinesthetic
16. Movement Breaks with Purpose
Incorporate short physical breaks related to academic content—like hopscotch with math problems or jumping syllables.
Engages: Kinesthetic, Cognitive
Why Multisensory Instruction Matters
Using multisensory strategies empowers students by activating multiple parts of the brain, making learning more memorable and accessible. It helps students make stronger connections between new content and their existing knowledge. Multisensory instruction is especially crucial for struggling readers and writers, as it supports different learning styles and strengthens neural pathways. By incorporating these approaches, educators foster deeper engagement, increase retention, and create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all students.