A basic multisensory technique uses flash cards combined with color as memory aids in teaching letters and words. Consonants appear on white cards and vowels on salmon-colored ones. As the teacher holds up the cards, the children say the letters and sounds out loud, using both visual and auditory methods of learning. Other visual-teaching methods include combining text and pictures on paper or posters, watching film and videos, finger spelling or sign language, using color for highlighting or imagery, using graphic organizers and involving students in creating art and images. Children who think or remember in images rather than words learn best from visual-teaching techniques.
Multisensory techniques focusing on sound and verbal reasoning use computerized text readers, audio books, podcasts and peer-assisted reading, where one student works closely with another. Videos and films with accompanying audio can stimulate kids’ recall of words by sounds. Multisensory-trained teachers also use music and songs, rhyming games, language games and reading aloud.
Many children learn best by hearing themselves talk about their learning. Teachers using multisensory instruction methods have students read aloud to each other, then repeat what they’ve learned aloud to themselves. While auditory learning is necessary for some students, the self-talk portion of the instruction is also important. It gives the children a memory key when they hear their own voices speak the sounds of letters and words. Auditory learners, that is, students who respond best to lessons based on sound and hearing, rely on self-talk and their sense of hearing to recognize words.
Instruction techniques using students’ sense of touch include using small objects such as marbles to represent number values in teaching math skills such as counting, addition and subtraction. Forming letters using clay stimulates a student’s memory of the shape at the same time he says it out loud. Raised line paper encourages a child’s ability to form letters and words in writing. Letters cut out of sand paper uses a student’s sense of touch. Both fine and gross motor movements can help children learn, as muscle groups recall movements made before. Having children write large letters in the air with their fingers keys memory when encountering that letter again and is a key multisensory technique.