Dear Parents,
I have spoken with several of you about
using multisensory techniques with your child at home to improve learning.
These are techniques that incorporate more than one sense at a time such as
seeing/hearing/feeling. For example, when learning letter sounds a student
should say the sound of the letter as he/she is writing it in sand or salt.
In this way, the child is hearing the sound, seeing the letter as it is
formed, and feeling the shape of the letter in the sand or salt. The more
senses used, the better it will be remembered.
I have included in this letter some of
the multisensory activities I use in the classroom so that you can use them at
home. They are much more interesting and effective than worksheets. Research
has shown that multisensory activities "lock-in" information in the brain
better than worksheets.
If you should have any questions about
these activities or would like demonstrations, please contact me.
Reading/Spelling
1. Red
Words-words that cannot be sounded out (non-phonetic)
*Screen
Boards-I cut the top of a gift box so that it lies flat. I bought cheap
window screens from a roll at the hardware store and cut it to fit inside the
box lid. Fold the edges of the box over the screen to avoid cuts. Tape it
together with duct tape. Place paper over the screen. Use a red crayon to
write the Red Words on the screen. Spell the word aloud as it is being
written. Place the paper on a table and trace the letters with your finger as
you spell the word aloud. The letters are slightly raised from being written
on a screen. Only non-phonetic words should be written in red. (Visual,
Auditory, Tactile)
*Spell
Down The Arm-When a word cannot be sounded out and you cannot remember
what it is, spell it down your arm. Start at the shoulder and spell it
aloud. Tap once for each letter then sweep it all together. Do this at least
3 times before asking for help. (Auditory, Tactile)
2. Finger
Spelling-When learning to sound out words, we spell them on our
fingers. Place one sound on each finger beginning with the thumb. The only
sounds that go together on 1 finger are sh, ch, th, wh, ph, and qu.Those
sounds are not separated. (Auditory, Tactile)
3.
Sand/Salt Tray-Cover the bottom of a cookie sheet or baking
pan with a layer of salt, sugar, sand, or Grapenut cereal. Write your
spelling or vocab words in the pan, spelling the words aloud as you write
them. When finished, erase it with your hand and start another word. (Visual,
Auditory, Tactile)
Handwriting
1. Pencil
Grip-Please see the attached handout on pencil grips.
Math
1.
Manipulatives-Use objects to count and act out story problems.
Food such as candy or cereal is great to use and a good motivator.(Visual,
Tactile)
2. Number
Lines-Make a number line from 0 to 20. When adding, remind your child
to hop up the line. When subtracting, remind your child to hop down the
line.(Visual, Tactile)
A Word About Backwards Numbers and Letters
-Practice, practice, practice! Use the sand/salt tray. This is
developmental. It is something that is normal for 6 and 7 year olds in first
grade. If your child is still doing this a lot in the middle of second grade,
I would contact the teacher and discuss the problem. Beginning second
semester I will take 1 percentage point off for backwards numbers and letters
on written work. If your child writes letters backwards on a Spelling test I
will have to count the word wrong. Backwards letters such as "b," "d," "p,"
and "q" change the word. Your child should practice writing the words every
week so that he/she can see the way it should be written.
I have included some activities from
several different sources. Remember, not all things work for all children.
My job is to find the things that work for your child and start there. Again,
please contact me with any questions or concerns. I will do my best to get
back with you or meet with you if needed.
