When it comes to supporting dyslexic learners, not all teaching methods are equally effective. Traditional classroom approaches that focus heavily on reading and writing often fall short for students with dyslexia. This is where the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach comes in—a proven, multisensory teaching method designed specifically for dyslexic learners.
But why is multisensory learning so effective for dyslexic students? Let’s explore the science behind it and why it’s such a game-changer for struggling readers.
What Is Multisensory Learning?
Multisensory learning involves engaging multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, and movement—to teach reading and language skills in ways that make learning easier to understand and remember. Instead of relying on traditional methods that use only one sense (like reading from a textbook), students in our tutoring sessions use their eyes, ears, hands, and bodies to reinforce concepts and build new skills.
In our online dyslexia tutoring, we use tools like Whizzimo’s colored letter tiles to help students actively build words. For example, during a lesson, a student might:
See colored tiles on the screen,
Hear the sound of the letter or word from the tutor,
Touch and drag the tiles to form words,
Say the sounds aloud, reinforcing auditory learning.
By engaging multiple senses at once, students build stronger neural connections, which helps information “stick” better. The Barton Reading and Spelling System does this.
The Orton-Gillingham approach is designed to break language down into small, digestible parts, such as sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes), and then build up from there. This method is especially helpful for dyslexic learners who struggle to connect sounds to written letters, which makes reading and spelling difficult.
In our practice, we see how effective this is every day. For example, a student may have difficulty distinguishing between similar-sounding letters like "b" and "d." Instead of simply correcting them, we guide the student through a multisensory experience where they:
Trace the letters in the air while saying the sound aloud,
Use colored tiles to represent each letter,
Repeat the sounds while moving their hands or using manipulatives.
Over time, this hands-on approach helps dyslexic learners differentiate these letters, making reading and writing less frustrating.
How Multisensory Learning Benefits Dyslexic Learners
1. Engages Multiple Senses to Strengthen Learning
Research shows that engaging multiple senses activates more areas of the brain, which strengthens memory and improves retention. In our sessions, students don’t just see and hear words—they interact with them. By moving tiles, tracing letters, or even clapping out syllables, they use their whole body to grasp the language.
Example from our practice: A student learning to read CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words might use Whizzimo’s colored tiles to physically build the word “cat,” while saying each sound aloud. The combination of seeing the word, hearing the sounds, and physically manipulating the letters reinforces the learning process in ways traditional methods don’t. Barton Reading and Spelling specializes in this.
Dyslexic learners often feel frustrated by traditional methods that don’t align with their learning style. Multisensory lessons, on the other hand, are engaging and interactive, which helps build confidence. Instead of feeling stuck or overwhelmed, students are active participants in the learning process.
Example from our practice: One of our students struggled with blending sounds when reading. Through multisensory activities, like skywriting (writing in the air) and tapping out sounds while reading, we saw a noticeable improvement in the student’s ability to blend sounds into words. Not only did their reading fluency improve, but their enthusiasm for learning grew as well!
3. Tailored to Each Student’s Needs
The Orton-Gillingham approach allows for a personalized learning experience. Every student’s dyslexia is unique, so we tailor lessons based on each learner’s pace, needs, and challenges. In our sessions, we assess students' progress constantly, adjusting the materials and pace to ensure they’re always moving forward without feeling overwhelmed.
Example from our practice: A student struggling with vowel sounds was finding it hard to differentiate between long and short vowels. By introducing kinesthetic activities like tapping out syllables and pairing those actions with visuals (e.g., a short vowel "a" sound in "apple" vs. the long "a" sound in "cake"), we provided the student with strategies that played to their strengths and made the concept click.
Backed by Research: Why Multisensory Learning Works
Multisensory learning isn’t just a fun way to teach—it’s backed by extensive research. According to studies from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), multisensory instruction, like the Orton-Gillingham approach, is one of the most effective ways to teach children with dyslexia. By engaging multiple senses, the brain is able to form stronger connections, which leads to better retention and understanding.
A study by the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity also found that students with dyslexia who received multisensory instruction showed significant improvement in reading skills over time. This research confirms what we see daily in our sessions—students who once struggled with reading and spelling make progress and gain confidence as they engage more of their senses.
Why Multisensory Instruction Is So Effective
It Helps Information “Stick”: Engaging multiple senses creates more opportunities for the brain to store and retrieve information, helping students retain what they learn.
It Makes Learning Fun and Engaging: Dyslexic students often feel discouraged by traditional methods. Multisensory instruction keeps them engaged and makes learning more enjoyable.
It Meets the Needs of Different Learners: Every dyslexic learner processes information differently. Multisensory teaching allows each student to learn in a way that works best for them.
Empowering Dyslexic Learners with Multisensory Learning
At our tutoring practice, we’ve seen firsthand how multisensory learning transforms the way dyslexic students approach reading and writing. By activating sight, sound, touch, and movement, we help students create lasting neural connections that make language processing easier and more intuitive. Whether it’s using colored tiles, skywriting, or tapping out syllables, these activities go beyond the textbook and make learning accessible and fun.
With the right tools and support, every dyslexic learner can achieve success—one step, sound, and letter at a time!
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