How Can Multisensory Learning Techniques Improve Reading Skills?

If you've done any research into reading instruction or reading difficulties support, you've probably come across the term "multisensory learning." But what does it actually mean in practice—and why does it make such a difference for children who struggle with reading? Let me break it down in a way that makes sense for everyday families.

Multisensory learning simply means engaging more than one sense at a time while learning. In the context of reading instruction, this means simultaneously using sight (seeing the letters), hearing (saying and hearing the sounds), and touch or movement (writing, tapping, tracing, or manipulating letter tiles). When multiple pathways to the brain are activated at once, the information is more likely to be stored in long-term memory—and more likely to be retrievable when your child needs it.

This approach is deeply rooted in the Orton-Gillingham methodology, which was developed in the 1930s specifically for students with reading difficulties and remains one of the most research-supported instructional frameworks in literacy education. In an Orton-Gillingham style lesson, a child might tap out the phonemes in a word (one finger tap per sound), write the spelling pattern in a tray of sand or on a textured surface, and simultaneously say the letter names and sounds aloud. Each of those actions reinforces the same learning through a different sensory channel.

For children with reading difficulties or other language-based learning differences, multisensory instruction is especially powerful because it bypasses the specific processing weaknesses that make traditional print-based learning so hard. Instead of relying solely on visual memorization or auditory repetition, multisensory learning builds connections across multiple brain networks. Over time, this creates a stronger, more durable reading foundation.

You can incorporate multisensory elements at home, too—things like letter tiles, dry-erase boards, sand trays, or even just having your child trace letters on your back while saying the sounds. Small, playful multisensory moments add up. If you'd like to learn more about whether a multisensory literacy approach might be right for your child, I'd love to connect. Reach out at megan@mmcliteracycollective.com or (312) 315-2905.