Six reasons for using multisensory learning
What do scientists, pediatricians, and teachers say is the most effective way to teach children diagnosed with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD?
Most scientists, doctors, and teachers agree that multisensory learning is the best way to teach all children, especially those diagnosed with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD. Multisensory learning is also called five-senses learning.
What is multisensory (or five-senses) learning?
Multisensory learning combines visual, tactile, auditory, and kinesthetic strategies, allowing children to use movement, listening, touch, and visual cues to understand and retain information more effectively. Because the brain receives several types of sensory inputs, the brain can process material more effectively and help children analyze and understand that material in a positive and even exciting way. This is different from learning styles that became popular several years ago. Learning styles meant a child's preference for how they thought they learned best. That has been debunked. But what's true now and has always been true, and which will always be accurate, is that the brain learns best when it receives input from several sources. Kids who use their ears, eyes, and hands learn and remember more than their peers. This is true for any learner, whether a disorder or disability challenges that child. But what is extraordinarily accurate is that children who are struggling with diagnosed learning difficulties perform much better when they can use their whole body in the learning process. So multisensory learning can also be called sensory or whole-body learning. In effect, learning becomes a treat when kids are on their feet.
Why does multisensory learning bring the most significant success rate for children struggling with learning challenges?
Here are six reasons why multisensory learning, whole body learning is so beneficial to all kids:
1. The human brain loves to store and process information when that information is presented through several sensory inputs. The eyes, ears, nose, hands, and feet work together so kids can learn and remember.
2. Multisensory, whole-body learning excites kids to do tasks they would usually be bored with in school. When kids get bored, learning becomes tedious, and their brains resist the information they hear. Since most classrooms are traditionally geared for only two inputs, reading and listening, the brain tends to fall asleep, and learning does not go very deep. However, when the brain is stimulated by the excitement of colors, magnets, color-coded vocabulary cards, the ability to rearrange words and make sentences on a magnetic board, and other multisensory tactics, the brain equates excitement with learning. This gives kids a reason to want to learn. And anything kids want to do, they will do better than if they're being forced to do it.
3. Multisensory learning works by creating a neurological association between excitement and learning. If kids become excited when learning math or reading, they tend to associate the excitement they gained through that process with the reading and math skills themselves. So, in other words, math and reading skills, which are typically complex, tedious, and monotonous for children, become associated with excitement because of the manner or the multisensory ways in which the material was presented to them.
4. Multisensory learning creates strong synaptic pathways in the brain. When kids repeat an activity, the brain creates a learning pathway that is reinforced when that activity is constantly repeated. So, for example, if kids had to memorize their multiplication tables, they could go home and create a series of cards in the darkness of their room and try to memorize it for the next day. However, suppose kids are taught how to use sensory or multisensory tools to help them memorize their tables. In that case, they equate that process of memorization with enthusiasm and excitement and look forward to repeating it. Once they repeat the learning process, the brain reinforces that by creating more robust neurological pathways.
5. Science has proven that exercise stimulates and prepares the brain for learning. Physical exercise produces or stimulates the growth of BDNF protein linked to brain growth and plasticity. Exercise also stimulates a host of hormonal responses, which all prepare the brain to learn. Exercise is caffeine for the brain. We all know what it feels like after we've exercised or jogged in the morning, and we try to resolve an idea. Ideas come more easily to our minds when our bodies feel invigorated. This is also true for children. The brain learns best when it is not stressed.
6. Blending athletics with academics helps children to feel confident. As they learn one skill, whether athletic or academic, their confidence increases, and they think that they can crush the intimidating fears that have come from failing in either math or reading. Success breeds success. Any skill set kids can master while associating that skill set with learning produces confidence related to other skill sets. So, if a child learns to box well and then is taught to chant his mathematical tables to the repetition or rhythm of the athletic drill, the brain will bind those two elements together. Whenever he moves to the box, the brain will recall the material he chanted during that drill. When associated with learning, movement creates an extraordinary combination that is effective, exciting, and unforgettable.