A multisensory approach to teaching reading based on the work of Samuel T. Orton is linked with reading success for students who struggle with reading accuracy, fluency, and word attack skills. The Orton-Gillingham approach teaches the structure of language and combines all learning senses–auditory (hearing and speaking), visual (seeing and perceiving), and kinesthetic (touch and movement) in teaching students. Learners move step by step from simple to more complex material in a sequential, logical manner that enables students to master important literacy skills.
The content of a multisensory structured language education (MSLE) approach presents the components of literacy consisting of the following:
Phonology and phonological awareness: The study of sounds and how they work within their environment
Sound-symbol association: Understanding the relationship between sounds and symbols in reading comprehension
Syllable instruction: Understanding the units of oral and or written language
Morphology: The study of how morphemes are combined to form words
Syntax: The principles that dictate the sequence and function of words
Semantics: The aspect of language concerned with meaning
A multisensory language education approach is taught in an explicit, systematic and sequential manner, to activate and engage the learning to emphasize discovery and understanding. Teacher modeling is used as well as step-by-step prompts, direct questioning, and individualization.
Simultaneous, Multisensory: Teaching is done using all learning pathways in the brain (visual, auditory and kinesthetic-tactile) simultaneously in order to enhance memory and learning.
Systematic and Cumulative: Multisensory structured language education requires that the organization of material follows the logical order of the language. The material presented starts with the easiest and most basic elements and progresses methodically to more difficult materials. Concepts are taught systematically.
Direct Instruction: Multisensory structured language education requires the direct teaching of all concepts with continual student-teacher interaction.
Diagnostic Teaching: Continual assessment of the student’s needs is performed to ensure that the content is mastered to the degree of automaticity before proceeding.
Synthetic and Analytic Instruction: Multisensory language programs include both synthetic and analytic instruction. Synthetic instruction presents the parts of the language and then teaches how the parts work together to form a whole. Analytic instruction presents the whole and teaches how this can be broken down into its component parts.