Multi-Sensory Classroom

Posted by
Susan Hyde
Sep 28, 2007

Good teaching excites the mind and engages the imagination so that each student will makes connections with what he or she already knows. When teachers meet learning objectives using dynamic, multi-sensory lessons, students are more likely to commit new ideas to memory.

Using Multi-Sensory Lessons

The oft quoted educational maxim tells us that, on average, students remember only 10% of what they read and only 50% of what they see or hear; however, students typically remember a full 90% of what they are allowed to say or do. Learning disabled students -- even those of above average intelligence -- may remember even fewer visual and aural cues than other students. It follows, then, that educators ought to use multiple sensory modalities when teaching new skills.

When creating a new lesson or overhauling an old one, ask yourself:

Does the lesson include a reading and writing component?
Does the reading component correspond with a small group or classroom discussion in which students are encouraged to discuss or teach what they have learned?
Are new terms and ideas presented with pictures or stories in a memorable context?
Do students have an opportunity to teach or verbalize major ideas to classmates?
Is there any component of the lesson that can be dramatized or sung?
Could a student created product and/or oral presentation take the place of a traditional assessment? (use a specific assessment rubric so that students know how to cover the learning objectives)
Does the lesson provide students with the opportunity to use manipulatives, make images, create a mnemonic device, complete an experiment, or play a game in order to draw new conclusions?
Does the lesson engage a variety of senses?