Terrie's Tips: Structured Literacy and Audiobooks

Using both multisensory structured language instruction and assistive technology is essential for dyslexic children. This key insight outlines how to create a blended approach, supporting your child's strengths while helping them gain mainstream skills. It explains how to keep their emotional health and confidence high all the while. Excerpt from “The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan” by Ben Foss.

With proper instruction, people with dyslexia can learn to read. The tutors in our network are specially trained in literacy programs developed specifically to help dyslexics improve their reading skills. Dyslexia is not connected to vision problems or intelligence. It is a neurological difference that creates special challenges in identifying distinct letters and words in print and connecting written letters with their associated sounds. Together, these make it difficult to “decode” words when learning to read. Reading programs that do not address these specific challenges are far less effective in helping dyslexics learn to read.

In this overview published by the International Dyslexia Association, parents can gain a deeper understanding of what an Multisensory Structured Language approach is and how it benefits the dyslexic learner. Download document below.

Students with dyslexia need multisensory structured language (MSL) instruction. This means that teaching techniques are explicit, direct, cumulative, intensive, focused on the structure of language, and coordinating the use of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic–tactile pathways simultaneously to enhance memory and learning of written language. Connections are consistently reinforced between the symbols the student sees, the sounds the student hears, and the actions they can feel.

Here we’ll help you to understand the importance and components of an effective multisensory structured language intervention program (MSL). We’ll also help you find an MSL tutor in your area.

Insights on effective reading programs

Terrie's Tips: Monthly tips to help reading specialist and tutors support students with a reading deficit. This tip provide insight into how audiobooks fits into the schematic of structured literacy.

Deborah Lynam shares her view of multisensory structured language instruction from years of working directly with her own children and the students she tutors.