Interview with Dr. DeWitt, Curriculum Specialist for Learning Without Tears
Welcometo Smack Dab in the Middle, Dr. DeWitt. Here at the site, we talk about thelatest reading materials (newest book releases), but rarely if ever address theactual process of learning to read. This is a treat. Can you tell us a bitabout what multisensory learning is?
Multisensorylearning enhances learning by engaging multiple senses at the same time. Thismethod uses visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities to cater to variouslearning styles and needs in early childhood education. For instance, to learnletters, children can see them, hear the sounds they make, and physically formthem with their hands. This active participation in the learning process makesit more effective and engaging for young learners.
Whatled you to focus on multisensory learning in your own research and work?
Mypassion for multisensory learning stems from a deep commitment to ensuring thatevery child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their learning styleor background. Early in my career, I saw firsthand how traditional,one-size-fits-all instruction left many students disengaged or struggling tograsp foundational concepts. I became determined to find a way to make learningmore accessible, meaningful, and—most importantly—fun for all learners.
Multisensoryinstruction naturally became the focus of my work because it meets studentswhere they are, engaging multiple pathways in the brain to enhanceunderstanding and retention. Whether through hands-on activities, movement,auditory cues, or visual supports, this approach ensures that childrenexperience learning in a way that resonates with them. The joy of watching achild light up when they grasp a concept in a way that makes sense to them iswhat continues to drive my work in foundational literacy and early childhoodeducation. As a curriculum writer and subject matter expert, I love creatingresources that empower educators to implement best practices that reach everystudent. I firmly believe that when we equip teachers with effective strategies,we ignite a passion for learning in children that lasts a lifetime.
Whatsenses are specifically involved in this approach to reading? How doesmultisensory learning engage the brain in a different way than more traditionalforms of reading instruction?
Multisensorylearning utilizes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic techniques to engagechildren in the learning process. This approach incorporates multiple senses tosolidify understanding. Children see letters and words (visual), hear thesounds of letters and words (auditory), and use their hands to form letters andwords through movement and touch (kinesthetic).
Multisensorylearning caters to different learning styles and provides a more effective andengaging experience by actively involving children in learning. Thiscomprehensive approach to reading instruction goes beyond traditional visualand auditory methods, engaging the brain in a more holistic way.
Ismultisensory learning a good strategy for instructing children with readingchallenges such as dyslexia?
Yes–multisensorylearning has been widely recognized as an effective teaching strategy forchildren with dyslexia. By engaging multiple senses, children with dyslexia canincrease understanding and retain more information. Multisensory learningprovides the brain with multiple pathways to process and recall information,which can be especially helpful for children who struggle with traditionalreading instruction methods.
Howcan technology be implemented in this approach?
Interactive Activities: Multisensory learning experiences, such asthe Wet-Dry-Try app,allow students to practice letter formation and improve writing skills.
Student Apps: Use literacy, math, and writing readinessapps to provide additional learning support and reinforcement.
Videos: Author-read or influencer-read book videos can offer engaging auditoryand visual learning experiences.
Ifa teacher wants to incorporate multisensory approaches but has limitedresources, where should they start?
Hands-On Learning: Providechildren with manipulatives to construct letters and numbers. Start with largersizes, like capital letters, and gradually introduce smaller ones as theydevelop their fine motor skills. For high-quality manipulatives, LearningWithout Tears offers excellent options to enhance hands-on learning experiencesin the classroom.
Writing Practice: Encourage writing practice by incorporatingsimple tools like slates and chalk.
Free Educational Resources: Take advantage of free online resources like public domainbooks and library services to give children access to literature and learning materials.
Family Engagement: Involveparents in their child's learning by providing take-home activities andencouraging them to talk and read with their children regularly.
Whatare some signs a parent can be on the lookout for that might indicate theirchild would benefit from this kind of instruction? What are some simpleactivities they can engage in at home to promote early literacy?
Parentscan support their child's literacy development from an early age simply byengaging in everyday conversations. Talking to your child—describing whatyou’re doing, counting objects, or narrating daily activities like groceryshopping or cooking—helps build their language skills in a natural, meaningfulway. Even simple interactions, like reading books aloud or discussing theprocess of doing something can enhance their understanding of language.
AtLearning Without Tears, we provide take-home activities that make it easy forparents to reinforce learning at home. For example, this week we’re focusing ona specific letter and number. We use formation language in the classroom toguide students, and parents can reference the same language when practicing athome, ensuring a consistent and supportive learning experience.
Howdoes Learning Without Tears incorporate multisensory learning?
LearningWithout Tears integrates multisensory learning by engaging children throughvisual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile experiences, ensuring that alllearners can develop foundational skills effectively.
Forhandwriting instruction, LWT uses hands-on materials like wooden pieces,chalkboards, and textured surfaces to help children feel and build letterformations before writing them. The Wet-Dry-Try method reinforces muscle memoryby having students trace letters with a wet sponge, dry them with a tissue, andthen write them with chalk.
Inliteracy and math, songs, movement, and interactive activities make learningengaging and memorable. The program also emphasizes oral language development,encouraging children to talk, listen, and build vocabulary as well asbackground knowledge through everyday conversations—an essential foundation forreading and writing.
Canthis approach be blended in to be used with more traditional phonics-basedinstruction?
Absolutely!Learning Without Tears complements traditional phonics-based instruction byintegrating multisensory strategies that reinforce letter recognition,sound-symbol relationships, and handwriting. By engaging children throughhands-on, auditory, and movement-based activities, LWT helps solidify phonicsconcepts in a way that supports all learners. For instance, children can formletters using manipulatives, trace them in different textures, and pairmovement with letter sounds to strengthen memory and recall.
Howdoes handwriting factor into reading development?
Handwritingreinforces the connection between letters and sounds, improving wordrecognition and reading development. Research shows that the act of writing byhand strengthens the brain’s ability to process and retain letter shapes andtheir corresponding sounds, making it easier for children to decode andrecognize words when reading.
LearningWithout Tears’ handwriting programs are designed to complement reading throughmultisensory techniques like tracing letters, forming shapes withmanipulatives, and incorporating tactile experiences to build muscle memory.These activities engage the brain in ways that simply recognizing letters on apage cannot, helping children internalize the structure of language moreeffectively.
Byimproving handwriting skills, children gain better control over letterformation and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship betweenwritten and spoken language—key components in becoming strong readers. Theintegration of handwriting with reading activities supports a trifecta ofskills: handwriting, reading, and writing, which work together to boost overallliteracy.
Anycommon misperceptions about multisensory learning you’d like to clear up?
Multisensorylearning is frequently misunderstood as being exclusively beneficial forstudents with learning difficulties or disabilities. This is untrue, as itbenefits all learners by catering to various learning styles and reinforcingconcepts through multiple sensory channels.
Anothermisconception is that multisensory learning is "extra" ortime-consuming. This is also untrue, as it can be incorporated seamlessly intodaily lessons without disrupting the flow of instruction. It is actually a timesaver because children are able to understand concepts sooner due to theinvolvement of multiple senses.
Whenimplemented effectively, multisensory learning enhances the learning experiencefor all students by making it more engaging. This helps solidify foundationalskills that are critical for success in literacy and other subjects.
Wheremight a teacher or parent go to learn more?
www.lwtears.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Youcan also listen to a recent conversation I had with The Inspiring EarlyChildhood Educator Podcast, exploring multisensory instruction and how when doneeffectively it can transform the way children learn and grow.
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Dr. Elizabeth DeWitt is a Sr. Adoptions & Curriculum Specialist for Learning Without Tears (LWT) with over 20 years of experience teaching young children and educators. She has had several roles with the company including curriculum designer, content advisor and national early childhood consultant. She has a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Leadership and a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Before joining LWT, she was an inner-city public school inclusion preschool teacher.
Interested parties should also check out the Learning Without Tears Readiness and Writing Program.
