Structured Literacy & Multisensory Instruction Flashcards

What is the key component of structured literacy?

Answer: A systematic and explicit approach to teaching reading.

Structured literacy is an evidence-based approach that is systematic, explicit, and cumulative in teaching reading. It breaks down language into its foundational components (phonology, phonics, morphology, syntax, semantics) and teaches them in a logical, sequential manner, which is crucial for students with dyslexia who struggle with implicit learning of these skills.

Why is multisensory instruction important for students with dyslexia?

Answer: It engages multiple senses to reinforce learning.

Multisensory instruction is particularly effective for students with dyslexia because it leverages their strengths by engaging multiple learning pathways. By simultaneously using visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile senses, it helps reinforce connections between sounds, letters, and words, making learning more concrete and memorable for those who struggle with traditional methods.

Which of the following is a key principle of structured literacy?

Answer: A sequential and explicit approach to skill development.

A key principle of structured literacy is its sequential and explicit approach to skill development. This means that foundational skills are taught in a logical order, building complexity gradually, and each concept is directly and clearly explained, leaving no room for guessing, which is essential for students with dyslexia to master literacy.

What is the role of phonological awareness in structured literacy?

Answer: It is essential for decoding and reading fluency.

Phonological awareness, the ability to recognize and manipulate the sound structure of spoken language, is a cornerstone of structured literacy and essential for decoding. Strong phonological awareness allows students to hear individual sounds in words, blend them, and segment them, which directly translates to their ability to decode unfamiliar words and read fluently.

Which is an example of multisensory instruction?

Answer: Tracing letters while saying their sounds out loud.

Multisensory instruction involves engaging several senses simultaneously to enhance learning. Tracing letters while saying their sounds out loud is a prime example, as it combines visual input (seeing the letter), auditory input (hearing the sound), and kinesthetic/tactile input (feeling the movement of tracing), reinforcing the letter-sound correspondence.

Why is explicit instruction important in structured literacy?

Answer: It helps students understand language rules and apply them.

Explicit instruction is critical in structured literacy because students with dyslexia often do not implicitly grasp the rules of language and reading. By directly and clearly teaching phonics rules, spelling patterns, and other linguistic concepts, it helps students understand the underlying structure of language and apply these rules consistently to decode and encode words.

Which of the following is an example of explicit instruction in structured literacy?

Answer: Teaching spelling rules step-by-step and providing plenty of practice.

Explicit instruction means directly teaching skills and concepts in a clear, unambiguous way. Teaching spelling rules step-by-step and providing ample opportunities for guided practice is a perfect example, as it ensures students understand the rules and can apply them systematically, rather than relying on rote memorization or guessing.

What is the primary goal of structured literacy for students with dyslexia?

Answer: To help students read fluently by addressing the core issues of dyslexia.

The primary goal of structured literacy for students with dyslexia is to build strong foundational reading skills, enabling them to read fluently and accurately. By systematically addressing the core deficits in phonological processing, decoding, and encoding that characterize dyslexia, it aims to close the reading gap and foster independent, confident readers.

What makes multisensory instruction effective for students with dyslexia?

Answer: It engages multiple senses, reinforcing connections between language skills.

Multisensory instruction is highly effective for students with dyslexia because it capitalizes on engaging multiple senses (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile) simultaneously. This approach creates stronger and more durable neural pathways, reinforcing the connections between sounds, symbols, and meaning, which is essential for overcoming the language processing challenges associated with dyslexia.