Using a multisensory teaching approach

Gone are the days when it is enough to read the lesson aloud to students and expect them to absorb and recall the information on demand. Students increasingly need for information to be presented to them in a variety of different ways, and to be motivated to engage with the Madressa curriculum. Click below to read more on using a Multi sensory approach to supporting and teaching students in the classroom.

USING A ‘MULTISENSORY APPROACH’ WHEN SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM

This means helping a child to learn through more than one of the senses. Most teaching in schools/Madaris is done using either sight or hearing.

The child's sight is used in:

  • · reading information,
  • · looking at diagrams or pictures, or
  • · reading what is on the board.

The sense of hearing is used in:

  • · listening to what the teacher says and
  • · listening to what peers say.

Difficulties with these senses

A child may experience difficulties with either or both of these senses. The child's vision may be affected by difficulties with tracking, visual processing or seeing the words become fuzzy or move around. The child's hearing may be satisfactory on a hearing test, but auditory memory or auditory processing may be weak.

The answer?..... involve the use of more of the child’s senses, especially the use of touch and movement (kinetic). This will give the child’s brain tactile and kinetic memories to hang on to, as well as the visual and auditory ones.

For example…                                                

LESSON: Sura-al-Fil:

  • · Read the Arabic from the Qur’an
  • · Listen to it on tape
  • · Read the Translation & repeat as a class
  • · Discuss each line using an object to represent each line, that is passed around the class
  • · Do a role play.

The result of these activities will be that a child has a visual memory from seeing the sura, an auditory memory from hearing the verses, a tactile memory from feeling the objects that represent each line and a kinetic (body movement) memory from having taken part in the role play ……Altogether a multisensory experience!

Why does it work?

It’s success lies in the fact that the child is not limited to visual and auditory experiences but can make use of other areas of the brain in trying to establish clear memories of letters, words, ideas and morals that are difficult to remember.

THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT YOU PROVIDE 

Must be graded according to the students’:

  • Strengths and needs
  • Response to your support
  • Progress