Interview with Dr. DeWitt, Curriculum Specialist for Learning Without Tears

Welcome to Smack Dab in the Middle, Dr. DeWitt. Here at the site, we talk about the latest reading materials (newest book releases), but rarely if ever address the actual process of learning to read. This is a treat. Can you tell us a bit about what multisensory learning is?

Multisensory learning enhances learning by engaging multiple senses at the same time. This method uses visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities to cater to various learning styles and needs in early childhood education. For instance, to learn letters, children can see them, hear the sounds they make, and physically form them with their hands. This active participation in the learning process makes it more effective and engaging for young learners.

What led you to focus on multisensory learning in your own research and work?

My passion for multisensory learning stems from a deep commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their learning style or background. Early in my career, I saw firsthand how traditional, one-size-fits-all instruction left many students disengaged or struggling to grasp foundational concepts. I became determined to find a way to make learning more accessible, meaningful, and—most importantly—fun for all learners.

Multisensory instruction naturally became the focus of my work because it meets students where they are, engaging multiple pathways in the brain to enhance understanding and retention. Whether through hands-on activities, movement, auditory cues, or visual supports, this approach ensures that children experience learning in a way that resonates with them. The joy of watching a child light up when they grasp a concept in a way that makes sense to them is what continues to drive my work in foundational literacy and early childhood education. As a curriculum writer and subject matter expert, I love creating resources that empower educators to implement best practices that reach every student. I firmly believe that when we equip teachers with effective strategies, we ignite a passion for learning in children that lasts a lifetime.

What senses are specifically involved in this approach to reading? How does multisensory learning engage the brain in a different way than more traditional forms of reading instruction?

Multisensory learning utilizes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic techniques to engage children in the learning process. This approach incorporates multiple senses to solidify understanding. Children see letters and words (visual), hear the sounds of letters and words (auditory), and use their hands to form letters and words through movement and touch (kinesthetic).

Multisensory learning caters to different learning styles and provides a more effective and engaging experience by actively involving children in learning. This comprehensive approach to reading instruction goes beyond traditional visual and auditory methods, engaging the brain in a more holistic way.

Is multisensory learning a good strategy for instructing children with reading challenges such as dyslexia?

Yes–multisensory learning has been widely recognized as an effective teaching strategy for children with dyslexia. By engaging multiple senses, children with dyslexia can increase understanding and retain more information. Multisensory learning provides the brain with multiple pathways to process and recall information, which can be especially helpful for children who struggle with traditional reading instruction methods.

How can technology be implemented in this approach?

Interactive Activities: Multisensory learning experiences, such as the Wet-Dry-Try  app, allow students to practice letter formation and improve writing skills.

Student Apps: Use literacy, math, and writing readiness apps to provide additional learning support and reinforcement.

Videos:  Author-read or influencer-read book videos can offer engaging auditory and visual learning experiences.

If a teacher wants to incorporate multisensory approaches but has limited resources, where should they start?

Hands-On Learning:  Provide children with manipulatives to construct letters and numbers. Start with larger sizes, like capital letters, and gradually introduce smaller ones as they develop their fine motor skills. For high-quality manipulatives, Learning Without Tears offers excellent options to enhance hands-on learning experiences in the classroom.

Writing Practice: Encourage writing practice by incorporating simple tools like slates and chalk.

Free Educational Resources: Take advantage of  free online resources like public domain books and library services to give children access to  literature and learning materials.

Family Engagement:  Involve parents in their child's learning by providing take-home activities and encouraging them to talk and read with their children regularly.

What are some signs a parent can be on the lookout for that might indicate their child would benefit from this kind of instruction? What are some simple activities they can engage in at home to promote early literacy?

Parents can support their child's literacy development from an early age simply by engaging in everyday conversations. Talking to your child—describing what you’re doing, counting objects, or narrating daily activities like grocery shopping or cooking—helps build their language skills in a natural, meaningful way. Even simple interactions, like reading books aloud or discussing the process of doing something can enhance their understanding of language.

At Learning Without Tears, we provide take-home activities that make it easy for parents to reinforce learning at home. For example, this week we’re focusing on a specific letter and number. We use formation language in the classroom to guide students, and parents can reference the same language when practicing at home, ensuring a consistent and supportive learning experience.

How does Learning Without Tears incorporate multisensory learning?

Learning Without Tears integrates multisensory learning by engaging children through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile experiences, ensuring that all learners can develop foundational skills effectively.

For handwriting instruction, LWT uses hands-on materials like wooden pieces, chalkboards, and textured surfaces to help children feel and build letter formations before writing them. The Wet-Dry-Try method reinforces muscle memory by having students trace letters with a wet sponge, dry them with a tissue, and then write them with chalk.

In literacy and math, songs, movement, and interactive activities make learning engaging and memorable. The program also emphasizes oral language development, encouraging children to talk, listen, and build vocabulary as well as background knowledge through everyday conversations—an essential foundation for reading and writing.

Can this approach be blended in to be used with more traditional phonics-based instruction?

Absolutely! Learning Without Tears complements traditional phonics-based instruction by integrating multisensory strategies that reinforce letter recognition, sound-symbol relationships, and handwriting. By engaging children through hands-on, auditory, and movement-based activities, LWT helps solidify phonics concepts in a way that supports all learners. For instance, children can form letters using manipulatives, trace them in different textures, and pair movement with letter sounds to strengthen memory and recall.

How does handwriting factor into reading development?

Handwriting reinforces the connection between letters and sounds, improving word recognition and reading development. Research shows that the act of writing by hand strengthens the brain’s ability to process and retain letter shapes and their corresponding sounds, making it easier for children to decode and recognize words when reading.

Learning Without Tears’ handwriting programs are designed to complement reading through multisensory techniques like tracing letters, forming shapes with manipulatives, and incorporating tactile experiences to build muscle memory. These activities engage the brain in ways that simply recognizing letters on a page cannot, helping children internalize the structure of language more effectively.

By improving handwriting skills, children gain better control over letter formation and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between written and spoken language—key components in becoming strong readers. The integration of handwriting with reading activities supports a trifecta of skills: handwriting, reading, and writing, which work together to boost overall literacy.

Any common misperceptions about multisensory learning you’d like to clear up?

Multisensory learning is frequently misunderstood as being exclusively beneficial for students with learning difficulties or disabilities. This is untrue, as it benefits all learners by catering to various learning styles and reinforcing concepts through multiple sensory channels.

Another misconception is that multisensory learning is "extra" or time-consuming. This is also untrue, as it can be incorporated seamlessly into daily lessons without disrupting the flow of instruction. It is actually a time saver because children are able to understand concepts sooner due to the involvement of multiple senses.

When implemented effectively, multisensory learning enhances the learning experience for all students by making it more engaging. This helps solidify foundational skills that are critical for success in literacy and other subjects.

Where might a teacher or parent go to learn more?

www.lwtears.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.

You can also listen to a recent conversation I had with The Inspiring Early Childhood Educator Podcast, exploring multisensory instruction and how when done effectively 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.