EDSPX505.MSAL - Multi-Sensory Approach to Literacy
Course Description
Number of Credits: 1
Over three, 2-hour sessions in this course, you will learn that young children with a sensory impairment/complex learning need are not always able to access ‘typical story books.’ Over three sessions in this course, you will be shown how to bring literacy to life beyond a typical story book. A holistic, practical approach will be used to consider how everyday experiences are a key to a child’s
literacy development. This will be shared within a framework of tactile, fine motor, book and story skills, concept development and auditory and language skills. A wonderful practical range of resources, ideas and strategies will be shared to inspire and demonstrate how stories can be made accessible for children with sensory impairment/complex learning needs.
Session 1: Laying the Foundations for Literacy
This first session will focus on essential experiences to undergird literacy and on understanding how to support concept development through stories.
Session 2: Tactile Development
This session will focus on understanding how to support tactile development through stories for tactile learners and children at the initial stages of accessing braille.
Session 3: Creating Accessible Stories
This final session will focus on how to create stories linked to fictional books and everyday experiences.
Instructor Information
Valerie Aker-Player
Phone - (208)-885-8786
Email - akerplayer@uidaho.edu
Course Objectives:
- Participants will be able to understand the elements of a multi-sensory approach to literacy
- Participants will be able to understand how to incorporate multi-sensory techniques using an
experience based approach - Participants will be able to write a simple story incorporating opportunities to develop a
child’s literacy access skills.