Why Multisensory Phonics Instruction with Decodable Books Works

For young children and those with dyslexia who are learning to read, a multisensory systematic phonics approach that utilises decodable books like The MOGS series is incredibly effective.

This instructional method incorporates visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic elements to reinforce letter-sound connections and the process of sounding out words.

The Importance of Systematic Phonics

Systematic phonics instruction teaches letter-sound relationships in an explicit, sequential way. Children learn to connect letters and letter combinations with their corresponding sounds. As they practice blending sounds together, they develop the crucial skill of decoding unknown words. 

This systematic approach is powerful because reading relies heavily on mapping sounds to letters. Compare it to learning terms in a foreign language by memorizing definitions versus understanding the linguistic patterns and rules that govern word formation.

Decodable Books Reinforce Phonics Patterns

Decodable books like The MOGS series are purposefully written to contain only the letter-sound relationships a child has learned up to that point in their phonics sequence. This controlled vocabulary allows new readers to practice their newly acquired decoding skills successfully. 

Without decodable books aligned to the phonics scope and sequence, children encounter too many irregular sight words or patterns they haven't learned yet. This barrage of exceptions before mastering the main patterns can undermine their ability to apply phonics strategies.

Mogs Bring Delight to Decodable Books

Mogs are cute character illustrations that are incorporated into decodable book series, playing a part in engaging a child's imagination as they learn to read. As a teacher, it's a joy to see the smiles on children's faces as they achieve reading sentence by sentence, and then have a little break as they clap the phonic rhythm and look for the Mogs.

Reading into the decodable book series, children come to anticipate the search for characters like Oz, Vog, and Imp, as well as clapping the phonic rhythm. This brings a sense of relief and accomplishment to those who struggle word by word with decoding.

The Value of Multisensory Learning

What makes systematic phonics instruction even more effective is incorporating multisensory elements. These activities engage students' visual (seeing the letters), auditory (hearing the sounds), and kinesthetic/tactile (physically forming the letters) pathways simultaneously.

Examples of multisensory activities include:

- Clapping hands to a regularly repeated rhyme that incorporates the phonic rule being explored

- Using letter tiles or tiles to blend and build words

- Finger tapping or hand motions to segment and blend sound units

- Tracing or writing letters in a sand or salt tray

- Reading and spelling with manipulatives like beads

This hands-on, repetitive linking of sounds to symbols through multiple modalities cements the phonics patterns in children's minds and muscle memory. It's particularly beneficial for dyslexic learners who often have difficulties processing sound-symbol connections.

Decodable Books Support Reading Practice

Finally, decodable books give children ample practice at their current phonics level to reinforce the patterns as they read connected, meaningful text. This targeted reading practice boosts decoding automaticity and reading fluency.

With systematic phonics, multisensory reinforcement, decodable practice books with engaging elements like Mogs, children of all abilities gain the foundational word attack skills for proficient reading, spelling, and writing development.