LESSON STEPS: MULTI-SENSORY LESSONS - STEP 11: kinesthetic movementS
The Multi-Sensory Lessons Begin
Step 11: Kinesthetic Movements
Ready Reading Kinesthetic Movements by Tywanna Peoples and Faye Crow
Kinesthetic Movements can vary widely and are a key part of helping students who need multi-sensory input to help them associate and remember what they learn. One activity involves using students to make the letter shapes by lying down on the floor, as seen in the attached picture. If classroom space does not allow for this, try to go to the gym and/or ask the physical education teacher to do this as an activity in spare time.
Doing the individual body movements is especially helpful for students who are very active and have difficulty sitting and waiting to participate. One of the biggest benefits is that it gives a brief physical activity in which a whole class can respond together. Teachers tell me that they have no difficulty with student attention to the lessons while they are doing these multi-sensory activities.
Each body movement is learned with the introduction of the new letter sound. All movements are made while simultaneously saying the correct sound for the letter.
When you begin to sound out a lesson word, make the movement for each letter as you say the sound, starting slowly. Then repeat sounding out the word, progressing to faster movements with sounds until they can hear the blending. As you watch students work independently, in the beginning stages you will probably see them making small movements as they read or write words. This is a temporary “crutch” that disappears when they internalize the letter sound and blending process.
The following suggestions for movements can be used. Keep in mind that you can let students suggest their own movements that would help them remember the letter sound.
a - Open the mouth wide to eat an apple with one hand cupped in front of the mouth.
s - One hand slithers away from the body in an “s” shape like a snake.
m - Make an mmmm round motion on the tummy.
o - Open the mouth with an O shape while making O with one finger in front of the mouth.
t - Form T with the body, standing straight with arms outstretched to the sides.
p - Put hands in front of the mouth with left index finger touching right thumb and fingers forming a circle like the “P.” Puff through the circle .
n - Put one finger on the side of the nose and make “n” over the nose.
c - Put one hand (thumb and fingers in “C” shape) around the front of the throat to cough.
k - Kick (left arm up diagonally and left leg out in K shape).
r - Run in place.
u - Swing arms up on the side to form “U” for “up”
b - Swing arms to bat a ball.
j - Jump with feet up behind the body like a J.
f - Fan both hands in front of the face. Or be a Fireman--stand with left arm extended from the shoulder and right forearm extended from the waist like the letter F. (The Fireman holds the imaginary hose to put out the fire, saying ffff.)
g - With the left hand, make a “G” with curved fingers and bent thumb--grab the right wrist with the letter G.
h - Make a “h h h h” sound like a horse who has been running.
d - Form “dog ears” with hands cupped up beside the head.
i - Make an Indian feather behind the back of the head with one finger pointing straight up while chanting “i iii i iii.” Or, use a finger opposite the thumb about an inch apart and “inch across” the opposite arm.
w - Put the elbows to the sides of the body with forearms pointed upward like W. Flap the arms for wings.
v - Put the base of the hands together with fingers pointed up in a V. Fold fingertips inward for a valentine shape.
l - Put one finger straight up in front of the mouth; lick a lollipop.
e - Alternately cup the right hand behind the right ear and the left hand behind the left ear while making an echo, “e...e, e...e.”
y - Form Y with arms and hands up in the letter Y shape for yelling “yea.”
z - Make the “Zorro Z” sign in the air. Or, zip an imaginary zipper.
x - Cross both arms over the chest in an X for x-ray. (The x sound is the x-ray machine.)
q - Quack with one hand (fingers and thumb together) while saying the “qu” sound.
sh - Make the “quiet sign” with one finger up in front of the lips.
wh - Whisper on the palm of the hand. Place mouth in “wh” position and “whistle” the sound.
th - Stick the tongue out through the teeth like the crossline on the t. Put a thumb up in front of the mouth for thumbs up.
ch - Make a ”choo choo” train. Move arms like the bar between train wheels.