How to help kids build a mental dictionary of sounds and spellings

Embedding the sounds and spellings of the Long A Vowel into a child's mind

Have you wondered why some kids have a difficult time remembering the phonics lessons you just taught them? Phonics (or teaching kids how to match letter-symbols to sounds) does not work effectively unless children already have a mental dictionary of sounds and spellings in their heads. When children have mental phonological (sound) and orthographic (spelling) files embedded in their brains, it's much easier for them to map letters to sounds. Kids develop orthographic mapping abilities faster because they can glue (or align) chunks of printed letters to sounds that already exist in their heads.

How can we help kids build mental sound and spelling dictionaries? Movement-based literacy that combines cognitive athletic skills with the science of reading and spelling is the most effective way to help kids create phonological and orthographical dictionaries. Students can then download these sounds and spellings from their minds to read and write words quickly and accurately.

TAG (The Academic Gym) helps kids build phonological and orthographical skills through VITAAL-K Therapy. VITAAL-K is an exciting, unique combination of the science of reading and spelling delivered through multisensory strategies and rhythmic athletic skills.

VITAAL-K is an acronym for Visual, Interactive, Tactile, Auditory, Adaptable, Linguistic, Kinesthetic learning.

Learning sticks because kids love moving to learn and learning to move.

Learn more about VITAAL-K here.