Multisensory Vocabulary Strategies

There are a variety of ways to practice vocabulary words but in order to master new words, it is important to incorporate as many senses as possible. The key to learning new words is through repetition. The best strategy is to practice for 10-15 minutes a day over a long period of time. Trying to cram the night before will not result in the mastery of new words. It is helpful to incorporate as many senses into your studying as possible. For example, you can use your sense of sight by creating flashcards. Your auditory senses can be engaged by reading the words aloud or hearing them read aloud to you. In order use your sense of touch, you can practice writing or tracing the words. A fun activity that utilizes this strategy is to gather tin foil and fill it with sand or shaving cream. Your student can trace the spelling of the words in the shaving cream or sand and say each word aloud. By incorporating as many of the senses as possible, you will be on your way to enhancing your vocabulary.