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The sense of touch
We try to make learning tactile to help those students who learn well through their hands. We suggest using letters shaped out of wood, plastic, magnets, plasticene, mactac, sandpaper, rubber, sponge so the child can turn them over, mouth them, see what is always the same about them (shape) and what does not matter (color).
Children naturally when shown a letter for instance 'r' may wonder what makes it 'r' and may think it is its size or its color, or its place on the page. When we show them 'r' in many sizes, made of many materials, in many places on the page, they start to realize that what makes the letter 'r' is its shape. And we help them feel it in many textures to help reinforce this idea.
Motion and large physical activity:
We realize that special needs children are often restless. This may not just be because they lack fine motor movements. It may also be because they are frustrated. We can use their desire to move around by giving them a learning method that requires or allows large physical motions- jumping on letters, running, fetching things, reaching, touching and for those who are able to make such motions, this type of gross physical activity not only makes the child less restless and brings them joy, but it also helps reinforce the learning For those students who can't make large physical motions, even tapping a page or clapping or even blinking to indicate 'yes' or 'no' can be incorporated to help communicate when the picture on each page matches the instruction.
For those students who like to move rhythmically or to dance, wherever possible we have tried to suggest body action poems for each letter.
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