"Growing Readers Together"
Suzanne Knoelk MS, CALP
Using Multi-Sensory Techniques to
Reach Struggling Readers

Meet Sue Knoelk....... Passionate educator, well versed Reading Specialist, and all around children's reading champion. Sue loves what she does on a daily basis. 
"As a classroom teacher, I was puzzled why some students struggled so much trying to apply phonics skills in their reading and spelling and why after dedicated instruction and practice, these students still were not fluent" ...............more

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Parent Teacher University

Parent and Teacher University: Online course community 

What is dyslexia and what are the characteristics and symptoms to be aware of? Have you ever wondered if there is something more you could be doing to help your students really retain and apply what they’re learning? Are there simple things you could be doing to help your child learn in the way that is best for them? Maybe you were never taught how English works and don’t feel equipped to teach it to your child or student.

As someone who works all types of unique learners (neurotypical as well as those with diagnosed learning disabilities), I strive to approach all learning opportunities in a way that "lights up" different areas of the brain to ensure that children and teens are fully engaged to make learning "stick." It really is brain science, but believe it or not, you don't have to be an expert to use these strategies, too!

Once I learned how to make learning more brain-friendly, I incorporated these strategies and techniques throughout every teaching day. These are simple, smart strategies that will benefit anyone learning, but are critical for those who have learning differences that cause them to struggle. Now you can learn to use these Orton Gillingham based multisensory structured language techniques, too! I’ve broken down the college level courses I taught and developed to make them accessible to you:


An Introduction to Everything Dyslexia

Course description: Are you hearing the “D” word a lot lately and wondering how to know if your child or student has dyslexia? Was your child recently diagnosed with a specific learning disability or dyslexia? Are you trying to navigate through this new journey? This introductory course will inform you about general dyslexia related topics such as the definition, characteristics, brain research, legislation, and effective teaching practices. You will also be encouraged to walk in the footsteps of a person who has dyslexia through simulation activities and hearing about the social/emotional impact in the words of individuals who live with dyslexia. Since 1 in 5 people have dyslexia, EVERYONE needs to take this course to increase awareness and understanding.

What Works for Dyslexia: Multi-sensory Structured Language Teaching Strategies

Course description: Multi-sensory structured language teaching is the secret sauce to make learning stick with our students! It really is brain science because we're trying to rewire inefficient connections in the reading and language centers of the brain by activating the visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile pathways. The beauty is that although research shows these techniques are critical for students with learning differences, it benefits all students! Once you know these strategies, you’ll see that you can utilize them no matter what setting, program, or curriculum you’re working in.


The Ultimate Field Guide for Educators and Parents: Making Sense of How the English Language Works

Course description: This course will hone in on the nuts and bolts of what to teach students in order to provide explicit instruction of oral and written language. The International Dyslexia Association’s standards point to the fact that it is critical for educators to understand the history and workings of our language in order to help struggling students make sense of English. In this course, teachers and parents will discover the origins of English, the components of language, and the stages of reading development. Explanations will be provided to outline the reasons why children who have dyslexia or other learning differences struggle in these areas. This course also includes foundational knowledge to better understand the structure of language in the component areas of phonological awareness, phonics, orthography, and morphology. Do not be afraid! Common, every day language will be used throughout this course so that even what may be complicated will become understandable.