Transformative Strategies for Language Arts Learning

At Educational Pathways Academy, a private school for dyslexia and learning disabilities in Florida, we turn the challenge of reading and writing into exciting opportunities for growth! For students with learning differences, these essential skills can present unique challenges, but with the right support, they become pathways to success. Our specialized three-pronged approach to literacy—Orton-Gillingham, Literacy Lab, and Language Arts—is designed to help students build the skills and strategies they need to thrive.

One way we help our students succeed is by integrating multi-sensory strategies that make reading and writing more accessible and engaging. By combining technology, visual tools, discussion, and hands-on activities, we provide students with the opportunity to actively participate in their learning journey, developing confidence and comprehension along the way.

Transformative Strategies for Language Arts Learning

In our Language Arts classes on our North Campus, students are currently studying the novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio. To ensure they fully engage with the text, the teacher utilizes Learning Ally, an assistive technology tool that provides audio narration of books. This allows students to listen to the text while following along visually, reinforcing comprehension by combining auditory and visual input to strengthen their grasp of the material.

After listening to and reading a section of the book, students use Thinking Maps—visual tools like tree maps and bubble maps—to organize their thoughts about the characters and key themes. Thinking Maps help improve retention and recall by transforming abstract ideas into concrete, visual representations. This process enables students to better connect with the material and remember key details from the text.

To further support engagement, interactive learning strategies are incorporated into lessons. Students actively participate in class discussions, where they share their thoughts on the characters, events, and themes of Wonder. These discussions deepen their understanding of the book and allow them to connect their own experiences with what they’re learning. This interaction fosters communication skills and teamwork, as students listen to one another and exchange ideas.

Finally, students also record their reflections and insights in their novel study workbooks, which reinforces their understanding of the text while also developing their writing and critical thinking skills.

By integrating these multi-sensory strategies into Language Arts lessons, we help students engage with the material in different ways—through reading, listening, discussion, and writing. Each step supports the others, making it easier for students to understand and remember what they learn. This approach encourages active participation, teamwork, and reflection, helping students build essential skills that will support their success.

See Our Language Arts Classroom in Action!

Check out the video below to see how our students are engaging with interactive strategies in their Language Arts lessons.