District Dyslexia Program Guide

Multisensory Teaching Approach (MTA)

Fruitvale ISD utilized the instructional program called Multisensory Teaching Approach (MTA) for students who receive direct dyslexia instruction. With MTA, students will receive direct dyslexia instruction for 45 minutes, 4 days a week. The MTA curriculum is an Orton-Gillingham based approach to teaching reading which combines visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic instruction. MTA continues to address all components of appropriate dyslexia instruction in accordance with 19 TAC §74.28(e) and per the 2021 updated The Dyslexia Handbook, Texas Education Agency.  The goal is for all students to begin at the beginning and complete the curriculum, as long as students are progressing according to criterion-referenced “Mastery Checks” that are administered periodically. 

Background

Multisensory Teaching Approach is a program for the remediation of Dyslexia and other reading disabilities. It follows research begun at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in 1965 by Aylett R. Cox and Dr. Lucius Waites as they developed the Alphabetic Phonics program. This program is an Orton-Gillingham multisensory approach to teaching reading that combines Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic (or muscle) instruction. Titled Alphabetic Phonics because it is based on the alphabet symbol system, it teaches the science of the written language and addresses reading, handwriting, and spelling.

Margaret Taylor Smith developed Multisensory Teaching Approach (MTA) in the mid 80's as a refined and more “teacher friendly” curriculum that enhances and further develops Alphabetic Phonics by teaching for mastery.

The research of a four year study (Reynolds, V., Vickery, K., and Cochran, S., Annals of Dyslexia, 1987) showed highly significant gains for all remedial students while students in regular classrooms also showed gains.

The MTA curriculum meets all state requirements as an exemplary choice for the remediation of dyslexia. In fact, the descriptors for remediation were based on this curriculum.

Implementation

The district strives to adhere to MTS Publications prescribed MTA implementation guidelines.

We are committed to the following for the dyslexia teacher(s) and students receiving dyslexia instruction:

• Classes will meet 4 times weekly for 45-minutes each day.  Instructional time will be maxmized to ensure students progress appropriately through the lessons.

• Student groupings and group size will be monitored to ensure students progress appropriately through the lessons.

• Students will receive instruction in a classroom with other students in the same program.

• District Dyslexia teachers will demonstrate an expert-level of reading knowledge, pedagogy, and assessment.

• District Dyslexia teacher(s) will have time for lesson planning and preparation daily.

• District Dyslexia teacher(s) will attend follow-up MTA workshops and additional training.

• The district/campus will ensure the appropriate instructional materials are utilized and maintained.

General Lesson Plan Overview

The MTA program is a comprehensive curriculum that places primary emphasis on the 85% of the English Language that is phonetically reliable for reading and spelling. There are four major areas of study: alphabet and dictionary skills, reading, spelling, and cursive handwriting.