Early literacy development is critical for academic success, yet some children struggle to grasp foundational skills such as phonics, decoding, and fluency. Zylox (pseudonym), a 6-year-old learner, faced such challenges. However, with a structured multisensory intervention, he made remarkable progress. This article explores Zylox’s journey and the evidence-based strategies that helped him grow into a more confident reader.

The Challenge: Overcoming Early Literacy Struggles

When Zylox began literacy intervention at age 4, he had difficulty recognising letters, blending sounds, and reading fluently. Specific struggles included:

• Confusing visually similar letters (e.g., b/d, p/q)
• Weak phonemic awareness, affecting blending and segmentation
• Low confidence, leading to avoidance of reading tasks
• Difficulty reading CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and decoding unfamiliar words

His reluctance stemmed not from a lack of effort but from repeated frustrations with traditional learning methods. Recognising this, a tailored, multisensory approach was introduced to build his skills and confidence.

The Intervention: A Multisensory Approach to Reading

Research suggests that engaging multiple senses in literacy instruction enhances learning retention (Ehri, 2005; National Reading Panel, 2000). Zylox’s programme incorporated:

1. Tactile and Kinesthetic Phonics Instruction

• Sandpaper letters and Wikki Stix helped reinforce letter formation through touch.
• Movement-based games (e.g., letter hopscotch, balloon boxing for letter pairs) made learning active and engaging.

2. Fluency-Building Techniques

• Echo reading: Zylox listened to a sentence and repeated it to build fluency (Rasinski, 2012).
• Paired reading: Reading alongside a model provided structured practice and support.
• Decodable books: These ensured he practised phonics rules in controlled texts, gradually increasing reading independence.

3. Confidence-Boosting Strategies

• Bracketing errors instead of erasing: This allowed Zylox to see progress rather than focus on mistakes (Dweck, 2006).
• Incremental success recognition: Celebrating small achievements encouraged perseverance.

4. Comprehension Support

• Sentence starters and picture prompts guided Zylox in verbalising his understanding (Duke & Pearson, 2002).
• Interactive discussions helped develop inferencing and text connections.

The Progress: Measurable Gains in Literacy

Zylox’s growth was evident across multiple areas:

Skill Area	Before Intervention	After Intervention
Alphabet recall	Needed frequent prompting	Automatic (90%)
Recognising similar letters	Frequently confused	Accurately distinguishes (90%)
CVC word fluency	30% accuracy	80% accuracy
CVCC/CCVC decoding	40% accuracy	70% accuracy
Silent-e words (isolation)	30% understanding	70% understanding
Silent-e words (in text)	10% understanding	30% understanding
Comprehension	Struggled with recall	Strong verbal recall, independently locates answers

His mother also reported an increased eagerness to read at home, reinforcing the impact of confidence-building interventions.

Key Takeaways for Parents and Educators

1. Multisensory Learning is Effective

Engaging touch, movement, and auditory input enhances literacy acquisition (Ritchey & Goeke, 2006). Simple strategies like sandpaper letters and letter movement games can make a significant difference.

2. Confidence is Key

Children hesitant to read often fear making mistakes. Strategies like bracketing errors instead of erasing and recognising small milestones help reframe mistakes as learning opportunities (Dweck, 2006).

3. Structured Fluency Support Matters

Echo reading, paired reading, and decodable books build fluency in a non-intimidating way (Rasinski, 2012). Creating a low-pressure reading environment fosters confidence and engagement.

4. Comprehension Starts with Discussion

Encouraging verbal processing before writing helps children structure their thoughts. Providing sentence starters and using illustrations for predictions can strengthen comprehension (Duke & Pearson, 2002).

Final Thoughts: The Power of Personalised Support

Zylox’s transformation highlights the impact of individualised instruction tailored to a child’s learning style. With the right support and encouragement, even hesitant readers can develop essential literacy skills and confidence.

For parents and educators, integrating multisensory strategies, patience, and positive reinforcement can be the key to unlocking a child’s reading potential.

What strategies have worked for your learners? Share your thoughts!