Instructional Methods

  • Direct Instruction

  • Multi-Sensory Materials

  • Conceptual Foundation


As you read about Engaged’s Minds services, you’ll find several threads in common. We know that the combination of direct instruction, use of multi-sensory materials, and creating a strong conceptual understanding support students’ lifelong academic achievement.

In each content area, material is presented through explicit, direct instruction. Students do not need to guess how to approach new content. Rather, all material is presented in a sequential, logical fashion and explained clearly, using the support of multi-sensory materials. When students can see, touch, and hear information that is presented, the content sticks. Engaged Minds promotes deep conceptual understanding of academic material. The process matters in promoting lasting understanding.

A young girl with curly hair tied up in a bun, wearing a pink shirt, sitting at a table in a library, engaged in sorting or arranging small cards with text or images. Bookshelves filled with colorful books are visible in the background.

In this exercise, the student matches decodable words to their corresponding images to build vocabulary.

A young person with short hair, wearing a blue shirt, engaged in play with blue kinetic sand in a pink container on a wooden table.
A young girl with brown hair, wearing a pink glitter headband and a black shirt, is playing with blue and green blocks on a white table in a library.

This child traces letters in kinetic sand to solidify letter to sound correspondences.

This child uses base ten blocks to solve addition problems.

A child's hand holding an adult's finger in a warm outdoor setting, with a wooden surface in the background.

This student taps out spelling words on her arm. The use of kinesthetic movement aids memory.