ALTA Certification Exam 2025 | Comprehensive
Frequently Tested Questions & Verified
Answers | Multisensory Language Education
Study Guide | A+ Guaranteed.
What is the purpose of Multi-sensory teaching?
To activate 2 or more learning pathways simultaneously through which the student can process
new instructions, procedures, or information. To enable students strongest input channel (VAK)
to take the lead in their learning and strengthen weaker pathways.
What is the purpose of the 8 linkages?
To link all properties of each letter (name, shape, sound, and "feel") through every pathway to
the students learning. To provide alternate channels through which students can read, write, or
spell.
What are a letters properties?
Name, shape, sound and "feel". The letters name is the most stable property.
It's sometimes called the Anglo-Saxon language. But usually it's called_______________.
Old English
_____________ has always been the official language of the Catholic Church.
Latin
___________ was once the center of learning for the whole world. But after being weakened by
many wars was finally conquered by Rome.
Greece
_______________ __________ is the name scholars have given to the English language from
1500 to today.
Modern English
Scholars call the period between 1066, when the Normans conquered England, and 1500, when
a large number of Latin and Greek words became a part of the English language, the
__________ __________.
,Middle period
Neuropsychiatrist who coined the word "strephosymbolia" to replace the term "word
blindness". He was an American physician who pioneered the study of learning disabilities. He
examined the causes and treatment of dyslexia.
Samual T. Orton (1879-1948)
Developed the educational remediation side of the Orton-Gillingham approach. She was an
educator and psychologist. Trained Sally Child's. Studied with Aylett Cox.
Anna Gillingham (1878-1963)
Therapist and teacher at Hockaday school in Dallas. Trained under Gillingham. She was a
language training specialist, with an emphasis on furthering the research on dyslexia and
educating dyslexic students. She along with several colleagues, opened an organization to help
create dyslexia awareness called The Orton Society (later renamed International Dyslexia
Association), in 1949.
Sally Childs (1905-1988)
Developed curriculum called Alphabetic Phonics based on the OG's work. In the late 1950's she
studied Anna Gillingham's techniques for teaching reading.
Aylett Cox (1915-2006)
What does MSL stand for?
Multisensory structured language
What are the 5 principals of MSL instruction?
1. Simultaneous, multisensory
2. Systematic and cumulative
3. Direct instruction
4. Diagnostic teaching
5. Synthetic and analytic instruction
Harvard Graduate psychologist, writer, and literacy researcher, believed in the importance of
direct, systematic instruction in reading. In 1983, she added Stages of Reading Development to
her literacy contributions. Later, in 1996, she and three of her graduate students developed the
Qualitative Assessment of Text Difficulty: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Writers.
Jeanne Chall (1921-1999)
, ____________ was a neurologist who in 1965 established a program at Scottish Rite to identify
and treat children with learning disorders, primarily dyslexia.
Dr. Lucius (Luke) Waites
_____________ was a British neurologist. He was former president of the World Federation of
Neurology. His first article on reading and writing difficulties in children appeared in 1927, in
which he discusses mirror-writing. Wrote The Dyslexic Child which identified developmental
dyslexia. He was the first Queen Square physician to travel extensively and lecture all over the
world. In 1978 world federation of Neurology meets and adopts definition of developmental
dyslexia.
MacDonald Critchley (1900-1997)
___________ is a research scientist, professor, classroom teacher, special education teacher,
neuropsychologist, school psychologist, and leader in the development of evidence-based
education policy at federal and state levels. Worked closely with the White House, the U.S.
Department of Education, and Congress on the development of evidence-based education
policy. From 2001 until 2005, he served as an advisor on education research and policies to
President George W. Bush
Dr. Reid Lyons
The 3 predictors of reading success are:
1. Letter recognition
2. Phonological awareness
3. Oral language
Author of "What's whole about whole language" introduced whole language. Did not believe in
phonics. Believed that learning to read is as natural as learning to speak. His concept of reading
as an analogue to language development has been studied by brain researchers such as Sally
Shaywitz, who rejected the theory on the grounds that reading does not develop naturally in
the absence of instruction. Led the Top-down theory of reading.
Kenneth Goodman (1927-2020)
Professor of Education and Director Emeritus of the Florida Center for Reading Research. Does
extensive research in the field of reading and phonology.
Barbra Foorman
____________ is an American psychologist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of
Psychology at the University of Denver. He is recognized for his research on developmental
Frequently Tested Questions & Verified
Answers | Multisensory Language Education
Study Guide | A+ Guaranteed.
What is the purpose of Multi-sensory teaching?
To activate 2 or more learning pathways simultaneously through which the student can process
new instructions, procedures, or information. To enable students strongest input channel (VAK)
to take the lead in their learning and strengthen weaker pathways.
What is the purpose of the 8 linkages?
To link all properties of each letter (name, shape, sound, and "feel") through every pathway to
the students learning. To provide alternate channels through which students can read, write, or
spell.
What are a letters properties?
Name, shape, sound and "feel". The letters name is the most stable property.
It's sometimes called the Anglo-Saxon language. But usually it's called_______________.
Old English
_____________ has always been the official language of the Catholic Church.
Latin
___________ was once the center of learning for the whole world. But after being weakened by
many wars was finally conquered by Rome.
Greece
_______________ __________ is the name scholars have given to the English language from
1500 to today.
Modern English
Scholars call the period between 1066, when the Normans conquered England, and 1500, when
a large number of Latin and Greek words became a part of the English language, the
__________ __________.
,Middle period
Neuropsychiatrist who coined the word "strephosymbolia" to replace the term "word
blindness". He was an American physician who pioneered the study of learning disabilities. He
examined the causes and treatment of dyslexia.
Samual T. Orton (1879-1948)
Developed the educational remediation side of the Orton-Gillingham approach. She was an
educator and psychologist. Trained Sally Child's. Studied with Aylett Cox.
Anna Gillingham (1878-1963)
Therapist and teacher at Hockaday school in Dallas. Trained under Gillingham. She was a
language training specialist, with an emphasis on furthering the research on dyslexia and
educating dyslexic students. She along with several colleagues, opened an organization to help
create dyslexia awareness called The Orton Society (later renamed International Dyslexia
Association), in 1949.
Sally Childs (1905-1988)
Developed curriculum called Alphabetic Phonics based on the OG's work. In the late 1950's she
studied Anna Gillingham's techniques for teaching reading.
Aylett Cox (1915-2006)
What does MSL stand for?
Multisensory structured language
What are the 5 principals of MSL instruction?
1. Simultaneous, multisensory
2. Systematic and cumulative
3. Direct instruction
4. Diagnostic teaching
5. Synthetic and analytic instruction
Harvard Graduate psychologist, writer, and literacy researcher, believed in the importance of
direct, systematic instruction in reading. In 1983, she added Stages of Reading Development to
her literacy contributions. Later, in 1996, she and three of her graduate students developed the
Qualitative Assessment of Text Difficulty: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Writers.
Jeanne Chall (1921-1999)
, ____________ was a neurologist who in 1965 established a program at Scottish Rite to identify
and treat children with learning disorders, primarily dyslexia.
Dr. Lucius (Luke) Waites
_____________ was a British neurologist. He was former president of the World Federation of
Neurology. His first article on reading and writing difficulties in children appeared in 1927, in
which he discusses mirror-writing. Wrote The Dyslexic Child which identified developmental
dyslexia. He was the first Queen Square physician to travel extensively and lecture all over the
world. In 1978 world federation of Neurology meets and adopts definition of developmental
dyslexia.
MacDonald Critchley (1900-1997)
___________ is a research scientist, professor, classroom teacher, special education teacher,
neuropsychologist, school psychologist, and leader in the development of evidence-based
education policy at federal and state levels. Worked closely with the White House, the U.S.
Department of Education, and Congress on the development of evidence-based education
policy. From 2001 until 2005, he served as an advisor on education research and policies to
President George W. Bush
Dr. Reid Lyons
The 3 predictors of reading success are:
1. Letter recognition
2. Phonological awareness
3. Oral language
Author of "What's whole about whole language" introduced whole language. Did not believe in
phonics. Believed that learning to read is as natural as learning to speak. His concept of reading
as an analogue to language development has been studied by brain researchers such as Sally
Shaywitz, who rejected the theory on the grounds that reading does not develop naturally in
the absence of instruction. Led the Top-down theory of reading.
Kenneth Goodman (1927-2020)
Professor of Education and Director Emeritus of the Florida Center for Reading Research. Does
extensive research in the field of reading and phonology.
Barbra Foorman
____________ is an American psychologist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of
Psychology at the University of Denver. He is recognized for his research on developmental
