The Lyman Program:  A Kinesthetic Approach to Reading, Writing, and Spelling 

 

The Lyman Program teaches foundational literacy skills—reading, writing, and spelling—by leveraging the brain’s natural learning processes. This program is grounded in the science of reading, which emphasizes phonological awareness, decoding, and the development of fluent reading skills through structured, multi-sensory instruction. Rather than relying on traditional direct teaching methods, the program uses a kinesthetic approach, where the child learns by engaging their body in coordinated movement, rhythm, and memory activities. This method mirrors the way children naturally acquire spoken language—through immersion, practice, and habit formation. 

 

In the Lyman Program, the child is immersed in activities that build cognitive, auditory, visual, and motor skills in tandem. The focus is on the process, not the outcome, allowing for organic skill development in a stress-free environment. The program emphasizes the importance of attention, concentration, and memory, creating a foundation for learning without the anxiety of “getting it right” immediately. 

 

Key Features: 

● Integration of Kinesthetic Learning with Symbolic Language:

The program incorporates movement as a means of connecting with and internalizing visual symbols, such as letters and phonemes. This multi-sensory approach supports reading and spelling by enhancing phoneme awareness and letter-sound relationships. 

 

● Building Conceptual Understanding:

The program places a strong emphasis on conceptual ability—helping children understand parts and wholes, such as syllables and words, across auditory, visual, motor, and cognitive levels. Physical actions support the learning of abstract cognitive concepts, which eventually become internalized as mental processes. 

 

● Gradual Transition from Physical to Cognitive Processing:

Initially, the program uses body movement to support learning, but as children progress, these actions are internalized, and cognitive processing becomes more independent. This shift helps children develop independent, fluent reading, writing, and spelling skills over time. 

 

Benefits of the Lyman Program: 

● Improves attention, concentration, and memory through visual, auditory, and motor integration. 

 

● Reduces distractibility while fostering better impulse control. 

 

● Enhances phonemic awareness, including phoneme segmentation and manipulation. 

 

● Strengthens sequencing skills, which are essential for reading and writing fluency. 

 

● Supports the development of fine and gross motor skills, which are linked to cognitive development. 

 

● Boosts long-term retention and academic transfer by reinforcing foundational skills. 

 

Through this approach, the Lyman Program effectively lays the groundwork for literacy and attention skills while fostering a love for learning through play and movement. 

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​If you're not reaching a child you're not teaching a child

                                          Donald E. Lyman Ph.D

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