What is the primary benefit of using multi-sensory activities like clapping in a compound word lesson?

Using multi-sensory activities, such as clapping, during a compound word lesson offers the primary benefit of providing multimodal cueing to support word recognition and meaning. By engaging multiple senses—auditory (clapping), visual (watching the clapping and seeing the words), and kinesthetic (physical movement of clapping)—students receive varied input that reinforces their learning experience. This approach helps students to better understand the structure of compound words by breaking them down into individual syllables, allowing them to recognize their components and how they come together to form a new meaning.

Moreover, this multi-sensory engagement facilitates memory retention, as the action of clapping adds a physical element to the cognitive processes involved in language learning, making the lesson more interactive and memorable. As a result, students are more likely to internalize the information about compound words and their meanings, enhancing their overall literacy skills.