Key Questions About Kinestemas®

An innovative approach to improving language and literacy

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1. What are Kinestemas® and what was their original purpose?

Kinestemas® are an innovative pedagogical method that integrates precise bodily movements (kinesthesia) with phono-articulatory sensations to improve language. Originally, this method, used by Aurora Palomar Vázquez, focused on helping students with hearing impairments understand speech characteristics and improve their articulation and oral communication from childhood.

2. Who developed the current Kinestemas® and what educational needs do they address?

Kinestemas® were developed and adapted by Andrés Marín to address a wide range of educational needs, particularly those related to learning difficulties in literacy. This approach aligns with the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), promoting inclusive methodologies that optimize learning by adapting to individual abilities.

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3. What are LEK and Kinestem® Program?

• LEK is the acronym for Lectura y Escritura por Kinestemas® (Reading and Writing by Kinestema®). It is a program commercialized in Spain that includes educational materials and teacher training. All of this is designed for the use of Kinestemas® in literacy education for any individual.

• Kinestem® Program is the adaptation of LEK to the characteristics of Spanish spoken in the United States.

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4. What is the fundamental basis of Kinestemas® and how does it benefit learning?

Kinestemas® are fundamentally based on the integration of multiple sensory channels (multisensoriality). This approach enhances memory and attention, which are crucial for literacy acquisition. By combining sensory stimuli (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc.), the connection between letters, sounds, and meanings is improved, thereby optimizing attention and memory processes.

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5. How are Kinestemas® applied in practice?

Implementing a Kinestema® to teach a phoneme or its written representation (for example, the phoneme /a/) involves several steps that integrate different sensory modalities. This includes the use of auditory, visual, kinesthetic, haptic, and proprioceptive pathways, creating a rich and multisensory learning experience.

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6. How are Kinestemas® classified and what types of phonemes does each category cover?

Kinestemas® are classified into three main types, depending on the nature of the phoneme and its capacity for prolongation:

• Continuous Kinestemas®: These allow for the prolongation of the phoneme, such as the vowel /a/. They help students focus on the relationship between sound production and associated sensations.

• Forced Kinestemas®: These require articulatory adaptations to prolong phonemes that naturally cannot be extended (for example, the phoneme /d/ when prolonged as [ð]).

• Brief Kinestemas®: These are intrinsically transient phonemes that cannot be prolonged (for example, the stop consonant /k/). They are introduced in more advanced stages of learning due to their nature.

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7. What benefits does multimodal perception offer in the context of Kinestemas®?

Multimodal perception allows the brain to simultaneously integrate auditory, visual, and contextual information. By leveraging this innate ability, Kinestemas® help students understand both written and spoken language, even despite variations in pronunciation, offering a dynamic and effective way to learn.