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Have you ever pondered how you can use active learning in your classroom? Do you need multisensory activities to implement in the classroom? After teaching teenFEMM classes (a health and biology curriculum) to middle schoolers, we were excited to engage in not only implementing the curriculum through interactive learning strategies but also co-teaching as we planned and carried out the lessons in the classroom. 

TeenFEMM is a health program aimed at helping young women/men understand their anatomy and physiology as related to hormones (FEMM, 2025). Putting into practice the teenFEMM curriculum allowed us to use multisensory learning activities that focus on student senses while engaging diverse learning styles (Institute of Multi-Sensory Education, 2019). While our curriculum focuses on teenFEMM, the strategies and co-teaching techniques we used could be applied to any content area, grade, and curriculum. This article highlights key ideas that emerged from multiple teachers reflecting on their teaching experiences with the teenFEMM curriculum, particularly those who utilized multisensory learning to engage students in active learning. 

1. Relate Your Experiences to Your Students’ Experiences 

Teachers who prioritize building connections with their students through shared experiences and relatable examples are better able to bridge the gap between students and teachers. One effective approach to fostering these connections is reducing class sizes, which creates opportunities for both teachers and students to engage more personally and share insights (Kennette, 2019). 

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2. Motivate and Engage Students 

Incorporating hands-on activities is a beneficial way for teachers to capture interest, increase learning, and add to student motivation (Farrell et al., 2020; Seidl et al., 2024). Encouraging students to ask questions during the classroom learning experience fosters engagement and motivation. 

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 3. Promote Individual Accountability 

For successful teenFEMM teaching to occur, a sense of accountability needs to be promoted. One way to do this is to share expectations of student behavior and provide guidelines regarding student outcomes (Bixman-Murphy, 2017). 

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4. Plan and Gather Materials for Lessons 

Successful implementation of the teenFEMM program requires readily available materials, such as PowerPoints and worksheets from the curriculum. Additional supplemental materials can further enhance lessons. 

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5. Assess Student Understanding 

Overall, the teachers reported that students seemed to understand the core concepts of the teenFEMM program based on assessments used throughout instruction. Multiple forms of assessment can be embedded to measure student knowledge and adjust teaching as needed. 

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Throughout the implementation of the teenFEMM program, we discovered that both pre- and in-service teachers can engage in teaching and collaborating with students, helping them grasp the curriculum while fostering an inclusive and interactive learning environment. The five tips outlined above can be applied to any classroom, helping teachers implement multisensory learning effectively. 

We hope these strategies inspire you to incorporate multisensory learning in your own teaching! 

References 

Bixman-Murphy, Candice.  “A Multi-Sensory Approach.” Improving Literacy &  Communication Language Magazine (2017). 

Farrell, Linda, Osenga, Tina, Davidson, Marcia, and Hunter, Michael. October 1, 2020. “The Simple View of Reading.” Reading Rockets.  WETA, Washington, D.C. 02/15/25.  https://www.readingrockets.org/article/simple-view-reading. 

“FEMM Course List.” FEMM Health. 02/15/25. https://femmhealth.org/courses/.