02/22/2026
Why is it that some students can spell "hippopotamus" but not "said"?
Sight words don't work for visual-spatial thinkers because there's nothing to see.
"Hippopotamus" = big gray animal with tusks. Picture created.
"Said" = ??? No picture. Brain disoriented.
Traditional phonics teaches sound-symbol relationships. But for 20% of students, that's not how their brain processes information.
They think in 3D pictures, not phonetic sounds.
What works instead: Creating concrete meaning through clay modeling. When students build "said" with their hands and assign it personal meaning, it sticks.
This is why Davis-trained facilitators see breakthrough results with students who've "tried everything."
Want to learn these methods? Our workshops teach you the complete approach.
Learn more: https://buff.ly/s7rdwYC