The Lindamood-Bell learning processes include two primary programs: Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing ® (LiPS®), and Nancibell® Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking ® (Visualizing and Verbalizing® or V/V®).

The Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing ® (LiPS®) program provides specific instruction for students with weak phonemic awareness.  A phoneme is an abstract unit of the phonetic system that corresponds to a set of similar speech sounds, like the "p" in pool and the "p" in pin.  Both of these sounds are perceived the same, but they require different mouth shapes to make them. Phonemic awareness is a more specific term than phonological awareness, and focuses on smaller units of sound.  Gaining awareness that words are made of a sequence of individual sounds develops strong decoding and encoding skills.  Students who cannot judge the sequence of sound units within spoken words cannot grasp fundamental reading and spelling skills. When reading, speaking or spelling, they often add, omit or reverse sounds in words.  Research indicates that strong phonological and phonemic awareness is the foundation for reading and spelling success.

The LiPS® program teaches students to feel the actions of their lips, tongues and vocal chords, and to notice and label them.  Using this new ability to "feel sounds," students learn to count, identify, and order sounds within words.  They then use this "motor kinesthetic feedback" to read and spell.  It is a critically acclaimed program that develops the sensory-cognitive processes that underlie reading and spelling.  LiPS® is highly recommended by educators and clinicians worldwide.  It is recommended for children needing to gain several grade levels in decoding/encoding ability or to make further gains in speech-language after hitting a plateau under traditional speech therapy.

Key Benefits

• Children become aware that words are made up of a sequence of individual sounds.  This develops strong encoding and decoding skills.
• Strong phonemic and phonological awareness is the foundation for reading and spelling success.
• Children can gain several levels in coding/decoding ability and related spelling and reading skills through the application of this program.