Reading Success With the Orton Gillingham Approach
The Orton Gillingham Approach is a multisensory, structured, and sequential method for teaching literacy. It is beneficial for students needing extra support and it is considered the Gold Standard intervention for students with learning differences, including dyslexia. It focuses on direct, explicit instruction tailored to each student's needs, using a flexible approach developed from over 80 years of research and scientific understanding of how people learn to read and write. The approach was founded by Samuel T. Orton, a neuropsychiatrist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator and psychologist. Their combined efforts led to an instructional approach that addresses reading, writing, and spelling difficulties, through one-on-one instruction. The Orton-Gillingham Approach is personalized to each student’s strengths and weaknesses, offering systematic, direct teaching to help individuals with learning differences master literacy skills that others may acquire more easily.
Math Confidence with the Orton Gillingham Approach
The Orton Gillingham Approach has been adapted for use in teaching mathematics to students with learning differences. The step-by-step method used in OG, which incorporates visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic learning, helps students grasp mathematical concepts in a way that suits different learning styles. The OG approach reinforces the mastery of foundational math skills before moving on to more complex ones. It's especially useful for students with learning differences, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia, but it can be beneficial to all learners by providing multiple entry points to understanding mathematical concepts.
The 9 Principles of Orton Gillingham
Diagnostic and Prescriptive
Progress is monitored in order to resolve learners' difficulties.
Individualized
Lessons are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Language Based and Phonetic
Starts at the simplest level of language with phonemes and the relationship of sounds to letters.
Simultaneous Multisensory
Multiple pathways to learning are used at the same time.
Direct and Explicit
Concepts are systematically and clearly stated, modeled, and practiced.
Structured, Sequential, Cumulative, and Flexible
Instruction is presented logically from simple to complex, but is flexible to adapt based on student need.
Synthetic and Analytic
Individual sounds are blended to read and sounds are segmented to spell.
Cognitive
An awareness of the strategies, why they work, and how to apply them outside of tutoring is created.
Emotionally Sound
Regular successes happen in a safe, supportive environment to build confidence, trust, and determination.