Orton-Gillingham is a program designed as intense intervention for students who struggle to accurately decode words when reading (despite being taught phonics), are slow and inaccurate readers, lack reading fluency after second grade, and struggle with spelling – especially when writing sentences, stories, and compositions. Often, these challenges do not become apparent until second or third grade. O-G instruction include the following charateristics:
Explicit Teaching:Is a system of step-by-step instructional approaches in which teachers explain the individual elements they are teaching your child and continually check for understanding. While neurotypical students can pick up these rules and patterns naturally, students with Dyslexia need to be taught every rule and pattern directly (or explicitly). Students are also taught exceptions to the rules and patterns.
Systematic: Systematic instruction means we teache new concepts in the exact same way every time. This way the brain is not expending energy trying to figure out a new method, because it anticipates the routine of learning and can focus on the new concept being taught. Structured instruction means that information is presented in an orderly manner that shows the relationship between what was previously learned and the new material being taught.
Sequential & Cumulative: We use specific steps and a clear plan to teach the rules one at a time, building from the simpliest to the most complex rules. One step builds from the previous step. This is why it is extremely important to follow the program exactly as it is presented in the curriculum.
Multisensory: Using more than one sense (auditory, visual and kinesthetic) when possible should be incorporated at the same time in order to help store information into your long term memory.
Individualized: Because our tutoring is individualized, students move from one step to the next as they build fluency for each level of language skills. Your child will move through our program at a pace that allows them to develop fluency and automaticity for each step of the program.
Diagnostic & Prescriptive: Your tutor will monitor skill development with each step. The instructional practices are built upon what was observed in the previous lesson and what is judged to be necessary to move the student forward in the next lesson.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED RESULTS OF USING THE ORTON-GILLINGHAM PROGRAM?
Most families noticed an improvement in their child’s self-esteem within a few weeks, some as quickly as a few sessions. Academic progress can usually be seen within the first few months of tutoring. Plan to make a minimum of a one year commitment to your child’s tutoring. Completion of the entire program takes two to three years, on average. Upon completion of the entire program, students will read on an 8th-11th grade reading level. Because most Dyslexic students have memory issues, a minimum of 2 sessions a week is required. 3-4 sessions a week is recommended for quicker results.
DO YOU HAVE A GROUP READING AND/OR SPELLING CLASS OPTION?
We do not offer group classes for reading and spelling, students learn best when working independently with a tutor. When they are in a group setting, they have to wait for everyone to be present and the slowest student to understand the concepts being taught before moving on, so it is much slow and ineffective to teach this in a group setting.
DO YOU HAVE AN IN PERSON OPTION INSTEAD OF ONLINE?
Since COVID, our program is 100% online, we find that it is extremely effective for 95% of neurodiverse students, even those with ADHD or ADD. We can get a feel for how well your child does virtually during the initial student assessment.
