The Orton-Gillingham Method
The Orton-Gillingham Method uses many senses at the same time to help develop reading and spelling skills. First, students master basic concepts through a systematic study of phonological awareness, phonics, syllable types, and sight words. At a more advanced level, study of the Latin and Greek roots of our language helps students increase reading speed, vocabulary, and comprehension.
The Advantages
A quality Orton-Gillingham lesson is generally:
- One-to-one: Lessons are customized for each student's current level.
- Intensive: Lessons are highly focused on specific skills at the student's instructional level.
- Directly taught: Students are taught in a clear, explicit fashion. They are never expected to guess about skills or concepts they haven't yet learned.
- Structured: Each lesson is taught in a predictable way and linked to previous knowledge whenever possible so that students feel comfortable with the presentation of new material.
- Cumulative: Previously-learned skills are constantly reinforced through review so they are not forgotten.
- Multisensory: Students simultaneously use many senses (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Tactile) to powerfully reinforce new concepts they are learning.
