Virtual delivery of dyslexia therapy and literacy tutoring
Dyslexia & the Orton-Gillingham Approach
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a struggle to see and hear language patterns. It is an unexpected difficulty in learning to read in an individual who has the potential to be a much better reader and writer. The reading circuit in the dyslexic brain is organized differently. Below is a video that demonstrates a child-friendly way to explain how the dyslexic brain works.
It is difficult to navigate the world of dyslexia, so it is essential to find someone who is experienced to assist with this complex language and learning disability. Click here to learn more about the signs and the symptoms of dyslexia.
What is the Orton-Gillingham approach?
Orton-Gillingham is a powerful approach to teaching reading and spelling that engages multiple pathways in the brain to help students learn with success. OG Instruction is explicit, multisensory, sequential, structured, cumulative, individualized, and phonics-based. It is considered the gold standard of instruction for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities because it is a highly individualized approach that demystifies the English language by explicitly explaining the how and why.
Who were Orton & Gillingham?
Dr. Samuel T. Orton (1879-1948) was a pioneer in the study and understanding of dyslexia. He studied numerous children with language processing issues and eventually developed teaching principles designed to help these children learn language more effectively.
One of Dr. Orton’s students, Anna Gillingham (1878-1963), further developed Orton’s ideas and eventually combined his teaching methods with her own understanding of language structure. The first Orton-Gillingham manual was published in 1935.
Why does the Orton-Gillingham approach work?
The Orton-Gillingham approach helps take the mystery out of reading and spelling by focusing on why words are spelled the way they are. Though the English language contains just 26 letters, these letters combine to create approximately 44 speech sounds, and there are over 250 ways to spell those sounds.
But the OG approach translates the spelling of these sounds into phonograms (sound-spellings) and demystifies reading and spelling by teaching students to apply rules and generalizations that help make what was once difficult much easier!
“I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a specific advantage.”
Roald Dahl
FAQs
What age group do you work with?
I primarily work with children in grades 2-5 who struggle with reading or have a dyslexia diagnosis.
How are your therapy and tutoring services delivered?
Currently, all sessions are conducted virtually, providing flexibility and convenience for families.
What is your approach to helping children with dyslexia?
I use evidence-based, multisensory methods, including the Orton-Gillingham approach, to tailor each session to your child’s specific needs.
