About Orton Gillingham
What is the Orton Gillingham Approach?
This is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured approach to reading that is designed to help any struggling reader such as those with dyslexia.
Direct and Explicit Instruction
This is a structured approach that breaks down reading instruction into small, manageable steps. Direct instruction- The teacher clearly explains and demonstrates the concepts and skills being taught. Explicit instruction- The teacher makes their thinking visible by explaining why and how certain strategies are used.
The teacher follows an "I do, we do, you do" approach.
What does Multisensory mean?
Multisensory reading instruction is a teaching approach that engages multiple senses simultaneously to help students learn to read. It goes beyond traditional "see-and-say" methods and incorporates activities that involve sight, hearing, touch, and movement. This approach aims to create stronger neural connections and reinforce learning for all learners, but especially those who struggle with traditional methods.
Here are some key features of multisensory reading instruction:
Visual: Using visuals like flashcards, charts, letter manipulatives, or colorful diagrams.
Auditory: Saying sounds aloud, chanting, rhyming, using audiobooks, or playing sound-based games.
Kinesthetic: Tracing letters in sand, using play dough to form letters, clapping syllables, or jumping to different letter sounds.
Some benefits of multisensory reading instruction:
More engaging and motivating: It keeps students actively involved and makes learning more fun.
Reinforces learning through multiple pathways: Each sense provides a different way to encode information, creating stronger neural connections.
Appeals to different learning styles: Caters to diverse learners who may have strengths in different sensory areas.
Can be particularly beneficial for struggling readers: Provides additional support and reinforces concepts that might be challenging.