About Orton-Gillingham
The term “Orton-Gillingham”, or “O-G”, refers to an approach to teaching, rather than a set program. The Orton-Gillingham approach grew out of the work of Dr. Samuel Torrey Orton (1879-1948) and Anna Gillingham (1878-1963). Dr. Orton, a professor of neuropsychiatry and neuropathology at the Neurological Institute of Columbia University, was a pioneer in focusing attention on language differences by bringing together neuropsychiatric information and principles of remediation. As early as 1925, he had identified the syndrome of developmental reading disability, separated it from mental defect and brain damage, and offered a physiological explanation with a favorable prognosis. Anna Gillingham was a gifted educational psychologist who worked with Dr. Orton. Ms. Gillingham trained teachers in this remedial approach to teaching students with dyslexia and compiled and published instructional materials with Bessie W. Stillman.
The Orton-Gillingham approach, first introduced in the 1920’s, is still widely in use today across Canada, the USA and world-wide as not only an approach for remediating language-based learning difficulties, but as evidence-based reading and spelling instruction for all students in mainstream education.
Is Orton-Gillingham just for children with dyslexia?
Definitely not! Whether or not your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, OG can be highly effective at teaching your child. A structured multi-sensory approach to teaching is recommended for all children by educational specialists and psychologists.
Is my child too young/old for Orton-gillingham?
The Orton-gillingham program is extremely tailored to each individual child's needs, likes, and abilities. If you suspect that your child may have dyslexia early intervention is highly recommended; however, it is never too late to start! We believe that with the right approach anyone can make huge strides! On a personal note, I really love working with older students. Many of my students are between 11-13 years old.
My child has other learning differences (I.e. autism, ADHD) as well as dyslexia, is OG for them?
Many of my students have an additional learning difference! Each lesson pace is designed for your individual child. I have extensive experience and education with students with other sorts of learning and behavioral disabilities. I believe the best approach is kindness and patience.
How long will it take for my children to be reading at grade level with Orton-Gillingham?
This depends on the student and their learning profile. We work “as fast as we can and as slow as we must.” Our goal is to build your child’s skills in reading, writing, and executive functioning so that they become confident and competent learners. You can expect to see immediate gains and progress in as early as 2 weeks, however, there is no quick fix. The process of getting to grade level will take several months to years.
How long will my child need Orton-Gillingham lessons?
When a student has challenges with reading and/or writing learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress happens over time. When a child has been struggling, developing confidence also takes time. Learning is a process.