The Orton-Gillingham Approach to reading instruction is based on the work of Dr. Samuel T. Orton and was developed into a remedial program manual by Anna Gillingham. This approach is considered the first of its kind to implement and popularize the multisensory, Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic (VAK) approach to teaching students with dyslexia to read.
Principles of Instruction
- Diagnostic and prescriptive
- Language-based
- Systematic, sequential, cumulative but flexible
- Cognitive
- Direct and explicit instruction
- Multisensory
- Emotionally sound
Since the inception and refinement of the Orton-Gillingham Approach in the 1920s and 30s, many programs have been developed using these principles. These include:
- Slingerland
- Project Read
- Recipe for Reading
- Language!
- The Writing Road to Reading
- S.P.I.R.E.
- Dyslexia Training Program
- Alphabetic Phonics
- Wilson Reading System
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Orton-Gillingham Approach
Strengths
- Comprehensive and thorough training of practitioners to control for fidelity of implementation.
- Explicit and systematic instruction for students with severe reading disabilities.
- Clearly delineated scope and sequence.
Weaknesses
- Teacher intensive daily planning for creating student specific lessons.
Training to be a Dyslexia Tutor
At the Academy of Orton-Gillingham, there are four levels of training: Subscriber, Associate, Certified, and Fellow. Learn more at http://www.ortonacademy.org/certification.php
Florida Center for Reading Research, www.fcrr.org