WHY THE ORTON-Gillingham Approach works for dyslexic & struggling readers

“Nothing compares to the success I have seen since I began tutoring with Orton- Gillingham.”
​-The Literacy Nest

At TVT we believe that the Wilson Reading System (WRS) is the gold standard program used to support dyslexic and struggling readers, with its highly structured and evidence-based Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach. WRS is designed for students from second grade up to adulthood and we use Wilson's Fundations program for students younger than that. 

Parents and families are often told that the OG approach is highly effective for struggling readers - however, they don’t necessarily receive guidance on what that means. The OG approach isn’t always easy to understand and can be overwhelming with all of the technical language that is used in explaining the program and its benefits. 
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One of our favorite resources, The Literacy Nest, shares Five Reasons to Believe in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, which breaks down the OG method and principles into digestible bites. We’ve summarized them below and highly suggest reading the full article for more details. 

• Orton-Gillingham tutoring, particularly when taught one-on-one, builds confidence in readers. Students are motivated by their success and they have an opportunity to build a strong relationship and trust with their instructor. Often the first sign that families notice is how much more confident and comfortable their student appears to be.

 

• Orton-Gillingham is a structured and systematic approach to reading that is designed for each student's individual needs and pace of learning. 

• Too often in the classroom, instruction moves on just as the struggling student is beginning to make some progress. The longer a reader struggles, the bigger the distance between the skills the student needs to master, and those skills being taught in the classroom. In Orton-Gillingham lessons, we teach to mastery and constantly review.  Classroom teachers rarely have time to teach to the point of mastery. This is particularly true for students who need more time. Review is a crucial part of Orton-Gillingham instruction. ​

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• It literally rewires the brain! There is no cure for dyslexia, but it is possible with multisensory strategies, repetition and the amount of overlearning involved to strengthen efficient neural pathways.

To dive a bit deeper, check out what a typical OG lesson plan looks look. 

Our team is expertly trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and we welcome the opportunity to work with you and learn more about your needs. Contact us today to get started, as we look forward to developing a customized plan for you.