For some people, saying the words, “I am wrong,” might be incredibly difficult. But for me, saying or thinking the words excite me. I am energized by learning something that contradicts what I previously thought. Is that odd to admit? As organizational psychologist, Adam Grant said in his podcast and in his new book, Think…
In the first part of an Orton Gillingham lesson we practice phonemic awareness, blending, and letter-sound correspondence. After that, it is crucial that students review and reinforce previously learned skills. The student must also learn new information and practice this new skill in their reading and writing. Concepts taught and reviewed cover ALL strands of…
This is Part 1 of a series of posts about what is included in an Orton Gillingham lesson plan. Many assume an Orton Gillingham lesson only includes phonics. While explicit instruction of many phonics skills is a large part of an OG lesson, a quality lesson covers SO many more aspects of our language. This…
Orton Gillingham is an approach and not a program. It is a systematic approach to teaching literacy to individuals for whom reading, writing, and spelling do not come easily. Many of these individuals have dyslexia, but many others can benefit from the structured literacy approach as well. In the hands of a well-trained Orton tutor,…
The terms “phonological awareness” and “phonemic awareness” are often confused with one another. Yes, they sound the same and they both involve the spoken parts of language. However, they are not only distinct, but you may be surprised to learn when and how you should teach each of them. Important Terms to Understand: Phonemes are…
Structured literacy is getting a lot of well-deserved attention. Researchers in the areas of reading, psychology, speech and language pathology, neuroscience, and education all agree. Although there may be more than one way to TEACH reading, there is only one way that the human brain LEARNS to read. The majority of students learn to read…
Are you an educator or parent interested in tutoring? It can be overwhelming knowing where to start. I asked my colleagues to share their insights and suggestions on how to start a tutoring business. Between us, we have years of experience and we have tried it all. I hope that our suggestions save you time…
Why Use Phonemic Awareness? Phonemic awareness, the most advanced level of phonological awareness, is the ability to isolate and manipulate the spoken sounds in words. No letters and no print involved. Just the sounds. Phonemic awareness is the #1 predictor of reading success. Have you ever had a child who struggled with phonics? He most…
PHONICS INSTRUCTION There are long-standing myths about phonics instruction. Keeping these myths alive (and thus keeping phonics instruction from our students!) undermines a student’s reading acquisition. As educators, we must constantly look to the current research and adjust our instruction accordingly. Remember, although there are many different ways to TEACH reading, science continually reminds us…
The debate is over. Reading words by attending to all of the letter-sound correspondences is how our brain learns to read efficiently. This is not new science, nor is it a pendulum. This is over 40 years of research. The science tells us that students need to focus on the letter-sound correspondences (word reading) to…
Orton Gillingham is not a program. It is an approach to teaching literacy in a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive manner. Educators most often use this approach to support students who struggle with reading and spelling. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ORTON GILLINGHAM?: The name “Orton Gillingham” comes from two pioneers of…
First and foremost, I am a proud mama. But who says you have to stop at just one passion? I also have a love for all things related to Structured Literacy and the Orton Gillingham approach. So, I am Orton Gillingham Mama. Nice to meet you! I have worn many hats in education. I have…