Orton Gillingham

Orthographic Mapping | Orton Gillingham | Phonemic Awareness | Phonics | Science of Reading | Spelling | Tutoring

How to Teach Word Chains for Phonics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn exactly how to teach word chains with teacher scripts, lesson progression, and practical tips that help students become stronger readers and spellers. Quick Answer Word chains are one of the most effective science of reading routines for teaching phonics because they strengthen phonemic awareness, decoding, encoding, and orthographic mapping in one highly efficient activity….

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Learning | Orton Gillingham | Tutoring

Why Students Struggle to Apply Phonics Skills Independently

Discover why students with dyslexia often struggle to transfer phonics skills independently—and how the science of learning and the Orton-Gillingham approach can help. Students often struggle to apply phonics skills independently because the skill has not yet become automatic, they have not practiced it across enough contexts, or the cognitive load of reading connected text…

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Orton Gillingham | Tutoring

How to Become Certified in Orton Gillingham

Want to be certified in Orton Gillingham through OGA or ALTA? OG training, practicum, certification & dyslexia intervention options explained

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Orton Gillingham | Phonics

The Best Phonics Games for Orton Gillingham Lessons and Small Groups

If you have ever planned an Orton Gillingham lesson, you know one thing is true: 👉 Students need repetition to become strong readers and spellers. But here is the challenge… How do you provide that repetition without: The answer is simple: The best phonics games do more than entertain students. Effective phonics games provide repeated…

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Classroom Teaching | Orton Gillingham

Why English Spellings Are Not “Weird” — and How to Teach Them

Teachers hear it every day: “Why is English spelling so weird?” And honestly, students are not wrong—at least not at first glance. English spelling looks confusing when we treat it as a system based only on sound. But once we understand how English developed, everything starts to make sense. Even better?When students understand why spellings…

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Orton Gillingham

Orton Gillingham Lesson Planning: The Guide I Wish I Had After My OG Training

In 2007, I completed my Associate-level Orton Gillingham training. I walked away inspired. Motivated. Ready to help struggling readers…and completely unprepared for the daily reality of Orton Gillingham lesson planning. Not because the training was poor. It was excellent Orton Gillingham training.But because knowing the Orton Gillingham approach and confidently planning and delivering Orton Gillingham…

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Orton Gillingham | Phonics

How to Teach Phonics in 3 Steps (the Orton Gillingham Way!)

Teaching a brand-new phonics pattern does not have to feel overwhelming. Many teachers tell me they feel unsure about what to say, how to introduce the new pattern, and what steps to follow to make sure their students truly learn it. The good news?When you follow the Orton Gillingham approach, the teaching becomes clear, predictable,…

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Orton Gillingham | Tutoring

The Orton Gillingham Lesson Plan Made Simple: Tips for Success

If you recently completed Orton Gillingham training and feel unsure about how to bring all of the ideas, routines, and steps into a real one-on-one Orton Gillingham lesson plan, you are in good company.This is one of the most common feelings OG teachers experience during their first year. Your training gave you the “what.”This post…

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Orton Gillingham | Phonics | Spelling

Which Long Vowel Spelling Do I Use?

The common dilemma Teachers often ask: When a student spells a long vowel sound like the /ō/ in home, how do we help him decide which pattern to use — o, o_e, oa? It can feel like a guessing game: “Which spelling fits this word?” But what if we shift the question from “Which spelling…

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Orton Gillingham

The Visual & Auditory Drills

Why You Should Never Skip these in an Orton Gillingham Lesson If you have ever thought, “Do I really need to do the visual and auditory drill every day?” you are not alone. Between tight schedules, testing, and student needs, it can feel tempting to skip these steps in an Orton Gillingham lesson and jump…

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Classroom Teaching | Orton Gillingham | Phonics | Science of Reading

The #1 Way Teachers Are Saving Money on Classroom Resources

I still remember the exact moment I stood in the checkout line at the teacher supply store, sweating a little as I handed over my debit card. I had just spent over $250 on decodable books, games, and posters that I hoped would help my struggling readers. I wanted so badly to do right by…

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Orton Gillingham | Phonics | Science of Reading | Structured Literacy

Decoding Multisyllabic Words – Moving Beyond Syllable Division Rules

Say Goodbye to Syllable Division Rules. Here’s a Smarter Way when Decoding Multisyllabic Words Let’s be honest—teaching students to divide syllables in multisyllabic words using rigid rules can feel like wrestling a word puzzle with no clear solution. And for many kids? It’s overwhelming. If your students can decode one-syllable words just fine but get…

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