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 lessons are two very different things.
When I sat down to plan my lessons, the real questions began.
Do I need to teach a new skill every lesson?
How many cards belong in the visual and auditory drill?
How do I know what skill to teach next?
How long should I use decodable books with my students?
And the hardest part?
I had no one to ask.
I wished I had had my Orton Gillingham Fellow sitting next to me every time I opened my lesson plan.
When Orton Gillingham Training Ends, Real Teaching Begins
If you have completed Orton Gillingham training, you probably recognize this moment.
Training gives you principles.
Teaching requires decisions.
Every lesson demands judgment.
What to review.
What to introduce.
What to remove.
What to keep practicing.
Which errors matter most.
Which patterns need more time.
These are not questions answered by a theoretical approach.
They are answered in real classrooms, with real students, through experience.
And many Orton Gillingham teachers are expected to figure it out alone.
Fast Forward to Today
Today, I train educators in the Orton Gillingham approach.
I observe their lessons.
I read their lesson plans.
I give them targeted, diagnostic feedback.
And I see the same struggles I once had.
Not because they are bad teachers.
Not because their Orton Gillingham training was weak.
But because Orton Gillingham Lesson Planning is nuanced.
It requires structure.
It requires flexibility.
It requires decision-making.
It requires confidence.
And most teachers were never given a clear bridge between training and daily implementation.
What Years of Teaching and Training Have Taught Me
After years of teaching Orton Gillingham — and now training educators in the Orton Gillingham approach — I know exactly where teachers struggle.
I know which lesson components cause confusion.
I know which questions come up again and again.
I know which actionable advice actually helps.
I know which shortcuts hurt learning.
I know which routines build confidence.
I also know what I tell my practicum trainees when they ask:
“Should I teach a new concept today?”
“Am I reviewing enough?”
“How do I fit it all in to one lesson?”
“Am I moving too fast?”
“What should I do with this student reading error?”
These questions are not signs of weakness.
They are signs of thoughtful teaching.
Why I Created the Orton Gillingham Lesson Plan Manual
I created the Orton Gillingham Lesson Plan Manual to become the guide I wished I had after my training ended.
I wrote this manual to help Orton Gillingham teachers and reading specialists:
• Plan complete OG lessons with confidence
• Understand every lesson component
• Follow the OG sequence with clarity and structured flexibility
• Make diagnostic-prescriptive decisions
• Save time
• Reduce stress
• Teach with intention
It is not a replacement for training. It is the bridge between training and confident teaching.
Think of it as your go-to guide when your Orton Gillingham training ends.
Orton Gillingham Lesson Planning the Right Way
If Orton Gillingham lesson planning feels hard, it does not mean you are doing it wrong.
It means you are doing something complex. And you deserve support while you do it.
In 2007, I wished I had my Orton Gillingham Fellow in my back pocket.
Today, I get to be that voice for you.
Ready for Support With Your Orton Gillingham Lesson Planning?
If Orton Gillingham lesson planning has ever made you question yourself, you are not alone.
And you do not have to figure it out alone anymore.
You can find my Orton Gillingham Lesson Plan Manual in my TPT store — created to guide you, support you, and walk beside you as you plan confident, effective Orton Gillingham lessons.
