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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Have you ever noticed that some students can orally blend sounds all day long — but when it comes to reading or spelling, the skills just don’t transfer? They can orally segment the sounds /s/ /u/ /n/, but when they see the word sun in text, they guess. That disconnect between hearing sounds and reading…
You know that moment when your student looks at the first letter of a word, takes a wild guess, and keeps reading as if nothing happened? You pause, your teacher heart sighs, and you think: We’ve gone over this a hundred times… why does he still guess words? You’re not alone. I’ve seen this happen…
You are the teacher who wants independent work that actually teaches—not fluffy worksheets and not tasks kids can’t do alone. You need science of reading–aligned, independent ELA resources for 1st grade & 2nd grade that move the needle while you pull small groups. Skilled reading is not built by phonics alone. As Scarborough’s Reading Rope…
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…
The Guide to Discussing Student Struggles with Confidence Parent teacher conferences can be nerve-wracking especially when you need to share that a student is struggling. You want to be honest, but you also want to preserve trust and hope. As a Fellow-in-Training with the Orton Gillingham Academy, I have had these hard conversations many times—and…
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…
Is There One Right Orton Gillingham Phonics Scope and Sequence? (Here’s the Truth) If you have ever searched for the “best Orton Gillingham phonics scope and sequence,” you have probably felt overwhelmed. There are so many versions out there—and every program claims theirs is the most “science of reading-aligned.” So which one is right? As…