All That You Wanted to Know About the Orton Gillingham Approach

Do you have any idea about the Orton Gillingham (O-G) approach? It is an in-depth program in spelling, reading and writing for children suffering from dyslexia. It is multisensory, language-based, sequential, structured, flexible and cognitive. 

The method was developed in the early twentieth century and has been used since the 1930s. It accommodates and uses three learning pathways or modalities such as auditory, visual and kinaesthetic through which people learn. Unlike some rigid reading and scripted programs, the O-G approach is a system, which allows for flexibility. However, it is essential to note that it is an instructional approach and not a curriculum. There are in fact, several reading curricula, which follows this approach. 

Who Were Orton & Gillingham? 

Dr Samuel Torrey Orton was a neuropsychiatric and a pioneer who emphasised on the issue of reading failure & associated language processing problems. The neuroscientific information, as well as the remediation principles, were brought together by him. He studied children who had language processing problems especially dyslexia and formulated teaching principles & practices for them. Anna Gillingham was an educator & psychologist. She was one of the students of Dr Orton. She developed Orton's ideas further and combined his teaching methodologies with her own comprehension of the language structure publishing the first O-G manual in 1935. 

The O-G Approach Is Appropriate For Whom?

Although the Multi-Sensory Structured Literacy and Language (MSL) approach is mostly related to a 1:1 student-teacher model, its use in the classroom and small group instruction are also not uncommon. It is appropriate for teaching in primary, elementary and intermediate grades as well as at secondary & college level. It is also used for teaching adults. However, the approach's main emphasis has always been and would continue to be on the persons with language processing difficulties especially the ones with dyslexia. 

Benefits Of The Orton Gillingham Approach 

• Multisensory: The approach uses different pathways (auditory, visual & kinesthetic) to help students learn.
• Sequential:  The concepts are taught in a logical and understandable manner.
• Incremental: Each lesson builds carefully upon the previous one.
• Individualised: Unique needs of each and every student are met.
• Phonograms-Based: the English language is simplified by putting emphasis on why words are spelled in the manner they are.
• Explicit: Persons with learning disabilities are taught exactly what they are required to know in a straightforward and clear way. 

      

Ortan Gillingham MSL approach is thus considered to be a highly structured and effective method to teach children with dyslexia. If your child is suffering from dyslexia get in touch with Alexia Better at Better Multisensory Learning. She adopts the O-G approach in teaching students with learning disabilities and often runs Orton-Gillingham Multi-Sensory camps.