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What is Taught in the Orton-Gillingham Method?
What is Taught in the Orton-Gillingham Method

What is Taught in the Orton-Gillingham Method?

The Orton Gillingham tutors teach the structure of the English language to dyslexic students, allowing them to learn the code and how to read. Through a multi-sensory approach and systematic teaching, dyslexic students can learn to read, write and spell more effectively. The Orton Gillingham Approach uses a structured lesson plan that involves all three senses: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile.

The lessons proceed from the simple to the complex concepts. Phonemic awareness, phonics, grammar, morphology, reading comprehension and vocabulary are all taught using a systematic, sequential and cumulative approach. Orton Gillingham tutor designs lesson plans depending on error analysis and careful observation. Thus, instruction identifies specific difficulties to support students overcome challenges that prevent them from learning to read, write and spell.

What do Students Learn through the Orton Gillingham Method?

Orton Gillingham’s Approach is a teaching approach that functions as a multisensory and direct method to teach literacy, encouraging students to learn through various methods instead of the traditional way of reading.

  • Phonemic Awareness

According to research, many dyslexic students have poor phonemic awareness, which is the ability to segment and manipulate the sounds of a word. Structured literacy instruction involves several practices to enhance phonemic awareness.

  • Letter-Sound Associations

Letter-sound associations are taught using two ways: visual to auditory (improve reading) and auditory to visual (focus on spelling). With this approach, students will become masters in blending sounds and letters into words. The instruction of sound-symbol association is often called phonics. Although phonics is a part of structured literacy, it is used within a deep language context.

  • Reading Fluency

There might be some struggling readers who may find it difficult to develop fluency in reading even after enhancing their decoding skills. Slow reading can make it hard to retain meaning. Fluency activities such as repeated oral readings and fluency drills can help to enhance reading fluency and comprehension. Reading fluency is often slower to improve as compared to decoding for children with fluency challenges.

  • Syntax (Grammar)

Syntax is the set of rules that dictate the sequence and function of words present in a sentence to convey meaning. It includes sentence variation, grammar, and the mechanics of language.

  • Semantic (Comprehension)

Semantics is an important component of language that is concerned with meaning. Structured literacy involves instruction in the comprehension of written language.

  • Syllable Instruction

Structured literacy includes six basic syllable types. Knowledge of syllable types and syllable division principles is used in decoding multi-syllable words.

  • Spelling

Tutoring in Toronto for dyslexic students involves explicit instruction of spelling rules to help students understand the rules for improving spelling skills.

  • Morphology

A morpheme is considered one of the smallest units of meaning in language. Structured literacy involves the study of base words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes, aiding students in improving their reading, spelling, and vocabulary.

How Orton Gillingham Approach is Used?

The Orton-Gillingham approach to tutoring sessions aims to encourage student understanding and reading independence using techniques such as phonemic awareness exercises. These multisensory drills are used daily to ensure student engagement and understanding. After covering a topic, a Toronto tutor typically introduces a new one. With each new idea, there are additional exercises for spelling and reading practice. The session usually concludes with practising words that do not adhere to typical spelling rules, aiming to help students understand the complexities of the English language.

Orton Gillingham is the most commonly used technique to support dyslexic students. Tutors at Class in Session follow this approach to support students with dyslexia to overcome the challenges they face when they read, write and spell.

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