About Orton Gillingham
Orton Gillingham is not a program — it is an approach. A research-proven, multisensory method for teaching reading, writing, and spelling that has transformed the lives of students with dyslexia for nearly a century.
A Language-Based, Multisensory Approach
The Orton Gillingham approach was developed in the 1930s by neurologist Dr. Samuel Orton and educator Anna Gillingham. It was specifically designed to address the needs of students who struggle with reading due to dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
Unlike traditional reading instruction, Orton Gillingham is explicit, structured, and sequential. It teaches the connections between letters and sounds in a direct, systematic way — engaging multiple senses at once to build strong, lasting neural pathways for reading.
Science and research have consistently proven the Orton Gillingham and Structured Literacy approach to be the most effective method for teaching students with dyslexia to read.
"Orton Gillingham is not a program — it is an approach."
Six Defining Characteristics
Multisensory
Lessons engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways simultaneously. When students see, say, hear, and write at the same time, learning becomes stronger and more durable.
Systematic & Cumulative
Skills are introduced in a logical, sequential order — from simple to complex. Each new concept builds on previously mastered material, leaving no gaps in a student's foundation.
Direct Instruction
Nothing is left to chance. Concepts are explicitly taught rather than discovered. Students are shown exactly what to do and why, with clear modeling and guided practice.
Diagnostic & Prescriptive
Each lesson is informed by ongoing assessment. Tutors continuously monitor student progress and adjust instruction to meet the learner exactly where they are.
Synthetic & Analytic
Students learn both to blend individual sounds into words (synthetic) and to break words apart into their component sounds (analytic) — building flexibility in reading and spelling.
Cognitive
Students are taught to understand the "why" behind language rules. This metacognitive awareness helps them apply what they've learned independently across new words and texts.
The History of Orton Gillingham
Dr. Samuel Orton, a neurologist, begins studying reading difficulties in children and identifies patterns consistent with what we now call dyslexia.
Anna Gillingham, an educator and psychologist, collaborates with Orton to develop a structured, multisensory teaching method based on his research.
The first Orton Gillingham manual is published, laying the groundwork for structured literacy instruction worldwide.
The Orton Gillingham approach is recognized as the Gold Standard for teaching students with dyslexia and reading difficulties by the International Dyslexia Association.
Experience the Orton Gillingham Difference
Schedule an assessment with Pam and see how structured literacy can transform your child's reading.
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