What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?

The Orton-Gillingham approach is a multi-sensory individualized approach to help students learn. This approach teaches students that letters represent single sounds of familiar speech and then it immediately synthesizes the letter sounds into words that carry meaning. Introducing the letters through a multi-sensory procedure of hearing, seeing, and feeling lessens the student's learning weaknesses by integrating all of their learning pathways at the same time.

This multi-sensory approach helps to ensure automatic memory which is so difficult for those who lack a natural faculty in language learning. Progress is made by proceeding from the simple to the more complex tasks of learning word structure. Building on much reinforcement and going "as fast as you can and as slowly as you must" (Anna Gillingham) the students begin to master the basic elements of print. Careful pacing, structured but not programmed procedures, a sequential presentation, and individualized lessons for each student contribute to student successes.

The structure of this approach often helps to organize a student's general ways of learning and working. Logic helps when unknown words are encountered and memory fails. The step-by-step, sequential, and cumulative progression of this approach leads the student to a sense of mastery and competence. This approach can be valuable to any child. To a child with dyslexia it is essential!

For more information on the Orton-Gillingham approach please visit www.interdys.org

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a reading and language disorder, which can affect a child's reading, spelling, writing and related language skills. It does not show any relation to the child's intelligence or educational opportunity. Dyslexia can affect individuals of all levels of intelligence or age. Dyslexia is neurological in nature, hereditary, genetic, and treated with multi-sensory individualized instruction.

Dyslexia doesn't just affect a child's ability to read, but their whole life. Other areas in which children with dyslexia may struggle are attention, organization, self-dicipline, social cues, understanding spoken language, and sequencing real life events. As with any learning disability, the student's self-image is affected. This may cause them to feel anxiety, anger, depression, and social withdrawal.

A team of professionals can diagnose dyslexia. Trained professionals using a multi-sensory individualized approach should instruct students with dyslexia. For more information on dyslexia please visit www.interdys.org