#14 What is the OG Approach and Guiding Principles?

The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is known as the "Gold Standard" for teaching dyslexics how to read and write. Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Samuel Orton and gifted educator and psychologist, Anna Gillingham, developed a multi-sensory approach to improve reading and writing skills in children with dyslexia. They developed a set of key principles for practitioners to work from. Those guiding principles are: Diagnostic and Prescriptive; Individualized; Language-Based and Alphabetic/Phonetic; Simultaneous Multisensory; Direct and Explicit; Structured, Sequential, and Cumulative, but Flexible; Synthetic and Analytic; Cognitive; and Emotionally Sound.

 

An essential takeaway from this episode is Orton-Gillingham is an approach, not a structured program or curriculum. In the eyes of the practitioner, every individual receives individualized guidance from simple to more complicated tasks. Instead of a one-size-fits-all model, Orton-Gillingham, at its core, is centered around the individual learning needs of each student.

 

On today's episode, I break down what the Orton-Gillingham Approach is, other programs derived from it, and how the guiding principles support your child on their learning journey with dyslexia. 

 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

 

Topics Covered:

  • How essential it is to have a flexible approach in working with dyslexia
  • The Orton-Gillingham Approach: what it is and why it matters to those learning with dyslexia
  • The importance of working one-on-one with a practitioner and using multi-sensory material
  • The benefits of working at your own pace when learning with dyslexia



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