Why Orton Gillingham works
Why your child will benefit from a reading tutor
The curriculum we cover at Lakeside Readers includes components of language: phonemic awareness, decoding speech sounds (phonemes), word structure (spelling syllabication), word meaning (morphology, and sentence structure (syntax). All of this is done by developing multisensory strategies like finger spelling and scooping syllables to help reinforce the concepts. By understanding all of the fundamental rules of spelling and syllabication, your child gains a deep, fundamental knowledge of the language that allows for fluent reading and writing. New concepts are introduced sequentially and systematically based on the student's progress and supports what the student already knows.
Reading, writing, and spelling are all reciprocal. The key to fluency is word recognition. When students can recognize word automatically without thinking about it, fluency and comprehension increases. Being a part of an intensive spelling program will bolster word recognition and provide a strategy for reading words that they don’t know without having to stop and look at a picture or thinking about context. The sooner they can recognize a word, the stronger their fluency will be.
Fluency in reading and spelling is reinforced by developing strategies directly through drills, text reading, and repeated reading of the same material. Students need repeated exposure to appropriate text that will allow them to practice the concepts they have already learned in order to discover the word and its meaning quickly as well as comprehend the broader meaning of what they’re reading (mastery but fun). This type of strengthens the synaptic connections in the phonological areas (occipital-temporal) of the brain and increases fluency and automaticity (perfection through mastery).
Why Orton Gillingham Works
Orton-Gillingham simply focuses on how and why words are spelled and sound the way the are. There are 26 letters, ~ 44 speech sounds, and over 250 ways to spell those sounds. The Orton Gillingham approach breaks down these sounds into phonograpms and syllables and through explicit and systematic instruction builds scaffolding so that your student fundamentally understands language and the way words are built.
How your student is taught under the OG Method
At Lakeside Readers, your child’s tutor isn’t just any reading tutor. We pride ourselves on our Orton Gillingham certification to bring you and your child the the best reading instruction available.
Personalized material
Orton Gillingham is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Every tutoring session is personalized to meet the needs and learning style of your child. Your child will never be rushed through material. We always meet the specific needs of your student, be it dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, dysgraphia, sensory issues, or anything else. We are dedicated the
Multisensory approach
The multisensory approach engages multiple pathways in the brain: kinesthetic, tactile, auditory, and visual stimuli. This helps keep your child engaged and also helps your child retain the information better.
We meet your child where they are
We continuously monitor your student’s progress, identifying strengths and weaknesses in new and old material. this close monitoring allows your tutor to plan coursework and build upon previous lessons, only pushing your child mindfully and in a way that empowers your child. We never want your child to feel as if they’ve failed or that they can’t achieve the next set of skills.
Explicit instruction
Student is told what they are being taught, why it is being taught, and how they will learn the material. At no point should your child ever not understand what they’re learning or why they’re learning it.
Structured & systematic instruction
Structured and systematic instruction is the crux of the Orton Gillingham approach. Material is presented and ordered, beginning with the most basic material and gradually and cumulatively advances to more complicated subjects that only builds upon mastered skills.
Cumulative
All reading instruction is cumulative in the Orton Gillingham approach. We never expect your student to be able to perform skills they have not been taught, and we never make your child feel overwhelmed by presenting too much new material at one time. Every session will either review or slowly build upon already-learned skills.
Emotionally positive
The thing about the Orton Gillingham approach is this: it is always geared toward empowering your child. Reading really can be achievable and enjoyable for your child, and we provide continuous positive feedback to make sure your child feels confident about the skills they’re learning. The one-on-one instruction allows your student to build a relationship with their tutor that fosters the positivity, trust, and vulnerability required to master these skills and excel. Mastery of these skills creates self-confidence and motivates your child to learn more and become a lifelong reader!