What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?
The Orton-Gillingham Approach was developed by Samuel T. Orton (1879-1948), a psychiatrist and pathologist, and Anna Gillingham (1878-1963), a gifted educator and psychologist. The Approach has been utilized for over 70 years to successfully teach students (especially those with dyslexia) to read, spell and write.
The Orton-Gillingham Approach is language-based, multi-sensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive, and flexible. It is adaptable to the needs of the individual student. The Approach is both diagnostic and prescriptive, while providing continuous feedback and positive reinforcement.
What is Dyslexia?
In simple terms :
dys - difficulty with
lexia - words or language
Complete definition:
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability which is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. (Lyon, Shaywitz, & Shaywitz, 2003, p.2)
Facts about dyslexia
- An estimated 20% of the population deal with some degree of dyslexia.
- NIH (National Institute on Health) reports that 23 to 65% of dyslexic children have a parent with dyslexia.
- NIH reports 40% of siblings have dyslexia.
- Most dyslexics have average to above average intelligence.
- There is not any one test used to diagnose dyslexia-diagnosis is based on a synthesis of information.
- Dyslexia can range from mild to severe.
- Dyslexia does not disappear.
Signs of Dyslexia
Early signs:
- delayed speech
- mixing up sounds and syllables
- difficulty with memorizing alphabet, numbers or names
- confusion with left vs. right
- difficulty learning to tie shoes
- difficulty creating rhyming words
Later signs:
- letter/number reversals
- sloppy handwriting
- difficulty with spelling
- slow, inaccurate reading
- difficulty remembering sight words (what, does, says)
- difficulty telling time
- disorganized (bedroom, desk, backpack, etc.)
- difficulty learning short vowel sounds
- difficulty with short-term memory and multi-step instructions.
- significant discrepancy between IQ and performance
About Me
My Background
My background as a special education teacher led me to my interest in helping students with dyslexia. I received training from two of the founding Fellows of the AOGPE, Kay and John Howell from Lansing, MI. Under their mentorship and guidance, I founded NJ Orton-Gillingham Tutors and worked successfully with student ages 5 through 22 who had dyslexia (auditory processing and / or visual processing difficulties). In addition, I worked as a consultant for several private schools , providing tutoring services, teacher training and inservicing. Recently, I moved to Florida and have started a practice in Ocala.
My Expertise
- 18 years of Orton-Gillingham tutoring experience
- Master's degree in special education
- Over 15,000 hours of successfully tutoring students with dyslexia
- AOGPE Certified
- AOGPE Fellow-In-Training
Tutoring Sessions
- Individualized tutoring sessions in Ocala
- 2x week for 50 minute sessions
- Small group, 1st grade readiness clinics over summer
- Skype Sessions available