The Orton-Gillingham Approach was developed by Samuel T. Orton, a neurologist (1879-1948), and Anna Gillingham, an educator and school psychologist (1878-1963). It is an instructional approach to teaching individuals with language processing difficulties and dyslexia. The Orton-Gillingham Approach (OG) is based on a technique of teaching the structure of language directly utilizing the three learning pathways-visual, auditory and kinesthetic for optimal learning. Over time, this approach strengthens the reading network in the brain leading to greater accuracy and fluency in reading, spelling and writing.
The OG approach is diagnostic-prescriptive in nature and language skills are taught systematically moving from simple to complex. Thus, in each lesson the teacher observes how an individual learns, assesses their strengths and weaknesses and formulates appropriate reading strategies for following lessons.
The individualized, teacher-created lessons are structured, sequential and cumulative. Orton-Gillingham lessons are emotionally sound, allowing students to meet a high level of success and build confidence in reading, spelling and writing, often for the first time. As new material is taught, review of old material is reinforced to the level of automaticity. Teachers continually help their students understand their strengths and relative weaknesses and coach them to self-advocate during lessons and in their academic life.