As a parent who is looking for ways to help their child learn how to read, it can be overwhelming to try and find the right solution. With so many different methods and techniques out there, it can be hard to know which one will be best for your child. One of these methods is called Orton-Gillingham, and it has been gaining in popularity in recent years.
Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory, structured, cumulative approach to teaching reading, spelling, and writing. It is based on the work of Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham, two researchers from the early 1900s. The approach emphasizes phonemic awareness, letter-sound relationships, and vocabulary development. This method has been used to help children with dyslexia, but it can be beneficial for any child who is struggling with reading.
So, what does it take to make an Orton-Gillingham lesson plan? Well, it depends on your child’s individual needs, but there are a few key components that are essential for any Orton-Gillingham lesson plan. First, it should be multi-sensory, meaning that it should use visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities to help the child learn. Second, it should be systematic and cumulative, meaning that it builds on previous lessons and gradually increases in difficulty. Finally, it should be explicit, meaning that it should provide clear instruction on each skill that is being taught.
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The Orton-Gillingham Recipe
The Orton-Gillingham approach is often referred to as a “recipe,” as it is composed of several key ingredients. The first is phonemic awareness, which is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words. The second is phonics, which is the understanding of letter-sound relationships. The third is fluency, which is the ability to read text accurately and quickly. Finally, the fourth ingredient is comprehension, which is the ability to understand what is read.
Orton-Gillingham also includes a five-step lesson plan. The first step is introducing the concept, which involves introducing the letters and sounds to the child. The second step is modeling, which is the teacher providing an example of how to form the letters. The third step is guided practice, which is the teacher providing instruction and feedback as the child practices. The fourth step is independent practice, which is the child practicing the skill without direct instruction. Finally, the fifth step is review, which is the teacher reviewing and reinforcing the material that was previously taught.
Orton-Gillingham in Action
So how does this look in a real-world lesson? Let’s take a look at an example of an Orton-Gillingham lesson plan. In this example, the teacher is introducing the letters “t” and “h.” The teacher starts by showing the student pictures of the letters and saying their names. Then, the teacher models how to form the letters by tracing them on the board. Next, the teacher has the student practice tracing the letters on paper. After the student has mastered tracing the letters, the teacher moves on to having the student practice writing the letters from memory. Finally, the teacher reviews the material by having the student identify the letters in a word or sentence.
The Orton-Gillingham approach is a great way to help your child learn to read. It is structured and systematic, and it uses multi-sensory activities to engage the student and make learning fun. So, if you’re looking for a recipe to help your child learn to read, Orton-Gillingham may be just what you need!
As the old saying goes, “If you can read you can do anything!” So why not start your child on the path to literacy success with Orton-Gillingham? After all, you can’t put a price on the joy of reading!
