OrtonGillingham

OrtonGillingham is a structured, multi‑sensory teaching methodology designed primarily to help students with reading and spelling difficulties, particularly dyslexia. It was developed in the mid‑20th century by two pioneering educators: Samuel Orton, a neuroscientist and neuropsychologist who studied the brain bases of learning disorders, and Anna Gillingham, a psychologist and founder of the first specialized school for dyslexic children in the United States. Their collaboration produced the first comprehensive curriculum that combined explicit phonics instruction with the use of visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic cues.

The core principles of OrtonGillingham rest on several key ideas. Instruction is sequenced and cumulative, meaning that new skills build incrementally on previously mastered concepts. It is explicit and systematic, with clear, direct teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The approach is highly individualized; teachers assess each learner’s strengths and challenges to adjust the pace and emphasis accordingly. A hallmark of the method is its multi‑sensory engagement: students may rehearse letter shapes with their fingers, chant sounds, write words, and move body to reinforce learning pathways in the brain.

OrtonGillingham training is offered through a network of national and regional institutes. Professionals who complete the program receive certification to deliver the curriculum in schools, private practices, and home‑based settings. Many programs now integrate technology, using digital tools that mimic the multi‑sensory experience through interactive software and apps, while maintaining fidelity to the original instructional framework.

Critics argue that the approach can be time‑intensive and that its cost may limit accessibility. However, research indicates that, when delivered by qualified instructors, the method significantly improves reading outcomes for students who struggle with phonological processing. As a result, the OrtonGillingham approach remains a cornerstone of evidence‑based interventions for reading disorders worldwide.