Sep 177 min read

Unlocking Potential: Including the Orton-Gillingham Approach in Homeschool in your Homeschool Curriculum

Updated: Sep 27

homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

Some links within this post are sponsored, however, the content and ideas presented are my own and are not sponsored.

As a homeschooling mom of children with special needs, one of whom has difficulties with writing and handwriting, I have been exploring the Orton-Gillingham method. I've been digging deeper into some research to make our homeschooling even better and share what I find with other families.

Considered the gold standard for instructing dyslexic students and those struggling with reading, the Orton-Gillingham approach provides a multi-sensory approach that assists learners in advancing their literacy skills.

"Go as fast as you can, but as slow as you must." - Anna Gillingham

What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach? How do I include it in my curriculum?

It is a highly structured, multisensory, sequential approach to teach literacy, that is very helpful for learners who have difficulty with reading, writing, and comprehension. By taking it slow and steady, this method breaks down reading and spelling into easier-to-handle skills, helping learners improve and move forward. It's based on the work of neuropsychologist Samuel T. Orton and psychologist Anna Gillingham, and it's used in education as a helpful approach rather than a strict method or system.

This approach is commonly effective with learners that have known dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and Autism.

Key Components of the Orton-Gillingham Approach:

Multisensory - Involves sight, hearing, touch, and movement
Sequential - Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence
Incremental - Each lesson carefully builds upon the previous lesson
Cumulative - Constant and consistent review of previously taught concepts
Individualized
Based on Phonograms- English is simplified by teaching letters and letter combinations known as phonograms
Explicit - Lessons are taught in a straightforward manner

Multi-Sensory Approach -

The idea here is that learning to read and write is more fun and effective when you use all your senses. By listening, speaking, drawing, and moving while you write, you can learn better. This way of learning suits different styles and helps you have your own unique learning journey.

The Power of Structured, Sequential, and Cumulative Learning:

The approach here is pretty straightforward - starting with the basics and moving on to more advanced stuff as you get better at it. It breaks down reading and spelling into smaller chunks and helps you improve step by step. The Sequential part makes sure you learn things in a logical order, going from simple to more complex topics. Emphasis is placed on repeating and strengthening learning as individuals advance, leading to a cumulative review.

Individualized:

The program is all about helping each student with their own way of learning. It incorporates sorting, recognizing, and organizing language and analysis, all tailored to what each student is good at and what they need to work on.

It offers an Evidence-Based Approach involving The Five Pillars Of Literacy:

Phonological Awareness -
Recognizing that words consist of sounds that have distinct articulatory features.
Systematic Phonics Lessons -
Recognizing the connections between letters and sounds in words
Reading Fluency -
The ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.
Vocabulary -
Words that students must know in order to communicate effectively, including context and meaning
Reading Comprehension-
Understanding the importance of text and blending it with what you already know.

What does the Orton Gillingham Approach in Homeschool Curriculum look like?

When learning about the vowel "e" for example, your learner may first look at a picture of an elephant, then close their eyes and listen to the sound, and then trace the letter in sand while speaking the sound aloud.

The approach emphasizes customization, so lessons can and should be adapted to each learner.

Additional examples may include, tapping their fingers or pounding their fists while vocalizing sounds and words. They can also use scratch paper, bumpy paper, or whipped cream to trace the words or letters as they vocalize them. These activities incorporate an element of play, which is highly beneficial for children.

"Facts can be taught quickly, but skills come slowly." - Anna Gillingham

Signs Your Learner Could Benefit from the Orton-Gillingham Approach

Are you a parent of a student who finds reading challenging, tends to skip words while reading, or completely avoids reading assignments?

Signs that you may need to seek an evaluation may include,

· Problems with decoding or single word reading

· Poor reading fluency

· Poor spelling

· Poor handwriting

· Letter reversal, inversions

· Difficulty with written expression

As a reminder, having a licensed and certified professional conduct a formal evaluation is crucial if you suspect that your learner might have dyslexia, dysgraphia, or any other learning variances.

The Importance of Strong Writing Skills in Comprehension and Analysis

When it comes to writing, it's not just about spelling and handwriting, but also about getting your ideas organized. You know how in school they usually make you memorize all those grammar rules and parts of speech? Well, turns out that doesn't really make you a better writer. And in elementary school, they tend to teach writing all by itself, which can be a bit boring.

Writing can be tough because it's all about expressing yourself. It can be especially difficult, if you're new to it or have some challenges, like trouble with spelling or putting sentences together. And as you go through school, these challenges can get even harder, making those big writing assignments pretty stressful. It's all about trying to stay focused and making sure everything flows nicely.

Executive Function and working memory, which help us tackle tasks, are super important for writing. Executive function is a set of skills that are developed with practice. No wonder students get stressed about writing assignments! For additional tips on developing executive function skills and independence with your homeschooler, you may want to check out Empowering Independence: Tips for Fostering Executive Function Skills while Homeschooling.

To make it easier, students should break down the writing process into smaller parts. They can practice each segment with help and feedback from their parent until they've got it down pat.

How does the Orton-Gillingham Approach help learners with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia?

If learners do not master spelling, then comprehension and writing skills are likely to be impaired.

The challenges linked to dyslexia stem from language-related issues rather than visual problems or cognitive abilities. In most cases, dyslexia is primarily caused by phonological deficiencies. This is all about how well someone can understand and process speech, from recognizing separate words to breaking them down into syllables, and finally getting to the sounds of speech.

People with dysgraphia often have a hard time with orthographic coding, which means keeping written words in mind while figuring out the letters in the word. On top of that, they might find it tough to plan out finger movements in order.

That's why the O-G approach is super useful in helping out students with dyslexia and dysgraphia.