The Orton-Gillingham Approach at Kidz OTC
Orton-Gillingham Reading Program with Jonathan Ang
Helping Your Child Unlock the Joy of Reading, One Step at a Time
If your child struggles with reading, spelling, or language skills, our Orton-Gillingham (OG) program offers a personalised, step-by-step approach designed just for them. Led by our specialist, Jonathan Ang, this program uses a multisensory method—engaging sight, sound, and touch—to make learning letters and words easier and more enjoyable.
How This Program Helps Your Child:
- Builds a strong foundation in reading and spelling by breaking down words into manageable parts
- Uses hands-on, multisensory activities to reinforce learning and memory
- Tailors lessons to your child’s unique pace and learning style
- Improves decoding skills, helping your child confidently read new words
- Boosts attention, memory, and overall learning skills
- Builds confidence through regular success and progress
- Supports children with dyslexia and other learning differences with proven strategies
- Encourages independence and love for learning
- Jonathan works closely with each child, creating a supportive and engaging environment where they can develop essential reading skills and regain confidence in their learning journey.
Understanding the Orton-Gillingham Philosophy
The Orton-Gillingham approach is built on the fundamental belief that every child can learn to read when provided with appropriate instruction. This methodology goes beyond traditional teaching methods by addressing the specific ways individuals with learning differences process language and information. Rather than relying on memorization or guesswork, the approach systematically teaches the structure of our language, empowering students to become independent, self-correcting readers and writers.
At KidzOTC, we recognize that children with dyslexia and other learning differences require more explicit guidance in understanding the relationships between sounds and symbols. The Orton-Gillingham approach provides this structured pathway, helping students develop the foundational skills necessary for lasting academic success.
Core Principles and Methodology
Our Orton-Gillingham instruction at KidzOTC is grounded in several key principles that ensure effective learning:
Language-Based Foundation
The approach focuses on teaching the fundamental structure of language, beginning with the basic sound-symbol relationships and progressing systematically to more complex linguistic concepts such as syllable types, morphology, and etymology. Students learn not just what to read, but why words are constructed the way they are, enabling them to apply these principles to unfamiliar words.
Multisensory Integration
Every lesson incorporates visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning pathways, often referred to as VAKT (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile). For example, when learning the letter "d," a student will see the letter, say its name and sound, feel the mouth movements required to produce the sound, and trace the letter on a textured surface. This simultaneous engagement of multiple senses creates stronger neural connections and enhances memory retention.
Structured and Sequential Progression Instruction
This follows a logical, well-planned sequence that moves from simple to complex concepts. Each new skill builds upon previously mastered elements, ensuring students have a solid foundation before advancing. This cumulative approach prevents gaps in learning and supports long-term retention of skills.
Individualized and Diagnostic Instruction
Every student begins with a comprehensive assessment to identify their specific strengths and areas of need. Our educational therapists then create personalized lesson plans that address each child's unique learning profile, adjusting pace and methods based on ongoing observation and assessment. This individualized approach ensures that no student moves forward until they have truly mastered the current skill level.
A Comprehensive Learning Experience
Our Orton-Gillingham sessions at KidzOTC are highly structured yet engaging, incorporating elements that make learning both effective and enjoyable. Each lesson typically includes:
Phonological Skills Development
Students develop phonemic awareness—the ability to identify, isolate, and manipulate individual sounds in words. This foundational skill is essential for both reading and spelling success. Through systematic practice, students learn to recognize sound patterns and apply this knowledge to decode unfamiliar words.
Sound-Symbol Relationships
We explicitly teach the connections between letters and sounds, progressing from single letters to complex patterns like digraphs, blends, and diphthongs. Students learn these relationships through direct instruction rather than discovery, ensuring accurate understanding from the beginning.
Decoding and Encoding Practice
Students engage in extensive practice reading and spelling words that follow the patterns they've learned. This simultaneous instruction in reading and spelling reinforces the connection between these skills and builds automaticity. As students progress, they work with increasingly complex text that aligns with their current skill level.
Fluency and Comprehension
While the approach is known for its systematic phonics instruction, it also addresses reading fluency and comprehension through structured practice with decodable texts and explicit strategy instruction. Students learn to read with appropriate pace, expression, and understanding.
Evidence-Based Results
The Orton-Gillingham approach is supported by decades of research and has been validated through numerous studies demonstrating its effectiveness for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. According to the International Dyslexia Association, this approach not only helps students with dyslexia but provides substantial evidence of effectiveness for all readers. Students typically show measurable improvements in phonemic awareness, decoding accuracy, spelling skills, reading fluency, and overall confidence in their abilities.
Professional Excellence and Collaboration
At KidzOTC, our educational therapists receive specialized training in the Orton-Gillingham methodology, ensuring they can deliver high-quality, evidence-based instruction that adheres to the approach's proven principles. We maintain ongoing collaboration with families, schools, and other professionals to provide comprehensive support that extends beyond our therapy sessions.
Our therapists understand that learning to read involves more than just academic skills—it requires building confidence, resilience, and a positive relationship with learning. Through the structured yet supportive environment of Orton-Gillingham instruction, we help students develop not only the technical skills needed for reading success but also the self-confidence and independence that will serve them throughout their educational journey.
