What is DYSLEXIA?
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
— International Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia is also explained by Kelli sandman-Hurley, with this fantastic TEDTalk.
- Reading Activities to make and use to increase phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and spelling: http://www.fcrr.org/curriculum/SCAindex.shtm
Can people with Dyslexia learn to read?
YES WE CAN! Instruction for dyslexics needs to incorporate many components. We offer structured, systematic, multi-sensory, code-based direct instruction in order to address difficulties with phonemic awareness and phonics decoding.
One method we offer:
THE ORTON GILLINGHAM APPROACH TO LITERACY
OG is a detailed, multi-sensory approach to teaching literacy, finding success with struggling readers of all ages, who have been identified as dyslexic, or who have other learning disabilities.
C O M M O N Q U E S T I O N S :
What are the benefits of Orton Gillingham?
The Orton Gillingham approach to literacy is:
-multi-sensory (visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic)
-structured (simple to complex)
What is the history of Orton Gillingham?
OG was first implemented through a partnership between Samuel Torrey Orton (1879-1948) and Anna Gillingham (1878-1963), pioneers in early childhood development and reading. Their methods employed a “multi-sensory approach” to teaching and learning which integrated kinesthetic (movement), visual and auditory learning, and tactile (touch) facets, into the reading process.
How widely used is Orton Gillingham?
There are as many as 40 Commercial Reading Systems that use Orton Gilligham approach or its equivalent today. See LINK
COMPONENTS OF THE ORTON GILLINGHAM APPROACH
- Phonological Awareness- differentiation & reproduction of sounds in the English language is taught
- Sound-symbol Association– sounds are associated with the letters that represent them; skill is applied to blends then syllables in order to read individual words
- Semantics / Comprehension– understanding the use of words and the meaning of written text is critical to successful reading
- Syllables– in order to increase fluency, the basics of syllables & syllable division rules are instructed
- Syntax / Grammar- direct instruction on sentence structure through grammar and good writing practices increases fluency
- Morphology- the study of root words, prefixes, and suffixes, builds upon knowledge of how words are made and can be changed to alter meaning
- A Literature Review of the Orton Gillingham Approach to Literacy LINK
- pHd Study on the effectiveness of the Orton Gillingham Approach to Literacy LINK
S.O.A.R. offers community seminars to support parents and teachers of struggling readers. See when our next meeting is & join us! LINK