1. Orton- Gillingham
RTI Intervention
By: Breanna Wisnor

2. Introduction to Orton-Gillingham
The focus group: This strategy was created in the 1930s by neurologist Dr. Samuel T. Orton and educator, psychologist Anna Gillingham. It was originally designed for students with Dyslexia. Today it is used to assist students reading below grade level by providing them with expert, intensive instruction.
This approach can be taught in the whole group setting, in small groups or to individuals. It can also be used with at-risk populations.
The focus areas: This strategy focuses on providing students with multisensory techniques aligned with the structure of the English Language. Focus areas include the following: phonemes, morphemes, prefixes, suffixes, roots and common spelling rules. This approach is unique because it allows educators to focus on addressing individual student needs while providing instruction that will benefit all learners.

3. Additional Intervention Information
The benefits of OG
Training is customized to meet the needs of specific schools, districts and individual students
OG can be used at every RTI tier level
Appropriate OG instruction has decreased special education referrals and lowered at-risk populations
All learners benefit from this program which can be taught individually, in small groups or to the whole group
OG supports current reading programs rather than disrupting them
College credits are available for the 24 and 30-hour trainings
Tiered Instruction: OG allows for implementation of RTI in all tiers but also allows for differentiated instruction.

4. Components of Orton-Gillingham
This is a multi-sensory approach that provides “direct, systematic, and sequential instruction that empowers educators to teach the foundation of the English language” (
This multi-sensory approach includes audio, visual and kinesthetic learning pathways.
This approach includes the 5 essential components of effective reading instruction:
Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Vocabulary development
Fluency
Comprehension strategies

5. OG Procedures
This approach can be incorporated into daily lessons and used to supplement reading instruction. OG lessons typically last between minutes and include the following steps:
Review of letters and sounds already learned
Introduction of new grapheme and phoneme
Lists of individual words for reading aloud (connected to prior learning)
Dictation of new and previously learned sounds
Dictation of words using only those phonograms and phonemes previously taught
Dictation of sentences made up of words using phonograms and phonemes previously taught
Oral reading from a text controlled for orthography.
Orton_Gillingham_Approach.pdf
The following slides outline the three stages of training.

6. Phonemic Awareness & Beginning Orton-Gillingham (12 hours)
Training includes instruction in the following areas:
•Current research regarding phonemic awareness
•The importance of phonemic awareness
•Format, goals, and rationale of sequential activities
•Phonological stage activities to phonemic awareness
•The basics of IMSE's enhanced approach to Orton-Gillingham
•Guidelines for lessons, reading readiness and student assessment.

7. Introductory Training (18 hours)
Training includes instruction on teaching the following skills:
•Phonemic awareness
•Multi-sensory strategies for reading, writing and spelling
•Multi-sensory techniques for sight words
•Syllabication patterns for decoding and encoding
•Student assessment techniques

8. Stage 1: Comprehensive Training (30 hours)
Training includes instruction on teaching the following skills:
Phonemic awareness
Multi-sensory strategies for reading, writing and spelling
Syllabication patterns for encoding / decoding
Reciprocal Teaching for reading comprehension
Multi-sensory techniques for sight words
Student assessment techniques
Guidelines for weekly lesson plans

9. Stage 2: Advanced Continuum Training (24 hours)
Training includes instruction on teaching the following skills:
•Encoding & Decoding with Morphemes
•Higher Level Lesson Planning
•Greek & Latin Roots
•Vocabulary
•Writing & Grammar

10. Additional Resources http://www.orton-gillingham.com/
This website provides information on training, professional development and the benefits of OG. This site also includes hour training videos and testimonials. There are general, free subscriptions as well as a basic $19.95/year subscription and $89.95/year subscription. All subscriptions require completion of the IMSE 30-hour or 18-hour training.
This is a 3-page PDF file from the Florida Center for Reading Reseach. It outlines the basics of the Orton-Gillingham Approach, describes what processes are in place in Orton-Gillingham and provides research to support Orton- Gillingham. This site also includes the strengths and weaknesses of the program. There are also links to sources for additional information.