The Orton-Gillingham Approach is a structured way to teach reading and writing. It's multisensory, meaning it engages sight, sound, and touch. Originally made for students with dyslexia, it helps all kinds of learners who struggle with traditional methods.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population. Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
What is the orton-gillingham approach?
The Orton-Gillingham Approach was created in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham. It’s a structured, multisensory way to teach literacy. Students do more than just look at and hear words. They trace letters, make hand movements, and say sounds out loud. Skills are taught clearly and step-by-step, with each new skill building on what’s already learned. While it was designed for dyslexic students, many others benefit too.
Core principles
OG teaching follows some key principles:
- Explicit: Teachers show exactly what to do and explain why.
- Structured and Sequential: Skills come in a specific order and build on each other.
- Diagnostic: Regular assessments help decide what to teach next.
- Multisensory: Students might trace letters in sand while saying their sounds. This approach helps create more pathways in the brain for remembering information.
Who benefits most
The Orton-Gillingham Approach is great for kids with dyslexia, but it helps about 25% of learners who struggle with traditional reading methods. Kids who learn best through movement often excel with OG even if they don't have dyslexia. The clear, structured style also helps kids who find open-ended learning stressful. Just remember, this method takes time. It's not a quick fix—expect a multi-year commitment for struggling readers.
Getting started
You don’t need formal OG training to use OG-based programs at home. Options like the PRIDE Reading Program offer scripted lessons and training videos. Budget between $400 and $800 for materials. Some states, such as Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina, let you use ESA funds to pay for OG curricula.
The bottom line
The Orton-Gillingham Approach is based on years of research into how struggling readers learn. For homeschool families dealing with dyslexia or reading challenges, OG-based programs provide a clear path forward. The multisensory, direct teaching style fits well with homeschool settings, allowing you to pace the learning to your child’s needs. Just keep in mind—this is a marathon, not a sprint. Give it time to work.
