Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

Molly Hammer Orton-Gillingham Institute for Multi-Sensory Education Birmingham, Michigan Web Site: http://www.orton-gillingham.com

Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a neurologist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator, developed this program in 1930 as a way to teach dyslexic children phonics; however, research has proven that this approach to teaching phonics does benefit all students.

I choose to research this program because it is a direct instruction approach that combines a multisensory methodology to teaching phonics. I heard about this program from several teachers in my school district who currently use the program and swear by it. I think direct instruction can be effective to teach some specific skills to students and I like the fact that it uses a multi-sensory approach. I may consider using this program as one aspect of teaching reading to my Kindergarten students in the future. Mission Statement of the program:

To provide parents and teaching professionals with the necessary tools to dramatically increase the literacy of our children.

Quoted from the following website: http://www.orton-gillingham.com/orton-gillingham1.asp

Goals:  To develop phonemic awareness in emerging readers  To combine and connect the smallest units of sound with the letters that represent them  To move students from simple to more complex skills in a sequential, step by step format  To increase mastery of important literacy skills

Key Elements:  Language based  Success oriented  Fast paced  Uses predictable sequences  Emphasizes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles  Focuses on strategies to develop phonemic awareness  Focuses on language and gradually moves towards reading  Integrates reading, writing, and spelling  Based on research

Targeted Group:  All students, including students with exceptionalities and ESOL learners  Ages Pre-Kindergarten through high school, with an emphasis on Pre-K-Third and remedial  Can be taught in whole group, small group, or individually

Assessment:  Provides immediate feedback/assessment on a daily basis for all students Additional Readings: (EJ368948) Vickery, Karen, S.; and others. Multisensory Teaching Approach for Reading, Spelling, and Handwriting, Orton-Gillingham Based Curriculum, in a Public School Setting. 1987.

(EJ475904) Biasotto, Virginia, L. Project ASSIST Institute: An Orton-Gillingham/Spalding Based Curriculum for Teachers and Volunteers. 1993.

Other Programs:  Sensational Strategies for Teaching Beginning Readers at home: Developed based on the instructional delivery approach used by Orton-Gillingham for parents to use at home with their children.  Language Tune-Up Kit (LTK): Remedial reading multimedia phonics software program for children 6 and up, teenagers, and adults that is based on the instructional delivery approach used by Orton-Gillingham. Testimonials:

 Parent: "I think that this has strengthened my 1st grader's spelling. She is a great reader, and is not afraid to use inventive spelling. Orton-Gillingham has been the answer for my daughter." (Susan Kamin)

 Teacher: "I see O-G as a wonderful tool in helping children who experience a wide range of reading difficulties. Going from simple to complex rules and strategies and using various modalities helps my kids experience and understand the process of reading." (Julie Abeska)

 Administrator: "This program benefits not only special education students, but has been beneficial in teaching reading to our entire student population. Our bilingual and transitional teachers have been especially enthusiastic about this program." (Curriculum Director, Passaic Public Schools, Passaic, New Jersey)

All testimonials quoted from the website below:

http://www.orton-gillingham.com/orton-gillingham9.asp