A Program for Struggling Readers That Actually Works: Why Orton-Gillingham Is the Answer for Students Who Need Extra Help

A Program for Struggling Readers That Actually Works: Why Orton-Gillingham Is the Answer for Students Who Need Extra Help

Is there really a program that can turn struggling readers into confident ones? The answer might surprise you!

If you’re a parent or teacher working with students who struggle to read, you know how frustrating it can be. You’ve probably tried countless strategies and programs, hoping to find the one that works. The tears, the frustration, the low self-esteem—it’s heartbreaking to see kids who feel like they’ll never catch up. But what if there was a solution that actually worked? What if there was a way to unlock the magic of reading for kids who need extra help?

I’m Adam Free, and over the past decade, I’ve worked with kids in urban schools, most of whom come from low-income families. Many of these children not only face daily struggles in their lives but also find reading an uphill battle. Some have dyslexia, while others simply never received the foundational skills they needed to succeed in reading. But I’ve found something that changes the game for these kids: Orton-Gillingham (OG).

What Is Orton-Gillingham? The Program That Changes Lives

So, what exactly is Orton-Gillingham? It’s a structured, multisensory approach to teaching reading that was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton, a neuropsychiatrist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator and psychologist. The program was originally designed for students with dyslexia, but its techniques work wonders for any struggling reader. Over the years, Orton-Gillingham has evolved and adapted, but the core principles have remained the same. It’s one of the most trusted and effective programs for students who need extra help with reading.

Why It’s Different:

  • Multisensory Learning: Kids don’t just see words on a page. They engage with the material in multiple ways—through sight, sound, and touch. They might trace letters in sand, clap out syllables, or say sounds aloud while writing them. These multisensory activities help activate different parts of the brain, making the learning process more powerful and memorable.

  • Structured Lessons: Orton-Gillingham is built around a systematic, step-by-step approach. This means lessons build on each other. First, students master simple concepts like letter sounds, and then they move on to more complex tasks like decoding multisyllabic words. The structure provides clear, logical instruction that helps struggling readers feel confident.

  • Direct Teaching: OG doesn’t leave things up to chance. The rules of language are taught explicitly, so students aren’t left guessing. They learn why words sound the way they do and how letters combine to form words.

  • Personalized Instruction: No two students are the same, and Orton-Gillingham recognizes that. Teachers assess students regularly to see how they’re progressing and adjust lessons accordingly. If a student needs extra time on a particular concept, they get it. If they’re ready to move on, the lessons become more challenging.

For me, teaching with OG has been transformative. I remember working with a student named Jamal. Jamal couldn’t remember the sounds that matched letters, and he felt like giving up. We started using OG’s multisensory approach—tracing letters in sand while saying the sounds—and suddenly, everything started to click. The look on Jamal’s face when he realized he could remember the sounds was something I’ll never forget. That’s the power of Orton-Gillingham.

Why Does Orton-Gillingham Work? Breaking Down Its Magic

You might be wondering, "What makes Orton-Gillingham so effective? What is the secret sauce?" The answer lies in its unique combination of strategies that focus on the individual learner and their specific needs. Orton-Gillingham helps struggling readers by addressing the exact areas where they need support. Let’s break down some of the key reasons why it works so well.

Multisensory Approach: Learning Through Seeing, Hearing, and Touching

One of the most powerful aspects of Orton-Gillingham is its multisensory approach. This means that students don’t just read words—they interact with them in various ways. They might use sand trays, magnetic letters, or even hand movements to reinforce the sounds and words they’re learning. This method engages different parts of the brain, making it easier for the student to retain and retrieve the information later.

For example, I had a student named Emily who struggled to remember the difference between the letter “b” and “d.” We spent weeks using flashcards, and nothing seemed to work. Then, we switched to a multisensory approach—Emily traced the letters in sand while saying their sounds aloud. She used her fingers to feel the shape of the letters and repeat the sounds. Finally, it clicked. Emily stopped mixing up “b” and “d,” and her confidence grew with each lesson.

Why does this work? The brain forms stronger connections when multiple senses are engaged at the same time. By seeing, hearing, and feeling the letters and sounds, students are more likely to retain the information. For struggling readers, this multisensory approach can be a game-changer.

Structured and Sequential: Step-by-Step Success

Another reason Orton-Gillingham works is that it’s incredibly structured. Many struggling readers feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the English language, but OG breaks everything down into manageable steps. The program starts with the most basic elements of reading, such as phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate sounds), and then gradually moves to more advanced concepts like decoding multisyllabic words.

This structured approach is crucial for struggling readers. I’ve seen students get frustrated in classrooms where they’re expected to jump straight into reading without a solid foundation. But with OG, we make sure they understand the basics before moving on. This builds confidence. When a student can master one step before tackling the next, they feel accomplished. Each small victory makes them more willing to take on bigger challenges.

Diagnostic and Prescriptive Teaching: Meeting Students Where They Are

Every student is different, and one-size-fits-all programs often fail struggling readers. Orton-Gillingham takes the opposite approach—it’s personalized. Teachers constantly assess their students to see what they need. If a student is struggling with short vowel sounds, for example, the teacher will spend extra time on that area before moving on. If the student is progressing quickly, the lessons become more challenging.

I once worked with a boy named Marcus who had been falling behind in reading for years. His school had been using a “whole language” approach, which wasn’t giving him the targeted help he needed. When we switched to OG, I was able to assess Marcus's specific challenges and tailor the instruction to his needs. Within a few months, Marcus was reading more fluently and, more importantly, feeling good about himself.

This ability to adapt and personalize instruction is key to Orton-Gillingham’s success. Struggling readers often need extra support in specific areas, and OG makes it easy to target those gaps.

How Orton-Gillingham Helps Struggling Readers

So, how does Orton-Gillingham actually help struggling readers? The program is designed to tackle the core issues that prevent students from becoming confident readers. Let’s take a closer look at how it addresses these challenges.

Phonemic Awareness: Building the Foundation for Reading

One of the first areas Orton-Gillingham focuses on is phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in words. Many struggling readers lack this critical skill, which makes decoding words nearly impossible. Through games, activities, and direct instruction, OG helps students hear and play with sounds before they even start looking at words.

For example, I might have my students clap out the syllables in words or break apart the sounds in a word like “cat” (/k/, /a/, /t/). Once they can do this easily, we move on to connecting those sounds with letters. This step is crucial because it lays the foundation for all future reading skills.

Phonics and Decoding: Unlocking the Code of Language

After mastering phonemic awareness, students move on to phonics and decoding—learning how letters and sounds go together to form words. In many reading programs, students are encouraged to guess words based on context or pictures, but Orton-Gillingham teaches them to decode words systematically. This means they learn the rules behind the sounds and letters, giving them the tools to read unfamiliar words confidently.

I remember working with a girl named Ava who struggled with long vowel sounds. In her previous classroom, she was encouraged to guess at words based on the pictures in the book. This approach wasn’t helping her decode new words, and she was frustrated. When we switched to Orton-Gillingham, I taught Ava the rules for long vowels explicitly, using multisensory tools like letter tiles and sound cards. Slowly but surely, Ava started to recognize and decode long vowel patterns, and her reading fluency improved.

Building Fluency and Comprehension: From Decoding to Understanding

Once students can decode words accurately, the next step is building fluency—the ability to read smoothly and quickly without stumbling. Orton-Gillingham provides plenty of opportunities for students to practice their decoding skills through repeated reading and timed exercises. This helps students move from slow, labored reading to reading that sounds more like natural speech.

But reading isn’t just about decoding words—it’s about understanding them too. That’s where comprehension comes in. Once students can read fluently, OG teachers work on making sure they understand what they’re reading. We might ask comprehension questions, discuss the story’s characters, or have students summarize what they read. This helps them connect with the text and develop a deeper understanding of it.

The Science Behind Orton-Gillingham: It’s Proven to Work

Orton-Gillingham isn’t just a good idea—it’s backed by science. The program aligns with the Science of Reading, a body of research that shows how the brain learns to read. This research highlights the importance of systematic, explicit instruction in phonics and phonemic awareness, which are both core components of Orton-Gillingham.

Success with Dyslexia: Orton-Gillingham Changes Lives

Orton-Gillingham is especially effective for students with dyslexia. Dyslexic learners often struggle to decode words because their brains process language differently. But OG’s multisensory, structured approach helps “rewire” the brain to process sounds and letters more effectively. I’ve seen students who couldn’t read a single word start reading entire books after using OG.

Neuroscience Evidence: Orton-Gillingham and the Brain

Brain studies have shown that programs like Orton-Gillingham can actually change how the brain works. When students use OG, their brains become better at processing sounds and words. This is especially important for struggling readers who may have underdeveloped areas in the brain responsible for reading. Through consistent practice, OG helps students strengthen these areas and become more proficient readers.

Debunking Common Myths About Orton-Gillingham

There are a few myths about Orton-Gillingham that I’d like to clear up.

Myth 1: It’s Only for Dyslexia

While Orton-Gillingham is a fantastic program for students with dyslexia, it works for any struggling reader. Whether a child has dyslexia or just needs extra support with phonics, OG’s structured approach can help.

Myth 2: It's Too Slow

Some people think Orton-Gillingham takes too long because it’s so systematic. But in my experience, going slow is actually faster in the long run. When students master each step before moving on, they don’t need to keep revisiting the same concepts over and over.

Myth 3: It's Old and Outdated

Just because Orton-Gillingham was developed in the 1930s doesn’t mean it’s outdated. The program has been refined and updated over the years to reflect the latest research in literacy and brain science. In fact, OG is more relevant today than ever before.

FAQs About Orton-Gillingham

Question Answer
Is Orton-Gillingham only for students with dyslexia? No, it helps any struggling reader who needs help with phonics and decoding.
How long does it take to see results? It depends on the child, but many see progress in just a few months.
Can it be used in regular classrooms? Yes, teachers can use Orton-Gillingham methods with all their students.
Do teachers need special training? Training helps, but there are resources available to get started.


Conclusion: Orton-Gillingham Works for Struggling Readers

I’ve seen the difference Orton-Gillingham makes. Kids who hated reading start to enjoy it. They feel proud and confident. If you’re a parent or teacher looking for a program that actually works, consider Orton-Gillingham. It might just be the answer you’ve been searching for.

Ready to help your child become a confident reader? Explore Orton-Gillingham resources and see the difference it can make!