Orton Gillingham Materials, Curriculum, Decodable Books, and Workbooks
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to find the “right” Orton-Gillingham curriculum—or spent hours Googling the best decodable books and workbooks for your students—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I know how frustrating it is to sort through overpriced programs, low-quality printables, and resources that claim to be OG-aligned but clearly aren’t.
That’s why I created a complete set of Orton-Gillingham based tools that are grounded in the Science of Reading, easy to use, and most importantly—they work.
In this post, I’m going to break down exactly what to look for in high-quality OG materials, what your toolkit should include, and how to make sure your students are getting the most effective instruction possible.
What Are Orton-Gillingham Materials—And Why Do They Matter?
Orton-Gillingham materials aren’t just flashcards and phonics drills. They’re the building blocks of a structured literacy approach designed for students who need explicit, systematic, multisensory instruction.
These materials matter because they take the guesswork out of reading instruction. Whether you’re teaching a student with dyslexia or just trying to prevent future gaps, OG-aligned resources offer:
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Clear phonics sequences
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Built-in review and repetition
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Cumulative skill-building
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Multisensory methods for all learning styles
But here’s the catch: many programs say they’re OG, but they don’t follow the research. They skip important steps. They don’t build skills in order. Or worse—they focus more on looks than content.
I’ve spent years refining our Orton-Gillingham curriculum to avoid these pitfalls.
Must-Have #1: A Clear, Cumulative Scope and Sequence
If your materials don’t follow a systematic scope and sequence, you’re setting your students up to fail.
A real OG program starts with the simplest skills—consonant sounds, short vowels, CVC words—and builds gradually to more complex patterns like digraphs, blends, vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, and multisyllabic decoding.
Each concept is introduced, practiced, and reviewed. This ensures students don’t just “learn” a skill—they master it.
Our Teach Me to Read Workbook includes over 2,000 pages of phonics, phonemic awareness, and reading activities that follow a structured, research-aligned path.
Must-Have #2: Decodable Books That Actually Reinforce the Skill
Not all decodable books are useful. In fact, many are just boring drills with little connection to real reading.
The best decodable books:
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Stick to taught phonics patterns only
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Include cumulative review
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Have engaging plots and characters
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Reinforce vocabulary and comprehension
Our Decodable Coloring Book Pack combines story, phonics, and creativity in one. Kids love it. And because it’s decodable, you know every word they read supports what they’ve been taught.
Must-Have #3: Built-In Phonemic Awareness Practice
Before students can decode words, they need to hear and manipulate sounds. That’s where phonemic awareness comes in.
OG materials must include:
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Sound isolation
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Blending and segmenting
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Manipulation (add/change/delete sounds)
These aren’t just warm-up games. They’re critical exercises that prepare the brain for reading.
Our workbook integrates phonemic awareness directly into every lesson—no need to buy a separate supplement.
Must-Have #4: Multisensory Activities
This isn’t fluff—it’s neuroscience. Engaging multiple senses helps students make stronger brain connections.
In a high-quality OG curriculum, students should:
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Say the sound aloud
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Trace or write the letter
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Tap, clap, or move while spelling
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Read it in context
Multisensory instruction isn’t just for young learners either—it helps older struggling readers make progress too.
Every workbook page in our program offers multisensory prompts to activate those neural pathways.
Must-Have #5: Fluency, Comprehension, and Writing Practice
Phonics is essential, but it’s not the whole picture. Your OG materials should help students:
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Reread for fluency
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Answer comprehension questions
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Write sentences and short responses
This is why our Complete OG Curriculum goes beyond just reading. It helps kids build confidence in expressing themselves through writing and discussion—without jumping ahead before they’re ready.
What Makes Our Orton-Gillingham Curriculum Different?
When I built our curriculum, I made it with real classrooms—and real students—in mind. I wanted it to be:
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Easy to follow (no confusing teacher guides)
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Truly decodable (no guessing or sight word overload)
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Comprehensive (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, writing)
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Printable and ready-to-use (PDFs, no expensive subscriptions)
Thousands of educators and parents have used it with success—and it’s growing every day. Whether you’re just starting OG or looking to level up, this bundle has everything you need.
How to Use OG Materials Effectively
Even the best resources won’t work if they’re not used with intention. Here’s how to make them work for you:
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Follow the sequence – Don’t jump around.
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Be consistent – Daily instruction matters.
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Monitor mastery – Don’t move on until the skill sticks.
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Use the materials interactively – Let kids trace, read aloud, build words.
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Integrate review – Build in warm-ups and exit checks.
The good news? Our materials were made to support this kind of teaching. We’ve taken out the guesswork.
Is Orton-Gillingham Right for You? (Yes, and Here’s Why)
I’ve seen the Orton-Gillingham approach work in public schools, private tutoring, homeschool settings, and small groups. It’s flexible. It’s adaptable. And it’s built on research.
Most importantly, it’s built for real kids—not just ideal ones. The ones who don’t get it the first time. The ones who’ve been left behind by leveled books and “look at the picture and guess” strategies.
If that sounds like your students, this is your solution.
And if you want materials that are:
✅ Structured
✅ Affordable
✅ Research-backed
✅ Actually fun to use
Then check out our Complete Orton-Gillingham Curriculum. It’s more than just a workbook—it’s a full system designed to help you teach reading the right way.
Because reading isn’t magic. But with the right tools, it feels like it is.