www.understood.org Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700::6812:83d  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

GET https://www.understood.org/en/search-results

<form id="searchForm" role="search" method="GET" action="https://www.understood.org/en/search-results" target="_top">
  <div class="p-sm-relative"><input type="search" name="query" placeholder="Example: I have trouble focusing..." class="f-sm-3 text-static-darkblue form-control form-control--tall form-control--noborder rounded-sm-5 border-shadow pr-sm-7 pl-sm-5"
      aria-label="Type search terms" required="" data-testid="search-input"><button type="submit" aria-label="Search" class="Btn-link p-sm-absolute py-sm-4 px-sm-5" style="top:50%;right:0;transform:translateY(-50%)"><svg viewBox="0 0 50 50"
        xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20px" height="20px" class="fill-static-darkblue mr-sm-0" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="none">
        <path fill-rule="evenodd"
          d="M29.853 17.5c0 6.822-5.53 12.353-12.353 12.353-6.822 0-12.353-5.53-12.353-12.353 0-6.822 5.53-12.353 12.353-12.353 6.822 0 12.353 5.53 12.353 12.353zm5.147 0C35 27.165 27.165 35 17.5 35S0 27.165 0 17.5 7.835 0 17.5 0 35 7.835 35 17.5zM31 35l15 15 4-4-15-15-4 4z">
        </path>
      </svg></button></div>
</form>

<form novalidate="">
  <div margin="default" class="sc-512f56ac-0 gJbErf"><label for="newsletter_email_input_7a73d583-3471-4623-8dad-b87029fad03d" marginsize="default" weight="default" labeltype="default" class="sc-af2d310e-0 gWnJLi"><span labeltype="default"
        class="sc-af2d310e-2 dcfGuT"></span>Email<span aria-label="required" class="sc-af2d310e-1 gukIBc">*</span></label><input id="newsletter_email_input_7a73d583-3471-4623-8dad-b87029fad03d" required="" data-testid="newsletter-signup-input"
      controlsize="default" aria-required="true" class="sc-893fc8ca-0 fSJKUE form-control   " value=""></div>
  <div><button buttontype="Shadow" buttonsize="Default" iconposition="Default" type="submit" aria-describedby="emailTerms_7a73d583-3471-4623-8dad-b87029fad03d" data-testid="newsletter-signup-button" class="sc-1120ebbb-0 eiLKgi"><svg
        viewBox="0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20px" height="20px" class="vicon" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" fill="none">
        <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"
          d="M50 19.9484V45H0V19.987V15.0386V5H50V15V19.9484ZM45 19.9484V40H5V19.987H6.665C7.332 19.989 7.959 20.2473 8.436 20.7214L19.704 31.8326C21.12 33.231 23 34 25 34H25.01C27.013 33.998 28.896 33.2231 30.305 31.8247L41.591 20.6947C42.051 20.2265 42.695 19.9544 43.331 19.9484H45ZM45 15V10H5V15.0386H6.67C8.677 15.0435 10.558 15.8185 11.971 17.2209L23.225 28.3202C23.707 28.7952 24.334 29.0516 25 29.0516H25.003C25.671 29.0506 26.299 28.7923 26.771 28.3251L38.036 17.2159C39.393 15.8363 41.324 15.0188 43.306 15H45Z">
        </path>
      </svg>Sign up</button></div>
</form>

Text Content

Skip to contentThis page is in English
DonateOpens new window
 * EN|
 * ES




 *  * EN|
    * ES

 * Explore our resources
   * Browse by topic
   * Content library
   * How to spot signs in kids
   * Podcasts
   * Workplace resources
   * Wunder app for parents
 * About us
   * Our mission
   * Our leadership
   * How we started
   * Redefining accessibility
   * Editorial standards
   * Media center
 * Blog
 * Partnerships
 * Donate
 * Join our team
 * Privacy policy
 * Terms of use
 * Fundraising disclosure

Because differences are our greatest strength

DonateOpens new windowWhy support Understood?



WHAT IS ORTON–GILLINGHAM?

By Peg Rosen

Expert reviewed by Bob Cunningham, EdM




AT A GLANCE

 * Orton–Gillingham is a teaching approach designed to help struggling readers.

 * Orton–Gillingham teaches the connections between sounds and letters.

 * It pioneered the multisensory approach to teaching reading.



Orton–Gillingham is a teaching approach that was designed to help struggling
readers. It explicitly teaches the connections between letters and sounds. Many
reading programs include Orton–Gillingham ideas.

Orton–Gillingham is a structured literacy approach. It introduced the idea of
breaking reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and
sounds, and then building on these skills over time.

It also pioneered the multisensory approach to teaching reading, which is a
common part of effective literacy programs. This means that instructors use
sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students connect language with
letters and words. Orton–Gillingham is widely used to teach students with
dyslexia.


DIVE DEEPER


WHAT ORTON–GILLINGHAM FOCUSES ON

Orton–Gillingham focuses on teaching reading at the word level. It can also help
develop reading comprehension, but that’s not the main goal.

This approach uses multiple senses to help students learn. For example, students
might learn the letter p by seeing it, saying its name, and sounding it out
while writing it with their fingers in shaving cream.

Orton–Gillingham also helps students understand the rules and patterns in
reading. With those skills, they’re better able to decode, or sound out, words.

Learn more about decoding.


HOW ORTON–GILLINGHAM WORKS

The first step is for a specialist or teacher trained in the Orton–Gillingham
approach to assess students. This shows students’ reading skills and areas of
strength and challenges. 

Students are then taught in small groups. Instructors teach skills in a
particular order, which is based on how people naturally develop language.

Students must master each skill before they move on. If a student is confused,
the instructor will reteach that skill. The goal is for students to use the
skills they’ve learned to decode words independently.

Learn more about structured literacy.


WHERE TO FIND ORTON–GILLINGHAM

Many teachers use Orton–Gillingham-type strategies in their general reading
instruction. 

But reading specialists use the approach more comprehensively with students who
have dyslexia and other reading challenges. Some schools provide
Orton–Gillingham-type instruction through a student’s IEP or response to
intervention (RTI).

Several reading programs are influenced by the Orton–Gillingham approach. These
include the Barton Reading Program and the Wilson Reading System. These programs
vary, but they all use a structured, multisensory approach.

Read about research related to these programs.




HOW CAN WE HELP?



I am  select role  and want help with

 behaviors ,

 learning , and

 everyday skills 
See my resources


ABOUT THE AUTHOR




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peg Rosen writes for digital and print, including ParentCenter, WebMD, Parents,
Good Housekeeping, and Martha Stewart.


REVIEWED BY




REVIEWED BY

Bob Cunningham, EdM has been part of Understood since its founding. He’s also
been the chief administrator for several independent schools and a school leader
in general and special education.


SHARE




EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS

 * School supports
 * Reading and writing




MORE ON THIS


 * CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DYSGRAPHIA


 * A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EMPLOYEE WITH DYSLEXIA


 * WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?


DISCOVER WHAT’S POSSIBLE WHEN YOU’RE UNDERSTOOD.

We’ll email you our most helpful stories and resources.

Email*
Sign up


WUNDER THE FIRST COMMUNITY APP FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WHO LEARN
AND THINK DIFFERENTLY.

Available on Android and iOS

Learn more

 * Our mission
 * Our story
 * Our team
 * Our partners
 * Our experts
 * Join our team
 * Media center
 * Donate
 * Contact us
 * Privacy policy
 * Terms of use
 * Fundraising disclosure
 * Editorial standards
 * Glossary

Follow us

 * Opens in a new tab
 * Opens in a new tab
 * Opens in a new tab
 * Opens in a new tab
 * Opens in a new tab
 * Opens in a new tab

Copyright © Understood for All, Inc. 

Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification
number 83-2365235). Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Understood
does not provide medical or other professional advice. The health and medical
related resources on this website are provided solely for informational and
educational purposes and are not a substitute for a professional diagnosis or
for medical or professional advice.

Use of this website is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.





Understood for All, Inc.

96 Morton Street, Floor 5

New York, New York 10014



Media inquiries: media@understood.org (preferred) or 646-757-3100






Copyright © 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc.













 * a parent or caregiver
 * an educator
 * here for me