Why bring your child to Engage the Brain for Orton-Gillingham? Because of the impressive coursework completed by the Specialists and the ongoing mentorship process that is the ethos of the organization.
What exactly is Orton-Gillingham? According to the Orton-Gillingham Academy, it is “a direct, explicit, multi-sensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling do not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia.” It goes on to state that is an “approach,” not a method or system.
The curricular content is derived from two primary sources: a body of knowledge and practice that has been validated over the past 80 years; and also from scientific evidence of how people learn to read and write.
A multi-sensory approach is one of the key elements. It is through visual, auditory and kinesthetic pathways simultaneously that helps imbed the language patterns in students.
Another key is that it is Individualized and diagnostic for each student. There is no universal approach or starting point, with each student truly having their own lesson plan.
Even students who can decode fairly well but who struggle with comprehension, – sometimes known as word callers – benefit from OG. How? By reducing the cognitive load by making decoding automatic. Rather than guessing at and or omitting and skipping seemingly unimportant words in a text, OG will boost the confidence to decode and attack each word easily.
Engage the Brain OG Specialists’ coursework
Engage the Brain is fortunate to have 25 Specialists who completed Orton-Gillingham Academy coursework. Two members of the team are Associates of the Orton-Gillingham Academy and are currently working toward completion of the Certified level. Four Specialists have completed the Classroom Educator coursework, and 21 have completed Associate-level coursework. Finally, the coursework and practicums were completed through an accredited Training Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy.
Sabrina Sullivan, A/OGA and Student Services Director, at Engage the Brain, said, “All OG Specialists receive ongoing mentorship and support from our Student Services Director and OG Field Expert, an Associate of the Academy. Through regular lesson planning meetings, case discussions, and structured mentoring, we maintain high standards of implementation and remain current with research and best practices – ensuring instruction stays flexible, responsive, and individualized.” Like the students we work with, Specialists are strongly encouraged to continue to think, learn, and grow.
Who benefits from OG instruction?
OG is known as the gold-standard for teaching individuals with dyslexia to read. Clearly this population makes up a good percentage of the students EtB works with. However, Sullivan states, “It also supports students with ADHD, dysgraphia, language processing weaknesses, and foundational reading gaps.” She goes on to say that OG benefits early readers who need a strong phonics foundation as well as older students who are missing important decoding or spelling skills.
Sullivan said, “Students who need vocabulary development, improved fluency, or stronger reading comprehension also benefit from OG’s individualized approach.” This is due to the explicit, systematic, and multi-sensory approach that OG demands. Finally, she shares, “it provides the clarity and structure many learners thrive on, with intentional scaffolding and individualized pacing built into every lesson.” Clearly, just about any student could benefit from this type of approach.
Why should a student come to Engage the Brain for OG?
Many people head to Google and search for local business recommendations. Of course any savvy consumer recognizes that the first businesses to pop up are there because they paid to be! But refine your search a little more, and suddenly a different selection of companies populates your screen. Try it: Best Orton-Gillinham instruction in Orlando, FL. Guess what is the first business after all the paid ones? You guessed it! Engage the Brain.
Perhaps there is some algorithm magic going on, but EtB appears in the search results because families flock to it for their educational needs. Sullivan, the Student Services Director, shares the following:
“At EtB, OG instruction is individualized and grounded in ongoing error analysis. We begin with baseline assessments, use our scope and sequence to design targeted lesson plans, and adjust instruction in real time based on each student’s responses and demonstrated needs. Our specialists integrate reading, spelling, and writing in a cumulative, connected way, building confidence alongside skill. We look at the whole learner and intentionally develop strong relationships because a strong literacy foundation begins with trust.”
She adds that families stay informed through periodic progress monitoring, session and progress logs, and brief check-ins as needed. And that EtB has relationships with several local schools, which allows students to receive OG from EtB Specialists while at their institution during the school day.
What do students say who had OG instruction at EtB?
All this educational jargon is fine and well, but what do actual students say who have attended EtB and received OG from trained Specialists?
They flattered us with felicitations!
Lauren S., who attended EtB from 6th grade through 11th grade and is now a freshman at the University of Alabama, said:
“When I was diagnosed with dyslexia in sixth grade, I was scared and unsure – especially about tutoring. Sabrina met me with patience, understanding, and belief. Through Orton-Gillingham instruction, she helped me build confidence and skills I never thought I’d have. What I was once skeptical of became something I truly looked forward to. Because of Sabrina, I went from struggling in middle school to attending the University of Alabama and earning a spot on the President’s List my very first semester. She changed my life.”
Griffen G., an 8th grader who has attended EtB since 2nd grade, shared the following:
“OG’s curriculum has enhanced my learning. Especially Mrs. Sabrina, she has taught me most of the knowledge I know today and has helped me understand myself as a student. She is super easy to understand and can relate to my struggles and how I should navigate them.”
Valentina M., a 5th grader who has attended EtB since 1st grade, said:
“Mrs. Sabrina (OG) has taught me different ways to learn, which have helped me read, write, and spell better.”
We could go on and on but you hopefully get the idea. Students, the most important part of this equation, support EtB.
Final thoughts
The Orton-Gillingham approach has benefited so many students at Engage the Brain. Clearly students with dyslexia are the largest group receiving these services, but there are multiple other subsets of students who are thriving from their OG sessions, including those with ADHD, dysgraphia, and language process weaknesses. There may be other OG practitioners in the area, but none have “the expert instruction, individualized planning, and progress monitoring, which allows us to support lasting growth, not just short-term improvement,” as Sullivan reminds.
If your child struggles to read, for whatever reason, contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain to discover how an Orton-Gillingham mentored professional could help unlock the mysteries of the English language and launch your child into the world of reading and all that it has to offer.