Allison Meyerson is acutely aware that parents need professional support when navigating the inner workings of school districts, which inspired her to become an educational advocate. She is a retired teacher with over thirty years’ experience with Clarkstown Central School District in Rockland County, NY. Since 2005, she has been a Literacy Specialist providing intensive interventions to students with reading difficulties, primarily those diagnosed with dyslexia.Allison is Level IV Orton-Gillingham certified through Fairleigh Dickinson University. In this episode, Allison discusses the Orton-Gillingham approach, what is included in every Orton-Gillingham lesson, and why this approach is beneficial for dyslexic learners. Connect with Allison at [email protected]

Key Takeaways:

• The Orton-Gillingham approach is personalized. It uses explicit, direct instruction and is structured, sequential, and cumulative. The approach is all multi-sensory – using visual, auditory, gross motor, fine motor, taste, and kinesthetic (touch) to increase memory storage.

• A certified Orton Gillingham instructor takes a minimum of four classes that each span many months and includes a practicum with supervision, allowing instructors to practice and refine what they are being taught. Conversely, a training consists of (usually) a one-week class without a practicum. 

• Each Orton-Gillingham lesson should include: A review of skills mastered (cumulative), reading of graphemes, spelling of graphemes, a phonological awareness activity, spelling of words in isolation with targeted spelling patterns or rules, reading of words in isolation with targeted spelling patterns or rules, writing dictated sentences using previously and currently taught skills, and reading controlled passages of text that only contain skills previously or currently being taught.

• When children with dyslexia are instructed using a multisensory approach, they can learn to read; however, the materials must be used correctly and with fidelity. By utilizing multiple senses, the dyslexic brain is rewired and the areas of the brain that were being underutilized become engaged.

Links from the episode:

• Webinar: What is Orton-Gillingham and Why Does it Work?

• Orton-Gillingham Academy

• Learn more about Allison Meyerson