What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?

At bdpqReading, we use the Orton-Gillingham approach—the gold standard for teaching phonics and spelling to struggling readers and children with dyslexia. Rooted in the Science of Reading, this method is designed to build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading.

Multisensory Learning

We link the visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), and kinesthetic (touch/movement) pathways in the brain. This approach helps solidify new knowledge and makes learning stick.

Direct and Explicit Instruction

Students are taught sounds and skills clearly and directly—never left to guess or figure things out on their own.

Language-Based

English can be complicated! Orton-Gillingham instruction teaches the rules of the language so decoding and spelling become more predictable, leading to greater confidence and success.

Structured, Sequential, and Cumulative

Skills are taught in a logical order, always building on what the student already knows. Younger students read decodable texts that only include sounds they’ve been explicitly taught. Each lesson includes review, so learning is reinforced step by step.

Cognitive Growth

We encourage students to become word detectives; breaking words into meaningful parts so they learn how to help themselves and grow into independent readers.

Flexible and Emotionally Supportive

Every learner is unique. We adjust pacing to fit your child’s needs, interests, and comfort level. Because reading can feel overwhelming—especially for struggling readers—we break learning into small, achievable steps so students feel motivated, successful, and confident.