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Are you considering getting trained in Orton-Gillingham or interested in learning more about this approach to teaching reading? Then you’ve come to the right place. I completed my training at the Associate level in July and since then have been “patiently” 😉 awaiting the results that won’t arrive until, gasp, October!
And while waiting, I had the thought that I wish I had known more about Orton-Gillingham and how practitioners get trained before beginning this journey. Thus, I am writing this short series of posts centered around Orton-Gillingham (OG), starting with this brief overview.
To begin, I am going to give a little bit of history on where the approach came from. Then, I’m going to share the guiding principles for OG from the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). Finally, I will touch upon the different levels of certification that can be obtained.
History of Orton-Gillingham: A Condensed Version
The name Orton-Gillingham is actually derived from two different names from two different people that together completed research on how children learn to read in the 1930’s. Dr. Samuel T. Orton was a neuropsychiatrist and pathologist. Anna Gillingham was an educator and psychologist. (Orton-Gillingham.com, 2026)
Anna Gillingham was the one who put everything together into the published book The Gillingham Manual: Remedial Training for Children with Specific Disability in Reading, Spelling, and Penmanship. She was not the only author of this book. A classroom teacher and friend of Gillingham’s, Bessie W. Stillman co-authored this book that is still used today. The book has been updated several times since it’s orginal 1936 printing. The 8th edition is the most current edition that came out in 1997.
The book that Gillingham and Stillman published provides a detailed framework for reading instruction that is guided by the work of Dr. Orton along with Gillingham and Stillman’s own research and experiences working with children that have “word-blindnes” (known today as dyslexia).
Orton-Gillingham Academy Principles to Follow When Using the Orton-Gillingham Approach
One of the most recognized ways to become trained as an OG practitioner is through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). The OGA developed 9 principles that guide the Orton-Gillingham Approach. These principles are derived from research the Standards Committee undertook as they dove deeply into the seminal works of Dr. Orton, Gillingham, and Stillman. Then, they perused the works of other educators and researchers who were heavily influenced by Dr. Orton, Gilingham, and Stillman. Last, the Standards Committee, “…consulted the Academy Overview and the contributions from our rich heritage” (ortonacademy.org).
The 9 OGA Principles formed are as follows:
- Diagnostic and Prescriptive
- Individualized
- Language-Based and Alphabetic/Phonetic
- Simultaneous Multisensory
- Direct and Explicit
- Structured, Sequential, and Cumulative, but Flexible
- Synthetic and Analytic
- Cognitive
- Emotionally Sound
For more details on each principle click the link to be taken to ortonacademy.org.
Levels of OGA Certification
There are four levels of certification through the OGA. Each level is for a different type of practitioner. The first level is independent of the other three.
- Classroom Educator level-This certification is intended for general education classroom teachers.
- Associate level-This certification is for practitioners who work with students who have difficulty with reading, including students with dyslexia. Think interventionists or special education teachers.
- Clinical level-This certification adds depth and breadth to the Associate level certification. You become certified to teach higher levels of the OG Approach to students.
- Fellow level-This is the highest certified level and enables practitioners to be able to teach trainees at the other levels and, of course, continue to work with students who have diffiulty with reading.
All of this information can be found on the ortonacademy.org website under training and certification.
Wrapping It Up
This post is a barebones introduction to the Orton-Gillingham Approach. One of the most important things to remember is that it is an approach, not a curriculum with a script to follow. If you choose to become an OG trainee, you will go deeper into the fascinating history behind the OG Approach used today.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will dive into the connection between OG and LETRS training and share what my experience was like as an Associate level trainee. Be sure to pin this post or subscribe to my newsletter for quick access to when the next two posts come out! If you haven’t taken LETRS yet, check out my posts LETRS: What is it? And What Does it Entail?, LETRS Training Update, and LETRS Training: Final Update.