Today in my GreatSchools newsletter it discussed that after years of searching for the key to educational success, researchers have concluded that in regards to education in schools, teachers have the greatest influence on student learning. Although it may seem obvious, it is an important finding. It reveals how important it is for teachers to provide quality instruction. Teachers must be well-prepared in effective teaching techniques, such as the techniques found in the Orton Gillingham method.
When I first started working for Reading Horizons it was easy to believe the reading program worked because I was surrounded by reading experts and people who had experienced first-hand the program working for students of all backgrounds. But learning why it worked for students of all backgrounds took more time. However, as I continued to ask why it worked for students of each particular background the answer was always the same: because it’s an Orton Gillingham-based program (multisensory and interactive).
Of course Reading Horizons simply being an Orton Gillingham-based program wouldn’t be effective without the strength of the curriculum. I am envious of students that learn with Reading Horizons curriculum because I know I would understand the English language more completely and have much better pronunciation skills if I had been taught reading with Reading Horizons program.
With a solid curriculum, employing Orton Gillingham methods helps the curriculum make sense to students of all backgrounds: English language learners, dyslexics, special education students, beginning readers, adult learners, and students with learning disabilities.
Orton Gillingham techniques are effective in reaching almost every student because they engage students in multisensory and interactive reading instruction. Usually when a student is struggling to understand a new concept, such as reading, it is often because they are not able to strengthen the information pathways in their brain through the type of instruction they are receiving (auditory, visual, kinesthetic). Thus by connecting concepts to multiple senses through Orton Gillingham instruction, the brain is able to make the connections in their brains needed to understand that material.
To ensure reading teachers know the best practices for teaching reading, Reading Horizons offers an Online Workshop which helps teachers understand the best practices for applying the decoding strategies and Orton Gillingham methods used in Reading Horizons reading program. With this school year coming to a close, the summer presents a perfect time for teachers to go through the workshop with Reading Horizons 30-day free trial, and return to school with techniques to effectively teach students reading with Orton Gillingham teaching strategies.
Learn more: Online Training for Teaching Decoding Skills & Orton Gillingham Reading Instruction
