Searching for an Orton-Gillingham Tutor in Denver?
Meet our Orton-Gillingham Tutor, Joanna, who Offers In-person Tutoring in her Office Located in City Park West!
M.S. Ed, Reading Specialist & Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS)
Joanna earned her M.A. in Elementary Education and Literacy from Bank Street College of Education in Manhattan in 2011, and her B.A. in History from the University of Colorado in 2004. Joanna is certified by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS). Joanna earned this certification through training at the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE) as well as with the digital, multisensory training program, Lexercise. She also has training with the Orton-Gillingham-based, multi-sensory program Preventing Academic Failure (PAF).
Joanna recently relocated to Denver, CO but is serving students all over the country through remote services. In the past, she worked with dozens of struggling readers, dyslexic readers, and readers needing enrichment across New York City. She continues to work with students who attend private schools, public schools, charter schools, and homeschools, so she understands the challenges students face in dramatically different educational environments. She also works with students who have a variety of educational differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, speech and language disorders, writing issues, and executive functioning issues.
At the beginning of tutoring services, Joanna administers comprehensive assessments to determine students’ strengths and weaknesses. She then creates personalized sessions to target specific areas of need. Joanna focuses on building independence by teaching students to use a toolbox of skills and strategies that they can refer to as they read and write. She has worked with many readers/writers who suffer from poor self-esteem related to their literacy skills, so she constantly strives to build students’ confidence during every session. Joanna has a calm, patient nature and a playful sense of humor that help her to connect with students on a personal level. She believes that interest and motivation are critically important in supporting more thoughtful, engaged reading.
If you live in Denver and your child struggles with reading, you may want to consider hiring an Orton-Gillingham tutor in Denver.
As per recent statistics, 43M US adults possess low literacy skills. Moreover, a study from International Dyslexia Association states that around 35,425 students receive services for dyslexia – in Colorado Special Education (2020-2021).
So what is the Orton-Gillingham approach, and how can it help?
What Is Orton-Gillingham?
According to Understood, Orton–Gillingham is a structured literacy approach. It introduced the idea of breaking reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds and then building on these skills over time.
This approach was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham. It is based on the belief that all individuals can learn to read if they are taught using multisensory methods that match their learning style to provide a holistic experience.
Who Benefits From An Orton-Gillingham Tutor In Denver?
Many tutoring programs are available to students in Denver, but Orton-Gillingham tutoring is one of the most effective for language-based learning problems.
The integrated nature of this method is best for children who struggle with foundational reading skills. It is particularly helpful for students with dyslexia. Apart from reading, it is also used to teach writing and spelling.
What Grade Level Is Orton-Gillingham For?
Since Orton-Gillingham is based on a multisensory approach, it works well with individuals of all ages. However, it is most often used with children in grades K-3 who are struggling to read.
According to Orton-Gillingham.com, 35% of 4th graders read below the basic level. Moreover, students who are unable to read proficiently by 3rd grade are more likely to leave their high school diplomas unfinished.
So this approach has been proven to be effective for many struggling readers who need more foundational skills to read effectively.
What Are The Key Features Of The Orton-Gillingham Approach?
The Orton-Gillingham approach begins with the foundational building blocks of reading (also known as the five pillars of literacy):
Phonological Awareness
Recognizing there are many distinct sounds in a word.
Phonics
Building the knowledge of the relationship between letters and sounds within words.
Fluency
Developing speed, accuracy, and expression while reading.
Vocabulary
Learning new words along with their meanings.
Comprehension
Using vocabulary skills to understand the text as a whole.
Other Aspects Of OG Include The Following:
Flexibility
A tailored approach toward every child for assessments and learning methods.
Sequential Structure
Starting from the basic building blocks of reading and gradually leveling up.
Multisensory Learning
Using the senses of sight, hearing, speaking, and more to grasp new language concepts.
If you live in Denver and your child struggles with reading, you may want to consider hiring an Orton-Gillingham tutor in Denver.
As per recent statistics, 43M US adults possess low literacy skills. Moreover, a study from International Dyslexia Association states that around 35,425 students receive services for dyslexia – in Colorado Special Education (2020-2021).
So what is the Orton-Gillingham approach, and how can it help?
What Is Orton-Gillingham?
According to Understood, Orton–Gillingham is a structured literacy approach. It introduced the idea of breaking reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds and then building on these skills over time.
This approach was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham. It is based on the belief that all individuals can learn to read if they are taught using multisensory methods that match their learning style to provide a holistic experience.
Who Benefits From An Orton-Gillingham Tutor In Denver?
Many tutoring programs are available to students in Denver, but Orton-Gillingham tutoring is one of the most effective for language-based learning problems.
The integrated nature of this method is best for children who struggle with foundational reading skills. It is particularly helpful for students with dyslexia. Apart from reading, it is also used to teach writing and spelling.
What Grade Level Is Orton-Gillingham For?
Since Orton-Gillingham is based on a multisensory approach, it works well with individuals of all ages. However, it is most often used with children in grades K-3 who are struggling to read.
According to Orton-Gillingham.com, 35% of 4th graders read below the basic level. Moreover, students who are unable to read proficiently by 3rd grade are more likely to leave their high school diplomas unfinished.
So this approach has been proven to be effective for many struggling readers who need more foundational skills to read effectively.
What Are The Key Features Of The Orton-Gillingham Approach?
The Orton-Gillingham approach begins with the foundational building blocks of reading (also known as the five pillars of literacy):
Phonological Awareness
Recognizing there are many distinct sounds in a word.
Phonics
Building the knowledge of the relationship between letters and sounds within words.
Fluency
Developing speed, accuracy, and expression while reading.
Vocabulary
Learning new words along with their meanings.
Comprehension
Using vocabulary skills to understand the text as a whole.
Other Aspects Of OG Include The Following:
Flexibility
A tailored approach toward every child for assessments and learning methods.
Sequential Structure
Starting from the basic building blocks of reading and gradually leveling up.
Multisensory Learning
Using the senses of sight, hearing, speaking, and more to grasp new language concepts.
Why Is Orton-Gillingham Important?
The Orton-Gillingham approach is important because it acknowledges a structured literacy approach while building on reading skills from the foundational blocks.
It is based on the following three principles:
- Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that affects how the brain processes information.
- Dyslexia can be diagnosed with a simple test of reading skills.
- The Orton-Gillingham approach is the most effective way to treat dyslexia.
The Orton-Gillingham approach is individualized, structured, and sequential. It focuses on building skills level by level, breaking them down to make them achievable.
How Many Levels Does Orton-Gillingham Have?
There are three different levels of Orton-Gillingham instruction: Level I, II, and III.
Level I is the most basic level and focuses on teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and simple decoding skills. Level II builds on these skills by teaching more advanced decoding strategies and introducing sight words. Level III is the most advanced level and focuses on teaching fluency, comprehension, and higher-level thinking skills.
How Does Orton-Gillingham Teach Spelling?
It teaches spelling through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile cues. This is achieved by breaking down words into their component parts, enabling students to see how letters combine to form specific sounds.
One of the main goals of Orton-Gillingham is to help students understand the relationships between letters and sounds. This understanding is then used to build phonemic awareness and phonics skills.
What Are The Components Of An Orton-Gillingham Lesson?
An Orton-Gillingham lesson is typically divided into three parts: the presentation, the practice, and the production.
The presentation is when the teacher introduces a new concept or skill to be learned. It is usually done through a short explanation and some examples.
The practice is when the students have a chance to try out a new concept or skill. This is often done through drills or other exercises.
Production is when the students apply a new concept or skill to a real-world task. This could be as simple as reading a passage or writing a sentence.
How Long Does It Take To Complete Orton-Gillingham?
Orton-Gillingham is an intensive and individualized reading instruction program. That said, it is difficult to determine how long it will take to complete an OG program.
Typically it depends on the individual and the severity of their reading difficulties. However, most people see significant progress within 6-12 months of starting the program.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an Orton-Gillingham tutor in Denver can help your child improve their reading skills. They will be able to work with your child one-on-one to assess their individual needs and create a plan to help them improve.
At Brooklyn Letters, we put the child’s needs above everything else. Contact us if you are concerned about looking for a highly qualified Orton-Gillingham tutor in Denver. Please visit Joanna in her office at City Park West for in-person Orton-Gillingham tutoring. Contact us to learn more about which Denver neighborhoods we travel to.
We Also Offer:
Does your child struggle with reading?
Chat with Brooklyn Letters Today!
Our highly qualified Orton-Gillingham tutor in Denver can help your child improve his/her reading skills.
FREE CONSULTATION!!!
Call: (347) 394-3485, Text: (917) 426-8880
Email: [email protected]
(we respond to email right away!)
References
Colorado Reading Statistics
www.cokid.org/resources/colorado-reading-statistics
Orton-Gillingham
www.orton-gillingham.com
Craig Selinger
Latest posts by Craig Selinger (see all)
- Rare Diseases in New York City - February 29, 2024
- Language and Social Skills Group Classes - February 28, 2024
- How to Teach Children to Read - January 31, 2024