What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?

  • Direct and Explicit

    Concepts and skills are taught directly and explicitly, and practiced until mastered. Students are not expected to guess a rule or concept, as the specialist helps bridge the gap between students’ prior knowledge and new learning.

  • Multisensory

    Combines auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic elements to optimize learning and engage all the learning pathways.

  • Structured and Sequential

    Follows a logical sequence that links new concepts to previously mastered material to build a solid foundation. Concepts are taught on a continuum from easiest to more complex.

  • Diagnostic and Prescriptive

    Each lesson plan is crafted by the specialist and adapted for each student, based upon the intake assessment and subsequent lesson plans thereafter. The Orton-Gillingham approach is not a curriculum or program, so the specialist will go at the pace the student requires to build mastery, with the specialist adjusting within and throughout the lessons based on student response.

FAQs

  • Students need at least two sessions per week to progress, although students with more
    severe reading deficits will benefit from more sessions. Sessions typically last 55-minutes, although younger students or those with challenges such as ADHD or autism may have difficulty with longer sessions. We will be happy to work with you to develop a schedule for shorter sessions that work with your child.

  • That depends. Some students have minimal gaps and can catch up within three to six months. However, students with more severe deficits, such as those with dyslexia, may need years of intervention to catch up to grade level.

  • No, but we do assign practice work between sessions. While the practice work is not mandatory, using skills between sessions allows students to progress more rapidly than if they only used them during sessions.


  • Students should read aloud to someone who can monitor them for 15 minutes daily in addition to any independent silent reading they are doing, as reading aloud will lead to gains. Additionally, reading books to students above their current level, or even allowing them to listen to audiobooks, will help students develop their vocabulary and general knowledge. Finally, students will have access to any games used during sessions that help to reinforce concepts that they are encouraged to play between sessions.

  • While Barton and Wilson are programs based upon the Orton-Gillingham approach, they are scripted programs with a set scope and sequence. Omnibus Literacy creates bespoke lesson plans for each student based on their initial intake assessment and subsequent lessons and responses. This allows us to tailor every lesson to the student, making it personalized, diagnostic, and prescriptive.

  • Virtual tutoring sessions are run over Zoom. While Chromebooks can run Zoom, many features do not work on these devices; therefore, we prefer a Windows or Apple computer or a tablet.

    A strong internet connection is essential. We also require students use a headset with a microphone, as this ensures the audio is clear on both ends and helps reduce distractions.

  • Upon signing a contract, each student will receive a kit containing a double-sided dry erase lapboard, dry erase marker, reading guide bookmark, composition notebook, and felt tip pens that they should have available for every lesson.

  • We offer virtual tutoring between 10 AM and 7 PM PST Monday through Friday, which allows us to work with students across the country as well as homeschooled students.

  • Yes, we offer in-person tutoring locally at the Castaic Public Library in Castaic, CA.