Overview
Introduction to Orton-Gillingham: Classroom Educator K-2
Introduction to Orton-Gillingham: Classroom Educator K-2
This course is full, but it will be offered again this summer. We are also offering a spring course, Introduction to Orton-Gillingham for Upper Grades.
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is the underlying foundation of all multisensory, structured literacy instruction. This course provides an overview of the structure of the English language and how to teach it sequentially and systematically. You will gain a basic understanding of the OG Approach and learn how to design integrated reading and spelling lessons.
In this five-and-a-half-day course, you will gain a basic understanding of the OG Approach and how to develop an OG lesson. You’ll learn about the reading brain and dyslexia, phonemic awareness, handwriting, syllable types, syllable division, spelling patterns, and more. This course focuses on teaching OG in the K–2 classroom and meets the coursework requirements for Orton-Gillingham Academy Classroom Educator Level. You will be given access to an online library of video clips about the OG lesson plan, electronic teaching resources, and optional office hours with the course instructor.
Course description
NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS:
46 hours
In the Introduction to Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator course, you’ll learn how to:
- Teach phonemic awareness, phonics, and morphology.
- Teach syllable types.
- Teach syllable division patterns.
- Write a decodable text.
- Deliver OG in small-groups or whole-class settings, with a focus on the K–2 classroom.
- Use a comprehensive scope and sequence for teaching OG.
Course expectations:
- Attend all class meetings live online for their entire duration.
- Download and print the required course binder.
- Purchase the required course materials (see list below).
- Complete six hours of assignments before beginning the course to provide you with an overview of 1) the Orton-Gillingham Approach, 2) the science of reading, 3) dyslexia and the reading brain, and 4) the history and structure of the English language.
- Complete homework assignments between classes.
- Take a brief final exam.
Practicum:
There is no practicum option for this introductory course unless you are part of a school district with a contract for the OG Classroom Educator Practicum.
Classroom Educator Practicum includes:
Classroom teachers completing their Classroom Educator Practicum are required to teach approximately four OG lessons a week, depending on grade level. The practicum includes being assigned an OG Fellow or mentor for the school year and five observations. If you wish to pursue this practicum, you are required to take the fall course and practicum within the same year. Please note that we are only able to offer the OG Classroom Educator Practicum as part of a school district contract. You can contact the Director of the Orton-Gillingham Institute, Peggy Price, with questions.
Required materials:
All participants will need to purchase the following materials themselves:
- Required for all: Basic and Advanced sound deck | $25 | Order from wvced.com
- Required for all: Equipped for Reading Success | $50 | Order from equippedforreadingsuccess.com
Course binder: All participants will be sent a link to the course binder, which they are required to print before the start of class. The binder will be sent approximately three weeks before the course starts.
Are you a classroom teacher in grades 3–12?
We offer an Introduction to Orton-Gillingham for Upper Grades course that runs every January – May. Look for our 2025 offering in the future.
Ready to register?
- Spots are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for registrants who submit payment or a purchase order.
- Please have a credit card or digital copy of your PO on hand when you register.
This introductory course fills up very quickly, therefore we recommend registering early to secure your spot in this valuable course.
Dates
Sept. 20 | Sept. 27 | Oct. 18 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 22 | Dec. 4
Time
Sept., Oct., and Nov. dates:
8:00 am – 3:30 PM EST
Dec. 4: 12:30 – 3:30 PM EST
Course Number(s)
1483
Location and Format
Cost
$1,160
This course is being offered at a discounted price made possible by the generosity of the Hoehl Family Foundation, in honor of Cynthia K Hoehl’s vision of teachers as lifelong learners.
Grade Level
Audience
Graduate Credit
Amy Ducey, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA
Assistant Director of the Orton-Gillingham Institute
What Teachers Have to Say
Meet the Instructor(s)
Amy Ducey, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA
Assistant Director of the Orton-Gillingham Institute
Amy Ducey, M.Ed., a Fellow of the prestigious Orton-Gillingham Academy, is the Assistant Director of the Orton-Gillingham Institute. She provides training at the Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator, Associate, and Certified levels, in addition to various literacy workshops and webinars. She teaches graduate-level courses and has created curriculum and assessment materials for universal screening and progress monitoring. […]
Supporting Teachers
Grants for Professional Learning
The Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence awards grants to individual educators and school cohorts seeking better outcomes for students through our programs. Learn more about Cynthia K. Hoehl, whose vision as an educator inspired a powerful legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What terms and conditions are there for professional learning registrations?
Please read the terms and conditions for our courses and workshops and contact us if you have any questions.
How do I register?
- If the course or workshop you’re interested in is on our website, please visit the course or workshop’s page and follow the link to access our online registration form. Complete the form by doing the following:
- Indicate whether you will pay with a credit card or a Purchase Order (PO).
- Fill out the participant information and workshop information sections.
- Read the Terms and Conditions and check the box to confirm your agreement.
- Click “Next”
- If you are paying with a PO:
- Please verify that your PO is complete.
- Upload the signed PO when prompted through the registration process. If you have questions please email: proflearning@sterncenter.org.
- Click “Next.”
- Your information will be sent to us to review. In 1–2 business days, we will confirm your registration by sending you an email with “Registration Confirmation” in the subject line.
- If you are paying with a credit card:
- Click “Continue.”
- On the Payment Method screen Click “Pay with Credit Card” to continue to Authorize.net.
- Enter your credit card information and click “Pay now” to complete your credit card transaction.
- Your information will be sent to us to review. In 1–2 business days, we will confirm your registration by sending you an email with “Registration Confirmation” in the subject line.
- If the course or workshop you’re interested in is not listed on our website, please contact us to learn more.
Can OG be used in the classroom for general education purposes?
The Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator is qualified to apply the principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach to modify and provide literacy instruction in a classroom or small groups. To become an Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, do 30 hours of coursework by a Fellow or a Fellow-in-Training, and 50 hours of supervised practicum over eight consecutive months.
How can I become certified in Orton-Gillingham?
The prerequisites to become certified in OG include earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and satisfactory completion of Associate-level requirements; 100 hours minimum of coursework by a Fellow, or by a Fellow in Training as designated by the Fellow; and 200 hours supervised practicum over two academic years minimum, which includes ten entire 4–60 minute lesson observations of the trainee by a Fellow on-site, unedited video or web-based applications.
Is Orton-Gillingham a program?
A program is a plan, schedule or procedure to be followed to a specified end. A program provides structure but doesn’t teach and educator how to respond to different student errors and tailor each lesson based on student performance and individual learning needs.
An approach is the means adapted to tackling an issue. Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach. It is most properly understood and practiced as an approach, not a method, program, system, or technique. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool of exceptional breadth, depth, and flexibility.
What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?
The Orton-Gillingham Approach is the underlying foundation of all multisensory, structured language instruction. Orton-Gillingham (OG) systematically teaches the structure of the English language by incorporating multisensory modalities in a structured yet flexible approach, ensuring student success. The Stern Center’s Orton-Gillingham Institute is the only organization in Vermont that provides OG training accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy. We offer coursework and practicum opportunities toward three certifications: OG Classroom Educator, OG Associate Level, and OG Certified Level.
Orton-Gillingham Resources
The Orton-Gillingham Approach
Ensure every child becomes a reader with this powerful, multisensory approach to literacy instruction.
Orton-Gillingham Training
View upcoming Orton-Gillingham courses, workshops, and webinars. All of our OG trainings are available online.
OG Certification
We are accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy and offer courses/practicums leading to three OGA certifications.
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