EPS Online Orton-Gillingham Training Course Outline
This course is appropriate for teachers, tutors, and parents, or for individuals with dyslexia who wish to learn about this multisensory approach. Participants will examine ways to recognize and address the difficulties associated with this specific language disability. The course provides an introduction to the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching students with dyslexia, and covers topics such as the nature of the individual with dyslexia; the principles of the Orton-Gillingham approach; multisensory instruction and the brain; and the phonology, structure, and history of the English language. Case studies are used to illustrate the kinds of difficulties individuals with dyslexia may experience in the classroom. Internet activities and assessments require the participant to think about the case studies and to apply new information in practical ways.

Participants who complete the course will be eligible for subscriber-level membership in the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. The Academy was established in 1995 and currently has 617 members.

Instructors
All instructors are Fellows of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE).

  • Jean M. Foss, M.Ed., F/AOGPE
  • Marcia Mann, CCC/SLP, F/AOGPE
  • Helaine Schupack, M.A., F/AOGPE
  • Dorothy Whitehead, M.S., F/AOGPE
  • Angela Wilkins, B.A., F/AOGPE

Lesson Title Lesson Description
Introduction   
1. Characteristics of the Individual with Dyslexia and the Task of Reading  Modern technological advances have confirmed that the diagnosis of dyslexia is medical, but the treatment is educational. Lesson 1 introduces the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching dyslexics, its rationale and its history. Interactive exercises help the participant think about the many steps involved in the task of reading and why these steps can be difficult for dyslexics. Participants use the Web to learn about facts, definitions, and common signs of dyslexia. 
2. Case Studies in Dyslexia and the Principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach  Lesson 2 presents information on the difficulties associated with specific language disability (dyslexia). Participants think about and identify these difficulties as they read two fictional case studies in dyslexia. This lesson introduces the principles of the Orton-Gillingham approach and describes why each principle is significant. 
3. Brain Organization and Multisensory Instruction  Dyslexia has a neurological basis, so participants must have some understanding of brain anatomy. Lesson 3 introduces participants to basic neuroanatomy and language processes in the brain. The structure and function of the various regions of the brain provide the rationale for multisensory instruction. 
4. Phonology and the Language System  Lesson 4 focuses on the production and processing of language. This lesson lays the foundation for understanding some factors that may affect oral language, reading, writing, and spelling. The information in this lesson includes definitions of common language terms, the differences between vowels and consonants, and factors affecting articulation. 
5. Structure of the English Language: Phonemic Awareness and the Task of Decoding and Spelling  Practitioners need to understand the structure of language beyond the level of basic phonics. Through interactive exercises, Lesson 5 requires participants to think about the steps in the task of decoding and spelling words of the English language. The concept of phonemic awareness is defined and reinforced through current Web articles on the topic. Participants learn ways to include phonemic awareness activities in their instruction. 
6. Structure of the English Language: Word Attack Skills Progression  Lesson 6 describes a progression of word attack skills that Orton-Gillingham practitioners incorporate into their curriculum. Assessments require participants to think about the structure of the language as it applies to case studies in dyslexia. Participants will learn about dividing words by syllables and by units of meaning. 
7. History of the English Language, Part I  Knowledge of the history of the English language is important in order to understand its logic and regularity. Lesson 7 emphasizes history's influence on the development of the English language. This lesson covers early influences on the language, including the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings, and the French. Activities encourage participants to think about these influences in a way that will help them remember the history and incorporate this knowledge into their instruction and explanation of language to their students. 
8. History of the English Language, Part II  Continuing with English language history, Lesson 8 discusses the Renaissance and the influence of Latin and Greek elements on the English language. This lesson explains how new words enter the language and provides exercises and Web activities that encourage participants to think about word origin. Word origin affects vocabulary and spelling, and can explain some of the "irregular" spellings of words in the English language. 
9. The Orton-Gillingham Lesson Plan, Case A  Lesson 9 examines the visual difficulties of an elementary student with dyslexia. Two examples of Orton-Gillingham lesson plans that directly address the student’s trouble spots are provided. The lesson plans integrate and apply information presented in previous lessons in order to develop a diagnostic, prescriptive, and individualized teaching plan. 
10. The Orton-Gillingham Lesson Plan, Case B  Lesson 10 examines the auditory difficulties of a high school student with dyslexia. An example of an Orton-Gillingham lesson plan designed specifically for this student is presented. Again, the lesson plan integrates and applies information presented in previous lessons in order to develop a diagnostic, prescriptive, and individualized teaching plan. 

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