Orton-Gillingham Associate Training

This in-depth dyslexia training, co-taught by Orton-Gillingham Academy Fellows Gabi Guillory Welsh and Keely Rincon, advances educators’ understanding of dyslexia, specific procedures of the O-G Approach, and the underlying principles used to teach literacy skills to students with dyslexia. 

Participants learn both the theory, grounded in the science of reading and learning, as well as the National Reading Panel’s five pillars of literacy instruction (Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension), and the practice. Participants will complete the course having rehearsed lesson planning, lesson procedures, and instructional activities.

This course is intended for reading specialists, reading interventionists, and special educators. While classroom teachers benefit from the content taught in this course, the Associate practicum requires the instructor to tutor a one-on-one student at least twice a week for a minimum of 45 minutes on non-consecutive days for a minimum of 100 hours.

The 70-hour course, with dates in June and July, addresses:

Phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and handwritingThe class addresses:

Dyslexia – What it is, how it impacts students, and how/why students with dyslexia struggle in school

Planning and delivering 1:1 intensive literacy intervention for a dyslexic student 

Analyzing a student’s background and diagnosis

Diagnostic and prescriptive instruction

Brain and neuroscience of reading

Principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach

• Dyslexia – what it is, how it impacts students, and how/why students with dyslexia struggle in school
• Planning and delivering  1:1 intensive literacy intervention for a dyslexic student 
• Analyzing a student’s background and diagnosis
• Diagnostic and prescriptive teaching for one-on-one instruction
• The brain as it pertains to reading
• The five pillars of reading as determined by the National Reading Panel and how to incorporate them into lessons for students with dyslexia
• The principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach

O-G Associate (A/OGA) Practicum

The Associate practicum provides guidance during the practical application of the coursework. In order to become an Associate Member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA), the Academy requires a minimum of 100 hours of supervised one-on-one instruction using the O-G Approach over the course of a minimum of 8 months (one school year). During the practicum, ten observations are completed by a Fellow and/or Fellow-in-Training, and applicants are assigned readings to complete and summarize. Applicants are also required to complete two written assignments under the guidance of their Fellow: an annotated lesson and a student profile,as this level of training deepens the practitioner’s ability to understand a student’s learning profile and unique learning needs.

The practicum following training includes:

• A minimum of ten video observations of a 1:1 lesson with a student and virtual feedback meetings with the Fellow or FIT
• Writing a student profile on the student selected for practicum work
• Writing an annotated lesson that demonstrates the principles of the O-G Approach
• Readings assigned by the Fellow

Course Prerequisites:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Completion of the OG Subscriber Course, a 6-10 hr course that can be must be taken online prior to summer training
  • Proof of completion must be sent to gguillory@horizon-academy.com by no later than June 6, 2025