Fall Orton-Gillingham Training Courses

Classroom Educator (Virtual)

The Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator (30 hour) class focuses on the principles and fundamentals of the Orton-Gillingham Approach. This class will provide understanding of dyslexia, characteristics of the dyslexic learner, specific procedures for teaching struggling readers primarily in reading and spelling, and the foundation for class or small group instruction. Specific areas covered will include phonemic awareness, phonograms, syllable types, syllable division, short vowel rules, basic prefixes and suffixes, suffix rules, and plural rules.

This is a 30-hour course that satisfies the coursework requirement at the Classroom Educator Level of certification with The Orton-Gillingham Academy.

• Prerequisite: None
• Course Dates: Thursdays, September 5 – December 19, 2024
• Course Time: 4 – 6 p.m. EST
• Location: Delivered Virtually
• Instructor: Jennie Farrant FIT/OGA

Learning to be Emotionally Sound – Certified Level (Virtual) Workshop

The Orton-Gillingham approach emphasizes the how and why behind teaching children to read effectively. Part of this approach involves maintaining emotional sensitivity during instruction, which is a core principle. Participants will discover strategies for customizing instruction to foster confidence and trust, ultimately ensuring the learner’s success. This 6-hour workshop will cover identifying signs of emotional distress, implementing supportive teaching methods, and fostering self-awareness and self-advocacy skills. This is a 6-hour course that satisfies some of the coursework requirements at the Certified Level of certification with the Orton-Gillingham Academy.

• Prerequisite: None
• Course Dates: Tuesdays – October 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2024
• Course Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m. EST
• Location: Delivered Virtually
• Instructor: Kelly Kirkland FIT/OGA

Associate Coursework (Virtual)

The Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Course is a 60-hour comprehensive, nine month class. The class advances an attendee’s understanding of the specific procedures of the OG Approach and the underlying principles in teaching reading, spelling and vocabulary to dyslexic students. Teachers learn how to instruct struggling readers in ways that unlock the code of reading and spelling. The course is geared for anyone searching for ways to teach dyslexic students, both as a one-on-one tutor or in the classroom. Specific topics covered in the class include:

• Dyslexia and related brain research
• General history and structure of the English language
• Phonological and phonemic awareness
• Sound/symbol relationships for reading and spelling
• Six syllable types and seven ways to divide words into syllables
• An introduction to Anglo-Saxon and Latin morphemes
• Spelling rules and generalizations
• “Learned” or non-phonetic words
• Advanced decoding skills
• Scope/sequence and lesson planning
• Teaching strategies and development of teaching materials

The 10-hour Subscriber Level course and the 60-hour Associate Level Course fulfill the 70-hour course requirement to be eligible for the Associate Level Practicum.

• Prerequisite:  Subscriber Level OGA Course; $49 through OGA; 10-hour course (Once completed, certificates should be sent to [email protected])
• Course Dates:  Tuesdays, September 3, 2024 – May 6, 2025
• Course Time:  4 – 6 p.m. EST
• Location:  Delivered Virtually
• Instructor:  Sarah Null FIT/OGA