Key features of the Orton-Gillingham approach include:

1. Phonemic Awareness: The approach focuses on developing a strong understanding of phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound in a language. Students learn to recognize and manipulate these sounds, which is crucial for understanding the relationships between sounds and letters.

2. Structured and Sequential: Lessons are carefully planned and follow a logical sequence, moving from simple to more complex concepts. This helps students build a strong foundation and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed.

3. Multi-Sensory Instruction: The approach employs a variety of senses to reinforce learning. Students might trace letters in sand, say sounds aloud, and write words in the air to engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modalities simultaneously.

4. Direct Instruction: The teacher provides explicit instruction, breaking down concepts into manageable steps. This ensures that students fully understand each component before moving on.

5. Individualized: The Orton-Gillingham approach is highly adaptable to the needs of each student. Lessons are tailored to the individual’s learning style, strengths, and challenges.

6. Repetition and Review: Consistent review of previously learned material is an important part of the approach. Repetition helps solidify learning and supports memory retention.

7. Language Structure: The approach not only focuses on decoding and reading words but also on understanding the underlying structure of the language, including grammar and syntax.

8. Diagnostic and Prescriptive: Teachers using the Orton-Gillingham approach often conduct thorough assessments to identify the specific areas of difficulty for each student. Based on these assessments, instruction is personalized to address the individual’s needs.