What’s better? Orton Gillingham or Wilson? The answer might surprise you.
Parents, caregivers, teachers and specialists all understand how crucial reading is to being able to access the grade level curriculum, in any content area, and at any age. That said, many students struggle to read at grade level which makes all subjects difficult. For students with reading disabilities, there is support that can be implemented as part of the IEP process and the sooner this instruction begins the better. Unfortunately, we often run into misinformation about reading instruction during our conversations with caregivers and even school staff. This week we wanted to hi-light one of our Frequently Asked Questions and hopefully debunk a myth about two popular approaches!
When we sit in IEP meetings or in conversations with parents, we sometimes hear that Orton-Gillingham (OG) and Wilson are presented as being two different and opposing reading programs. We have heard from parents and teachers who ask us but which one is better? And this question, unbeknownst to people, actually misses the nuance of this incredibly important conversation about reading instruction (especially for children with dyslexia). While OG and Wilson are certainly not the ONLY approaches and programs that focus on reading, they tend to be the most talked about. Here is a comparison of the differences.
Orton-Gillingham:
An approach to reading instruction (not a curriculum or program).
Developed in the 1930’s in response to “word blindness” which is now known as dyslexia.
There are many programs and curriculums that are based off of the research and approach of OG.
Created by Samuel Torey Orton (A neuropsychiatrist) and Anna Gillingham (a psychologist and educator).
Orton conducted his original study on students who had average to above average IQs but who were struggling with what he called “twisted symbols”.
Based on a structured literacy approach.
Structured literacy teaches language through: Phonology, Sound-Symbol Association, Syllables, Syntax, Morphology, Semantics and Orthography.
Wilson:
A program BASED off of the Orton Gillingham approach.
Has three programs within the program: Fundations, Just Words and Wilson.
Fundations is geared towards K-3.
Just Words is geared towards 4-12.
Wilson is geared towards 2-12th graders.
Fundations and Just Words can be conducted by a general education teacher.
Wilson is conducted by a trained instructor and special educator/specialist.
Wilson uses a multisensory (vidual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic) approach to reading instruction.
So the takeaway here is that Wilson is actually BASED OFF OF the research and approach of Orton Gillingham. And why is this information important? When advocating for your child with reading struggles, it can be so overwhelming to sift through all of the information out there. A simple google search can launch you into hundreds of different advice columns and opinions, especially when it comes to which instructional approach is best for your child.
Later on we are going to dive even deeper into reading with an expert and reading specialist, but in the meantime the best thing you can do is familiarize yourself with your own child’s reading! Here are some questions to ask your child’s teacher or school team:
How is reading measured in the classroom (both formally and informally)?
What reading programs are being used in classrooms (for all students)?
What reading programs, instruction, and interventions are being used with struggling readers?
What services are offered to my child with a reading disability (if appropriate)?
What part (if any) of reading is my child struggling with (fluency, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension)?
What are some strategies that I can be using at home to support my child with reading?
We should note that reading instruction is so complex and there are so many differing opinions. We are by no means reading experts, but often hear firsthand the concerns that circulate around reading instruction (especially for children with disabilities). Our goal is to connect you with the most recent research and experts in the field.
If you have concerns about your child’s reading, it is always a good idea to reach out to your child’s school team. If you are concerned about the services that your child is receiving, please reach out to us. We offer free 20 minute consultations and can support you in advocating for your child and their reading needs!
