Why Orton-Gillingham Is Considered the “Gold Standard”

The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is widely recognized as the gold standard for teaching children with dyslexia and other reading or language-based learning differences because it is individualized, evidence-based, and rooted in how the brain learns to read.

At Plum Tree, our specialists use Orton Gillingham techniques as part of a comprehensive literacy and dyslexia treatment. By identifying the root causes of reading and language challenges, we create targeted, engaging interventions that build skills and confidence for life.

Plum Tree offers the Gold Standard: TAKE FLIGHT, BUILD, and JET

To summarize: Orton-Gillingham is the gold standard because it’s personalized, multisensory, evidence-based, and neurologically sound providing struggling readers with a proven path to success.

The Science Behind Orton-Gillingham and Why Orton-Gillingham Is Considered the “Gold Standard”

The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach isn’t a single program—it’s a way of teaching reading and language that’s grounded in neuroscience. It’s built on the understanding that reading isn’t an automatic skill the brain develops; it must be explicitly taught.

OG helps make those brain connections by linking sounds, letters, and meaning through structured, multisensory learning. This approach empowers children with dyslexia or language-based learning differences to become confident, capable readers.

What Makes the Orton-Gillingham Approach Work

1. Multisensory Learning

Students use sight, sound, and touch together to reinforce learning. When it comes to teaching reading and language, not all methods engage the brain equally. The reason ‘multisensory learning’ works so powerfully is that it activates multiple regions of the brain at once, creating stronger, more lasting connections.

Multisensory learning strengthens neural pathways

Reading and writing involve complex coordination between different brain systems:

• Auditory processing (hearing sounds in words)

• Visual processing (recognizing letters and words)

• Kinesthetic-tactile processing (moving, touching, and forming letters)

• Trace letters in sand while saying each sound aloud

• Build words using color-coded tiles

• Tap out syllables or sounds with their fingers

By engaging multiple senses, children strengthen the neural pathways responsible for reading and spelling.

It Builds Deeper Understanding and Memory

Multisensory learning taps into more than one memory system—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
For example:

• When a child sees a letter, says its sound, and feels it as they write, the brain stores that information in multiple ways.

• Later, when they try to remember the sound, any one of those pathways (sight, sound, or motion) can trigger recall.

This layered encoding makes learning “stickier” than simply listening to or reading information in isolation.

It Keeps Students Engaged

Children who struggle with reading often experience frustration and fatigue. Multisensory techniques make learning active and engaging. Activities like tapping out syllables, using color-coded tiles, or writing in shaving cream transform reading from an abstract task into a hands-on experience. Movement and interaction increase focus, motivation, and enjoyment—critical ingredients for consistent progress.

It Accommodates Different Learning Styles

Every child processes information differently. Some are visual learners, others auditory or kinesthetic. Multisensory instruction ensures all learning styles are addressed simultaneously, helping every student access the material in a way that works best for them.

It Supports Brain Plasticity

The human brain is remarkably adaptable, especially in children. When multisensory learning is used regularly, it can literally rewire the brain to improve reading and language processing. Studies show that structured, multisensory instruction increases activity in the left hemisphere, the area responsible for phonological processing and decoding, helping children with dyslexia develop more efficient reading networks.

2. Structured, Sequential, and Cumulative

OG follows a clear, step-by-step process from the simplest sound patterns to complex language structures. Each concept builds upon what’s already been mastered, preventing gaps and boosting confidence as skills grow.

3. Diagnostic and Prescriptive

No two learners are the same. OG instruction is continuously adjusted based on a student’s progress. This “diagnostic and prescriptive” model allows educators to tailor lessons precisely to what each child needs.

4. Explicit and Direct Instruction

Nothing is left to chance. OG explicitly teaches phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling rules, and word parts (morphology) so students understand not just how to read—but why words work the way they do.

5. Emotionally Supportive and Empowering

For many children who have struggled with reading, Orton-Gillingham provides a turning point. Its personalized, success-focused approach helps restore confidence and builds a positive relationship with learning.

Why Orton-Gillingham Is Considered the “Gold Standard”

Trusted by Educators and Clinicians

Decades of research support Orton-Gillingham as an evidence-based, effective approach for reading intervention. Speech-language pathologists, educational therapists, and teachers trained in OG consistently report measurable improvements in reading fluency, comprehension, and self-esteem.