Specialty Services
Orton-Gillingham dyslexia tutoring
Evidence-based reading intervention that works. Specialized, structured literacy instruction from certified Orton-Gillingham tutors who understand dyslexia from the inside out.
We don't teach reading the way schools do — we teach it the way dyslexic brains learn. Since 2000, Northside Tutoring has helped thousands of students achieve academic excellence. Now, we're bringing specialized dyslexia intervention to families who need more than generic reading support.
With Northside OG Tutoring You Can Expect
Structured, multisensory instruction for dyslexic learners
Measurable reading gains
Increased confidence
Evidence-based methods
What Is Orton-Gillingham?
Orton-Gillingham (OG) is a structured, multisensory method for teaching reading, writing, and spelling designed for dyslexia. It teaches skills explicitly and step by step, using visual, auditory, and hands-on learning at the same time.
Lessons are sequential, cumulative, and individualized, with ongoing review to fill gaps. More than tutoring, OG is a research-based approach that helps dyslexic brains learn language effectively.
What OG Tutoring Looks Like
Structured, explicit, multisensory instruction
Every session follows a predictable format that builds security and automaticity.
Phonemic Awareness Drills
Sessions begin with oral activities that don't involve print. Students segment words into individual sounds, blend sounds into words, and manipulate sounds — activities that strengthen the phonological foundation dyslexic students often lack.
Multisensory Letter Practice
Students trace letters in sand, shaving cream, or on textured surfaces while saying the corresponding sound. Skywriting, tactile letter tiles, and air-writing with eyes closed build muscle memory independent of visual input.
Systematic Phonics Instruction
Each lesson introduces one new phonics pattern (e.g., "oa" for long o). Students practice through multiple modalities and review all previously learned patterns — nothing is forgotten. Decodable texts build confidence through 100% decodability.
Comprehension Strategies
We pre-teach vocabulary before reading so unfamiliar words don't derail understanding. Graphic organizers help students track information. Active reading strategies — predicting, questioning, summarizing — engage students beyond basic decoding.
Encoding (Spelling) Practice
The tutor dictates sounds and the student writes letters. This sound-to-symbol work strengthens the reverse pathway of reading. Spelling rules are applied explicitly, not hoped-for. High-frequency irregular words are practiced systematically.
Reading Fluency
Repeated reading builds automaticity. Timed readings track progress in words per minute — concrete evidence of improvement. Phrase-cued reading improves expression and prosody.
Why Orton-Gillingham Works
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference caused by how the brain processes sounds and letters. Dyslexic students often struggle with phonemic awareness — the ability to recognize and connect sounds to letters — making reading, decoding, and spelling difficult.
Orton-Gillingham addresses these challenges directly. It uses explicit instruction, multisensory learning (sight, sound, touch, movement), structured progression, repetition, and individualized pacing to target each student's specific gaps.
This approach helps dyslexic brains form new neural pathways for reading — creating lasting changes in how students process written language.
OG vs. School-Based Reading Intervention
School-based reading interventions are typically group-based, time-limited, and vary in approach depending on staffing. In contrast, Orton-Gillingham tutoring is one-on-one, highly structured, and individualized. OG is more intensive and consistent — delivered by certified specialists multiple times per week and often year-round. Most importantly, it targets the underlying phonological causes of dyslexia, creating lasting reading change rather than short-term coping strategies.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Begin reading intervention today.
Schedule a free consultation and we will pair your student with a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor.