The Origins of Orton-Gillingham
In the 1920s, Dr. Samuel Orton, a neuropsychiatrist, and educator Anna Gillingham developed the OG approach to address reading difficulties. Dr. Orton identified a link between brain function and reading challenges, leading to the concept of multisensory instruction. Gillingham structured this approach into a systematic, sequential method that became the foundation for OG-based programs. The first “Gillingham Manual,” published in 1935, established a research-backed framework for teaching reading, writing, and spelling.
The Science of Reading and Orton-Gillingham
The Science of Reading is a body of research from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and education that explains how the brain learns to read. It emphasizes the importance of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—all of which align with the Orton-Gillingham approach. Slant System™ integrates these evidence-based principles to provide effective, research-backed reading instruction that supports all learners, particularly those with reading difficulties. (The National Reading Panel Report)
The Slant System™ Difference
Orton-Gillingham is not owned by any one organization, and many programs incorporate its principles. Slant System™ is one of them—offering a refined, all-in-one approach that empowers educators and transforms student learning. With aligned assessments and instructional materials, teachers feel prepared to teach, with everything they need to deliver their lessons effectively and efficiently.
Since the late 1990s, Slant System™ has transformed teaching practices and helped thousands of students develop essential literacy skills through its Orton-Gillingham-based structured literacy approach, grounded in the Science of Reading.
Key Features of the Slant System™ Orton-Gillingham Approach
Systematic
Lessons follow a consistent, structured routine, allowing instruction to be efficiently delivered and for students to trust the learning process as they know exactly what is expected of them and what will come next.
01
Sequential
Presented concepts progress from simple and most common to complex and less common. Our scope and sequence are designed to develop foundational skills in a logical order.
02
Cumulative
Previously taught skills are regularly reviewed and reinforced to ensure mastery. Any materials presented will only include concepts the student has been explicitly taught, creating a trusting learning environment as the student builds confidence in their abilities.
03
Explicit & Direct Instruction
Concepts are directly and explicitly taught using a gradual release model (I do, we do, you do). Nothing is left to guesswork. The teacher will directly tell the students what they want them to know.
04
Multimodal Learning
Students engage visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic pathways simultaneously to enhance retention and recall. This involves seeing the letters, hearing the sounds, saying and simultaneously writing/tracing the letters throughout each part of the lesson.
05
Diagnostic & Prescriptive
Assessments guide tailored instruction for individuals, small groups, or whole-class settings. Positive reinforcement drives each lesson, while errors are corrected in real time, and each subsequent lesson is designed to target student strengths and needs.
06
Structured Language Instruction
Beyond phonics, students gain in-depth understanding of the structure of the English language. Phonemic awareness, sound-symbol relationships, syllable types, spelling patterns, and, beginning in the early stages, morphology (roots, prefixes, and suffixes) instruction is incorporated into each lesson.
07
The Essential Components of an OG Lesson
The Slant System™ follows the core principles of OG instruction, incorporating:
- Phonemic awareness activities
- Explicit instruction in letter-sound correspondences for reading and spelling
- Multimodal reinforcement techniques
- Visual, auditory, and blending drills
- Practice reading in controlled texts
- Sentence dictation for application in written context
Download the Slant System™ Quick Reference Guide to see the components of a Slant System™ Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy lesson.
Gillingham, A., & Stillman, B. W. (1997). The Gillingham manual: Remedial training for students with specific disability in reading, spelling, and penmanship (8th ed.). Educators Publishing Service.
