Have you ever wondered what the differences are between Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell approaches to dyslexia tutoring? Read on to learn more.
Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell are both respected approaches for supporting children with dyslexia. They aim to address the challenges of this specific learning disability by improving reading and writing skills through targeted, evidence-based methods. However, while both methods are effective, they differ significantly in their focus and techniques.
The Orton-Gillingham approach is often considered the gold standard for teaching phonics, spelling, and reading to struggling learners and individuals with dyslexia. It uses a multisensory, structured, and sequential method to teach phonemic awareness and the rules of language. This means it engages sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students make connections between sounds and letters. Teachers and tutors trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach ensure each lesson is highly personalized. The lessons build systematically from foundational skills, such as recognizing individual sounds, to more complex tasks, like reading fluently. Teachers trained in Orton-Gillingham typically earn certification through accredited programs overseen by organizations like the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
On the other hand, the Lindamood-Bell approach takes a broader cognitive perspective. It focuses not only on reading and spelling but also on language comprehension and processing. Programs like the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program (LiPS) and Visualizing and Verbalizing (V/V) are core components of the method. LiPS emphasizes developing phonemic awareness by teaching students to identify, sequence, and manipulate sounds, while V/V focuses on improving comprehension by helping students create mental imagery for words and ideas. Lindamood-Bell’s approach is also multisensory but places a heavier emphasis on cognitive processing and language visualization.
In comparing the two, Orton-Gillingham is particularly effective for addressing foundational decoding and encoding skills, making it an excellent choice for students with severe difficulties in phonics and spelling. Meanwhile, Lindamood-Bell excels in addressing broader reading comprehension and cognitive processing issues, which can benefit learners who struggle to understand or retain what they read.
Ultimately, both approaches aim to empower children with dyslexia to become more confident and competent readers. Choosing between them often depends on the specific needs of the student. Consulting with a qualified educational professional can help families determine which method might work best for their situation. I hope this post helps clarify the Orton-Gillingham vs. Lindamood-Bell approaches to reading tutoring.
If you are looking for a highly experienced, certified Orton-Gillingham tutor to work with your child, and would prefer the convenience of online one-on-one tutoring, I hope you will consider working with me, Joanna Brown, and my team at The Reading Guru. To schedule a conversation with The Reading Guru to learn more, click here.
About The Reading Guru
Joanna Brown, founder and CEO of The Reading Guru, is a master Orton-Gillingham reading tutor with more than 15 years of experience providing personalized, one-on-one reading instruction. Joanna earned her M.S. in Elementary Education and Literacy from Bank Street College of Education in New York City in 2011. Joanna is certified by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS). She earned this certification through training at the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE) as well as with the digital, multisensory training program, Lexercise. Joanna also has training with the Orton-Gillingham based, multi-sensory program Preventing Academic Failure (PAF). Joanna and her team at The Reading Guru use an individualized, tailored personal approach with students and have consistently achieved outstanding results. For more information about The Reading Guru, click here.
