The terms “Science of Reading” and “Orton-Gillingham” have been widely discussed in the media and educational circles over the past few years. But what do these approaches actually mean, and how do they compare?
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is a highly structured, multisensory teaching method designed specifically for individuals with dyslexia. It emphasizes explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling. This method engages multiple senses—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (tactile)—to help students make connections between letters and sounds. The more senses a student uses to learn a concept, the more neural connections they make. Orton-Gillingham is also individualized, meaning lessons are tailored to each student’s needs. It is widely considered the gold standard in dyslexia education.
The Science of Reading (SoR), on the other hand, is not a specific teaching program. Instead, it is a comprehensive body of research that spans decades and draws from fields such as neuroscience, cognitive psychology, linguistics, and education. It seeks to explain how the brain learns to read and what instructional methods are most effective.
So, how does OG compare to SoR, and which should you choose for your child?
The important thing to understand is that these are not competing approaches. The Science of Reading is the research foundation that informs structured literacy programs—like Orton-Gillingham. OG is considered a Science of Reading-aligned program.
A more useful comparison would be between the Science of Reading and Balanced Literacy. Balanced Literacy is a holistic method that encourages using context clues (such as pictures and story comprehension), with less emphasis on decoding skills. For many years, it was the dominant approach for reading instruction in schools. However, reading performance data has shown that Balanced Literacy is not grounded in evidence-based practices, and many school districts are moving away from it.
The Science of Reading, in contrast, has revealed that students—especially those with dyslexia—need explicit, systematic instruction that prioritizes decoding, or the ability to sound out words. Research suggests that up to 20% of the population may fall on the dyslexia spectrum, making a structured, science-based approach essential.
Summing Up: OG vs. Science of Reading
Unlike Orton-Gillingham, the Science of Reading is not a specific program or method—it’s a framework based on decades of research. OG is one of several instructional approaches that apply the principles identified by the Science of Reading.
If you’re seeking a highly experienced Orton-Gillingham tutor to work with your child online, I hope you’ll consider me, Joanna Brown, or one of my colleagues at The Reading Guru. We offer reasonable pricing and have an excellent team of skilled, certified Orton-Gillingham tutors. 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.
