Orton-Gillingham Training
- OG Training Overview
- Subscriber Course
- Expanded Classroom Educator Course (June 2024)
- Associate Level Course (Fall 2024 - Saturday Seminars)
- Certified Level Course
OG Training Overview
Swift School offers Orton-Gillingham courses that follow the guidelines established by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (OGA). Both Swift's Associate & Certified Level Training Programs are accredited by the Academy. Only 9 other training programs across the country have received this accreditation for both courses as of December 2023. Past participation in the courses and practicums by educators, parents and other professionals have garnered consistent praise and exceeded expectations.
The courses and practicums are led by Natalie Felix, Fellow of the Academy, and Jocelyn Gasaway. Courses are held on the Swift School Campus, conveniently located near the intersection of Georgia 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road. Please see the following to determine if these courses(s) or other offerings meet your particular professional goals, needs or interests.
For additional information Contact OG Fellow Natalie Felix or Jocelyn Gasaway.
The four courses offered at Swift School are as follows:
1. Subscriber Course
2. Classroom Educator Course
3. Associate Level Course
4. Certified Level Course
For more information regarding membership levels and credentials from OGA Click Here. For additional information on Swift School's courses, please contact Natalie Felix or Jocelyn Gasaway.
Subscriber Course
The Subscriber Course is an introductory overview that provides a basic understanding of science, the rationale, and the structure behind the Orton-Gillingham Approach. Participants will receive an overview of the approach and instructional techniques as presented by Academy Fellow Natalie Felix.
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This course covers:
- What is the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners & Educators (OGA)
- Nature of the Dyslexic Learner
- Overview of Assessment
- Introduction to the History & Structure of English
- Nature of a Typical Reader
- Alphabetic Principle
- Introduction to Phonology
- History and principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach
Subscriber members are informed consumers but are not yet qualified to teach using the Orton-Gillingham Approach. A Subscriber designation indicates that a member has completed a course of at least six hours duration based on the Academy's required curriculum at the Subscriber level.
Coursework: Satisfies six hours of Orton-Gillingham course work
Location: Swift School - 300 Grimes Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30075
Date/Time: TBD
Cost: TBD
For additional information Contact OG Fellow Natalie Felix
Expanded Classroom Educator Course (June 2024)
This two-week intensive course is designed to satisfy and exceed the Classroom Educator/OGA coursework hours and requirements as determined by the Orton-Gillingham Academy Practitioners & Educators (OGA). Click here to register. This course is designed to be an expanded version of the typical Classroom Educator course offered by OGA Fellows. During the two weeks, instruction is delivered daily from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with daily homework assignments. Forty-five plus hours of coursework is captured in order for participants to absorb and synthesize the information and content. Additionally, extended time is built into this course to take a deeper dive into the Science of Reading (SOR) topics and help participants learn to write and deliver a structured literacy/OG lesson. Upon completion, participants will have the knowledge and skills needed to implement instruction to both small and whole groups of students. All coursework is presented by Natalie Felix, Fellow/OGA and Jocelyn Gasaway, Fellow/OGA and delivered through an interactive Google slideshow with embedded activities for practice and application.
Coursework: Satisfies 45+ hours of Orton-Gillingham course work
Location: Swift School
Next Course: June 3-7, 2024 and June 10-14, 2024 (must attend both weeks)
Hours: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $1,400 (includes $200 worth of materials)
Click here to register
For additional information Contact OG Fellow Natalie Felix or Jocelyn Gasaway.
This course is open to all interested individuals who hold a Bachelor's Degree in any area of study.
Content Areas
- The Orton-Gillingham Approach (OG) and the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA)
- Language Development
- The Reading Brain
- What Is Dyslexia?
- Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
- Phonics
- Brief History of the English Language
- Basic Morphology
- Handwriting
- Reading Fluency
- Vocabulary & Semantics
- Listening and Reading Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Orton-Gillingham Lesson Plan
- OGA Classroom Educator Level Practicum and Requirements
The Orton-Gillingham Approach (OG) and the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA)
Language Development
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Typical Language and Motor Developmental Milestones
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Contributions of Environment, Culture and Social Factors Related to Literacy Acquisition
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Chall’s Stages of Reading Development and Ehri’s Phases of Reading Development
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National Reading Panel (NRP) - Five Essential Components of Effective Reading
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English Language Systems
The Reading Brain
What Is Dyslexia?
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Dyslexia Defined
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Phonological Processing as a Core Deficit of Dyslexia
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What is meant by a Double Deficit?
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Factors Affecting Literacy Acquisition
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Warning Signs, Characteristics, and Challenges of the Dyslexic Learner
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Dyslexia on a Continuum
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Comorbid Learning Disorders: ADHD, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Executive Functioning Difficulties
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Current Federal & State Legislation Regarding Dyslexia
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Differences between Warning Signs, Screening Results, and a Clinical Diagnosis of Dyslexia
Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
Phonics
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Terms and Definitions:
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Alphabetic Principle - Foundation of Both Reading & Spelling Instruction
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Phonics instruction includes practice and application of the following topics and/or techniques:
sound/symbol correspondence
basic sound deck drill cards with key word associations
strategies to aid memory and retrieval for phonograms and spelling rules
strategies to protect reading and spelling success
practice creating phonetically-controlled word lists and connected text
practice adapting a commercially produced connected text to align with a particular skill with the presented scope & sequence
overlearning as a strategy
activities to support generalizations
review and practice administering informal testing to guide instruction
Brief History of the English Language
Basic Morphology
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Define: morpheme, prefix, base (root), inflectional suffix, derivational suffix
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Morphophonemic Nature of English
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Why teach morphology?
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The role of morphology in decoding, spelling, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension
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Teaching common suffixes
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Inflectional suffixes: -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er, -est
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Derivational suffixes: -y, -er, -ful, -less, -ment, -ness, -able
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Use of morphemes for word attack and word analysis
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The Three Great Spelling Rules: 1-1-1 Doubling Rule, Drop e Rule, Change y to i Rule
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Morphological Awareness
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Practical application across the curriculum
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Morphology in Action: Brief overview of reading and spelling instruction
Handwriting
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Importance of teaching handwriting
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Current research in the field
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Topics of Discussion: orthographic loop, print vs. cursive, typical handwriting development, important considerations (posture, paper position, pencil grip, etc.), letter formation guidance as well as tips and tricks.
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Understanding the Characteristics of Dysgraphia
Reading Fluency
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Reading fluency defined: A bridge between phonics and comprehension
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Reading Fluency Development
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Scarborough’s Reading Rope & The Simple View Of Reading
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Developing and Supporting Reading fluency, comprehension, and student motivation
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Accuracy and Automaticity
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Assessing reading rate in individuals with dyslexia
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Oral Reading Rate Needed for Comprehension
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Techniques and methods for building and monitoring fluency
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Technology to support students accessing text when oral reading fluency is a challenge
Vocabulary & Semantics
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Semantics Defined
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Basic knowledge of semantic building blocks: concept words or categories, content words, function words, synonyms, antonyms, multiple meaning words
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Vocabulary Defined - Types of Vocabulary
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Receptive vocabulary versus expressive vocabulary
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Scarborough’s Reading Rope & The Simple View Of Reading-
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The role of vocabulary in skilled reading
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Factors Contributing to Vocabulary Knowledge
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Exposure - Impact of exposure on vocabulary growth and development
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The Matthew Effect
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Language Processing Ability - Impact of dyslexia and other language disorders on vocabulary growth and development
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Cognitive Ability - Impact of intelligence on vocabulary growth and development
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Direct Vocabulary Instruction defined as explicit and targeted vocabulary instruction
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How do teachers identify what words to teach?
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Three Tiers of vocabulary words
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Identifying and teaching Tier 2 vocabulary words
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Vocabulary Instruction Routine
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Strategies to establish a vocabulary routine before, during, and after reading
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Indirect Vocabulary Instruction
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Context Clue Strategies
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Dictionary: Build alphabet knowledge and dictionary skills
Listening and Reading Comprehension
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Important Understanding: The goal of reading is comprehension.
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Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Simple View of Reading
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Reading comprehension is an outcome of multiple language comprehension and word recognition skills
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Understanding the reciprocal relationships between listening comprehension, oral language, reading comprehension, and written expression
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Text Structure: Narrative versus Expository/Informational
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Instruction of comprehension strategies to include 1) Direct Explanation, 2) Modeling, 3) Guided Practice, and 4) Application
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The Teacher’s Role as a model and language mediator in text comprehension instruction
Written Expression
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Reading Comprehension and Written Expression are interdependent and reciprocal in nature
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Sentence structure and sentence-level activities
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Syntax and Text Structure Instruction in an OG Lesson
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Sentence Structure - Review simple grammar, punctuation, and syntax
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Diagramming Sentences
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Writing Sentences
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Kernel sentence
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Sentence expansion
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Self-Editing Strategies for Students
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Strategies for Teaching the Four Sentence Types
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Review the elements of a basic paragraph: topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding sentence
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Use of technology for students experiencing ongoing limitations in written expression
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Orton-Gillingham Lesson Plan
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Orton-Gillingham Academy Lesson Components:
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Identifying information: teacher name, student name
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Lesson and student work numbered and dated in order of instruction
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Clear lesson objectives for new skill and targeted review
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Notation of Errors (previous and in real-time)
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Word Play - Phonological/phonemic/morphological awareness activity
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Handwriting
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Learned Word Instruction using Trace, Cover, Copy, Close
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PART ONE: SOUND DRILL
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PART TWO: REVIEW AND REINFORCEMENT
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PART THREE: NEW INFORMATION/FOCUS OR TARGETED REVIEW
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Syllable Division according to student needs
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Connected Text
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Application: Build an Orton-Gillingham Lesson
OGA Classroom Educator Level Practicum and Requirements
Associate Level Course (Fall 2024 - Saturday Seminars)
Swift School's Associate Level course is accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners & Educators (OGA).
The Associate Level course is a continuation of the content delivered in the Classroom Educator course and is offered on three/four Saturday seminars (dates below). Completion of these full day sessions satisfies the Associate Level coursework requirements as determined by the Orton-Gillingham Academy Practitioners & Educators (OGA). All coursework is presented by Academy Fellow Natalie Felix or Jocelyn Gasaway.
Coursework: Additional 35 hours of OG coursework (please note that eight of the hours will be asynchronous hours captured between the initial and final Saturday Seminars).
Location: Swift School - 300 Grimes Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30075
Next Course: Saturday Seminars: August 24, September 7, and September 21, 2024 (must attend all three dates)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $1,400.00
For additional information Contact OG Fellow Natalie Felix or Jocelyn Gasaway. Please note to enroll in the Associate Level Course you will need to complete Swift's Expanded Classroom Educator Course or speak with Mrs. Felix or Mrs. Gasaway to obtain approval.
Content Areas
- Assessment
- The Orton-Gillingham Lesson
- Error Correction and Remediation
- Culminating Project - Student Profile and 1:1 Orton-Gillingham Lesson
- Practitioner Professionalism and Ethics
Assessment
Types of assessment measures and the purpose for each:
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Screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, outcome
Formal Intellectual and Academic Achievement Tests
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Components of a psychoeducational evaluation
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Commonly used intelligence tests and academic achievement tests
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What is a norm-referenced test?
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Reporting Scores:
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Bell curve
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Basic statistical terms (norm-referenced assessments)
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Considerations in interpreting standardized achievement scores
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Dyslexia: Formal and informal instruments frequently used to screen for and diagnose dyslexia
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Process of identifying, documenting, and interpreting formal assessment information for the student profile
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Woodcock-Johnson (WJ-IV)
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Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - V (WISC-V) (3.5 hours)
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Index and subtest explanations with examples
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Woodcock-Johnson (WJ-IV)
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Subtest explanations with examples
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Informal Assessment - Explanation, Interpretation, and Application
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Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Skills -
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Reading and Spelling Skills
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Learned Word Assessment
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Handwriting and Writing Skills
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Oral Reading of Connected Text and Comprehension Skills
The Orton-Gillingham Lesson
Error Correction and Remediation
Culminating Project - Student Profile and 1:1 Orton-Gillingham Lesson
Trainees will work in small groups to build, practice and deliver an individual Orton-Gillingham lesson based on a mock student’s formal and informal assessments. Trainees will create the lesson based on the student profile. Trainees will individualize instructional materials and utilize OGA Principles throughout the lesson.
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Small group members will deliver their 1:1 Orton-Gillingham lesson to one another utilizing the OGA Principles. Group members will alternate being the teacher and the student in order to experience both roles.
Practitioner Professionalism and Ethics
Certified Level Course
Swift School's Certified Level course is accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners & Educators (OGA).
This 100-hour course is designed to satisfy the Certified Level coursework requirements as determined by the Orton-Gillingham Academy Practitioner & Educators (OGA). Hours are captured with synchronous virtual classes and asynchronous assignments. All coursework is presented by Academy Fellow Natalie Felix and a series of guest Academy Fellows. Participants will receive thorough instruction in the following topics:
Dyslexia
- In-depth knowledge of dyslexia
- Typical Language & Motor Development
- Nature of Reading & Reading Development
- History of Literacy Education
- Communication with students, parents, educators, and other professionals
- Case Management
The Orton-Gillingham Approach
- History & Structure of the English Language
- Phonology-Syllabication, Spelling Rules & Generalizations
- Morphology
- Affixes
- Latin Roots/Base Words
- Greek Combining Forms
- Suffixes
- Semantics, Syntax, Pragmatics
- Sentence & Paragraph Development
- Handwriting
Individualized Lesson Plan (Morphology)
- Designing an Individualized Lesson Plan Based on Assessment & Performance
- Writing Decodable Text and Analyzing Commercial Products
- Writing & Delivering 1:1 OG Lesson
Assessment
- Interpretation of formal and informal assessment measures used by
professionals in ancillary fields
- Standardized testing (I.Q., Achievement, Perceptual, Speech & Language)
- Developing & administering informal Measures
Course Dates: TBD
Coursework: 100 hours of Orton-Gillingham course work
Location: Swift School
Cost: TBD
For additional information Contact OG Fellow Natalie Felix