Structured Literacy

Structured Literacy is the umbrella term used by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) to unify and encompass evidence-based programs and approaches that are aligned to the Knowledge and Practice Standards. Put simply, Structured Literacy is explicit, systematic teaching that focuses on phonological awareness, word recognition, phonics and decoding, spelling, and syntax at the sentence and paragraph levels.

At the Southport CoLAB we believe that Orton-Gillingham is the foundation of Structured Literacy and good literacy instruction.  It is not a program but an approach to teaching reading that can be applied to any quality literacy program. The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners describes it as:

Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach intended primarily for use with individuals who have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing associated with dyslexia. It is most properly understood and practiced as an approach, not a method, program, system or technique. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool of exceptional breadth, depth, and flexibility. This approach is derived from two sources: first from a body of time-tested knowledge and practice that has been validated over the past 70 years, and second from scientific evidence about how individuals learn to read and write.*

*Resource: Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators