Why Study Orton-Gillingham for the Classroom?
To Provide Best First Teaching for ALL Students!
"Best first teaching' means that students are receiving evidence-informed instruction based on practices that have demonstrated effectiveness in research. While Dr Orton and Anna Gillingham developed their methods a long time ago, they were definitely ahead of their time. Research in literacy and cognition have validated many aspects the OG approach. There is also a time-tested body of knowledge derived from the success of its practitioners. It is critical that students get 'best first teaching' to build strong literacy skills for future academic work. This also then acts as a 'preventative' by ensuring quality instruction and learning initially, rather than providing remediation and intervention later on.
Definition of Classroom Educator Training
Updates from the Orton-Gillingham Academy
Classroom Educator (CE) Level is intended for educators teaching in a general education setting. The CE practitioner is certified by OGA to provide and adapt literacy instruction for the whole class or for small groups needing supplemental support.
-The coursework provides educators with the basic content knowledge of research-based explicit language instruction as well as the delivery of instruction aligned with Orton-Gillingham Principles.
-Students with greater deficits in reading will need more intensive instruction delivered by a practitioner trained at the Associate level or above.
As of June 2025, Classroom Educator will now be a stand-alone level of certification. Moving forward, training and practicum hours from Classroom Educator can no longer be applied to Associate Training.
Classroom Educator (CE) Training
The OGCE training (30 hours minimum) provides the necessary theory in the OG approach and lesson plan, as well as a grounding in 'science of reading' and structured literacy. The practical tools and strategies to teach an OG lesson in small groups and/or in the general classroom setting are also included. Equal emphasis is provided on decoding for reading and encoding for spelling and writing for a wholistic approach.
Topics in this training include: Reading Acquisition (Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension); Structure of the English Language (intro to linguistics); OG approach and lesson plan.
After fulfilling all requirements, each participant will receive a certificate of completion for the training hours.
Trainees may continue their OG learning by choosing one of the following:
1) Classroom Educator Practicum: This a total of 50 hours of supervised teaching, with five submitted observations. Following this, an application to OGA at the Classroom Educator Level can be submitted.
2) Associate Training: This training includes further learning on the OG Approach, teaching of literacy, and the dyslexic profile so trainees have the skills to teach 1:1 in a special education / remedial setting.
Upcoming Classroom Educator Trainings
If you are interested in Classroom Educator training:
-Please email for details. CE trainings can be scheduled to meet the needs of your school/institution.
-Enroll in Associate Part 1, which exceeds the CE training requirements. The next Associate Part 1 training is in Summer 2025.
Application - Registration - Payment
To apply for a session:
- Fill out the Application for the desired session (links below).
- Email completed Application.
- Send non-refundable deposit of $100 CAD through e-transfer.
- Your application will be reviewed and you will notified regarding its acceptance.
Training Investment: $1,125 CAD + HST.