If you’ve taught syllable types and syllable division, you’ve probably come across consonant-LE words like table, little, and puzzle. These are a different type of syllable division than students are used to because the final -le doesn’t follow what we typically think of as a syllable. The good news is that consonant+LE words follow a…
If you’ve studied Orton-Gillingham or structured literacy, you’ve probably heard different memory words used to teach syllable types. Some programs use CLOVER.Personally, I prefer REVLOC. Why? Because REVLOC doesn’t just help students remember the syllable types, it also helps them remember the order to check when decoding words. The order really matters. What Does REVLOC…
Summer tends to shift things. One week you’re on a roll, and the next week someone’s at the beach, at camp, or just… done. The truth is, very few are excited about full lessons of summer reading and spelling in July. No matter how great a tutor I am or how many “games” I can…
In Orton-Gillingham, we teach students to decode and spell using rules. We break words apart. We analyze sounds. We follow structure. But then come the words that don’t cooperate. Words like said, was, one, and does. They don’t follow the rules we’ve taught. They are sight words, and will just have to be memorized. So…
Orton-Gillingham is often pictured as one teacher and one student sitting across from each other with sand trays and drill cards. That image isn’t wrong, but it’s incomplete. Most teachers are working with small groups, and sometimes full classes. So, the real question becomes: if OG is oriented to serve one-on-one, multisensory lessons, how does…
VCV words can make syllable division feel confusing. I always (jokingly) say, if you can master VCV syllable division, you can understand any structured literacy concept and rule! With VCV words, we don’t divide first and hope it sounds right, we divide and listen, then decide if the first syllable is open or closed based…
Supporting your child’s reading at home can feel overwhelming — especially if school hasn’t given clear answers. Many parents worry: Here’s the truth:You don’t need to become a teacher to support your child’s reading. You need structure, clarity, and realistic expectations. What matters more than “doing it right” Children don’t need perfect lessons. They need:…
If your child can name letter sounds but still struggles to read words, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common concerns parents share: “They know their sounds… so why can’t they read?” Knowing individual sounds is just the first step. Reading requires a child to hold multiple sounds in their working memory,…
Most educators don’t wake up thinking, “How can I make this lesson boring today?”Quite the opposite. Teachers, tutors, and parents are constantly looking for ways to make lessons feel more engaging, doable, and even fun, especially for younger students and those who lose focus quickly. The challenge is that fun can sometimes feel at odds…
Most people know the old spelling rule rhyme, ‘I before E except after C,’ but in Orton-Gillingham, we go a step further to make this rule crystal clear for our students. What Is the IE/EI Rule? In OG, the full rule is: Use I before E except after C, when spelling long E. So what…
What is the 3 Part Drill in Structured Literacy? A Simple Explanation and scripts for teaching students.
The Three-Part Drill is a key component of Orton-Gillingham lessons. It’s a multi-sensory practice that helps students become automatic with the sounds, symbols, and spellings of the English language.
If your students understand VCCV syllable division with RABBIT words (two closed syllables: C/C), they’re ready for the next step in VCCV syllable division. The next step is learning VCCV Reptile words. Reptile words are VCCV words made up of one closed syllable followed by a Magic E syllable. In Orton-Gillingham, students divide between the…
No products in the cart.