Structured Literacy vs Orton-Gillingham: What Parents Should Know
Parents often hear the terms structured literacy and Orton-Gillingham when looking for reading support. While related, these terms are not identical. Understanding the difference can help you choose the best approach for your child.
What Is Structured Literacy?
Structured literacy is a broad approach to teaching reading that is:
Evidence-based
Explicit and systematic
Multisensory
Designed to build strong foundational reading skills
It covers phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and can include a variety of instructional methods.
What Is Orton-Gillingham?
Orton-Gillingham is a specific method of structured language instruction originally designed to help children with dyslexia. Key features include:
Direct, explicit teaching of letters and sounds
Multisensory learning (seeing, saying, and writing letters)
Individualized, diagnostic teaching
Sequential skill progression
Many structured literacy programs, including those at Literacy Tree, are informed by Orton-Gillingham principles.
How They Work Together
Structured literacy provides the framework for reading instruction, while Orton-Gillingham offers specific techniques to teach that framework. At Literacy Tree:
We use structured literacy as the foundation
We incorporate Orton-Gillingham techniques where appropriate
Every lesson is tailored to the child’s learning profile
Who Benefits Most
Students struggling with phonics or decoding
Children with dyslexia
Students needing systematic, research-backed reading instruction
Conclusion
Choosing the right reading approach can make all the difference. Understanding the overlap between structured literacy and Orton-Gillingham helps you select a program that builds strong reading foundations with trained specialists.
