Alphabetic Phonics/Orton-Gillingham

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I have a question that perhaps does not have a short, simple answer: What is the difference of an academic language tutor that uses the Alphabetic Phonics program for remediation and an academic language tutor that is certified by the Orton-Gillingham Academy and uses the Orton-Gillingham program for remediation? I understand they are both based on the same theory and foundation; but what’s the difference in each of the programs, pro’s and con’s of each program and would one be more suitable for an individual child depending on his/her needs and challenges? Thank you for an answer or resource recommendation. Susan Hutton

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/04/2002 - 5:34 PM

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Dear Susan:

Orton-Gillingham is a technique and not a program. Alphabetic Phonics is a set of materials based on OG procedures.

An OG practitioner who is certified by the OG Academy has had to meet rigid requirements and would be very knowledgeable about OG techniques and materials.

However, an OG practitioner does not necessarily need to be certified to be good. I was trained in an OG practicum by an Academy Fellow and she sent me students she didn’t have time to accept, but I can’t get certified by the Academy because I move and there isn’t a Fellow anywhere near me now to supervise me the 100 hours (10 in direct observation) required by the Academy.

My practicum instructor recommended Alphabetic Phonics and Project Read materials. So Alphabetic Phonics are good materials in the right hands and done correctly. So the question is how qualified is the Alpha Ph tutor, what training: where, for how long, and by who?

Hope this is of some help?

L. Starr

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