A teacher begins working with a student by presenting the most common consonants and vowels, one or two at a time. As each letter is introduced it is taught in a multisensory manner so the child links how the letter looks with how it sounds and how it feels to form the letter. Some tutors have the child trace the letter in a tray of sand, write the letter in the air using large motions with their arms, or stimulate their finger while drawing the letter on fine sandpaper or textured carpet. Once the basic consonants and vowels are mastered, they move on to consonant blends and digraphs. Students also learn the rules of the English language, syllable patterns, and how to use roots, prefixes, and suffixes to study words.
Most teachers using an O-G approach follow a lesson plan that provides structure to the approach.
Dr. Orton was an American psychiatrist and neurologist who beginning in the early 1920's studied and wrote about children who had reading disabilities. Although he was primarily focused on the medical etiology of these children, he prescribed that they needed treatment based on multisensory techniques. Anna Gillingham, a psychologist and teacher at New York's Ethical Culture School, became one of Dr. Orton's research associates. She taught the structure of the English language to dyslexic children according to the neurological principles defined by Dr. Orton. Potential candidates go through several steps including coursework and practicum as they work towards various levels of accreditation.