The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) was very fortunate to welcome Orton-Gillingham Training onsite at the Pastoral Center. Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach that is particularly helpful for students who have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing. The CSO offered this program at no cost to teachers; due to a strong demand for those trained in Orton-Gillingham, most teachers pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to obtain their certification.
This instructional approach was named after the two pioneering individuals who did much of the work developing these methods. Samuel Torrey Orton (1879-1948) was a neuropsychiatrist and pathologist and Anna Gillingham (1878-1963) was a gifted educator and psychologist. Encouraged by Dr. Orton to utilize his research, Gillingham compiled and published instructional materials as early as the 1930s that provided the foundation for student instruction and teacher training in what became known as the Orton-Gillingham Approach.
This time-tested approach is most often implemented in one-on-one and small group instruction. It allows for focus to be placed on the individual learning needs of each student and is highly regarded in the field of education. Archdiocese of Boston Superintendent Kathy Mears commented, “Part of the reason our schools are so successful in teaching reading is the fact that we have teachers trained in Orton-Gillingham.”
The group of teachers taking this workshop spent an intensive week working with Kerri Schaub from the Carroll School and their work will continue on in the months to come. They have committed to further professional development and will ultimately become certified associate level Orton-Gillingham tutors. The CSO is proud to have such dedicated professionals working to ensure high quality teaching practices are being utilized in our schools.
For more information on Orton-Gillingham Training and other professional development workshops offered by the CSO, please visit our website.
About Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Boston
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston educate over 36,000 students in 116 schools. The schools offer a high-quality, rigorous education that is rooted in Catholic faith and values for students age 2.9 through grade 12.
Media contact: Livia Ramos (617-779-3615) – [email protected]
