Subscribe to learn about dyslexia,
the Orton-Gillingham approach, and tips to help struggling readers.
A bit about me...
My name is Ashley, and I am a literacy specialist, working primarily with students with dyslexia. I graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a degree in Humanities and Elementary Education, and I went on to study and receive my Associates from the Orton-Gillingham Academy for teaching literacy to students with dyslexia. For the two years I was in training for my Associates, I was teaching at a school in Manhattan for twice-exceptional students as the Orton-Gillingham specialist for their Upper School (middle school/high school).
As a child, I struggled with reading and spelling, and I deeply understand the impact that this can make on a student's self-confidence and their ability to regulate during moments of frustration. It is my mission to deconstruct the English language into small manageable pieces, beginning with individual sounds (phonemes), and building upon the student's knowledge to progress and increase the skills needed to decode and encode words with confidence and understanding.
The Orton-Gillingham approach is an explicit, direct, cognitive, cumulative, and multi-sensory literacy instruction, which is effective for all learners, but there is evidence-based research that shows the benefits for students with dyslexia receiving this teaching approach.
Two Programs Offered
Offer 1: Small Group Reading Instruction
• Groups of three students
• 30-minute lesson
• Two lessons a week
• Reading focused using the Learn Reading Program, which is Orton-Gillingham based
• Structured and sequential instruction for phonemic awareness and decoding
Note: If interested, email me, and I will notify you if there are enough students for a group.
Offer 2: Private Orton-Gillingham Lessons
• Private individualized lessons
• 1-hour lesson
• Frequency of lesson flexible (2-3 lessons a week)
• Free assessment to diagnose placement
• A comprehensive Orton-Gillingham lesson: phonemic awareness, orthographing exercise, sound-symbol recognition practice, and structured and sequential material presented in a kenesthetic and multisensory manner.
• Reading and spelling focused
• Connection with educational lawyers to ensure invoices contain the necessary information for reimbursement
Lessons can be given remotely or in person at the Brooklyn Public Library Central location at 10 Grand Army Plaza
Book a call to receive a price quote
Suggested Materials
I have assembled a list of materials I have used with students that have been useful. Not all the materials are needed for a lesson, but could be supplemental resources for home.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Articles about dyslexia and the Orton-Gillingham approach
Dyslexia: What is it?
Written by the Cleveland Clinic
Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes reading and language-related tasks harder. It happens because of disruptions in how your brain processes writing so you can understand it. Most people learn they have dyslexia during childhood, and it’s typically a lifelong issue. This form of dyslexia is also known as “developmental dyslexia.”
Dyslexia falls under the umbrella of “specific learning disorder.” That disorder has three main subtypes:
Reading (dyslexia).
Writing (dysgraphia).
Math (dyscalculia).
Orton-Gillingham Approach Principles
An AOGPE Presentation / D. Milner / 4-6-2019
The Orton-Gillingham Approach has been rightfully described as language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative, cognitive, and flexible. These characteristics can be easily amplified and extended as they are in the following attributes.
The basic purpose of everything that is done in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, from recognizing words to composing a poem, is assisting the student to become a competent reader, writer and independent learner.
