Special needs · Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy
Multisensory reading lessons that work through a screen
Pencil Spaces gives Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy tutors a board for letter cards, sound boxes and handwriting, with work saved between lessons.
Free for 2 weeks on any paid plan. Card required. No charge when the trial ends.
Area
Teaching method
Who it helps
Orton-Gillingham tutors, structured literacy teachers, reading specialists, dyslexia programs, volunteer tutoring programs and families
Also called
OG · structured literacy · multisensory structured language teaching
What lessons need
Letter cards to move, sounds heard clearly, handwriting in view, a set lesson sequence, review every lesson
In Pencil Spaces
7 features available today
Customer story
Part of
What does an Orton-Gillingham lesson need online?
Orton-Gillingham lessons are hands-on: cards to move, letters to trace, sounds to say and hear. Online, the board has to do the work of the table.
- Trace, tap and dragPen & Touch · AvailableStudents drag letter cards and trace letters on the board with a stylus, a finger or a mouse.
- Your card deck on the boardImages & Video · AvailableBring letter and picture cards onto the board as images, and keep them there for the next lesson.
- Sound boxes that stay putLock Items · AvailableLock sound boxes in place, so students drag letters into them without moving the boxes.
- Every sound heard clearlyNoise Cancellation · AvailableAI noise cancellation and echo reduction filter out background sound, so the difference between short vowels comes through.
- Review built inPersistent Spaces · AvailableLast lesson’s words are still on the board, ready for review.
- Fonts built for readingDyslexia-Friendly Fonts · AvailableOpenDyslexic and other dyslexia-friendly fonts are in the board’s font menu for typed words and sentences.
- Simple enough for young childrenChild Mode · AvailableChild Mode leaves five tools and hides chat, boards and apps, so young readers aren’t lost in menus.
Customer story
- ALP CharlotteCustomer storyFree one-to-one Orton-Gillingham reading tutoring for children in kindergarten to second grade
Why is Orton-Gillingham hard to teach on a video call?
On a plain video call, the tutor ends up holding cards to a webcam. The student can watch but can’t touch.
The sequence matters too. Every lesson reviews what came before, so losing last week’s materials costs time.
What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?
The tutor opens the Space, and last week’s word list is still there. She shows three letter cards, and the student says each sound.
The student drags letters into sound boxes to build a word, then writes it with a stylus. A document camera shows their handwriting on paper.
Tips for teaching Orton-Gillingham online
- Set up one board for each step of the lesson, in the order you teach.
- Keep your card deck on its own board, ready for every lesson.
- Use a headset, so short vowel sounds come through clearly.
- Have the student write on paper as well as on screen.
- Review last lesson’s board before starting new material.
Good to know
Pencil Spaces is the classroom, not a curriculum. Tutors bring their own Orton-Gillingham training and materials. Read Aloud and Dictation are coming soon.
Questions people ask
Can Orton-Gillingham be taught online?
Yes. Tutors teach it online with letter cards, sound boxes and handwriting on a shared board. ALP Charlotte teaches Orton-Gillingham reading lessons to young children remotely in Pencil Spaces.
What do students need at home?
A laptop or tablet with a browser. A touchscreen or stylus helps with tracing and handwriting, and a headset helps with sounds. Nothing needs installing.
Does Pencil Spaces include an Orton-Gillingham curriculum?
No. Pencil Spaces is the classroom. You bring the scope and sequence, card decks and word lists from your own training, and they stay on your boards between lessons.
Is it suitable for young children?
Yes. Child Mode leaves five tools and hides the rest, so young children can drag, trace and write without getting lost.
Related needs
- Dyslexia
- Learning disabilities and SpLD
- Dysgraphia
- Visual stress and Irlen syndrome
- Developmental language disorder (DLD)
- Every special need
Related problems
- Hands-on ideas don’t work on a screen
- Practice between lessons doesn’t happen
- Too many controls for young or new students
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