As a neuropsychologist, I often speak with parents who feel frustrated after months (or years!) of tutoring that hasn’t helped their child with dyslexia make meaningful gains. If that sounds familiar, there’s a reason: not all tutoring is created equal — and kids with dyslexia need something more tailored than what big-box centers typically offer.

✅ What Works: Orton-Gillingham/structured literacy approach

One of the gold standards in dyslexia intervention is Orton-Gillingham (OG), a time-tested method that’s highly effective for students with language-based learning differences and follows a structured literacy approach.

Here are the essentials of OG/structured literacy approach:

• Multisensory: Engages sight, sound, touch, and movement simultaneously

• Structured: Follows a logical sequence from simple to complex

• Explicit: Teaches phonics rules clearly and directly

• Cumulative: Each lesson builds on previous ones with constant review

• Diagnostic and Prescriptive: Lessons are customized based on the student’s needs and progress

• Emotionally Sound: Encourages confidence and reduces frustration

When done well, structured literacy/OG-based instruction doesn’t just improve reading — it builds resilience, confidence, and a love of learning.

🧠 What Are “Multisensory” Techniques?

Multisensory techniques engage multiple senses at once — typically sight, sound, touch, and movement — to help children form stronger connections between letters, sounds, and words.

Think of it like this:
Rather than just seeing the word “cat,” your child might:

• Say each sound out loud (/k/ /a/ /t/)

• Tap each sound with their fingers

• Trace the letters in sand

• Build the word with letter tiles

This approach helps the brain create more neural pathways, making reading and spelling more accessible and memorable — especially for dyslexic learners who benefit from more structured, hands-on instruction.

🧠 Why Structure Matters for Learning

One of the most powerful components of the Orton-Gillingham method is its systematic, step-by-step structure — and that’s not just a feature, it’s a psychological necessity. According to Lev Vygotsky’s model of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), learners thrive when new skills are introduced just beyond their current ability — but only with adequate support. By ensuring early success with easier tasks and mastering them through repetition and review, OG allows students to build automaticity before moving into more complex material. This builds confidence, strengthens working memory, and creates the momentum needed for sustained learning. For all learners — and especially for children with dyslexia — early, consistent success isn't optional; it’s foundational.

🔄 Why Mastery (Not Exposure) Comes First

In high-quality reading instruction, especially using a structured literacy approach, children aren’t rushed ahead. Instead, they gain automaticity in each foundational skill before moving on. That means:

• They don’t just recognize letter sounds — they own them.

• They don’t guess at words — they decode with confidence.

• They’re not constantly working in “overwhelm mode.”

When we prioritize early wins, we’re not lowering expectations — we’re setting the stage for long-term independence and success.

🚫 Why Big-Box Tutoring Often Falls Short

Most mainstream tutoring centers use a one-size-fits-all approach focused on general reading skills. Unfortunately, this:

• Doesn’t address the underlying neurological differences in dyslexia

• Lacks the explicit, systematic phonics instruction dyslexic students need

• Rarely includes multisensory engagement

• Moves too quickly without enough repetition and review

Without the right method, many kids continue to struggle — not because they can’t learn, but because they’re not being taught in a way their brain can process. Instead, seek out a tutor that is certified in Orton Gillingham or a program that follows the structured literacy approach. There are a handful of tutoring curricula that follow this time-tested approach, including the Barton Method, the Wilson Reading System, and Imagine Sonday System, to name a few. With the right reading instruction, students with dyslexia can thrive!