The Robinson Reading System and the Orton-Gillingham Approach

The Robinson Reading System is built upon the principles of the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach, a structured, multisensory method designed to help individuals, particularly those with dyslexia, develop strong reading and spelling skills. Dr. Martha Robinson, the creator of the Robinson Code, recognized the power of OG’s explicit, systematic instruction and further refined it by incorporating linguistic insights, particularly from the development of Pinyin for Mandarin.

OG has been a cornerstone of reading instruction for nearly a century. It remains one of the most effective methods for teaching phonics systematically and is the foundation for many modern literacy programs.

Image: Children leaning on stacks of books.

What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?

Developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a neurologist, and Anna Gillingham, an educator and psychologist, OG was one of the first reading interventions to specifically address dyslexia and language-based learning difficulties. Unlike traditional phonics programs that assume all students progress at the same pace, OG is highly structured, multisensory, and individualized to meet the needs of struggling readers.

Foundational Principles of Orton-Gillingham

1. Structured, Sequential, and Cumulative

• OG follows a step-by-step approach, beginning with basic phonemes and letter-sound correspondences before introducing more complex spelling rules and language patterns.

• Each skill builds upon previously mastered concepts, ensuring students develop a solid foundation before moving forward.

  
  

2. Multisensory (VAKT: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile)

• The OG approach engages multiple senses to reinforce learning, making it particularly effective for students with dyslexia. Activities include:

  • Visual: Looking at letters and words.

  • Auditory: Saying sounds out loud and listening to them.

  • Kinesthetic: Writing letters in the air or tracing them in sand.

  • Tactile: Feeling textured letters or using manipulatives.

• By involving multiple pathways in the brain, OG helps students better retain and retrieve reading skills.

  
  

3. Explicit and Direct Instruction

• Students are explicitly taught each phonetic rule, rather than being expected to infer patterns on their own.

• Teachers model and guide students through structured practice, ensuring mastery before moving to new concepts.

  
  

4. Diagnostic and Prescriptive

• OG instruction is tailored to the individual learner.

• Teachers continuously assess progress, identifying areas of difficulty and adapting instruction accordingly.

• This individualized approach ensures that no student is left behind and that instruction meets each learner’s unique needs.

  
  

5. Synthetic and Analytic Phonics

• Synthetic phonics: Students learn to blend individual sounds (phonemes) into whole words (e.g., /c/ + /a/ + /t/ = cat).

• Analytic phonics: Students learn to break whole words into individual sounds or syllables to understand their structure.

• This dual focus helps students develop both decoding and spelling skills, strengthening their overall literacy abilities.

  
  

6. Language-Based

• OG teaches students how the English language works, including:

  • Phonics – Sound-symbol relationships.

  • Syllable types – How to divide and read multisyllabic words.

  • Morphology – Understanding prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

  • Syntax – How words and sentences are structured.

  • Semantics – The meaning of words and their relationships.

• Instead of relying on rote memorization, students learn why words are spelled the way they are and develop strategies for decoding new vocabulary independently.

  
  

7. Emotionally Sound and Success-Oriented

• Learning to read can be frustrating for struggling students, which is why OG emphasizes confidence-building and individualized pacing.

• Small, achievable successes help prevent discouragement and ensure students progress at their own pace.

• This approach fosters independence and a positive attitude toward reading.

  
  

Why the Orton-Gillingham Approach Matters

Orton-Gillingham has stood the test of time because it aligns with how the brain learns to read. By incorporating explicit phonics instruction, multisensory engagement, and individualized support, OG:

✅ Supports struggling readers, including those with dyslexia.

✅ Provides a systematic and logical approach to English spelling and reading.

✅ Fosters independent reading skills by ensuring students understand language structure.

The Robinson Reading System and Orton-Gillingham

The Robinson Reading System takes the foundational principles of OG and refines them further using a linguistic approach inspired by Pinyin. By focusing on phonemic transparency and the 41 sounds of English, the Robinson Code makes it easier for learners to decode words before transitioning into the complexities of English spelling.

The goal of both Orton-Gillingham and the Robinson Reading System is the same: to provide an effective, research-based way to teach reading that gives all learners, regardless of their challenges, the tools they need to succeed.

By making literacy more accessible and structured, these approaches ensure that no reader is left behind.