What is the Orton-Gillingham Visual Drill?

Welcome to our series on Orton-Gillingham Lesson Plan Basics! We are often asked what an Orton-Gillingham lesson looks like. In this series, we will briefly explain each part of a typical Orton-Gillingham five-part lesson plan which includes: The Three-Part Drill, introduction of a new skill and the application, a syllabication process for decoding multisyllabic words, red (sight) words, and oral reading. Let’s begin!

What is the Three-Part Drill?

Simply put, the Three-Part Drill is a three-step process that serves as a reading and spelling review of previously introduced sounds and skills. It includes 3 methods of review: visual, auditory, and blending. The Visual Drill is typically the first step in this process which we will briefly outline in this article.

What is the Visual Drill?

Students look at previously learned sound cards and say the sound they see. Keyword pictures provided on the cards give support for the recall of the sound if needed. The more letter sounds are practiced, the more automatic they eventually become.

The Visual Drill can be completed as a whole class activity, in small groups, or one-to-one. It should be a quick activity that takes only a couple minutes. Below are a couple pictures of the Visual Drill being conducted live as a whole class activity.

What Does the Visual Drill look like?

Learned sounds are repeated, which fine-tunes the sound/symbol relationship, thus building automaticity. As outlined in the book Equipped for Reading Success by David Kilpatrick, automatic letter-sound knowledge is foundational for both efficient phonic decoding and for permanent word storage via orthographic mapping.

Techniques & Tracking Progress

Repetition and practice are key, and using a variety of visual aids, including digital flashcards, can enhance engagement. Incorporating tactile elements, such as sandpaper letters, can help kinesthetic learners.

To ensure progress, teachers can observe and note student responses, use timed challenges to build fluency, and conduct regular assessments to gauge improvement.

Written by Brainspring Educator Academy

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