Multisensory Spelling with an Orton Gillingham Approach - First Grade

In this ongoing spelling class, focused around the principles of Orton Gillingham, students will be introduced to a new spelling pattern and spelling rule each week. They will have ten orthographically relevant spelling words to work with in a variety of fun and creative ways, throughout the week. Emphasis will be on segmenting words, recognizing phonemes, and spelling according to patterns.

For first grade spelling, concepts will center around short vowels, blends, digraphs, and silent e. 

Orton Gillingham is particularly beneficial to neurodivergent learners and those with dyslexia, but can help all children. OG provides direct, explicit instruction in the rules governing spelling and phonics. Many children benefit greatly from knowing "the rules of the game."

Learners are encouraged to repeat the rules as we learn them together, trace or model with tactile materials, and finally, write the words as they spell aloud. 

Each session will allow for students to read short sentences with their spelling words, helping them to see the words in context and develop connections to vocabulary and meaning. 


Children are encouraged to bring a tactile medium of choice for each week's session. Some ideas are sand paper letters, play dough, salt/ sand trays, or colorful pens.

Week of January 16th: Closed Syllable CVC words with Short A
Week of January 23rd: Closed Syllable CVC words with Short E
Week of January 30th: Closed Syllable CVC words with Short I
Week of February 6th: Closed Syllable CVC words with Short O
Week of February 13th: Closed Syllable CVC words with Short U
Week of February 20th: NO CLASSES - PRESIDENT'S WEEK (US)
Week of February 27th: Closed Syllable CCVC words with L blends
Week of March 6th: Closed Syllable CCVC words with S blends
Week of March 13th: Closed Syllable Digraph: SH
Week of March 20th: Closed Syllable Digraph: TH
Week of March 27th: Closed Syllable Digraph: CH
Week of April 3rd: SPRING BREAK - NO CLASSES
Week of April 10th: Digraph Jumble: SH, TH, CH
Week of April 17th: Silent E Syllables: Long A
Week of April 24th: Silent E Syllables: Long I
Week of May 1st: Silent E Syllables: Long O
Week of May 8th: Silent E Syllables: Long U
Week of May 15th: Silent E Syllables: A, E, I, O, U
Week of May 22nd: Closed Syllable Digraph: WH
Week of May 29: NO CLASSES - MEMORIAL DAY
Week of June 5th: Introducing Y as a Vowel
Week of June 12th: Introducing Digraphs: OU and OW
Week of June 19th : Adding -ED to action words
Week of June 26th: Adding -ING to action words