Orton-Gillingham Games To Repurpose
Games have several important roles to play in Orton-Gillingham lessons, so it’s only natural to find one that both you and your students will love playing. Sometimes I hear, “We don’t have time for games during my Orton-Gillingham lessons,” That makes me sad! Gamifying your lessons doesn’t have to take away from the content. Sometimes simply choosing cards from a mystery hat, or rolling dice can perk build engagement. There are other times where offering games is an incentive, especially during certain times of the year when your students may be less than enthusiastic about coming to you, like the summer break.
Your students with dyslexia must work harder and longer than their non-dyslexic peers. Games can play a role in keeping motivation and engagement levels high, when tutoring may not be the first thing on a student’s mind. A second key role that games play is allowing for extensive practice and overlearning. Overlearning is a concept integral to the success of students with dyslexia. They need to really master concepts. Games allow them to use their learning in a variety of settings and contexts to build flexibility and automaticity. Games also can provide a home link to continue the learning between lessons. Lastly, games help to foster positive relationships. Getting your students to trust you and buy in to all the work you are doing to help them make progress is crucial.
