When Doing More Stops Working: A Sustainable Approach to Orton Gillingham Teaching
There is a moment that many Orton Gillingham teachers eventually reach. It usually does not happen at the beginning. At first, there is excitement. Teachers are learning new strategies, growing their skills, and soaking everything in. There is energy behind the work. However, after a while, something starts to shift with the Orton Gillingham teaching.
Thankfully, teachers are still committed, still deeply care about their students, and still show up every day doing meaningful work. But teaching starts to feel heavier. Lesson planning takes longer. Small decisions feel exhausting.
Why Doing More Is Not Always the Answer
Eventually, the same question starts running through their mind: Am I doing enough?
Sadly, that question is incredibly common with Orton Gillingham teaching. The problem is that when teachers feel this way, they often assume the answer is to do more. They take on more training, get more resources, and find new strategies and ideas.
At the same time, more is not always helpful. Many times, it just creates more noise. Instead of feeling clear and confident, teachers end up overwhelmed. They second-guess themselves constantly. They spend more time planning and less time feeling grounded in what they already know.
What Is Actually Causing the Overwhelm
Honestly, teaching usually does not become unsustainable because a teacher suddenly stops being skilled. Most of the time, something is simply out of balance. Four areas often affect how sustainable teaching feels: capacity, clarity, systems, and permission.
When even one of those areas is off, everything with Orton Gillingham teaching starts to feel harder. For example, sometimes the issue is capacity. A teacher may be mentally overloaded and trying to carry too much at once. When that happens, even simple tasks can feel draining.
A Practical Framework for Sustainable Teaching
Instead of asking, “How can I do more?” it can help to ask a different question: What would this look like if it felt manageable? That small shift can change everything.
Get the Free Sustainable OG Framework Guide!
1. Capacity: When You Feel Mentally Overloaded
If you feel overwhelmed, rushed, or mentally drained, this is often a capacity issue.
Try this: Ask yourself what this would look like if it felt manageable. Simplify one part of your lesson. Give yourself a short reset between students. Let one piece be enough.
2. Clarity: When You Are Not Sure What to Do Next
If you feel stuck or unsure with Orton Gillingham teaching, this is often a clarity issue.
Try this: Write down one thing. What is the next most important step for your student? Focus on that instead of everything.
3. Systems: When Planning Takes Too Long
If planning for Orton Gillingham teaching feels heavy and time-consuming, this is often a systems issue.
Try this: Pick one part of your lesson and make it consistent. Create a simple structure you can reuse.
Stop reinventing the same pieces each time.
Many OG teachers spend hours planning because they are reinventing lessons over and over again. They are creating new materials every week and constantly changing routines.
Having simple, repeatable systems can take so much pressure off.
4. Permission: When You Feel Like You Are Not Doing Enough
If you feel like you should be doing more with your Orton Gillingham teaching, this is often a permission issue.
Try this: Ask yourself what you are trying to prove. Then ask if you actually need to prove it. Sometimes the most powerful shift is choosing to protect your time and energy.
Why This Matters for OG Teachers
Truly, sustainability matters because Orton Gillingham teaching is important work. OG teachers are supporting students who need structured and explicit instruction. They are helping students who may have struggled for years. That responsibility carries a lot of weight.
But effective teaching does not come from constantly piling on more. Thankfully, it comes from clarity, focus, and having systems that work. Additionally, effective teaching is teaching in a way that actually lasts long-term.
Therefore, if something feels off but you are not sure where to start, I created something for you. The Sustainable OG Teacher Framework walks you through these four areas in a simple, practical way. You do not need to overhaul everything. Just start with one small shift in the right place.
Get the Free Sustainable OG Framework Guide!
