Research has shown the number one most powerful indicator in a child’s future is whether or not they are able to read by the end of their 3rd grade year. To put it in simple terms, all education is build on the ability to read. Up until third grade, academic focus is geared toward helping children learn to read. After 3rd grade, children have to read in order to learn.

At ATLAS Academy, children receive personalized instruction by our dedicated reading specialists. Children are placed in small reading groups based on where they are and their specific instructional needs.

Orton-Gillingham is a highly structured approach that breaks reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds, and then building on these skills over time. It also was the first approach designed to help struggling readers by explicitly teaching the connections between letters and sounds. It use multi-sensory teaching strategies to teach reading, which is considered extremely effective for teaching students with dyslexia and other learning challenges.

This approach combines teaching strategies paired with systematic, sequential lessons focused on phonics. This means that educators use sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students connect and learn the concepts being taught.

The Orton-Gillingham approach helps take the mystery out of reading and spelling by focusing on why words are spelled the way they are. Though the English language contains just 26 letters, these letters combine to create approximately 44 speech sounds, and there are over 250 ways to spell those sounds. But the OG approach translates the spelling of these sounds into phonograms and demystifies reading and spelling by teaching students to apply rules and generalizations that help make what was once difficult much easier!

The approach consists of a multitude of qualities that make is ideal for struggling readers

1. Multi-sensory

   Lessons involve all the major pathways to the brain: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic

2. Sequential

   Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence

3. Incremental

   Each lesson carefully builds upon previous instruction

4. Cumulative

   Constant and consistent review of previously taught concepts is provided

5. Individualized

   The unique needs of each student are met

6. Based on Phonograms

   English is simplified by teaching letters and letter combinations known as phonograms

7. Explicit

   Students are taught exactly what they need to know in a clear and straight forward manner

In addition to the dedicated academic time students spend with their reading specialists, they also participate in intentionally designed bible time that is centered around a different bible story and memory verse each week! Students receive a story book bible when they enroll in the program and get to read along with the leaders as they learn new stories about God at the beginning of the week. Along with the stories they learn, small groups offer times for activities to reinforce their growing biblical knowledge. Throughout the week, each child will be led to learn short and meaningful memory verses that correlate to the bible story to the week. The way ATLAS Academy Bible time is designed not only helps children grow in their knowledge of God, but also serves as another way to build their reading skills!

Students will also participate in fun games, group recreation, and times of energetic worship that will all reinforce the extreme value they hold as children of God.