Two Questions: Orton Gillingham and SPD "Diet"

[Maria/ME]

In reading through this board I've noticed a few things that interest me in connection with my daughter.

 

The first is mention of Orton Gillingham reading methods. I've looked at the brief run down on their website. Could someone explain how this is different than Spelling Road to Reading/or Spalding Method?

 

A few of you have mentioned a tailored diet for kids with SPD. Can you tell me more about this or where to find more information? What differences have you noticed in using a specialized diet?

 

 

Thanks all! I am learning SO much here!

[Claire]

Orton Gillingham has been around for about 30 years. There are many, many variations on the original OG programs. Spalding is one of those. Here is an article that describes some of the OG-based reading programs.

 

There are basically two methodologies now for MSSL programs. These are sight-to-sound and sound-to-sight.

 

OG and its derivative programs are sight-to-sound programs which are structured around the phonograms (written symbols) of our language. They basically teach spelling simultaneously with reading.

 

The last ten years have seen the introduction of sound-to-sight programs. These would be Phono-Graphix and ABeCeDarian. They are MSSL, but are structured around the phonemes (spoken sounds) of our language. They incorporate spelling only as a reinforcement for reading.

 

I am trained in both methodologies. For most children, I prefer teaching sound-to-sight because it remediates reading faster and works for most children (probably 9 out of 10). Some children, however, seem able to access reading only through spelling. Those are the children for whom I would use an OG methodology. Sound-to-sight typically moves quickly, but can be modified to move slowly to meet a child's needs. Sight-to-sound typically moves slowly, but can be speeded up for children who acquire skills and code knowledge quickly.

 

The book "Reading Reflex" by McGuinness has a pretty good explanation of sound-to-sight philosophy in the first three chapters. Your library may have that book.

[Laurie4b]

The sensory diet is about providing the child with the particular sensory experiences that he or she needs to help organize his or her nervous system. Proprioceptive input (that is, input from the joints and muscles to the brain) is helpful in organizing most people's neurological system. So most sensory diets will include things like wearing a weighted vest or using a weighted lap pad, lifting heavy (relatively for the child) loads like carrying in the groceries, doing fun exercises like wheel-barrow walks or bear walks that give a lot of input to muscles and joints, etc. The sensory diet for a particular child should be designed by an experienced occupational therapist.

[Maria/ME]

The sensory diet is about providing the child with the particular sensory experiences that he or she needs to help organize his or her nervous system. Proprioceptive input (that is, input from the joints and muscles to the brain) is helpful in organizing most people's neurological system. So most sensory diets will include things like wearing a weighted vest or using a weighted lap pad, lifting heavy (relatively for the child) loads like carrying in the groceries, doing fun exercises like wheel-barrow walks or bear walks that give a lot of input to muscles and joints, etc. The sensory diet for a particular child should be designed by an experienced occupational therapist.

 

Okay. How dumb am I? I was thinking diet as in food. Because I know that food/nutrition plays a large role in our health...I just assumed...:rolleyes: Never assume, right?