Classroom Educator Guidelines

The Classroom Educator certification is designed for educators in general education settings who provide and adapt literacy instruction for entire classes or small groups requiring additional support.

The training provides a foundational understanding of key elements of Orton-Gillingham instruction for general education classroom settings. Educators interested in working with struggling readers, including individuals with dyslexia, should consider the Associate level, which provides more intensive training for individual and small-group instruction.

Classroom Educator certification is not a prerequisite for Associate training.

Students with significant reading difficulties may require more intensive instruction from a practitioner trained at the Associate level or above.

Areas of Study

The Classroom Educator training includes key topics in reading instruction and the Orton-Gillingham Approach, including:

• Reading Acquisition
• Phonological and phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Reading fluency
• Vocabulary
• Reading comprehension

The Orton-Gillingham Approach

• The history and seminal works that shaped the Orton-Gillingham Approach
• Brain research related to reading development
• The difference between an instructional approach and a scripted program
• The Principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach
• The structure of the English language
• Developing Orton-Gillingham lesson plans for groups and classrooms

Requirements

Prerequisites

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any area of study

Coursework

• Minimum of 30 hours completed with an Academy Fellow or Fellow-in-Training (FIT) under the supervision of a Fellow

Practicum

• Minimum of 50 hours over eight consecutive months (at least one school year)
• Five observations of the trainee teaching complete lessons in a group or classroom setting
• Observations completed through unedited video recordings or onsite by a Fellow or Fellow-in-Training

Readings

• Assigned at the discretion of the training Fellow

Additional Information

• Application to the Academy through the SurveyMonkey Apply website, including two letters of support
• Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator Warranty
• OGA Code of Ethics

Fees

Application Fee: $120 (includes first-year dues)

Annual Dues: $90