Free Orton-Gillingham Resources For Literacy Education

Dec. 3, 2025, 7:04 a.m.

Tags: gillingham orton

Introduction

Orton-Gillingham is an instructional approach for teaching literacy skills to individuals with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. The methodology emphasizes multisensory learning, structured phonics, and systematic instruction. For educators, tutors, and parents implementing this approach, numerous free resources are available to supplement instruction. These resources include game materials, reading passages, phonemic awareness tools, student recognition systems, syllable division practice, and training materials. This article explores the variety of free Orton-Gillingham resources accessible through educational platforms, teacher marketplaces, and specialized websites.

Game-Based Free Resources

The Pick-A-Pattern FREEBIE SAMPLER CVC represents one accessible entry point for educators seeking game-based Orton-Gillingham materials. This sampler pack is derived from a larger card games bundle and includes detailed instructions along with low-prep game materials specifically designed for teaching consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) patterns. The resource can be utilized in various educational settings, including one-on-one support sessions, small group instruction, or even whole class environments.

These game materials align with multisensory Orton-Gillingham principles by engaging students in tactile and visual learning activities. The sampler format allows educators to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pick-A-Pattern approach before committing to the full bundle. The game mechanics support phonemic awareness and decoding skills, which are foundational components of Orton-Gillingham instruction.

Educators who find value in this free sampler may explore additional resources from the same creator, including decodable reading passages available through a mailing list signup. This opt-in approach allows resource creators to distribute specialized materials directly to interested educators while building a community around their instructional approach.

Reading Passages and Decodable Texts

Decodable texts form a critical component of Orton-Gillingham instruction, providing students with practice materials that align with the phonetic patterns they are learning. Several free resources offer decodable passages suitable for beginning readers and those with dyslexia.

One resource mentioned is a set of decodable passages available to those who sign up for a creator's mailing list. These passages represent supplementary materials designed for use alongside structured literacy programs. The passages incorporate controlled vocabulary and focus on specific phonetic patterns, allowing students to apply their decoding skills in context.

Teachers Pay Teachers features several free Orton-Gillingham-aligned reading passages, including Magic E passages that reinforce sight words, fluency, and new phonetic patterns. These single-passage samplers provide educators with opportunities to assess the suitability of larger passage sets for their students' needs. The Magic E passages, for example, focus on the pattern where a silent "e" at the end of a word makes the preceding vowel say its name, as in "bike" and "cake."

Additional reading resources include winter-themed phonics materials that can be used seasonally while maintaining instructional focus. These resources often emphasize active learning opportunities that minimize screen time, making them suitable for various instructional environments.

Phonemic Awareness Tools

Phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words—forms a crucial foundation for reading instruction. Several free resources target these specific skills through multisensory activities.

The Tap and Switch Cards represent one such phonemic awareness tool available at no cost. This sampler set helps build phonemic awareness using CVC words, with cards targeting beginning, medial, and final sounds. The cards can be utilized in literacy centers or small group settings, providing structured practice in sound segmentation and manipulation.

These multisensory cards incorporate tactile and visual elements that support the Orton-Gillingham approach's emphasis on engaging multiple sensory pathways during learning. The cards' design allows for flexible implementation across different instructional settings while maintaining focus on developing essential phonemic awareness skills.

Educators preview these materials before downloading to ensure alignment with their students' needs and instructional goals. The sampler format enables teachers to evaluate the cards' effectiveness before accessing the complete set, if available.

Student Recognition and Motivation

Motivation and positive reinforcement play important roles in literacy instruction, particularly for students who may have experienced previous difficulties with reading. The "Tags That Brag" resource offers a solution for celebrating student progress during Orton-Gillingham lessons.

This free resource consists of 81 tags designed to acknowledge student success across different instructional levels (1-5), along with blank tags that educators can personalize for specific achievements. The tags serve as both recognition tools and discussion prompts, allowing educators to provide immediate positive feedback while reinforcing learning concepts.

The tags are not editable, requiring educators to use them as-is or write directly on the physical tags. They represent a non-digital recognition system that can be implemented alongside technology-based instructional approaches. The tags' design aligns with Orton-Gillingham principles by providing tangible, multisensory reinforcement of learning progress.

These recognition tools can be particularly valuable for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties, who may benefit from frequent, positive feedback as they develop literacy skills. The tags' structured approach to recognition helps educators systematically acknowledge progress across different skill levels and areas of achievement.

Syllable Division Practice

Understanding syllable types and division patterns represents an advanced component of Orton-Gillingham instruction that supports reading and spelling multisyllabic words. Free resources are available to help students practice these skills.

One resource focuses on multisensory syllable division practice, designed to help students recognize and differentiate between various syllable types. This practice material supports the systematic progression of Orton-Gillingham instruction, allowing students to apply previously learned concepts to increasingly complex words.

The multisensory approach engages students through multiple learning pathways, reinforcing understanding through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities. These materials can be implemented in one-on-one support sessions, small groups, or whole class settings, providing flexibility for different instructional needs.

Educators using these resources may find them particularly valuable for older students requiring remediation in syllable awareness, as the materials incorporate common morphemes and syllables found in multisyllabic words. This focus on meaningful word parts supports vocabulary development alongside decoding skills.

Training and Educational Resources

For educators, tutors, and parents seeking to implement Orton-Gillingham instruction effectively, free training resources and educational materials are available through specialized academies and online platforms.

The Orton-Gillingham Online Academy offers various training options at different levels, from basic language instruction for early readers to advanced morphology courses. While comprehensive training programs typically require payment, the academy provides informational resources about the Orton-Gillingham approach and its alignment with the Science of Reading.

Educators can subscribe to academy newsletters to receive "first dibs on webinar seats, freebies, and subscriber-only tips and tidbits." This opt-in approach provides access to specialized resources and professional development opportunities at no cost. The academy also offers information about training options for different educational contexts, including school districts, parents and educators, and homeschooling parents.

Additional educational resources include handouts designed to help families understand the Orton-Gillingham approach, making these materials valuable for communication between home and school settings. These informational resources support collaboration between educators and parents by providing clear explanations of instructional methodologies and their benefits.

How to Access These Resources

The free Orton-Gillingham resources discussed are distributed through various platforms, each with its own access requirements and limitations.

The Literacy Nest, LLC offers several free resources through its online store. Educators can access these materials by visiting the website and downloading the digital files directly. Some resources require an email address to access, particularly when signing up for mailing lists to receive exclusive freebies like decodable passages.

Teachers Pay Teachers features numerous free Orton-Gillingham resources available through its platform. Educators must create an account to download these materials, though the basic account level is free. The platform allows users to filter searches specifically for free resources related to Orton-Gillingham instruction.

The Orton-Gillingham Online Academy requires newsletter subscription for access to its free resources and information about training opportunities. The academy also provides details about its marketplace for digital resources that supplement Orton-Gillingham lessons.

It is important to note the usage terms accompanying these resources. Most specify that materials are for educational use only and not for commercial purposes or resale. Some resources are designated for single-user access, requiring additional licenses for sharing among multiple educators or across classrooms.

Conclusion

Free Orton-Gillingham resources provide valuable support for educators, tutors, and parents implementing structured literacy approaches. These materials span various instructional needs, from foundational phonemic awareness activities to advanced syllable division practice. Game-based resources like the Pick-A-Pattern CVC sampler offer engaging ways to reinforce phonetic concepts, while decodable passages provide opportunities for application in context. Recognition tools like "Tags That Brag" support motivation and positive reinforcement, crucial for students experiencing reading difficulties.

The accessibility of these resources through platforms like The Literacy Nest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and specialized academies makes them widely available to those who might not have access to comprehensive Orton-Gillingham programs. By utilizing these free materials, educators can enhance their instructional approaches while maintaining fidelity to the multisensory, structured principles of Orton-Gillingham methodology.

As with all educational resources, educators should evaluate materials carefully for alignment with students' specific needs and program requirements. Understanding usage terms and access limitations ensures appropriate implementation while respecting creators' terms of service.