The Alternative Press

Eileen Perlman, co-author of “Preventing Academic Failure,” a reading program based on the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading, instructed special education and basic skills teachers from the Summit Public Schools about the program during a two-day workshop held in Summit May 30-31. The scientifically based program uses multisensory instruction to teach reading, spelling, and handwriting by strengthening visual, auditory, and kinesthetic associations and automatic recall, which helps improve word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension.  The program teaches the alphabetic principle, higher-level word analysis skills, and comprehension strategies along with opportunities for practice and reinforcement.