Dyslexia and Orton-Gillingham Tutoring in Portland
Your Child Is Capable. Reading May Require a Different Kind of Instruction.
1-on-1 Instruction | 2 Days per Week | In Person & Online
- We respond within two business days.
What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?
Orton-Gillingham is a structured literacy approach designed for students with dyslexia and persistent difficulties with reading and spelling. Instruction is explicit, systematic, sequential, diagnostic, and multisensory.
Students learn how sounds connect to letters, how words are built, and how spelling patterns work. Lessons are individualized and carefully paced so students can build strong foundations step by step.
Orton-Gillingham may be a strong fit for students who:
- Have dyslexia or signs of dyslexia
- Struggle significantly with decoding and spelling
- Continue to have difficulty despite classroom support or previous tutoring
- Need sustained, individualized instruction to build foundational skills
- Benefit from a carefully paced, mastery-based approach
Many of these students are bright, curious, and full of ideas, but reading difficulty has made it harder for them to show what they know. The right instruction can help their skills begin to reflect the capable learners they have always been.
Why Families Choose Orton-Gillingham Tutoring
Sustained, Individualized Support
Orton-Gillingham tutoring provides one-to-one instruction that is carefully matched to each student’s learning needs. Students work in a calm, structured setting where they can take risks, ask questions, and build skills without the pressure of keeping pace with a group.
Lessons follow a systematic sequence while allowing the tutor to revisit, reinforce, and extend skills as needed. Students build foundational reading and spelling skills, including phonemic awareness, decoding, encoding, word recognition, and understanding how written language works.
This sustained, mastery-based approach gives students time to develop secure foundations step by step. As reading becomes more accurate and manageable, many students begin to rely less on guessing, take greater risks, and regain confidence in themselves as learners.
What to Expect
We begin with a conversation about your child’s reading history, current challenges, strengths, and learning needs. This helps us determine whether Orton-Gillingham tutoring is the right path and identify an appropriate starting point.
From there, your child receives individualized instruction based on their learning profile. Lessons are explicit, systematic, and carefully sequenced. The tutor monitors how your child responds, reinforces skills that need more practice, and introduces new concepts as readiness develops.
Families receive communication about what the student is learning, where progress is occurring, and what may need continued attention.
The goal is not only stronger reading and spelling. It is for students to experience themselves again as capable, successful learners whose abilities are no longer hidden by reading difficulty.
“I noticed a difference within a week as my son was reading the back of trucks and road signs on the way to and from camp! He started writing items on our camping shopping list without complaining and improved legibility! He not only wants to play word games, but he is also reading the instructions for new board games.Thank you to everyone that helped accelerate my son's progress in reading and writing. This program and tutors have given him the gift of confidence. It has truly changed our lives as a family.”
Is Orton-Gillingham the Right Path for Your Child?
Choosing reading support can feel overwhelming, especially when your child has already been working hard. A consultation with our Program Director can help you understand whether Orton-Gillingham tutoring is a strong fit and what the next step may be.
Scholarships
At The Blosser Center, we believe every child deserves access to high-quality tutoring regardless of financial circumstances. As a small nonprofit, we are dedicated to making structured literacy instruction available to all learners. Reducing barriers to access is central to our mission, and we continue to prioritize equity in everything we do.
Scholarships for Fall 2026 will open September 1–15, 2026 for fall tutoring.
Scholarships are financial-need based and made possible entirely through the generosity of donors. For more details about how scholarships are awarded, please read more here. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please write Erin Cullins at erin@theBlosserCenter.org. We will send out a notification when the next scholarship applications are open.
More Than One Way Forward
Families come to Blosser at different points in their child’s reading journey. We help them understand what may be getting in the way, identify the right next step, and find support matched to their child’s needs.
Depending on where your child is in their reading journey, that way forward may begin with:
- Reading assessments and guidance on next steps
- Orton-Gillingham and intensive structured literacy tutoring
- Individualized support for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties
- Summer reading programs
- Free educational programs for parents and educators
- Trusted information about dyslexia, neurodiversity, and reading development
Reading difficulty does not define a child’s potential. Whether the next step is assessment, sustained Orton-Gillingham instruction, an intensive structured literacy program, or clearer guidance for the family, Blosser helps build a path forward.
information@theblossercenter.org