What does the “plus” in Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+) mean? We often hear this question from educators wondering how IMSE’s OG+ program expands on the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching literacy.

The Orton-Gillingham approach laid the foundation for structured, multisensory literacy instruction. IMSE OG+ takes those principles and builds on them, combining OG’s time-tested framework with decades of literacy research, classroom experience, modern instructional design, and key components like phonological awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension.

This article unpacks what IMSE’s OG+ is, how it stems from traditional OG, and why we created it.

Understanding Orton-Gillingham


The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is an evidence-based, Structured Literacy methodology that has shaped reading instruction for nearly a century. Developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel T. Orton and Anna Gillingham, OG was designed as an intervention for students with dyslexia and those who struggled with reading, spelling, and writing.

IMSE’s OG approach teaches the building blocks of language, starting with phonological awareness, then phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters), and decoding skills in a deliberate, cumulative sequence. Each lesson builds on the one before it, ensuring students develop a deep understanding of how language works.

In many ways, OG brought the science of reading into practice long before the term became mainstream in the last several decades. It remains one of the most effective approaches to instruction, supporting students and teachers through all tiers of instruction.

What Is IMSE’s OG+?


IMSE’s OG+ is a Structured Literacy program for K–2 foundational reading skills. It’s based on  Orton-Gillingham principles and  designed for today’s classrooms, supporting whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction.

The IMSE OG+ program incorporates all key literacy components:

  • Phonological Awareness

  • Phonics and Decoding

  • Fluency

  • Vocabulary

  • Comprehension

Each lesson follows a sequential, cumulative structure and can be integrated into a school’s literacy block. Teachers receive detailed lesson plans and digital tools to make implementation simple and effective.

Why IMSE Created OG+


IMSE developed OG+ to meet a critical need in literacy education: a Structured Literacy curriculum that could be implemented universally, not just used for intervention.

Too often, early struggles with reading tend to persist over a student’s academic career and affect their adult life. OG+ was created to change that trajectory by giving teachers a systematic, multisensory program aligned with the science of reading, ensuring every student gets the foundational instruction they need from the start.

What Makes IMSE’s OG+ Stand Out

  1. Designed for All Learners

OG+ was built for all students. It’s flexible enough to differentiate instruction across all tiers, supporting students in all phases of development. Its sequential, structured framework helps students build confidence, retain knowledge, and progress at their own pace.

  1. Comprehensive and Integrated

OG+ takes an integrated approach that connects reading, spelling, and writing. It teaches students how to decode and encode words fluently, skills that are essential for comprehension and long-term literacy success.

  1. Created for Today’s Classrooms

IMSE’s OG+ integrates 59 neuroscience and educational best practices to create instruction that is multimodal, explicit, and engaging. Students learn through interactive activities, visual supports, and digital tools.

  1. Enhanced Teacher Tools and Support

IMSE’s OG+ provides structured daily lesson plans, digital and print resources, and a full professional development pathway. With IMSE , teachers gain confidence and consistency, whether they’re new to Structured Literacy or seasoned practitioners.

  1. Digital Integration Through IMSE LAB

One of the biggest advancements with OG+ is IMSE LAB, a digital companion platform that delivers lesson components, assessments, and progress tracking. Teachers gain real-time insights into student performance, enabling data-driven instruction and timely intervention.

  1. Built on Research

The “Plus” also signifies progress. IMSE continuously refines OG+ to reflect the research, ensuring it remains both evidence-based and classroom-tested.

Empowering Teachers, Elevating Students


IMSE’s OG+ was built with students and teachers in mind. With a wide range of lesson materials, knowledge-building resources, digital supports, and clear, cumulative lessons, educators are equipped to deliver instruction that works for every learner, every day.

OG+ represents IMSE’s mission that Structured Literacy is not a privilege for some, but the necessary foundation for all students learning to read and spell .

 


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