IMSE - Journal

Essential Literacy Skills: What to Teach and When to Teach It

Grades K-2

Michigan Introduces New Dyslexia Legislation

After decades of low reading scores, some Michigan legislators are making a push for structured literacy and the science of…

Teachers in a professional development program.

What to Look for in an Effective Professional Development Program

Teachers are life-long learners.

What is the Science of Reading?

Our Commitment to Evidence-Based Reading Instruction: Aligning Instruction with the Science of Reading Using Structured Literacy

It Was Time for a Change | New Website Announcement

We wanted a change. Our teachers and community deserved a change.

Embracing the Science of Reading: Making the Transition from the Three Cueing System

Everyone is buzzing about the Science of Reading, as the evidence to support effective reading instruction becomes widespread news and…

How to Improve Vocabulary: Strategies & Activities

Vocabulary is an essential component of comprehension and writing.

Tips for Parents of Struggling Readers

As caregivers of young children, we use our imaginations to build forts from bed sheets and bring characters from picture…

The Power of Professional Development: One School’s Experience

Science has shown that systematic, explicit phonics instruction is the necessary foundation for successful reading.

Breaking Down IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Method

Linguistic awareness promotes the acquisition of reading. It occurs when a person gains a deeper understanding of both spoken and…

Structured Literacy vs. Balanced Literacy: Where Orton-Gillingham Fits

In the 1980s and 1990s, there existed a debate revolving around the question: What is the best approach to teaching…

How to Teach Phonemic Awareness

The importance of developing an ability to read in the early years of education cannot be stressed enough.

Best Digital Resources for Teachers to Utilize in 2020

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our daily norms and prompted school closures across the globe, teachers have been required…

Multi-Sensory Learning: Types of Instruction and Materials

Highlighting how multi-sensory learning looks in the classroom and different options for how to instruct.

Encoding vs. Decoding

Heads or tails, top or bottom, inside or outside… We are surrounded by examples that require an understanding of dualities,…

The Importance of Teaching Children Decoding Strategies

At one time or another, we have all encountered students who struggle to read a multisyllabic word. As educators, we…

Early Signs of Dyslexia

Early identification of dyslexia leads to essential prevention strategies and interventions that can give children the resources they need to…

Reading Fluency & How to Improve It

Highlighting what reading fluency entails and how important it is to the end goal: reading comprehension.

How IMSE is Going Virtual

When the COVID-19 pandemic began its outbreak in the United States, the educational landscape was thrown into a frenzy. Administrators,…

Carla Siravo Q&A

IMSE has been lucky enough to partner with Carla Siravo, a children’s book author and K-5 literacy specialist. Carla has…

Using Technology to Complement Literacy Instruction

Teaching children to read is a complex task that requires insight into a child’s needs, personal learning styles, effective reinforcement,…

The Importance of Orthographic Mapping

Orthographic Mapping is a term that sounds daunting, but it is fundamental for fluent reading.

How Spelling Affects Reading and Writing

Spelling is one of the most forgotten aspects of literacy development. In many classroom settings, it is looked at as…

A Thank You Letter to Our Teachers

To all our educators,

Ways to Help Your Child Build Vocabulary

“What does the word ______ mean?” asks every child everywhere. “Look it up in the dictionary,” most parents reply!

Best Digital Tools for Reading Development

Over the last few weeks, many parents have found themselves in the role of providing instruction to their children without…

Importance of Poetry, Rhyming, and Music

April is National Poetry Month!

Ways to Keep Your Child Reading While Out of School

As students acclimate to virtual classrooms, parents’ partnerships with teachers are more important than ever. Students benefit from structure and…

Great Board Games and Family Activities to Help Young Learners Build New Skills

Take advantage of the extra family time and up your game! Grab some of your favorite board games and dust…

Favorite Fantasy Tales For Every Reading Level

There’s something special about fantasy. For generations, readers young and old have been swept up in stories filled with wondrous…

How to Help Your Child Build Reading Skills Over Break

While students are on break, it can be difficult to get children to practice reading skills. However, if you make…

Emily Hanford Q&A (Part 2)

Emily Hanford is a senior education correspondent at APM Reports, the documentary and investigative journalism group at American Public Media.…

Book Recommendations for Every Reading Level

With so many distractions in today’s world, from television to video games to texting, books may not make it on…

Emily Hanford Q&A (Part 1)

Emily Hanford is a senior education correspondent at APM Reports, the documentary and investigative journalism group at American Public Media.…

Literacy Policies: Where Your State Stands (Part 5)

With the 2019-2020 school year officially underway, IMSE is excited to continue our 5-part overview of literacy policies across the…

Literacy Policies: Where Your State Stands (Part 4)

With the 2019-2020 school year halfway done, IMSE is excited to continue our 5-part overview of literacy policies across the…

Literacy Policies: Where Your State Stands (Part 3)

With the 2019-2020 school year halfway done, IMSE is excited to continue our 5-part overview of literacy policies across the…

Three Components of Multi-Sensory Instruction

We often hear that children learn to read differently, but that isn’t the case. Research has shown that in order…

Small Things You Can Do to Improve Your Child’s Reading

Early literacy development is vital to a child’s success in school and beyond. Even if you took to reading and…

Literacy Policies: Where Your State Stands (Part 2)

With the 2019-2020 school year nearly halfway done, IMSE is excited to continue our 5-part overview of literacy policies across…

Literacy Policies: Where Your State Stands (Part 1)

With the 2019-2020 school year officially underway, IMSE is excited to announce our 5-part overview of literacy policies across the…

Literacy Policies: Where Your State Stands (Introduction)

With the 2019-2020 school year officially underway, IMSE is excited to announce our 5-part overview of literacy policies across the…

Dr. Maria Murray, Founder of The Reading League, Talks with IMSE

Dr. Maria Murray is the founder and CEO of The Reading League, a not-for-profit association dedicated to advancing the awareness,…

Report: Success In A Colorado School District

Approximately 8,000 K-3 students were assessed each year over 4 school years (2014-2018). They were tested with the Dibels NEXT…

Dual Language Learners Are Mastering English At This NJ School, Thanks to IMSE Orton-Gillingham

Florinda Monje knows what it feels like not to understand English. The Peru native studied English before immigrating to the…

15 Activities and Tips to Keep Children Reading Throughout the Summer

Looking to avoid the summer slide? With students out of school, here are some ideas to get — and keep…

Orton-Gillingham Approach Getting Students Reading in Florida

At the start of the school year, Florida second grader Mia Nunez couldn’t read. But after a dyslexia diagnosis and…

A Letter From Our Founder at the End of the School Year

Dear Educators, As we reach the end of the 2018-2019 school year, I’m inspired by the success I’ve seen in…

What is Structured Literacy?

Structured Literacy™ is a term created by the International Dyslexia Association in 2016 to help unify the names of the…

‘It Just Makes Sense’: Florida Teachers Revamp 1st Grade Curriculum After Orton-Gillingham Training

For three days last summer, three Florida teachers sat down with sheets of butcher block paper to map out a…

This Multi-Sensory Approach is Key to Teaching Growing ELL Population to Read, Alabama Teachers Say

For Lindsey Barrell, Orton-Gillingham is all about confidence. “The biggest thing I’ve seen in my kids this year is that…

After 20 Years of Teaching, Maryland Educator Calls IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham a Game-Changer

Laurie Gibbons knew she wanted to be trained in IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham the second she heard a colleague using it. “Her…

IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Approach Leads to a Jump in Reading Scores at this New Jersey School

When Bridget Cassidy started working with a group of first graders last fall, they didn’t know their letter sounds. Now,…

Try These 5 Things to Supercharge Reading Success at Your School

At the Institute of Multi-Sensory Education, we’ve worked with some of the largest school districts in the nation — and…

Students in Rural North Carolina See Major Growth in Reading Levels Thanks to New Approach

When Christina Grandt stopped giving weekly spelling lists to her first graders, their parents were skeptical. “The parents weren’t so…

Creating a School-wide IMSE OG Culture Takes Literacy to the Next Level at this New Jersey School

Bridgeton Public Schools, which has now trained over 200 K-3 educators in all six of its elementary schools in the…

Meet Jeanne Jeup: IMSE Co-Founder, Mother, Entrepreneur and Global Literacy Advocate

For nearly 25 years, Jeanne Jeup has helped children across the U.S. learn to read by empowering educators with innovative…

Award-Winning Virginia Educator Shares Her Secret To Teaching Children To Read

When Jennifer Burgin went to college, she had no idea she would want to become a teacher. Trying to decide…

Veteran Indiana Teacher Discovers ‘Game Changing’ Approach That Helps Her First Graders Learn To Read

Rachael Phillips is a first grade teacher for Richmond Community Schools at Fairview Elementary School in Richmond, Ind., on the…

A Back To School Message For Educators From Our Founder: ‘IMSE Is Here For You’

Dear Teachers, As educators, each new school year brings a refreshed sense of excitement and a hunger to teach and…

What is Orton-Gillingham?

The Orton-Gillingham approach was developed in the 1930s by a neurologist named Dr. Samuel T. Orton and an educator named…

Indiana Third-Grader Reads Nearly Four Times Faster After Teacher Uses IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Method

For the last five years, Gina Walker has been a special education teacher at Deerfield Elementary School in Ridgeville, Ind.…

Expert Interviews: What Role Does Literacy Play In A Child’s Positive Self-Confidence? Dr. Oscar Underwood Explains

We know that literacy plays a critical role in a child’s future. From post-secondary education options, to career prospects, overall…

IMSE Chosen As Literacy Instruction Partner For Arkansas’ New R.I.S.E. Literacy Initiative

The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education was recently selected as a professional development partner in Arkansas’ new Reading Initiative for Student…

Beth McGaw, Mom And President Of The Learning Disabilities Association Of America’s Board Of Directors, Talks With The IMSE Journal

Beth McGaw is the newest President of the Learning Disabilities Association of America’s Board of Directors — but her journey…

Secret To Top-Rated Colorado School’s Boost In Literacy Due To New Teaching Training Program, Officials Say

Bergen Valley and Bergen Meadows Schools in Evergreen, Colo. are two of the state’s most top-rated schools. But, as Principal Peggy…

5 Things We Learned From Understood.Org Education Expert Bob Cunningham

Bob Cunningham is the advisor-in-residence on learning and attention issues for Understood.org — an organization and online resource for parents…

As Michigan Grapples With Literacy Rates, This Detroit School Tries Something New

Just ten minutes from downtown Detroit is The James and Grace Lee Boggs School, a K-8 neighborhood charter school designed…

Colorado Springs Teachers Are Fighting The National Literacy Crisis—And Winning

As school districts across the country struggle with a nationwide literacy crisis, one Colorado school district has found that its…

Meet The Instructors: Jean Rishel

For nearly eight years, Lead Instructor Jean Rishel has helped guide countless educators through the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education’s Orton-Gillingham…

From The Archives: 5 Must-Read IMSE Journal Articles

While many of the fundamentals of reading and learning have remained the same over the decades, increased implementation of various…

These YouTube Read-Alouds Are Perfect For Young Readers

Reading aloud is an essential skill for beginner readers. Not only does it help put together letters and words with…

Op-Ed: True Literacy Investment Must Happen Or Michigan’s 3rd Grade Guarantee Will Be An Empty Promise

Michigan’s “Third Grade Guarantee” law is preparing to take effect, but statistics showing the vast majority of Detroit Public School…

Reading? There’s An App For That. Here Are IMSE’s Favorite Literacy-Based Apps

In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to successfully integrate technology into learning. Screens and software-based educational programs…

IMSE Certification Takes Literacy Education Commitment To The Next Level

When educators decide to become certified in IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham, they are making a lifelong investment in students’ literacy education and…

Celebrate March is Reading Month With IMSE!

The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education is celebrating March is Reading Month, and we want you to join us! We’ll be…

Here’s How Michigan Teachers Can Win A FREE WEEK of IMSE Training

Are you a teacher in Michigan interested in learning Orton-Gillingham from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education? Now’s your chance!

Hope Amid Crisis: Mom-Daughter Teaching Team Return From Using IMSE’s OG In Syrian Refugee Camps

After spending six months in Jordan as part of a graduate fellowship, American University student Lauren Jackson is back stateside —…

After 35 Years Of Teaching In Orlando, Speech Pathologist Says IMSE Certification Was ‘The Missing Piece’

For over three decades, Susan Evans has dedicated her life to children’s education. A Speech Language Pathologist, mentor, trainer and…

In Flint, Baltimore And Dallas, NFL Star Brandon Carr Is Tackling Literacy

When Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr isn’t intercepting passes and dominating plays, you might find him acting as “Principal for…

It’s Time To Break ‘Stigma’ Around Literacy, A Basic ‘Civil Right,’ Barbara Bush Foundation Says

At the age of 92, former First Lady Barbara Bush has seen many things change throughout her life, but one…

Meet The Instructors: Kim Collins

Around the country, dedicated teaching professionals who are trained in Orton-Gillingham by the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education are helping their…

A Year In Review: 13 IMSE OG Stories That Made 2017 Extra Special

The holidays are a time of reflection and gratitude, and we here at the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education sure have…

A Day Inside IMSE: Here’s What It’s Like To Spend A Day Training With Us

The busy life of an educator seems to never stop. So why should a teacher carve out time to up…

Over 500 Loudoun Co. Teachers Ready To Tackle Dyslexia With New IMSE Training

When educators in Virginia’s Loudoun County Public Schools system began realizing core instruction alone wasn’t meeting the reading needs of…

From Struggling With Dyslexia To Working For NASA, This Engineer Helped Pave The Way For Others

As a boy struggling with dyslexia, it was hard for Lawrence Schneider to imagine life past the third grade. Little…

12 Famous People Who Struggled With Dyslexia Before Changing The World

Without the proper support and education, dyslexia can often leave eager students feeling self-conscious and inadequate. Despite difficulties in reading,…

5 Things We Learned About The Dyslexic Brain From An MIT Neuroscientist

Dr. John Gabrieli is a professor and expert neuroscientist in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science at the Massachusetts…

IMSE OG Graduate Heading To Jordan To Work with Teachers at Syrian Refugee Camps

Garret Jackson has seen the power of the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education’s OG training work with her students in Texas.…

Arlington, VA Says IMSE’s OG is Integral to Helping Children with Dyslexia Read with Success

IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham training is a really big deal at Arlington (Va.) Public Schools. More than 300 teachers in the K-12…

A Letter from the Co-Founder of IMSE as We Begin A New Year

Dear Educators, At the start of each new school year, I am energized by the possibility it offers you. At…

Meet the Instructors: Janice Kohler, IMSE

Almost two decades later, the story of a boy and his dad still sticks in Janice Kohler’s mind. Kohler at…

Special Ed Teacher Says IMSE’s OG Training Changed Her Life

Donna Cortright is currently Captain Candy. That’s how Cortright, a special education teacher for kindergartners through fifth-graders at Ossian (Indiana)…

This Pittsburgh School Says Investing in Their Teachers’ English Language Core Knowledge Makes Big Impact

The Journal asked Community Day School representatives to discuss how its teachers have benefited from Orton-Gillingham training.Their response was so…

IMSE Named a Preferred PD Training Program for Oregon

The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education in late June was approved as an official vendor by the Oregon Department of Education,…

Orton-Gillingham and Technology Intersect at this Atlanta School

A K-12 Orton-Gillingham school for 275 students with dyslexia and other language-based LDs in Atlanta is seeing big results using…

IMSE’s OG Helps English Make Sense For These Special Ed Students

Kathryn Nieves never tires of seeing her students smile in the classroom. Nieves, a special education teacher at Sparta Middle…

Second Graders Taught Using IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Have Ah-Ha Moment

Adrianna Love loves using Institute for Multi-Sensory Education’s Orton-Gillingham training with her 26 second-grade students at Neil Armstrong Elementary School…

IMSE OG Instructor Stacey Kasoff Named Learning Ally’s Tutor of the Month

IMSE Orton-Gillingham instructor Stacey Kasoff was honored as Learning Ally’s tutor of the month for June 2017.

IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Training Leads To Huge Growth In Students’ Reading Ability

At the start of the school year, most of Alyssa Bergman’s students didn’t think they’d be able to read words…

Ultrarunner Running 43 Miles To Raise Funds For Reading Center

Melissa Raguet-Schofield describes being a mother of a dyslexic child as “like running through the wilderness all by yourself.” Raguet-Schofield,…

Summer Reading Initiative Fights “Summer Slide” at this New Jersey School

For the fourth straight year, the 200-plus students at Slackwood Elementary School, a pre-K-3 school in Lawrenceville, N.J., will send…

For Some Students, Reading at Grade Level Isn’t Tapping Their Full Potential

Victoria Jones, an instructor for the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education, knows first hand the power the Orton-Gillingham teaching method can have…

Super Bowl Champ Malcolm Mitchell Is A True Champion Of Youth Literacy

Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell this year won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, but his biggest accomplishment has…

Learning Specialist: ‘Helping These Kids Is What I Was Created To Do’

Pola Millard believes she’s found her true calling teaching the students at New Hope Christian Academy — and her daughter…

Principal Led School-Wide Literacy Initiative Embraced By Community

Monday is National School Principals’ Day, and what better way to honor them than by featuring William Colon, the principal…

A New Teaching Approach Has Wyoming Inmates Reading With Success

Learning Latin has become a breeze for some of the inmates in the Wyoming Department of Corrections, thanks to the…

You Sent These Awesome Photos And Videos Showing IMSE’s OG At Work

At the Journal, we love getting feedback from our thousands of Twitter followers. Check out some of the great photography…

Every Student Succeeds Act

The Journal takes an in-depth look at ESSA—the Every Student Succeeds Act, signed into law by President Obama in 2015. The…

IMSE Certification in Action: Stephanie Sawhney

The Journal talks to veteran teacher, Stephanie Sawhney, about her experience taking IMSE’s Comprehensive Training and Practicum. While many educators conduct…

Parent Perspectives: Shannon Chamberlin

Chase Chamberlin has reaped the benefits of IMSE’s OG. The Journal talks to his mother, Shannon, to learn more about his…

Differentiation with Interactive OG Makes All the Difference

Today, teachers face a diverse classroom of students with a wide variety of abilities, experiences and backgrounds. With that diversity,…

Research Beat: Reading On Screens Changes How We Think

Researchers from Dartmouth and Carnegie Mellon have published the results of their study into the effects of digital reading on comprehension.

Profiles in Teaching: Stacey and Lillian

OG isn’t just for children! Adult ESL learners like Lillian Faranso with the help of her tutor, Stacey Peper, are…

Working Together: The IMSE-Learning Ally Partnership

Together, IMSE and Learning Ally bring qualified Orton-Gillingham instruction to educators and their students across the country. Learn more about…

Orton-Gillingham in the General Education Classroom

Many school districts are unlocking the power of Orton-Gillingham reading instruction—and not just in remedial or one-on-one settings, but in their…

Because You Can’t, You Won’t and You Don’t Stop: Hip-hop in the Classroom

Students and teachers are using Hip-hop as a dynamic, fun and innovative way to boost reading confidence and increase vocabulary.

Guest Column: Books for a First Year Teacher

IMSE’s own Allison Pajor knows what it’s like to be a first year teacher—the excitement, the pressure. She led classrooms for five…

Building Better Readers: Lori Oczkus and Reciprocal Teaching

Reciprocal Teaching is a powerful reading strategy that supercharges students’ comprehension and engagement with their reading. Watch our interview with Lori…

IMSE Certification in Action: Lori Mikulka

The Journal catches up with veteran teacher Lori Mikulka who recently completed IMSE’s 45 Hour Practicum. Watch our interview with…

Video Q&A with Elisheva Schwartz, creator of The Dyslexia Quest podcast

Elisheva Schwartz is the host and creator of The Dyslexia Quest podcast, a dynamic collection of interviews with writers, researchers…

Book Trading Sites

Hop on these handy web sites to trade in your old books for some new titles for your summer reading list!

Reading in the Digital Age

With the nearly-universal availability of the internet, reading has changed dramatically in the last twenty-plus years to become a non-linear, multimedia-rich…

Winning with IMSE: Hamilton City Schools

The partnership between IMSE and Hamilton City Schools in Ohio has brought amazing results in reading for children in grades…

LDA Sounds Alarm for Children’s Futures in Flint Water Crisis

In the wake of Flint, Michigan’s water crisis endangering the lives and health of thousands of children, the Learning Disabilities…

Make Learning Fun with Word Games

Stave off the winter blahs and engage your learners with some fast-paced (and addictive) word games! These games focus on word…

IMSE Certification in Action: Melissa and Sunny Young

The Journal talks to Melissa Young, who just received her Level 1 Comprehensive Certification with IMSE. Watch our interview with Melissa…

Research Beat: Read to Babies Now for Better Literacy Skills Later

Researchers at the University of Iowa are examining the role reading plays in helping infants develop language skills.

Start a Children’s Book Club!

Just as they are for adults, book clubs can be a great way to get children together to read and…

Get Students Writing on the Right Path!

For years, writing has been the most neglected of the ‘3 R’s.’ At the same time, educators know it’s never too…

Q&A With Deborah Lynam, Parent Member of Decoding Dyslexia-New Jersey

The IMSE Journal talks to Deborah Lynam, a founding member of Decoding Dyslexia. Deborah is also the Director of Partnerships &…

Q&A With Dr. Louisa Moats

The IMSE Journal talks to Dr. Louisa Moats, founder of LETRS and co-author of ‘Straight Talk About Reading,’ and ‘Parenting…

Q&A with Dr. Marcia Henry

The IMSE Journal talks to one of the country’s leading experts on reading instruction and dyslexia, Dr. Marcia Henry.