1. FACEBOOK GROUPS FOR COLLABORATION AND INFORMATION

a. Structured Literacy Methods and Strategies: I run a group called “Structured Literacy Teachers – CANADA” that was formed to give teachers a place to learn about teaching methods and strategies that would be beneficial for the Structured Literacy Classroom. Feel free to join us: https://www.facebook.com/groups/506438803632060. All are welcome who want to learn! (Some PL opportunities are posted there, too). Posts are organized into GUIDES to help you navigate all of the information.

b. Science of Reading (SOR)-Focused Groups: There are MANY other excellent groups to join if you want research and info about the Science of Reading. Within our “Structured Literacy Teachers – CANADA” Facebook Group there is a guide called “Other SOR Groups/Organizations” and there is a post there that has a kajillion of those sites listed. I belong to most of them and learn from them immensely.

2. ONLINE WEBINARS AND TRAININGS

There are so many excellent opportunities (most of them FREE) being offered that I don’t know how to even start listing them. The best way to find out about them is by joining one or more of the Facebook groups discussed above – they share everything!

3. ORTON-GILLINGHAM TRAINING/CERTIFICATION PROVIDERS

a. Scottish-Rite Charitable Foundation Learning Centres-Canada: I took my certification for Orton-Gillingham Dyslexia Remediation Interventionist from the Scottish-Rite Charitable Foundation Learning Centre here in Calgary. This process (which takes 2-3 years) is offered FREE of charge in return for the commitment to the Learning Centre to complete your practicum with the students there. The tutoring services are FREE for the family. It can be a long haul, but the quality of instruction and support is AMAZING! For the supervised practicum, you are creating all of your own lessons from the background that they gave you, so you are pretty much able to provide treatment plans for any student that will come your way in your own personal practice. Here is the link for the Calgary Learning Centre or you can always ask me to pass on any information to them. New training classes of tutors are held as soon as enough interest is shown (usually around 12 interested people). Other centres are located in other major Canadian cities and in the United States they are frequently offered through Children’s Dyslexia Centres or the Scottish-Rite Hospitals. A quick Google Search will show you if there is a Scottish Rite Learning Centre in your area!

b. Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA)- (Formerly Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators-AOGPE): This is one of the most reputable and recognized training program around the world. Unfortunately, there were no opportunities in Calgary for me to complete this training and it was cost inhibitive for me to travel to one of the other centres to complete my practicum for the 100+ hours that I would require for certification. Hence, I chose the Scottish-Rite route since it was local and you couldn’t beat their tuition costs (FREE!!). With the arrival of COVID, many fellows with OGA now provide their initial course trainings and practicum surpervisions ONLINE. See, something good did come out of COVID! 🙂 I know people who have trained with Valdine Bjornson at the Reading and Learning Clinic of Manitoba (RLCM) and I would recommend you contact her if you would like to receive any training or certifications with her through OGA. Visit https://sites.google.com/view/thereadingandlearningclinicofm/home?authuser=0 to check out her offerings and scholarship opportunities. General information about Orton-Gillingham Academy can be found at: https://www.ortonacademy.org/

c. Orton-Gillingham Online Academy (OGOA): The coursework and practicum can be completed 100% online. I have not taken any training with OGOA, but a well-respected fellow OG practitioner took her training with them and gave it a strong recommendation. Visit for more info: https://ortongillinghamonlinetutor.com/

d. LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling): This in-depth learning course does not result in a OG certification, but it teaches you pretty much anything you would ever want to know about teaching Structured Literacy or the Science of Reading and Writing! I am completing the online version that includes videos to support the readings in the textbook. There is a check for understanding at the end of each unit, and are credited with completing each unit separately. At the end of each course (each course contains 4 units), there is portfolio component that shows how you are bridging your learning to practice. HUGE time commitment, but each course (Volume A or Volume B) is the equivalent of 2 M.Ed level courses (can be transferred upon request). Each course takes approximately 60 hours to complete. Let me know if you want to learn more as I am in the middle of it right now! https://store.voyagersopris.com/letrs/

4. READ, READ AND READ SOME MORE!