What Every Parent Should Know to Support Their Child’s Reading Journey
When your child struggles with reading or spelling, finding the right tutor can feel overwhelming. Many families turn to the Orton Gillingham (OG) approach; a proven, multisensory, structured approach designed specifically for children with dyslexia and other reading challenges.
However, not all tutors are created equal. As a parent, you have the right and the responsibility to ask meaningful questions that help you determine if the tutor is the right fit for your child.
Here are 17 essential questions to ask your child’s tutor, with detailed explanations to guide your conversation and support your child’s success.
- What is your training and experience with the Orton Gillingham approach?
The Orton-Gillingham method requires specialized training. Ask whether the tutor has completed a comprehensive course, such as one offered by the Orton Gillingham Online Academy, or a similar reputable organization. The most important thing to do when deciphering an organization’s credibility is to look at the staff’s credentials. Also, ask how many years the tutor has worked with students using the Orton Gillingham Approach and what types of learners he or she has supported. Practical experience combined with solid training is ideal.
- How do you assess my child’s current reading and spelling skills?
Effective Orton Gillingham instruction begins with assessment. A strong tutor will use informal diagnostic tools, reading inventories, spelling samples, or standardized tests to pinpoint your child’s current levels in phonemic awareness, decoding, encoding, fluency, and comprehension. This assessment drives the lesson planning and ensures instruction begins at the right level.
- What are my child’s specific areas of strength and struggle?
A skilled tutor should be able to clearly explain your child’s literacy profile, for example, where the student is thriving and struggling. For example, your child might have strong listening comprehension but weak phonological processing. Knowing this helps you understand how your child learns and where support is most needed.
- How do you set goals and measure progress?
Ask how the tutor sets short-term and long-term goals. Are these goals based on skill mastery, assessment data, or reading benchmarks? A quality instructor tracks progress through regular observation, error tracking, and data collection, and will use this information to adjust instruction as needed.
- How often do you reassess skills?
Reassessment is not a one-time event. It should occur regularly, formally or informally, to ensure your child is retaining skills and ready to move on. Ask if the tutor conducts mid-unit check-ins, reading fluency probes, or spelling dictations to monitor growth.
- What does a typical lesson look like?
Orton Gillingham lessons are structured, sequential, repetitive, diagnostic, prescriptive, cognitive, and cumulative. A typical session might include a review of previous concepts, multisensory introduction of a new phoneme or rule, guided practice in reading and spelling, and controlled text reading. The tutor should be able to describe this process in a way that’s easy to follow.
- Do you use a diagnostic and prescriptive approach?
This means that the tutor is constantly “diagnosing” what your child knows and “prescribing” the next step. It’s a responsive process, not a scripted one-size-fits-all curriculum. Lessons are tailored daily based on student performance, not just a predetermined scope and sequence.
- How do you reinforce phonological awareness, decoding, and encoding skills?
Phonological awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate sounds) is essential for early and struggling readers. Ask how the tutor builds these skills, along with decoding (reading words) and encoding (spelling words). This might involve oral games, tapping out sounds, using letter tiles, and dictation exercises.
- Do you incorporate morphology (prefixes, suffixes, roots) into lessons?
As students progress, especially in grades 3 and up, understanding morphology becomes critical. Ask if your tutor introduces common prefixes, suffixes, and root words to expand vocabulary and improve spelling and comprehension. Morphological instruction should be intentional and structured.
- How do you support reading comprehension and fluency?
Orton Gillingham is more than just phonics. Strong tutors also address fluency (reading with accuracy, speed, and expression) and comprehension (understanding what is read). This may involve repeated reading, echo reading, comprehension questions, summarizing, and visualizing strategies.
- What kind of multisensory activities do you use?
True Orton Gillingham instruction is multisensory by engaging visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile pathways. This might include skywriting, tracing in sand, using manipulatives, saying sounds while writing, and using movement to reinforce concepts. These methods help improve memory and retention.
- How can I support my child at home without interfering with your approach?
Ask the tutor what you can do at home to reinforce learning. You might be encouraged to read aloud together, practice sight words, or use specific apps. The goal is to support—not confuse your child with activities that align with the tutor’s approach.
- How do you communicate progress and challenges to parents?
Ongoing communication is key. Ask whether the tutor offers regular updates, email summaries, or scheduled parent meetings. You should feel informed about your child’s progress and have opportunities to ask questions or raise concerns.
- How do you handle frustration or low confidence in struggling readers?
Reading struggles can take a toll on a child’s self-esteem. A great tutor knows how to balance skill-building with emotional encouragement. Ask how they respond when your child becomes discouraged or makes repeated errors. Look for someone who builds resilience and celebrates effort.
- What tools or resources do you recommend for home use?
There are many literacy tools out there, but not all are helpful. A qualified OG tutor can recommend evidence-based games, books, or apps that reinforce skills taught in lessons. They can also help you avoid tools that contradict structured literacy principles.
- Do you collaborate with my child’s teacher or other specialists?
If your child receives school-based support (like an IEP or reading intervention), ask if the tutor is willing to communicate with teachers, speech-language pathologists, or psychologists. Coordination helps ensure consistent strategies and maximizes your child’s progress.
- What signs should I look for that indicate progress or ongoing difficulty?
As a parent, you want to know what to watch for in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Ask the tutor what signs indicate that skills are being mastered, such as improved spelling in writing, more fluent reading, or fewer reversals. Likewise, ask what red flags might signal the need for an instructional change or further evaluation.
Final Thoughts regarding questions to ask your child’s tutor
When it comes to your child’s literacy journey, you are their biggest advocate. These 17 questions to ask your child’s tutor will help you make informed decisions, choose the right tutor, and build a collaborative relationship that empowers your child to thrive.
If your tutor is experienced, transparent, and aligned with the principles of Orton Gillingham, you will not only see academic growth, but you’ll also see renewed confidence and joy in learning.
If you would like a PDF copy of this list of questions to ask your child’s tutor, click here
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