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Greenhills Is Different … Greenhills is Best!
The Orton-Gillingham Approach which is used at Greenhills is the gold standard for dyslexic language remediation. The original Orton-Gillingham teaching is an approach, not a program. It is an approach because it is flexible and can be adapted individually for each small group or individual's needs, strengths and weaknesses. A great variety of readers and materials are available for use with teaching each phoneme. Other programs which are derivations of the Orton-Gillingham lack some elements of the original.
In order to read cursive, dyslexic students must learn to write cursive. Later, when the cursive letter shape is locked into muscle memory then dyslexic students may use manuscript for speed of writing, if they choose.
Greenhills uses Wilson Anderson's Language Series for middle and high school students. This integrated program of Latin and Greek prefixes, roots, and suffixes is comprehensive. Many exercises and sentences are available for usage and mastery of the English syllables which were originally Latin and Greek words.
Greenhills is an "Orton Family" school, and as such has many unusual characteristics.
"Orton" schools are designed to return their students to traditional public or private schools at some point in their education.
Students are taught the concepts and curriculum they would have learned in a traditional school; they are just taught differently. The curriculum is delivered in modified ways that work for LD students.
Students' knowledge is solid in all subjects when they wish to "move on."
All subjects are taught by simultaneous, structured, multi-sensory teaching and learning.
Oral discussion is a major teaching strategy. Printed material is read aloud by teachers, except in the Orton-Gillingham classes, where all teaching is done at students' achievement level, In this small group class, students interact with the sounds (phonemes) and symbols (alphabet) of the English language orally and in writing, and by reading aloud themselves in books with a controlled vocabulary.
Homeroom is at the end of the day to allow each students' daily assignment book to be checked against the books and handouts needed for homework. The homework that is given can be easily accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. All work and tests are untimed, and all tests are read aloud, if desired, while students follow along on their typed copy.
Parties are held with all students together in the Commons and a family atmosphere prevails.
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