The Bridge at The Christ School serves students with dyslexia. Our compassionate and supportive teachers foster close relationships with their students. The Christ School Bridge teachers are highly-trained in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach and provide a unique, specialized program of instruction that meets the individual learner’s needs. In 2022, Bridge at The Christ School (TCS) became the first instructional program in the state of Florida to become accredited through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). It is one of only 20 schools in the nation to receive this distinction.
- We recognize the unique strengths of dyslexic learners.
- Classrooms are built for the dyslexic mind to explore and grow.
- Our full-day program offers 1:10 teacher/student ratios.
- Small breakout groups with an average of 1:5 teacher/student ratios are in place for OG and math instruction. These small groups allow for individualized, diagnostic and prescriptive instruction.
- Multisensory teaching is one important aspect of instruction for dyslexic students. This style of teaching involves the use of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile pathways simultaneously to enhance memory and learning of written language. Links are consistently made between the visual (language we see), auditory (language we hear), and kinesthetic/tactile (language symbols we feel) pathways in learning to read and spell.
“Dyslexia is a different brain organization that needs different teaching methods. It is never the fault of the child, but rather the responsibility of us who teach to find methods that work for that child.”
– Dr. Maryanne Wolf, Education Researcher and Dyslexia Advocate
Program Goals
- Foster student confidence and self-esteem
- Close the gap between academic performance and student potential
- Provide reading remediation to prepare students for future academic success
- Develop organizational, planning and time management skills
- Teach students to become respectful self-advocates
- Lead the central Florida community in serving dyslexic learners through parent education events and professional development for educators
A Sample Day (Not in Schedule Order)
Daily Chapel
Orton Gillingham Language Arts
Multisensory Math
Social Studies
Science
Bible
Special Area Classes: Art, Music (chorus), Music (instrumental), STEAM, Library
Physical Education, Lunch and Recess with grade level peers
Orton-Gillingham
The Orton-Gillingham approach was created by Dr. Samuel Torrey Orton, Anna Gillingham and Bessie Stillman to remediate the language processing challenges associated with dyslexia.
The Christ School Bridge utilizes this approach to teach the science of reading. What can appear to be an arbitrary and confusing system to a child with dyslexia becomes predictable and clear. Through multisensory practice and specialized instruction, our dyslexic learners unlock the power of print. Our methodology uses a structured lesson plan involving visual, auditory and kinesthetic/tactile learning. Phonemic awareness, phonics, morphology, grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension are taught using a systematic, cumulative and sequential approach. Teachers design lesson plans based on careful observation and error analysis. Instruction addresses specific challenges unique to our students as opposed to delivering a scripted “one size fits all” program.
For further information about the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators visit www.ortonacademy.org
The Bridge in the Media
The Christ School Receives Prestigious Accreditation to Serve Dyslexic Learners –Playground Magazine
Getting Results in our Schools – The Bridge – by ClickOrlando.com
A World of Difference – by Beacon College featuring The Bridge at TCS
Navigating Through Dyslexia – Playground Magazine
The Christ School Leads the Way for Dyslexia Instruction in Orlando – Lions’ Pride Magazine
Resources for Parents
The following websites provide parents with helpful resources to support their children with dyslexia and related learning differences.
The Bridge provides training opportunities through the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. The Orton-Gillingham Approach is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia.
The mission of the Reed Charitable Foundation is to empower the dyslexic community and end the global literacy crisis by ensuring Orton-Gillingham training is accessible to all while also providing exceptional content and a meaningful community to those on the dyslexia journey.
Understood.org is a helpful resource that provides resources, webinars, practical tips and more.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities aims to improve the lives of the 1 in 5 children and adults nationwide with learning and attention issues—by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
The International Dyslexia Association offers resources for parents of children with dyslexia.
Made by Dyslexia is a global charity, led by successful dyslexics. Their purpose is to help the world to understand, value and support dyslexia.
