Which method is specifically designed to help students with learning disabilities improve their reading skills?

The Orton-Gillingham Approach is specifically designed to assist students with learning disabilities in improving their reading skills due to its structured, multi-sensory approach to teaching. This method recognizes that students with learning disabilities often struggle with decoding and comprehension, making it crucial to provide instruction that incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles.

In practice, the Orton-Gillingham Approach teaches reading by explicitly addressing the relationships between sounds and letters, enabling students to break down the reading process into manageable parts. This approach also emphasizes individualized instruction, allowing educators to tailor lessons to meet the specific needs of each student. By focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding strategies, it provides a solid foundation for reading that is particularly beneficial for those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.

In contrast, other methods like the Whole Language Approach or Balanced Literacy may not offer the same level of explicit instruction and structured practice that students with learning disabilities often require. The Phonics Method, while beneficial in its own right, does not necessarily encompass the comprehensive, multi-sensory strategies that characterize the Orton-Gillingham Approach.