Program Description
IMSE’s OG+ is a structured literacy core foundational skills program based on Orton-Gillingham principles, designed for whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one reading and spelling instruction in grades K–5. The program incorporates multimodal techniques to build foundational literacy skills, including phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It is designed to be implemented within a school’s existing literacy block, with lessons that follow a consistent, cumulative progression. IMSE offers professional development, coaching, and an online portal to support teachers in delivering the program effectively.
Program Outcomes
Two quasi-experimental studies evaluated the impact of IMSE’s OG+ program on early literacy outcomes.
The first study, conducted during the 2022–2023 school year in a large Midwestern district, analyzed NWEA MAP Reading scores for 397 kindergarten and first-grade students. Students in IMSE OG+ classrooms made significantly greater gains than their peers, with an overall effect size of +0.33.
The second study, conducted during the 2021–2022 school year in Ohio, compared AIMSweb oral reading fluency growth among over 1,000 1st- 3rd grade students taught by OG+-trained teachers and matched peers in similar schools. Students in the treatment group showed greater fluency gains from fall to spring (effect size = +0.21). Results qualify IMSE’s OG+ for a Promising rating.
Staffing Requirements
IMSE’s OG+ program can be implemented as a core foundational literacy skills program by general education, special education, and intervention teachers. For effective implementation, teachers should adhere to the scope and sequence, the instructional routines, and the lesson components. All teachers, including trained classroom assistants, who work with students during the foundational literacy block should also be trained in IMSE OG+ and adhere to the effective implementation recommendations above.
Professional Development/Training
IMSE’s professional development is offered as in-person or virtual workshops, asynchronous refresher courses, individual coaching sessions, and/or district-level consulting opportunities. Teachers participate in a 30-hour training and receive all the necessary materials for immediate implementation of the OG+ curriculum. If desired, educators can complete the OG+ Practicum to achieve CERI certification.
Technology
No specific technology is required to implement IMSE’s OG+ program. Instructional materials include items such as printed teacher guides, a fidelity companion, grapheme cards, and student notebooks. If desired, IMSE LAB is an optional online portal for planning and assessment, supporting educators with digital tools for lesson creation, organization, and tracking student progress.