Orton-Gillingham Inspired Literacy in Nature
- Wild Wander Forest School
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
Imagine your child learning letters while tracing them in the sand, building words out of twigs, or singing phonics songs under the trees. At our forest school, we bring literacy to life using Orton-Gillingham inspired methods in a way that sparks curiosity and joy.
A multi-sensory approach to learning
Children engage multiple senses when they learn outdoors. By touching, seeing, and hearing letters and sounds in nature, they form stronger connections in the brain. Research supports that multi-sensory learning helps children retain new concepts more effectively (Birsh & Carreker, 2018). In our forest school, children might jump from letter to letter using sticks in the sand, shape letters out of clay or nature play dough, or use pinecones to form sight words along the trail. We also create small signs on the trail with letters and sounds to guide fun literacy adventures.
Meeting each child where they are
Nature-based literacy allows educators to tailor lessons to each child’s interests and developmental level. One child might focus on matching sounds to natural objects — like finding items that start with “S” in the forest, such as sticks, stones, or even snakes they learn about safely — while another builds a word garden using labeled rocks. Children also listen to carefully selected read-aloud stories that connect to their surroundings, supporting comprehension and vocabulary in meaningful contexts. This personalized, nature-infused approach builds confidence and nurtures a true love of reading.
Laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning with Orton-Gillingham Inspired Literacy and other methods
Combining Orton-Gillingham inspired methods with nature helps children develop essential early literacy skills while cultivating curiosity and joy. By integrating strategies like phonemic awareness games (inspired by the Heggerty approach) and large motor letter formation, children build foundational skills in a dynamic, memorable way. These experiences support success in kindergarten, homeschool, and beyond, ensuring children see literacy not as a task but as an adventure waiting to unfold.
