Our Philosophy

The specially trained teachers at Sonday Reading Center help individuals improve their reading and spelling skills using the Sonday System, a unique curriculum specifically tailored to each student’s needs. Our action-oriented approach keeps students engaged with varied activities that help them connect with and fully understand the English language.

Based on the Orton-Gillingham philosophy—a sequential, systematic, multi-sensory, and cumulative way of teaching the structure and code of the English language—the Sonday System is appropriate for all ages and skill levels. Our methods rely on repetition and logic to drive home the lesson. Our program offers step-by-step instruction that helps students master one skill before tackling the next. Our techniques incorporate touch and vision as well as auditory elements. Our curriculum ensures that every student has the skills and the confidence to succeed in and out of the classroom. The Sonday System gives students a solid foundation upon which they can build a thorough understanding of reading, writing and vocabulary.

Because every student has different needs, there are no preconceived timelines or paths of progression. The process begins with a free evaluation to assess the student’s skills and to tailor a plan accordingly. Each student receives an individual lesson plan, and we constantly monitor student progress through teacher observation and formal evaluations every four months. We rely on our own assessments, as well as feedback from teachers, parents and the students themselves, to determine success. Some students may reach their goals within months; others may benefit from our services for years.

The Sonday System was developed by Arlene Sonday, founding fellow and first president of the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE). It meets the standards outlined by The National Reading Panel, The National Institutes of Health and Human Services and No Child Left Behind.