DEDICATION
To Jean S. Osman, Fellow/AOGPE
My first Orton-Gillingham instructor and my long-term mentor.
You are one of the giants on whose shoulders I stand.
Our association and your encouragement over the years have meant
more than you know, Jean.

“The ability to put one’s own thoughts into writing
is the highest form of human communication.”
Jean S. Osman

A certified professional in the field of dyslexia instruction, Phyllis Hutson founded the Language Skills Academy in 1981 to provide diagnostic and theraputic educational services to dyslexic children and adults. The Hutson School in Indianapolis was named to recognize her fervent efforts in dyslexic education.

The Essentials of Grammar Instruction: Keeping it Structured, Sequential and Multisensory is a useful Orton-Gillingham training guide for educators. Hutson divides the book into fundamental chapters that instructors of dyslexic students will find practical.

Because Hutson identifies with teachers and tutors who find teaching grammar challenging, often due to difficulty in finding workable strategies, the book answers a number of basic questions that surround teaching grammar:

- Why teach grammar to students?
- Why teach sentence analysis and diagramming?
- How does the dyslexic student learn?
- What are the Essential Elements of the Orton-Gillingham approach?

While the book is written with the teacher of dyslexic students in mind, it is a powerful teaching tool to use with any student. This approach appeals to the student's intellect by teaching why grammar skills are essential.