Question 1

Video: One-minute Look at OgStar Reading

Question 2

What are the technical requirements for OgStar?

Accepted Answer

For our Chrome, web-based version:
Touchscreen computer (this version is not for iOS or Android) or a computer with a writing pad and pen combination plugged in. We have had success with the XP-PEN G640
8 GB of RAM minimum
Requires downloading game assets that are roughly 250 MB in size
Headphone port preferable
For use on the CHROME browser (not Safari, etc.)

For our iPad, iOS versions:
iPad generation 4 or newer (not for iPhone)
iOS 10.0 or later

Question 3

What is the scope and sequence for OgStar Reading?

Question 4

Is there evidence that OgStar is an effective program?

Question 5

How do I reset my password?

Accepted Answer

On the web Chrome version, click the "I'm a Teacher/Parent" button, then, click the "Forgot Password" button. For iPad, please email us at info@ogstarreading.com and we will help you reset your password.

Question 6

Does OgStar Reading Complete include all of the steps in an OG Program?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it does. It is based on Bowman's Orton-Gillingham "Plus” Guidebook, which includes all of the steps in a traditional OG Program, with added Phonological Awareness and Fluency Training (the “Plus” part of the program). OgStar Reading is in alignment with the Science of Reading as determined by the National Reading Panel in the year 2000.

Question 7

What is the Complete version like for computers (web) or iOS?

Accepted Answer

-106 lesson literacy game - ~2 - 3 years' worth of curriculum
-For pre-K - 8th grade students
-Multiple student licenses can be used on 1 computer and each license can be used on multiple compatible computers
-Each iPad download serves 1 student/device, up to 6 students on different devices with Apple's Family Sharing
-7 different phonological awareness activities at the phoneme and syllable levels
-Systematic/synthetic phonics focus on consonant letter sounds, including digraphs, all short vowels, consonant blends, long vowels in silent-e words, vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, the 6 types of syllables, and more challenging vowel teams
-Multisensory sound/symbol associations (phoneme/grapheme)
-Word building with prefixes and suffixes
-Audio-visual-tactile reading and writing of irregular words
-Oral reading of phonetically controlled words and sentences
-Finger tracing and writing of graphemes, words, and sentences
-Oral reading fluency activities in lessons 20 - 106

Question 8

What is the Early Reader for iPad version like?

Accepted Answer

- 35 lesson literacy game - ~1 year's worth of curriculum
- For pre-K - 2nd grade students
- Each iPad download serves only 1 student/device, up to 6 students on different devices with Apple's Family Sharing 
- 7 different phonological awareness activities at the phoneme and syllable levels
- Systematic/synthetic phonics focus on consonant letter sounds, including digraphs, and all short vowels
- Multisensory sound/symbol associations (phoneme/grapheme)
- Audio-visual-tactile reading and writing of irregular words
- Oral reading of phonetically-controlled words
- Finger tracing and writing of graphemes, words, and sentences
- Oral reading fluency activities from lesson 20 - 35

Question 9

Is OgStar Reading® designed to replace a teacher or tutor-based Orton-Gillingham program?

Accepted Answer

No. It is preferable that students who need Orton-Gillingham will simultaneously receive systematic instruction from trained teachers, tutors, or parents; however, if students are in a geographic area without trained instructors or if students are learning English anywhere in the world, OgStar Reading may be used initially to introduce them to all of the elements contained in a full-service Orton-Gillingham program.

Question 10

What is the Syllables & Beyond version for iPad like?

Accepted Answer

- 41 lesson literacy game, ~ 1 to 1 1/2 years' worth of curriculum
- For 4th - 8th grade students who have mastered 1 syllable words with both short and long vowels
- Each iPad download serves 1 student/device, up to 6 students on different devices with Apple's Family Sharing 
- 7 different phonological awareness activities at the phoneme and syllable levels
- Systematic/synthetic phonics focus on the 6 types of syllables and many challenging vowel teams
- Multisensory sound/symbol associations
- Word building with prefixes and suffixes
- Audio-visual-tactile reading and writing of irregular words
- Oral reading of phonetically-controlled words and sentences
- Finger tracing and writing of syllables, words, and sentences
- Oral reading fluency activities in all lessons

Question 11

How do I get a FREE trial of OgStar Reading?

Accepted Answer

- For the Chrome web version for computers (not for iOS or Android), fill out a contact form and request a trial - This trial allows students to explore all lessons in a limited time frame

- For the iOS version, go to the App Store on the device that will be used by the student and download the OgStar Reading Explore version - This version allows a student to play the 1st 4 lessons of the program

Question 12

Where should I start my child/student in the program?

Accepted Answer

We recommend that students under the age of 8 begin with Lesson 1 in OgStar Reading Complete, OgStar Reading Early Reader, or OgStar Reading Explore.
 
Students who are 8 years of age and older can take the initial Placement Test in OgStar Reading Complete (iPad or Chrome) to see a suggested starting point.
 
Parents and teachers can also use the Scope and Sequence (Lessons 1 - 35, Lessons 36 - 65, Lessons 66 - 106) to determine which lessons align with skills the student has already mastered and proceed from there.
 
Students over the age of 8, who have fully mastered all of the skills through Lesson 65, can begin with OgStar Reading Syllables & Beyond.

Question 13

Can my child/student jump ahead or repeat lessons?

Accepted Answer

We recommend that most students complete all of the lessons and steps within the selected sequence. However, all lessons are unlocked in all of the apps. If a student needs to skip ahead or review past lessons, he/she can. Teachers may assign past lesson steps to review specific skills with students.

Question 14

Should OgStar Reading® be done independently by a student?

Accepted Answer

OgStar Reading® can be done independently by a student, however, children under 7 years of age will most likely benefit from an adult sitting nearby (a parent or teacher) to help them to stay “on-task”. Initially, some teachers or tutors will want to observe the child working on parts of the lesson, to gain additional information about their performance, and to assist children in understanding all of the nuances of the program (like using the “skip”, “repeat”, and “erase” buttons, buying the “prizes”, working with the speech recognition button, or just keeping track of their performance). Children can use OgStar Reading® (with or without headphones) at their desks in school during independent learning time, instead of doing assigned classwork that may not be aligned with their needs.

Question 15

What should I do if the child is saying that the speech recognition system is not recognizing their responses?

Accepted Answer

We have upgraded our speech analysis with SoapBox Learning's "equitable voice AI for all kids"! However, speech recognition in any app has limitations because (a) some students speak in a low whisper so the system cannot pick up their voices, (b) some students start talking into the app after tapping the “listening star” (before the “listening ears” pop up) which signals them to begin recording, (c) some students let go of the “listening star” before they have finished speaking, (d) some students speak in a dialect or accent that it is not recognizable to the speech recognition system, and/or (e) some students are working in a noisy room, making it difficult for the system to process their responses.
 
Using a set of headphones with a microphone can help with (a), (d), and (e) above. If students are talking before the “listening ears” pop up, they need modeling from a parent or teacher to help them to understand the importance of speaking when the app is able to “listen”. If there are continuing issues, students are able to tap the “skip” button and move on to the next item, in the event that the system cannot process their response.

Question 16

What if my child prefers to use cursive handwriting?

Accepted Answer

OgStar Reading® will accept all responses in cursive letter forms, however, when the student is learning a new letter/sound combination, the letter provided for tracing is in a printed form.

Question 17

Will OgStar Reading® work with any Orton-Gillingham program?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OgStar Reading® follows the general sequence that is present in all original and revised Orton-Gillingham programs. The apps are aligned with the specific sequence in the Orton-Gillingham "Plus" Program which is based on a combination of nine different Orton-Gillingham programs. If you are interested in the 60 hour Orton-Gillingham "Plus" training for your teachers, please contact us.

Question 18

Is there an OgStar aligned comprehensive Structured Literacy teacher training available?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if your teachers need an in-depth training on an OG "Plus" approach, Bowman's Orton-Gillingham "Plus"  phonological awareness and reading fluency strategies is a 60-hour training delivered virtually via Zoom with some in-person options as well. This training prepares teachers to confidently deliver the content directly to students and then, students can practice the same skills independently with OgStar. Learn more here:

Question 19

How can we contact you?

Accepted Answer

📩Email: info@ogstarreading.com

☎️Call: (443) 218-3444

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