Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors serving San Francisco, CA

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Julia
Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Julia
AM Johns Hopkins University • AM Vassar College
7+ Years Tutoring

I have been an elementary and middle school teacher for the past 14 years, and enjoy working with all ages of students. My focus over the last few years has been to delve deeply into the science behind learning to read. As a result, I have become a Certified Orton Gillingham Instructor through the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE). The Orton Gillingham (OG) approach consists of multi-sensory instruction that is direct, explicit, and systematic. Lessons are based on the individual needs of the student. It has been proven over time to be a very effective way to teach students with reading difficulties, including dyslexia, to read. I look forward to help you or your child experience the joy of learning to read.

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Sapna
Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Sapna
MSW Monash University
5+ Years Tutoring

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cardiff University, and have a Masters in Counseling from Monash University. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy, I am passionate and experienced in using a multi-sensory approach to tutoring students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Having worked in an educational setting for over 11 years in Hong Kong, I am experienced in working with students from kindergarten all the way through to primary school.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Molly
AM McDaniel College • AM York College
5+ Years Tutoring

I received my degree in Elementary Education from York College of Pennsylvania. I then attended McDaniel College where I received a masters degree in reading and became a Reading Specialist. My love for teaching reading continued and I furthered my education at Mount Saint Mary's University for training in Reading Recovery. I started my career teaching kindergarten and currently am a reading specialist in my school district, where I work one on one and in small groups with struggling readers. My passion is for tutoring early learners to help them gain the skills they need to grow as readers and writers. In my tutoring sessions I love to get to know my learners interests and personalities. I incorporate manipulatives, sight word games, leveled texts, and writing into sessions to make sessions more engaging. I love to build confidence in my learners by focusing on their strengths in order to get the most amount of growth out of my learners. My hobbies include exercise, spending time with my family, and going to the beach.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Derek
PhD Walden University • MS Walden University
1+ Years Tutoring

Hi there! I'm Derek and I'm passionate about helping students like you achieve their goals through engaging, customized learning experiences. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of a subject, improve your grades, or master a particular skill, I'm here to guide you every step of the way. With a PhD in Curriculum Design and Educational Technologies and 17 years of experience in education, I bring a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to every session. But what sets me apart is my commitment to understanding your unique learning style. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all approachesevery student is different, and I tailor my lessons to meet your individual needs, pace, and interests. I take pride in creating a comfortable, supportive environment where questions are encouraged, and learning is both challenging and fun. I strive to build a rapport with my students, so they not only understand the material but also develop the confidence to apply it in real-world situations. Together, we'll work toward your academic or professional goals, and I'll be there to celebrate every success along the way. If you're ready to take the next step in your learning journey, I'd love to connect with you. Let's create a plan that works for you!

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Julie
BA University of Notre Dame
2+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Bachelor in Elementary Education with a major in Special Education. Currently, I am pursuing my graduate degree in Special Education. I am a licensed teacher, and I have 9 years of teaching experience, both in-person and virtually. I am most interested in helping students with learning difficulties achieve their highest potential. I am fun, creative, and passionate.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Mimi
MS Harvard University • BA Dartmouth College
6+ Years Tutoring

I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all subjects, I take a creative, inquiry-based and learner-centered approach, designing opportunities for each unique individual to meet their learning goals.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Aaron
BA The University of Texas at Dallas • Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering Duke University
10+ Years Tutoring

I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old electronics, playing Pokemon, or picking at my guitar.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Nina
MS Columbia University • BA Northwestern University
10+ Years Tutoring

I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant at Columbia University in my department and also have tutored graduate students and undergraduates privately as well. My primary areas of tutoring are math and statistics coursework in addition to math sections on standardized tests such as the GRE and GMAT. I am very passionate about helping students feel more confident and excited about math. In my spare time, I enjoy running, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Reid
PhD Harvard University • BA Wesleyan University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults towards passing the US Citizenship Exam and taught English in India, where I lived for six months. Whenever I work with a student I personalize the lessons to fit their particular learning style, since I know every student is unique and having the right fit can make all the difference in making learning fun and effective. My strengths are tutoring the social sciences and humanities, as well as making math and standardized tests approachable to students that normally don't like those subjects. In my spare time I like traveling, spending time in the outdoors (climbing & backpacking), meditation, and playing soccer. Next fall I will be beginning my PhD in Education at Harvard University.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Solange
BA Harvard University
8+ Years Tutoring

I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campus); social sciences; and literature/writing.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Christopher
BA Harvard College
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tutor for both Math and Spanish programs in high school and enjoyed the strides I made with students. I am willing to tutor any subject I have a background in, but am strong in mathematics, the sciences, Spanish, history, writing, and ACT prep. I enjoy teaching mathematics most due to the joy I can see in children once they master a topic and can answer even pointed questions meant to stump them, and maybe even put their knowledge to real world use. As a tutor, I like to give a strong foundation to orient my student, and then gradually grant them more freedom and independence until they can feel themselves grasp the concept, pointing out pitfalls or common errors along the way; teachers who used these methods on me always left the most lasting impressions. Outside of my studies, I really enjoy listening to music, both old favorites and new interests, reading classics, and gaming/playing basketball with my friends.

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Certified Orton Gillingham Tutor
Michelle
MD Baylor College of Medicine • BA Rice University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medicine.

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Testimonials

Because the right Orton Gillingham tutor makes all the difference.

4.9

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Worked with an Orton Gillingham Tutor

Your customer interface is A+, being your agents or your site, The tutor you found for me is perfect, no formulas or canned lectures but easy flowing lecture addressing my needs. Congratulations for a job well done.

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Julio Aranovich
Worked with an Orton Gillingham Tutor

Heejin has been very patient with me. I work a full time job sometimes even on the weekends. It has been a slow process with my Korean classes, but Heejin has been wonderful and patient.

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Angela Hussein
Worked with an Orton Gillingham Tutor

My son has had many quality tutors through this convenient service, and he can hop on at any time of day to get support for a homework assignment or test. It's very convenient and effective.

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Tara R
Worked with an Orton Gillingham Tutor

I've been working with my tutor for a few months now and the progress has been remarkable. The personalized attention and tailored lessons made all the difference compared to in-classroom learning.

MC
Michael Chen
Worked with an Orton Gillingham Tutor

The flexibility of scheduling combined with the quality of instruction is unmatched. I can get help exactly when I need it, whether that's late at night or early in the morning before a test.

PP
Priya Patel
Worked with an Orton Gillingham Tutor

My daughter went from dreading her sessions to looking forward to them. The tutor made the material engaging and built her confidence in ways I never thought possible. Highly recommend.

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Rebecca Williams

Frequently Asked Questions

The Orton Gillingham method is a multisensory, structured literacy approach that teaches reading through explicit phonics instruction. It combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning to help students understand the connection between letters and sounds, building a strong foundation in decoding and spelling.

This approach is particularly effective for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties because it breaks reading into manageable, sequential steps and allows for systematic review and reinforcement. Rather than relying on guessing or context clues, students learn the rules and patterns of English in a logical, organized way.

In a typical San Francisco classroom with an average student-teacher ratio of 20:1, teachers must balance the needs of many learners at different levels. Personalized Orton Gillingham instruction provides one-on-one focus where a tutor can move at your student's pace, repeat concepts as needed, and immediately address misunderstandings without your child falling further behind.

With individualized attention, tutors can also tailor lesson sequences to your student's specific learning style and gaps, spending extra time on foundational skills before moving forward. This targeted approach prevents the common problem of students advancing without truly mastering core reading skills.

Orton Gillingham instruction can begin as early as kindergarten or first grade for foundational phonemic awareness and phonics, but it's often introduced in elementary through middle school when reading struggles become apparent. There's no age limit—it effectively helps older students and adults build reading skills regardless of when gaps began.

The timeline varies based on your student's starting point and intensity of instruction. Some students see noticeable improvement within 6-12 weeks of consistent sessions, while building complete reading proficiency may take several months to a year or more. Consistency is key—regular sessions (typically 2-3 times weekly) produce better results than sporadic instruction.

Common indicators include difficulty with phonics despite adequate instruction, slow reading speed relative to grade level, persistent spelling errors that don't improve with practice, trouble sounding out unfamiliar words, or a family history of dyslexia. Many students also avoid reading or show frustration with reading tasks.

If your student has been in a San Francisco classroom for several years but continues to struggle with decoding or fluency, specialized instruction like Orton Gillingham may be needed to address underlying gaps. Early intervention is most effective, but students at any age can benefit from structured literacy instruction.

Students typically show improvement in phonetic decoding accuracy, reading fluency (words read correctly per minute), spelling consistency, and confidence with unfamiliar words. Many parents notice their child becomes more willing to read independently and shows reduced frustration during reading tasks within the first few weeks.

Progress is tracked through regular assessments of phonics mastery, sight word recognition, and reading passages at appropriate levels. Standardized reading assessments often show gains after consistent instruction, though the most meaningful indicator is often a student's improved attitude toward reading and increased willingness to engage with texts.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have formal training and certification in the Orton Gillingham method. When seeking a tutor, look for credentials such as completion of an accredited Orton Gillingham training program, certification from organizations like the International Dyslexia Association, or documented experience working with struggling readers using structured literacy approaches.

During your initial conversation with a potential tutor, ask about their specific training, how long they've used the method, and examples of student progress they've facilitated. The right match ensures your student receives evidence-based instruction tailored to their needs.

Yes, personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring complements classroom instruction very well. In fact, many San Francisco students benefit from having a tutor provide structured, sequential phonics instruction while their classroom teacher addresses other reading components like comprehension and vocabulary in the broader curriculum.

Communication between your tutor and your child's teacher is valuable so they can coordinate their approach and avoid conflicting strategies. Tutoring typically reinforces and accelerates the foundational skills needed for success in all reading activities, making your student more able to benefit from classroom instruction.

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