Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving New Haven, CT
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in New Haven
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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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Frequently Asked Questions
The Orton Gillingham method is a structured, multisensory approach to reading instruction that teaches phonics systematically and explicitly. It's particularly effective for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties because it breaks down language into small, manageable units and engages multiple senses—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—to reinforce learning. For students in New Haven who struggle with decoding or have been frustrated by traditional classroom instruction, this method provides a proven alternative that builds confidence alongside reading skills.
In a classroom setting with New Haven's average student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1, reading instruction must move at a pace that works for the majority. Personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham instruction, by contrast, moves at your child's pace, repeats concepts as needed, and adapts immediately based on what they're mastering. A tutor can also diagnose specific gaps—whether your child struggles with blending, sight words, or multisyllabic words—and target instruction precisely, rather than reviewing material the whole class may already know.
Orton Gillingham is designed to help students who struggle with phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and spelling—often the core issues for readers with dyslexia or reading disabilities. Students may reverse letters (b/d), struggle to sound out unfamiliar words, read slowly or hesitantly, or have difficulty spelling phonetically. The method's systematic approach directly addresses these challenges by teaching the rules of English language structure explicitly, giving students the tools to decode independently rather than relying on guessing or memorization.
The first session typically focuses on assessment and building rapport. A tutor will observe how your child approaches reading tasks, ask about their reading history, and identify specific strengths and areas for growth. This information guides the tutor in tailoring the Orton Gillingham curriculum to your child's needs—some students start with foundational phonemic awareness work, while others begin with systematic phonics instruction. You'll leave with a clear sense of where your child is and what personalized instruction will focus on.
Yes. While Orton Gillingham is often introduced in elementary grades, it's highly effective for middle and high school students who are still struggling with foundational reading skills. The method itself doesn't change—it remains systematic and explicit—but the content and pace adapt to the student's age and interests. A high school student might decode texts related to their hobbies or coursework, while an elementary student might use decodable books aligned with their grade level. The key is that personalized instruction meets each student where they are.
Most students show noticeable progress in phonemic awareness, decoding accuracy, and confidence within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring. Reading fluency and comprehension typically improve over a longer timeline—usually 3-6 months—as decoding becomes more automatic. Progress depends on factors like frequency of tutoring sessions, consistency of practice at home, and the severity of the initial reading difficulty. A tutor will track progress regularly and adjust instruction to keep your child moving forward.
An expert Orton Gillingham tutor should have formal training in the method—ideally certification from an accredited Orton Gillingham organization—plus experience working with students who have reading difficulties or dyslexia. They should understand the science of reading, be able to assess student needs accurately, and know how to adapt instruction based on progress. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have the expertise and experience to deliver effective, evidence-based reading instruction for students in New Haven.
Home practice is essential for reinforcing what's taught in tutoring sessions. Tutors typically provide specific, manageable assignments—such as practicing letter sounds, reading decodable passages, or completing phonics worksheets—that take 15-20 minutes daily. Consistent practice helps skills become automatic, which is critical for building fluency and confidence. Your tutor will guide you on how to support practice at home without creating frustration, and will adjust assignments based on your child's progress and your family's capacity.
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