Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Palm Bay, FL
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Palm Bay
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
Orton Gillingham is a structured, multisensory approach to reading instruction that teaches students to recognize the relationship between letters and sounds through explicit, sequential steps. Unlike typical classroom reading methods that often emphasize sight words and context clues, Orton Gillingham breaks reading down into foundational phonetic elements, making it especially effective for students with dyslexia or those who struggle with decoding. The method engages multiple senses—students see, hear, say, and write letters and sounds—which strengthens neural pathways and improves retention.
Orton Gillingham works well for students with dyslexia, reading delays, decoding difficulties, or those who haven't responded to standard classroom instruction. It's also beneficial for students learning English as a second language who need explicit phonetic foundations. For students in Palm Bay schools, personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham instruction can address gaps that may not be fully supported in larger classroom settings, where the 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio limits individualized attention to reading struggles.
During an initial session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, identify specific phonetic gaps, and understand their learning style and challenges. This diagnostic approach helps the tutor create a personalized plan that starts at the right foundational level—whether that's basic letter-sound relationships or more advanced phonetic patterns. You'll also learn what to expect from the program timeline and how to reinforce skills between sessions.
Many students show noticeable progress in decoding and fluency within 8-12 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction, though the timeline varies based on the severity of reading difficulties and frequency of sessions. The structured, sequential nature of Orton Gillingham means students build skills systematically rather than jumping around—this steady foundation often leads to faster, more lasting improvement than general reading support. Regular practice between sessions accelerates progress significantly.
Orton Gillingham complements classroom reading instruction by providing the explicit phonetic foundation that many students need but may not receive in group settings. While Palm Bay schools teach reading through various methods, Orton Gillingham tutoring fills gaps by systematically teaching the letter-sound relationships and decoding strategies that support success with any curriculum. Your tutor can coordinate with classroom teachers to ensure skills reinforce what students are learning in school.
In a classroom, reading instruction must accommodate 20+ students with varying needs, making it difficult to address individual gaps in phonetic understanding or pacing. Personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham tutoring allows a tutor to adjust the pace, repeat lessons as needed, and focus intensively on your student's specific challenges—whether that's blending sounds, understanding vowel patterns, or building automaticity. This tailored approach typically produces faster, more confident readers than classroom instruction alone.
Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors trained in Orton Gillingham methodology who work with students in Palm Bay. When you get matched with a tutor, you'll receive someone with specific expertise in structured literacy instruction and experience helping students overcome reading challenges. You can discuss your student's needs upfront to ensure a strong fit for your goals.
Good tutors track progress through regular assessments of phonetic knowledge, decoding accuracy, reading fluency, and comprehension—giving you concrete data on improvement rather than just subjective feedback. You'll likely see measurable gains in word recognition speed, ability to decode unfamiliar words, and reading confidence. Your tutor should share progress updates regularly and adjust instruction based on what the assessments reveal about your student's growth.
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