Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Sarasota, FL
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Sarasota
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's particularly effective for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. It teaches phonics systematically by connecting letters to sounds through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities, helping students build strong foundational decoding skills that transfer to fluent reading.
Orton Gillingham can benefit students as early as kindergarten or first grade if early reading struggles are identified, though it's commonly introduced in grades 2-4 when reading gaps become more apparent. Students of any age—including middle school, high school, and adults—can benefit from this approach if they're struggling with decoding or have been identified as dyslexic.
While Sarasota's schools provide excellent instruction, Orton Gillingham tutoring offers personalized, one-on-one pacing that targets each student's specific gaps and learning style. Tutors using this method can spend focused time on foundational skills, repeat lessons as needed without pressure, and adjust the sequence to match your student's readiness—something that's difficult in a classroom setting with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio.
Orton Gillingham is designed to help students who struggle with phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, fluency, and comprehension—especially those with dyslexia, dyscalculia, or language-based learning differences. It's also effective for students who've tried other reading programs without success or who need explicit, step-by-step instruction to understand how letters and sounds work together.
Most students begin showing measurable progress in decoding and confidence within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though significant gains in fluency and comprehension usually take 3-6 months depending on the severity of the reading gap and frequency of sessions. Consistency is key—students who meet regularly (2-3 times per week) typically see faster, more substantial improvements than those with sporadic sessions.
Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors trained in Orton Gillingham methodology who understand how to deliver this structured, multisensory approach effectively. When you reach out, you can specify your student's reading level, challenges, and goals, and we'll match you with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit your needs.
The first session typically involves an assessment where the tutor evaluates your student's current reading level, phonemic awareness, decoding skills, and any specific challenges. The tutor will explain the Orton Gillingham approach, answer your questions, and create a personalized plan that outlines the sequence of lessons and realistic goals based on your student's needs.
Students typically show improvements in phonetic decoding accuracy, reading fluency (words read correctly per minute), spelling consistency, and reading confidence. Many students also experience better comprehension as decoding becomes more automatic, and some catch up to grade-level expectations or move beyond them—outcomes that depend on starting point, frequency of tutoring, and practice between sessions.
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