Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Buffalo, NY
Award-Winning
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Buffalo
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals!
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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Frequently Asked Questions
Orton Gillingham is a structured, multisensory approach to reading instruction that teaches students the phonetic structure of language systematically and explicitly. Unlike traditional classroom reading methods that often rely on sight words and context clues, Orton Gillingham breaks down language into its foundational components—teaching students how letters and letter combinations create sounds, then how sounds blend into words. This approach is particularly effective for students with dyslexia or those who struggle with decoding, as it addresses the root causes of reading difficulty rather than just symptoms.
Orton Gillingham instruction is especially beneficial for students with dyslexia, reading disabilities, or significant phonics gaps—but it also helps any student who hasn't responded well to traditional reading instruction. Students who struggle with decoding, have difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, or avoid reading often make substantial progress with this method. Additionally, students in Buffalo schools who are advanced readers can benefit from Orton Gillingham's systematic approach to understanding language structure and improving spelling and writing skills.
In a typical Buffalo classroom with a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio, reading instruction must accommodate diverse skill levels and learning paces. Personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham instruction moves at your student's speed, spending as much time as needed on each foundational skill before progressing. Tutors can also customize the approach based on your student's specific learning profile, interests, and gaps—something that's difficult in a group setting. This focused, individualized attention typically accelerates progress and builds confidence in struggling readers.
Many students begin showing noticeable improvements in decoding and phonemic awareness within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline varies based on the severity of the reading difficulty and frequency of sessions. More significant gains—such as catching up to grade-level reading expectations or developing fluency—typically emerge over several months of regular instruction. Consistency is key; students who work with tutors 2-3 times per week generally progress faster than those with less frequent sessions.
Ideally, your tutor should have formal training in the Orton Gillingham method—either through IDA (International Dyslexia Association) certification or completion of an accredited Orton Gillingham training program. Look for tutors with experience working with students who have reading disabilities or dyslexia, and ask about their background in phonics, phonemic awareness, and language structure. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors for students in Buffalo who have the specialized training and experience needed to deliver effective Orton Gillingham instruction.
Yes—Orton Gillingham is a flexible, systematic method that can be adapted for elementary students just beginning to read, middle schoolers catching up on foundational skills, and even high schoolers working to improve decoding and spelling. The core principles remain the same, but tutors adjust the pace, complexity, and content based on your student's grade level and academic goals. For example, a 3rd grader might focus on basic phonics patterns, while a 7th grader might work on multisyllabic word decoding and spelling rules to support their content-area reading.
Orton Gillingham is particularly effective for students struggling with phonemic awareness (understanding that words are made of individual sounds), decoding unfamiliar words, reversing letters or numbers, and spelling inconsistently. Students who read slowly, skip words while reading, or confuse similar-looking letters often have foundational gaps that Orton Gillingham targets directly. The method also helps students who have memorized sight words but can't sound out new words independently—a critical skill for reading success and independence.
The first session typically includes an assessment of your student's current reading skills—phonemic awareness, decoding ability, sight word knowledge, and spelling—to identify specific gaps and strengths. The tutor will explain the Orton Gillingham approach, discuss your goals, and begin establishing a foundation for personalized instruction. You'll also learn what to expect in future sessions and how to support your student's progress at home, since consistency between tutoring and practice is key to success.
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