Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Queens, NY
Award-Winning
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Queens
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?
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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'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 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 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 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.
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
The Orton Gillingham method is a structured, multisensory approach to reading instruction that has been used for decades to help students with dyslexia and reading difficulties. It teaches phonics systematically through direct instruction, combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements so students engage multiple senses while learning letter-sound relationships and decoding strategies.
Unlike whole-language approaches used in many classrooms, Orton Gillingham emphasizes explicit, sequential instruction in phonetic patterns. Students learn one skill thoroughly before moving to the next, building a strong foundation in sound-symbol relationships. This systematic approach can be particularly effective for students who struggle with reading fluency or have been frustrated by traditional classroom instruction.
Orton Gillingham tutoring is most beneficial for students with dyslexia, reading disabilities, or those who struggle with phonemic awareness and decoding. It's also helpful for students who haven't responded well to classroom reading instruction, students learning English as a second language, and younger students who need intensive phonics instruction.
Even students without diagnosed learning disabilities can benefit if they're falling behind in reading or have gaps in foundational phonics skills. The method works across grade levels, from early elementary through high school, since the systematic approach can address reading challenges regardless of age.
Most classroom reading programs blend multiple approaches, including whole-language strategies and guided reading groups. While these methods work well for many students, they may not provide the intensive, explicit phonics instruction that students with dyslexia or reading difficulties need. Orton Gillingham tutoring provides one-on-one, highly structured instruction tailored specifically to each student's learning gaps.
Personalized Orton Gillingham instruction allows tutors to progress at your student's pace, spend extra time on challenging concepts, and use multisensory techniques consistently. A tutor can pinpoint exactly where a student's decoding breaks down and address it directly, rather than moving forward with classroom pacing even when foundational skills aren't solid.
Most students begin showing measurable progress in phonemic awareness, letter recognition, and basic decoding within 4-8 weeks of consistent, personalized Orton Gillingham instruction. However, the timeline depends on the severity of the student's reading difficulties, their age, and how frequently they receive tutoring.
Students with mild reading delays might see significant fluency gains in 2-3 months, while students with dyslexia may need longer-term support to build automaticity with decoding. Consistency matters—students who work with a tutor 2-3 times weekly typically progress faster than those meeting less frequently. Progress is most noticeable when tutoring is combined with practice at home.
Look for tutors who have formal training and certification in the Orton Gillingham method, or at minimum, those with extensive experience implementing structured literacy approaches. Ideally, your tutor should have experience working with students who have similar challenges to your student—whether that's dyslexia, English as a second language, or general reading delays.
Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Queens who understand the Orton Gillingham approach and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your student's specific needs. When getting matched with a tutor, ask about their credentials, their experience with students at your child's grade level, and how they measure progress.
The multisensory component of Orton Gillingham—combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements—helps engage different learning pathways in the brain. When a student traces a letter while saying its sound, they're activating multiple sensory systems simultaneously, which strengthens memory and neural connections around that letter-sound relationship.
For students with dyslexia or reading difficulties, this multisensory approach can bypass processing challenges in a single modality. If a student struggles with phonological processing, the visual and kinesthetic elements provide additional anchors for learning. This makes the method particularly effective for students whose brains process information differently than typical readers.
While Orton Gillingham can theoretically be introduced in kindergarten, it's most commonly started in first or second grade once students have basic letter recognition. However, students at any age can benefit from the method if they're struggling with reading—tutors successfully work with elementary, middle, and high school students using Orton Gillingham principles.
For younger students just beginning to read, early intervention with Orton Gillingham can prevent reading difficulties from becoming entrenched. For older students who've struggled for years, the systematic approach can help them catch up and build confidence. The key is matching instruction intensity to the student's needs and starting as soon as reading difficulties are identified.
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