Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Rochester, NY
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Rochester
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 through explicit instruction in letter sounds, syllable patterns, and word structure—helping students build a strong foundation in decoding. The method engages multiple senses (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) to reinforce learning, making it especially powerful for students who haven't responded well to traditional classroom instruction.
Orton Gillingham addresses the root causes of reading struggles by teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding in a highly structured, sequential way. For students in Rochester who fall behind in reading, personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham instruction allows tutors to move at your child's pace, identify specific gaps, and build confidence through mastery of each skill before moving forward. This targeted approach often produces measurable improvements in fluency, comprehension, and overall reading confidence.
In a typical Rochester classroom with an average student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1, teachers often use mixed reading approaches and move through curriculum at a set pace—which doesn't always work for students who need more explicit, systematic phonics instruction. Personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring provides one-on-one attention, allowing tutors to customize lessons to your child's specific learning style, repeat concepts as needed, and use multisensory techniques that reinforce learning in ways large-group instruction cannot.
Orton Gillingham can be effective for students from early elementary through high school, and even adults—the key is identifying reading difficulties early. Students in Rochester typically benefit most when they start intervention in grades 1-3, but older students and teens can absolutely catch up and build strong reading skills with consistent, personalized instruction. The approach adapts to each student's current level and learning needs, regardless of age.
While Orton Gillingham was originally developed for students with dyslexia, it's highly effective for any student who struggles with phonics, decoding, or reading fluency. Students in Rochester who have general reading delays, language-based learning differences, or simply haven't mastered foundational phonics skills benefit significantly from this structured, multisensory approach. Tutors can assess your child's specific needs and determine whether Orton Gillingham is the right fit.
Many students begin showing progress in phonemic awareness and decoding within a few weeks of consistent instruction, though the timeline varies based on the severity of reading difficulties and frequency of sessions. Most students benefit from regular sessions (typically 2-3 times per week) over several months to build solid foundational skills and see meaningful gains in fluency and comprehension. Varsity Tutors can connect you with tutors experienced in tracking progress and adjusting instruction to keep students moving forward.
Varsity Tutors connects students in Rochester with expert tutors trained in Orton Gillingham methodology. When you reach out, you can discuss your child's specific reading challenges, and we'll match you with a tutor who has the right expertise and teaching style for your family. Your first session is a great opportunity to see how the tutor works with your child and whether the approach is a good fit.
In the first session, the tutor typically assesses your child's current reading level, identifies specific areas of difficulty (like phonemic awareness, letter-sound correspondence, or decoding), and learns about your child's learning style and interests. This foundation helps the tutor create a personalized plan and begin building a strong rapport with your student. You'll get a sense of how the tutor explains concepts and whether the multisensory, structured approach resonates with your child.
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