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.