Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Dayton, OH
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Dayton
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 reading method designed to help students understand the phonetic foundations of English. It teaches letter sounds, sound combinations, and word structure systematically, moving from simple to complex concepts. This approach is particularly effective for students with dyslexia or those who struggle with traditional reading instruction, as it engages multiple senses (sight, sound, and touch) to reinforce learning.
Students who struggle with phonics, have difficulty decoding words, or have been diagnosed with dyslexia typically see significant gains with Orton Gillingham instruction. It's also valuable for students who haven't responded well to classroom reading programs, or those learning English as a second language. The structured, step-by-step nature of the approach helps students build confidence and develop strong foundational reading skills regardless of their starting point.
In a classroom setting with an 18:1 student-teacher ratio like many Dayton schools, reading instruction must move at an average pace that doesn't always match individual needs. Personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham tutoring allows tutors to work at your student's exact pace, repeat concepts as needed, and adjust the sequence based on their learning style. This individualized approach means students get immediate feedback, targeted practice on their specific weak areas, and the chance to master each skill before moving forward.
Orton Gillingham can be effective from early elementary through high school and beyond, depending on the student's reading level and needs. Younger students typically benefit from starting with foundational phonics and letter-sound relationships, while older students may focus on more complex word structures, syllable patterns, and reading fluency. Tutors can assess where your student is in their reading development and tailor instruction accordingly, whether they're in elementary school or catching up in middle or high school.
Many students begin noticing improvements in phonics understanding and decoding confidence within a few weeks of consistent 1-on-1 instruction. More significant gains in reading fluency and comprehension typically emerge over 2-3 months of regular tutoring sessions. The timeline depends on factors like starting level, frequency of sessions, and practice between lessons, but the structured nature of Orton Gillingham means progress is measurable and often visible to both student and parent.
Your first session is typically an assessment where a tutor evaluates your student's current reading level, identifies specific challenges, and learns about their learning style and goals. The tutor will explain how Orton Gillingham works and answer your questions about the approach. From there, tutors create a personalized plan that targets your student's needs, whether that's building phonetic awareness, improving decoding skills, or increasing reading confidence.
Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors in Dayton who have expertise in Orton Gillingham instruction and understand how to adapt it to individual student needs. When you get matched with a tutor, you can review their background and experience with reading instruction before your first session. Look for tutors who have formal training in Orton Gillingham or related structured literacy approaches, and who can explain how they'll assess and support your student's specific reading challenges.
Consistent practice between sessions is key to reading improvement—typically 15-30 minutes of focused work several times a week reinforces what students learn in tutoring. Tutors usually provide specific practice materials, word lists, or reading exercises tailored to the skills you're working on. This practice might include reviewing letter-sound relationships, practicing decoding new words, or reading passages at your student's level, all designed to build automaticity and confidence in the skills being taught.
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