Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Oklahoma City, OK
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Oklahoma City
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
The Orton Gillingham method is a structured, multisensory approach to reading instruction that teaches students to understand the relationship between letters and sounds. It's particularly effective for students with dyslexia or reading difficulties because it breaks down phonics into systematic, sequential steps and engages multiple senses—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—to reinforce learning. For students in Oklahoma City who struggle with decoding or fluency, this method provides a concrete framework that builds confidence and foundational reading skills.
Classroom instruction, even in Oklahoma City's 176 schools, must move at a pace that works for the whole group, which can leave struggling readers behind. Personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring allows a tutor to work at your student's exact pace, repeat lessons as needed, and adjust the sequence based on their specific strengths and challenges. This individualized approach means your child gets immediate feedback, targeted practice on problem areas, and the time to truly master each skill before moving forward.
Orton Gillingham can benefit students from early elementary through high school, depending on when reading difficulties are identified. Early intervention—ideally in grades 1-3—tends to produce the fastest progress, but students of any age can benefit from this structured approach. If your child in Oklahoma City is struggling with phonics, word recognition, or reading fluency at any grade level, connecting with a tutor experienced in Orton Gillingham can help determine the right starting point and pacing for their needs.
While Orton Gillingham was originally developed to support students with dyslexia, it's effective for any student who struggles with phonics, decoding, or reading fluency. Many students in Oklahoma City benefit from this method simply because they learn better with explicit, structured, multisensory instruction—regardless of whether they have a formal dyslexia diagnosis. A tutor can assess whether Orton Gillingham is the right fit for your student's specific reading challenges.
Progress depends on the severity of the reading difficulty and the frequency of tutoring, but many students begin to show improvements in phonemic awareness and decoding within 4-8 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction. More significant gains in fluency and comprehension typically develop over several months. Consistency is key—students who work with a tutor 2-3 times per week generally see faster progress than those with less frequent sessions.
Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have expertise in Orton Gillingham and understand how to apply this structured method to your student's specific needs. When you reach out, you can specify that you're looking for Orton Gillingham instruction, and we'll match you with a qualified tutor in Oklahoma City who has experience with this approach. Your first session is a great opportunity to discuss your student's reading challenges and confirm that the tutor's experience aligns with your goals.
Yes, personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring complements classroom instruction well. In fact, the structured, systematic approach often reinforces what students are learning at school while providing the intensive, individualized practice that classroom settings—especially in Oklahoma City's average 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio—can't always offer. A tutor can also communicate with your student's teacher to ensure the tutoring supports and accelerates progress toward grade-level reading goals.
In the first session, the tutor will typically assess your student's current reading level, phonemic awareness, and decoding skills to understand where to begin instruction. They'll explain the Orton Gillingham approach, answer your questions, and often teach the first lesson to give your student a sense of how personalized instruction works. This session helps both the tutor and your family determine the right frequency and pacing to support your student's reading growth.
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