Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Pittsburgh, PA
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Pittsburgh
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 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.
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.
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 approach is a structured, multisensory method designed specifically for students with dyslexia and reading difficulties. It teaches phonics systematically by connecting letter sounds to their visual, auditory, and kinesthetic forms, helping students build strong decoding skills from the ground up. This approach is particularly effective because it addresses the root causes of reading struggles rather than just treating symptoms, making it ideal for students who haven't responded well to traditional classroom instruction.
While Pittsburgh's 216 schools serve diverse learners, classroom instruction typically follows a whole-class pace that doesn't always accommodate students with dyslexia or significant reading gaps. Orton Gillingham tutoring provides personalized, one-on-one instruction that moves at your student's pace, allowing tutors to isolate specific phonetic patterns, provide immediate feedback, and adjust techniques based on your child's learning style. This individualized approach is especially valuable for catching up to grade-level expectations and building the foundational skills that struggling readers often miss.
Orton Gillingham can benefit students from early elementary through high school and beyond, though it's most commonly introduced when reading difficulties become apparent—typically around grades 2-3. The approach is flexible enough to work with younger students building initial phonetic awareness and older students who need remediation to catch up to grade-level reading. A tutor can assess your student's current reading level and determine the right starting point, regardless of age.
During an initial session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, decoding skills, and specific challenges to understand where to begin instruction. They'll explain the Orton Gillingham method, answer your questions, and likely introduce basic phonetic concepts in a way that feels manageable and encouraging. This first meeting helps both the tutor and student build rapport and establishes a clear plan for moving forward.
Many students begin noticing improved decoding skills and confidence within 4-6 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction, though the timeline varies based on the severity of reading difficulties and frequency of sessions. Significant progress—such as catching up to grade-level reading or moving from struggling to proficient—typically emerges over several months of regular tutoring. Consistency matters more than speed; students who work with tutors 2-3 times per week generally see faster, more sustainable improvement than those with less frequent sessions.
While Orton Gillingham was specifically developed to help students with dyslexia, the structured, multisensory approach is highly effective for any student struggling with phonics, decoding, or reading fluency—including those with general reading delays or those who simply haven't responded to traditional instruction. The systematic, step-by-step method works well for diverse learners because it removes guesswork and builds skills methodically from the foundation up.
Look for tutors who have formal training in the Orton Gillingham method, ideally through an accredited program, and who understand the science of reading and dyslexia. Many experienced tutors also hold certifications from organizations like the International Dyslexia Association or have specialized training in structured literacy. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have the specific expertise and background needed to teach Orton Gillingham effectively.
Home practice is essential to Orton Gillingham success—it reinforces what students learn in tutoring sessions and builds automaticity with phonetic patterns and decoding strategies. Tutors typically assign brief, focused practice activities (15-20 minutes most days) that complement the structured lessons and help skills stick. The combination of professional instruction and consistent home reinforcement is what drives measurable, lasting improvement in reading ability.
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