Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Knoxville, TN
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Knoxville
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 or reading difficulties. The method teaches phonics systematically, moving from individual sounds to words to sentences, while engaging multiple senses (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) to reinforce learning. Research shows this approach helps students build strong foundational skills and develop confidence in reading, even when traditional classroom methods haven't worked.
Classroom reading instruction typically moves at a pace designed for the average student, while Orton Gillingham tutoring is tailored entirely to your child's learning speed and specific challenges. Tutors using this method provide intensive, one-on-one attention that allows them to diagnose exactly where reading skills break down and address those gaps directly. With Knoxville's average student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1, personalized tutoring offers the focused instruction that's difficult to achieve in a traditional classroom setting.
Orton Gillingham is designed to help students who struggle with phonics, decoding, spelling, and fluency—challenges often seen in students with dyslexia or reading disabilities. The method also supports students who have gaps in foundational skills, difficulty blending sounds, or trouble recognizing letter-sound relationships. Because the approach is systematic and explicit, it's effective for a wide range of learners who need more structured, step-by-step instruction than they're receiving in their regular classroom.
The first session typically includes an assessment to understand your child's current reading level, specific challenges, and learning style. The tutor will review any previous testing or school records and begin building a personalized instruction plan based on what they discover. This foundation ensures that subsequent sessions target exactly what your child needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Many students begin showing progress in phonics and decoding within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline varies based on the severity of reading difficulties and frequency of sessions. More substantial improvements in fluency and comprehension typically emerge over several months of regular instruction. Consistency is key—students who attend sessions weekly and practice between sessions tend to see faster, more lasting results than those with sporadic tutoring.
While Orton Gillingham is most effective when started in elementary school, students at any grade level—from early readers through high school—can benefit from this structured approach. Early intervention (grades K-3) typically produces the fastest results, but older students with undiagnosed dyslexia or persistent reading gaps often experience significant breakthroughs with this method. The approach adapts to meet students where they are, whether they're learning to decode or working to improve reading comprehension and speed.
Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have specialized training and expertise in Orton Gillingham instruction. When you reach out, mention that you're looking for Orton Gillingham-trained tutors, and we'll match you with someone qualified to deliver this specific methodology. It's important to work with someone who has formal training in the approach rather than general reading tutors, as the structured, multisensory techniques require specialized knowledge.
Orton Gillingham tutoring complements classroom instruction by providing the explicit, systematic phonics foundation that many schools emphasize. While the tutoring approach is highly structured, it works alongside whatever reading curriculum your child's school uses—whether that's a specific basal program or balanced literacy approach. The personalized tutoring fills gaps and reinforces skills in a way that supports success in the classroom, rather than replacing what teachers are doing.
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