Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Austin, TX
Award-Winning
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Austin
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.
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all subjects, I take a creative, inquiry-based and learner-centered approach, designing opportunities for each unique individual to meet their learning goals.
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old electronics, playing Pokemon, or picking at my guitar.
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant at Columbia University in my department and also have tutored graduate students and undergraduates privately as well. My primary areas of tutoring are math and statistics coursework in addition to math sections on standardized tests such as the GRE and GMAT. I am very passionate about helping students feel more confident and excited about math. In my spare time, I enjoy running, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family.
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults towards passing the US Citizenship Exam and taught English in India, where I lived for six months. Whenever I work with a student I personalize the lessons to fit their particular learning style, since I know every student is unique and having the right fit can make all the difference in making learning fun and effective. My strengths are tutoring the social sciences and humanities, as well as making math and standardized tests approachable to students that normally don't like those subjects. In my spare time I like traveling, spending time in the outdoors (climbing & backpacking), meditation, and playing soccer. Next fall I will be beginning my PhD in Education at Harvard University.
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals!
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medicine.
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campus); social sciences; and literature/writing.
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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. It teaches the relationship between letters and sounds systematically, using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic techniques to help students build strong decoding and spelling skills. The method breaks reading into manageable steps, allowing students to master foundational skills before moving to more complex concepts.
While some Austin schools incorporate elements of structured literacy, Orton Gillingham tutoring provides intensive, personalized instruction tailored to each student's specific needs. With Austin's 14.9:1 average student-teacher ratio across 339 schools, classroom instruction often can't provide the one-on-one attention that students with reading challenges need. Personalized Orton Gillingham instruction allows tutors to move at your student's pace, repeat concepts as needed, and adjust strategies based on their learning style.
Orton Gillingham can benefit students from early elementary through high school, depending on when reading difficulties are identified. Early intervention is most effective—students in grades 1-3 who are struggling with phonics or letter recognition benefit significantly from early structured instruction. However, older students can still make substantial progress; many middle and high school students catch up on foundational skills and develop stronger reading fluency with personalized instruction.
Orton Gillingham tutoring is highly individualized and moves at your student's pace, whereas classroom instruction follows a set curriculum for 20-30 students. Tutors using this method provide immediate feedback, repeat lessons as needed, and adjust their approach based on how your student learns best. The multisensory techniques—tracing letters, saying sounds aloud, and connecting written symbols to their meanings—create multiple pathways to learning that benefit students who haven't responded to traditional instruction.
Many students show noticeable progress in decoding and phonemic awareness within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline varies based on the severity of reading difficulties and frequency of sessions. More significant improvements in reading fluency and comprehension typically develop over several months of regular instruction. Consistency is key—students who meet with tutors weekly or more frequently tend to see faster progress than those with sporadic sessions.
Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors trained in Orton Gillingham methodology who work with students in Austin. When you reach out, you can specify that you're looking for Orton Gillingham instruction, and we'll match you with a tutor whose expertise aligns with your student's needs. Our tutors are experienced in working with students who have dyslexia, reading delays, or other literacy challenges.
The first session typically focuses on assessment and building rapport. The tutor will ask about your student's reading history, identify specific challenges (like phonics, sight words, or fluency), and observe how your student approaches reading tasks. This helps the tutor understand your student's strengths and learning style so they can tailor the Orton Gillingham approach to be most effective. You'll leave with a sense of the tutor's teaching style and a plan for moving forward.
Most students benefit from 2-3 sessions per week, though even weekly sessions can produce meaningful progress with consistent practice at home. Frequency matters because Orton Gillingham builds systematically—each lesson reinforces and builds on previous concepts. Your tutor can recommend a schedule based on your student's current level, the intensity of their reading challenges, and your family's availability. Regular sessions combined with brief daily practice activities at home accelerate progress significantly.
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