Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving Dallas, TX
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in Dallas
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 emphasizes phonics, phonemic awareness, and the alphabetic principle. Unlike traditional classroom reading methods, Orton Gillingham uses simultaneous multisensory engagement—combining sight, sound, and touch—to help students build strong decoding and encoding skills from the ground up. This approach is particularly effective for students with dyslexia or those who struggle with phonetic reading patterns.
Orton Gillingham is ideal for students with dyslexia, reading delays, phonemic awareness gaps, or those who haven't responded well to conventional reading instruction. It's also beneficial for students learning English as a second language who need explicit phonics instruction. With Dallas's diverse student population across 22 school districts, personalized Orton Gillingham instruction can address individual reading challenges regardless of a student's starting point.
During an initial session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, phonemic awareness, and specific challenges through observation and informal testing. This evaluation helps identify which foundational skills need attention and allows the tutor to create a personalized learning plan. You'll also discuss your student's goals and any previous reading instruction they've received.
Most students begin showing measurable progress in phonemic awareness and decoding within 4-8 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction. However, the timeline varies based on the severity of reading difficulties and frequency of tutoring sessions. Regular practice between sessions and consistency are key—students who engage with their tutors 2-3 times per week typically see faster progress than those with less frequent instruction.
Orton Gillingham is a complementary approach that strengthens foundational skills—phonics, decoding, and spelling—that support success across any reading curriculum. Tutors can coordinate with classroom teachers to ensure instruction builds on what your student is learning in school while filling specific gaps. This personalized reinforcement helps students apply Orton Gillingham principles to their classroom reading assignments and assessments.
Classroom instruction, while valuable, typically follows a one-size-fits-all pace that may not address individual reading challenges. With an average student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1 in Dallas schools, students struggling with reading often don't receive the targeted, multisensory practice they need. Personalized 1-on-1 Orton Gillingham instruction allows tutors to adjust pacing, repeat concepts as needed, and use direct feedback to build confidence and competence in reading.
Expert Orton Gillingham tutors should have formal training in the Orton Gillingham method and ideally hold certification from recognized organizations like the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE). Many also have backgrounds in special education, reading intervention, or speech-language pathology. Varsity Tutors connects you with qualified tutors who have proven experience working with students who have reading difficulties.
Tutors use regular assessments of phonemic awareness, decoding accuracy, fluency, and spelling to measure progress. You'll receive updates on which skills your student has mastered and what areas need continued focus. Progress is typically visible through improved reading fluency, increased confidence with unfamiliar words, and better spelling—changes you'll notice both in tutoring sessions and in classroom reading assignments.
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