Award-Winning Orton Gillingham Tutors
serving San Antonio, TX
Orton Gillingham
Tutors in San Antonio
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 teaches students to decode words by understanding the relationship between letters and sounds. It's particularly effective for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties because it breaks reading into explicit, sequential steps rather than relying on sight recognition alone. The method engages multiple senses—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—to help information stick, making it especially valuable for learners whose brains process language differently.
While San Antonio's 624 schools serve over 333,000 students with an average student-teacher ratio of 14.5:1, personalized Orton Gillingham tutoring provides one-on-one attention tailored to your student's specific reading level and learning pace. A tutor can focus entirely on your child's individual gaps, adjust the curriculum in real time, and use targeted practice that addresses exactly where they struggle—whether that's phoneme awareness, decoding, or fluency. This individualized approach means faster progress and more confidence, since the instruction moves at your child's speed rather than the pace of a classroom.
Orton Gillingham can begin as early as kindergarten for students showing early signs of reading difficulty, but it's most commonly introduced in grades 1–3 when reading gaps become apparent. However, students of any age—including middle school, high school, and adults—can benefit from this approach if they struggle with decoding or have undiagnosed dyslexia. The key is identifying the need early; the sooner intervention starts, the faster students typically catch up and build reading confidence.
While Orton Gillingham was originally designed for students with dyslexia and is highly effective for that population, it benefits any student who struggles with phonics, decoding, or reading fluency. Many students without a formal dyslexia diagnosis still have difficulty with the sound-symbol connection that Orton Gillingham explicitly teaches. The structured, multisensory method works well for English language learners, students with processing delays, and anyone who hasn't responded well to traditional reading instruction.
Most students begin showing measurable progress within 8–12 weeks of consistent, personalized Orton Gillingham instruction, with noticeable improvements in decoding accuracy and confidence. Significant gains in reading fluency and comprehension typically emerge over 4–6 months of regular tutoring. The timeline depends on the severity of the reading difficulty, the student's age, and frequency of sessions, but the structured, sequential nature of Orton Gillingham means students often see tangible wins faster than with less targeted approaches.
Expert Orton Gillingham tutors should have formal training and certification in the Orton Gillingham method, often through programs accredited by the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE) or similar organizations. They should also have experience working with students who have reading difficulties or dyslexia, and understand how to assess reading levels and adjust instruction accordingly. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have the specific expertise and credentials to deliver effective Orton Gillingham instruction.
The first session typically includes an assessment of your student's current reading level, decoding skills, and specific challenges—such as letter-sound recognition, blending, or sight word knowledge. The tutor will also learn about your student's learning style, interests, and goals to personalize the approach. From there, tutoring begins with foundational Orton Gillingham lessons, moving sequentially from basic phoneme awareness through increasingly complex decoding patterns, always at your student's pace.
Orton Gillingham's explicit, phonics-based approach aligns well with Texas reading standards, which emphasize phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The structured method directly supports the foundational skills Texas schools expect, making it a complementary tool for students who need extra support to meet grade-level benchmarks. Tutors can coordinate with your student's school to ensure tutoring reinforces classroom learning and addresses specific gaps identified by teachers.
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