Frequently Asked Questions about Orton-Gillingham & IEPs

Orton-Gillingham is a structured, explicit, multisensory approach to teaching reading, spelling, and writing. It breaks language into its smallest parts and teaches them in a logical sequence using sight, sound, and touch together. Rooted in the Science of Reading, it is one of the most effective methods for students with dyslexia and other reading differences.

Common early signs include trouble sounding out words, slow or effortful reading, frequent spelling errors, difficulty with rhyming, and avoiding reading. Dyslexia is diagnosed through a formal evaluation, but structured literacy tutoring helps regardless of a formal label. A free consultation is a good first step to talk through what you are seeing.

At a Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting, the school team and family review a child's evaluations, eligibility, goals, services, and placement, and together write or revise the Individualized Education Program (IEP). As an IEP consultant, I help Long Island parents understand the documents, prepare questions, and advocate confidently for appropriate services.

Yes. In addition to in-person sessions across Long Island, I offer live virtual Orton-Gillingham and structured literacy tutoring nationwide. Online sessions use multisensory tools and are just as structured and engaging as in-person lessons.

I provide in-person tutoring and IEP consulting in Huntington, Commack, Smithtown, Dix Hills, Melville, and nearby communities across Nassau and Suffolk County, plus virtual sessions for families anywhere.

Individual tutoring sessions range from $90 to $110 per hour depending on location and needs. Every new family starts with a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk through goals before committing.

Regular reading help often relies on repeated practice and guessing from context. Structured literacy, including Orton-Gillingham, explicitly teaches the rules of the language in a systematic, cumulative sequence with multisensory practice. This approach is backed by the Science of Reading and is especially important for students with dyslexia.

I track progress with regular, data-driven assessment of phonics skills, fluency, and comprehension, and I share clear updates with families so you always know how your child is growing. Goals are reviewed and adjusted as your child advances.

My specialization is early learners and elementary students, roughly kindergarten through third grade, including preschoolers building pre-reading skills. I also support older students in reading, math, executive functioning, and study skills.