Theo Fordham, MS, Orton Gillingham Tutor

Theo started their career in education because they wanted to share their deep love of learning with others. Theo has a BA in Psychology and MS in Education. Theo has completed 70 hours of OG coursework. They have worked as a teacher and nanny for almost a decade. Their neurodivergent child has been homeschooled since the beginning of 2024. Their primary interests are in reading, writing, and history.

They love to incorporate a child’s personal interests and passions within their lesson plans to create an enjoyable and memorable learning experience. Their teaching style is an individualistic approach that is both adaptable and creative. They believe students learn best when they’re actively engaged with the material and can pursue their own interests in the process. 

There’s a saying that if you’ve met one neurodivergent person, you’ve met one neurodivergent person. No two students are alike and there’s no one size fits all teaching strategy. Theo believes in working with students and their individual needs. This can include being aware of sensory sensitivities, breaking down lessons into smaller segments, using visual aids, taking breaks, or switching to another method in the lesson. Theo strives for students to feel confident in their learning by providing a safe environment that feels more like a collaboration of efforts than a traditional teacher-student relationship. 

Theo values clear communication, expectations, and trust with both students and parents. When students are struggling, they offer choices, tap into their interests, and break down lessons into manageable steps. It’s important to Theo that students feel empowered and competent in their abilities. Providing feedback and positive reinforcement are cornerstones of Theo’s teaching practices.

Parents appreciate Theo’s thoughtfulness and dedication to their children. They offer support and tools needed for long term success and their passion for teaching is evident by their rapport with past students and parents. They inspire curiosity and an enthusiasm for learning by connecting with their students in an authentic and personable approach. Theo loves to watch students not only develop their academic skills, but cares about their emotional- social well-being too. 

Outside of teaching, Theo enjoys reading, music, playing their saxophone, gardening, knitting, exploring nature, camping, and playing video games with their family (although they admit they’re not as skilled with that activity).