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Award-Winning 1st Grade Reading Tutors

Molly

Certified Tutor

Molly

Master of Science in Education
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-8th Grade math
1st-8th Grade Writing
Pre-Algebra

I am an Illinois certified Teacher in grades K-9. I attended Northwestern University and received a Master's of Science in Education. I have ample classroom experience and expertise in elementary Math and Reading intervention. I have several tools and resources from various curricula to work with an...

Education

Northwestern University

Master of Science in Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor in Arts, History

Test Scores
SAT
1480
Allan

Certified Tutor

Allan

Bachelors, Biological Sciences
Allan's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade Writing
3rd-8th Grade Science

I'm a big Boston Celtics fan and I speak three languages. I can get you the test results you need to succeed because I went through the exams myself and performed well. The first time I took the SAT I actually wasn't satisfied with my score, so I spent 2 months working hard to get my score to where ...

Education

Northwestern University

Bachelors, Biological Sciences

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Ruth

Certified Tutor

Ruth

M.S.Ed
Ruth's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
10th-11th Grade Writing
1st Grade math
Calculus

I am a high school English teacher, currently working primarily with 10th grade students. I have previously worked at middle and elementary schools as well. I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2016 with a B.A. in English and Theatre. I then got my M.S.Ed from Northwestern. I have worked wi...

Education

University of Chicago

M.S.Ed

University of Chicago

B.A. in English and Theatre

Test Scores
SAT
1520
Paula

Certified Tutor

Paula

Bachelor in Arts
Paula's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
2nd-8th Grade math
3rd-8th Grade Science

I am extremely passionate about academics and learning; the value of each was inculcated into me at a very young age. I tutor a variety of subjects largely because I have so many areas of interests and have been privileged enough to pursue knowledge in those areas. I even enjoy tucking away "useless...

Education

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1520
ACT
32
Angela

Certified Tutor

Angela

Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations
Angela's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
Calculus
Algebra

I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in International Relations and minoring in French and English. The studies of English and Literature have been my passion for a long time. I enjoy reading about cultures while familiarizing myself with the world’s diverse peoples. In...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations

Test Scores
SAT
1430
Hasan

Certified Tutor

Hasan

B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts
Hasan's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
1st-8th Grade math
3rd-8th Grade Science

I am a graduate of Brown University, where I earned my B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts, taking courses in a wide array of subjects ranging from contemporary American fiction to ancient Indian classics. My first teaching experience came in college when I had the privilege of creating and teachi...

Education

Brown University

B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Michael

Certified Tutor

Michael

Bachelor in Arts, Public Health/Pre-Medicine
Michael's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
Calculus
Algebra
AP Physics 1

I am an incoming medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who graduated with honors from Johns Hopkins University. My degree is in Public Health with a Biology concentration, but I also studied two full semesters of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics. During my time at H...

Education

Johns Hopkins

Bachelor in Arts, Public Health/Pre-Medicine

Dakota

Certified Tutor

Dakota

Master's degree
Dakota's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade Writing
3rd-8th Grade Science

I am a native Texan now living in NYC. I just finished my Master's degree, and I love food, reading, and travel. I've been working and volunteering as a tutor since my high school days, and I am eager to provide advanced-level assistance to you! I'm a friendly, approachable person who maintains a pr...

Education

Vanderbilt University

Master's degree

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
ACT
33
Jennifer

Certified Tutor

Jennifer

Masters, Theatre Directing
Jennifer's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st-5th Grade Writing
Calculus
Algebra

I'm communicating and working with a pupil that I get a proper indication of how to work best with them. It's crucial to understand every student is different. There are always indications on how to handle/work with each student. For example, with a hostile student I would try to ease off and allow ...

Education

Trinity College Dublin

Masters, Theatre Directing

Marvin

Certified Tutor

Marvin

Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Marvin's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Reading
1st Grade Writing
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra

I am currently an upper elementary teacher through Teach For America, and I've passed all of my elementary certification exams, while working on finishing my teacher license this academic year from calumet college, St. Joseph. My undergraduate degree is in Economics from the University of Chicago, a...

Education

The University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts, Economics

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Meet Our Expert Tutors

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Nima

12th Grade math Tutor • +98 Subjects

I am a rising college sophomore who will be attending Duke University on a full merit scholarship in the fall. I love to run cross country and play the viola, as well as tutoring students in a whole variety of subjects! Feel free to message me! Hobbies: writing, art, books, reading, music

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Allen

11th Grade math Tutor • +66 Subjects

I am an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University who is pursuing a major in mathematics and a minor in computer science. My experience in tutoring environments entails working at a learning center teaching mathematics and serving as a volunteer in various mentorship and tutoring programs. While I have taught various subjects such as financial literacy and music, I especially love to work with students in mathematics as well as SAT preparation. Hobbies: art, books, hiking, nature, reading, cooking, music, writing

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Jessalyn

6th Grade math Tutor • +78 Subjects

I am “HQ” (Highly Qualified) certified to teach Social Studies for grades 7-12. I currently teach a sophomore level ethics class at St. Edwards University. I taught several classes at The University of Texas at Austin as a Doctoral Candidate, where I also earned my M.A. in Philosophy. At the University of Southern California, I earned my B.A. with Departmental Honors along with the Discovery Scholar’s award for excellence in independent research. I have been tutoring and teaching for eleven years, with a primary emphasis on developing my students’ writing and critical thinking skills.

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Kathleen

Calculus Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and English Literature in 2014. Since graduation, I have served one year as a K-2 literacy tutor with A Community for Education, and this past year I worked as a kindergarten teacher at IDEA Public Schools. I will be beginning a Masters Program in Education this fall at the University of Texas at Austin with a certification in teaching 7-12th English. My goal as a professional is to unite my love of literature with my passion for social justice to become an inspirational and effective educator of underserved preteen and teenage students. My tutoring style is very positive and encouraging, and centered around teaching my students in a way that makes sense to them. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, running, travel, and cooking. Hobbies: running, hiking, art, travel, books, writing, yoga, reading, cooking, music

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Felice

8th Grade math Tutor • +57 Subjects

I am a graduate of Rutgers College - Undergraduate Business School. I received my Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in English. I believe that students learn best when taught in an engaging and energetic way but also believe that it is only through patience and an individualized approach that you can you truly understand the way that a student comprehends and retains that knowledge. I work hard to encompass creativity, energy, and patience in the ways that I teach. My passion for education and learning began in high school where I regularly tutored Math and English to students of all ages. For the past 9 years, I worked in the Financial Services industry in various finance and human resources roles. This experience allowed me to work with all different types of people and helped me develop my skills for understanding unique personalities and how different individuals are motivated. Throughout my career post-college, I continue to be involved in the Learning & Development of my colleagues and often create training guides and conduct training sessions on various relevant topics such as computer skills and financial applications. I am extremely excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to work with students again and in an area where my true passion has always been: education. In my spare time, I love being with friends and family, discovering food festivals around NYC and finding any excuse to travel.

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Sarah

12th Grade math Tutor • +66 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky's College of Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Classics giving me a strong background in mathematics, language and the hard sciences. Hobbies: art, outdoors, reading, writing, books, music

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Orlando

12th Grade math Tutor • +86 Subjects

Hobbies: reading, music, running, art, books, writing

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Brianna

10th Grade math Tutor • +149 Subjects

I am a currently a high school mathematics teacher. I graduated from the University of Richmond majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Analytics and a minor in Mathematics. I have worked with kids of all ages, ranging from elementary school to college students through various subjects. I have also worked extensively with special needs children, doing everything from teaching special education to one-on-one in-home mentoring. Through my experiences, I have continued to carry my passion for working with children and have developed my skills in making successful and individualized learning fun. Math, science and test prep are the subjects I'm particularly passionate about tutoring, as I've always loved those subjects myself. Additionally, I've worked extensively with adults on business skills, marketing and social media.

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Tara

10th Grade math Tutor • +71 Subjects

I'm sure of, it's that I genuinely enjoy tutoring. I'm also a "professional" student. I say this because absorbing, analyzing, and integrating knowledge from my medical courses are necessary skills for my own academic success. And so, I am more than happy to share my study strategies, techniques, and tips with students.

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Adrianna

Elementary Math Tutor • +68 Subjects

I am a 7th grade English/Language Arts teacher at Gary Comer College Prep Middle School in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, IL. I have also taught math in self-contained and remedial setting. Hobbies: running, art, books, reading, music, writing

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Frequently Asked Questions

A 1st Grade Reading tutor focuses on systematic phonics instruction, teaching letter-sound relationships and blending strategies that help students decode unfamiliar words independently. Tutors use multisensory approaches—combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities—to reinforce phonemic awareness and help students move from sounding out simple CVC words (like "cat") to more complex patterns. Regular, targeted practice with a tutor accelerates progress because the instruction is tailored to your child's specific phonics gaps rather than moving at a whole-class pace.

Sight words—high-frequency words like "the," "and," and "said" that don't follow regular phonics rules—require repetition and exposure. A tutor uses varied, engaging strategies like word games, flashcard activities, and repeated reading of decodable texts to build automaticity so your child recognizes these words instantly. When sight words become automatic, students can focus their mental energy on comprehension rather than word identification, which naturally improves reading fluency and confidence.

This is a common pattern in 1st grade—students are still building decoding skills and can run out of cognitive resources for comprehension. A tutor helps by using shorter, less demanding texts initially so your child can focus on meaning, then gradually increases complexity. Tutors also teach active comprehension strategies like asking questions before, during, and after reading, making predictions, and retelling stories—skills that help students transition from "word calling" to genuine understanding.

Reading anxiety in 1st grade often stems from struggling with decoding or feeling rushed. A tutor creates a low-pressure environment where your child reads at their own pace, receives immediate, supportive feedback, and experiences success with appropriately leveled texts. This repeated success—combined with explicit praise for effort and strategy use—rebuilds confidence. Many students who start reluctant become eager readers once they experience what it feels like to understand a story or successfully read a new book.

While many 1st graders arrive knowing most letter names and sounds, some need additional support—and that's completely normal. A tutor can quickly assess which letters your child knows and which need reinforcement, then use multisensory activities (tracing, writing in sand, letter songs) to build automaticity. Letter knowledge is foundational for phonics, so addressing gaps early prevents them from becoming obstacles to decoding and reading progress.

A tutor assesses your child's current phonics knowledge, sight word recognition, and comprehension ability to match them with texts they can read with about 90-95% accuracy—challenging enough to build skills but not so difficult that it creates frustration. As your child masters phonics patterns and sight words, the tutor gradually introduces more complex texts with longer sentences and richer vocabulary. This scaffolded progression ensures your child is always working in their "sweet spot" for learning rather than getting stuck or bored.

A tutor will recommend specific strategies tailored to your child's needs—typically including daily shared reading (where you read together), repeated readings of familiar books to build fluency, and practicing phonics patterns introduced in tutoring. The key is keeping home reading enjoyable and low-pressure; struggling readers benefit more from frequent, short reading sessions with a patient adult than from lengthy, frustrating practice. Your tutor can suggest decodable books that match your child's current phonics level and provide guidance on how to support without over-correcting.

Early signs include persistent difficulty with phonics despite instruction, trouble rhyming or segmenting sounds, letter reversals beyond age 7, or a family history of reading difficulties. While a tutor cannot diagnose dyslexia, they can recognize patterns that suggest a need for formal evaluation and can provide evidence-based, structured literacy instruction (like Orton-Gillingham approaches) that benefits students with dyslexia. If your child is evaluated and diagnosed, a tutor experienced with dyslexia can offer specialized support that complements any school interventions.

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