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Award-Winning Pre-Reading Super Skills Tutors

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Camille
I am a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelors Degree in Biology and Yale University with a Masters in Public Health. I also hold a Level 5 certification in TEFL. I am passionate about working with children and students of all ages to assist them in achieving their highest potential. My favori...
Yale University
Master of Public Health
Brown University
Bachelor's Degree in Biology

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Aaron
I am a recent college graduate with an A.B. in Education Studies from Brown University (Providence, RI). I have worked as a remote tutor for other online platforms throughout 2021. I am most passionate about English, especially literary analysis and essay writing. When I am not tutoring, I enjoy exe...
Brown University
Bachelor in Arts, Education
Brown University
A.B. in Education Studies

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Nicholas
I am able to tutor a broad range of subjects, and across a wide-range of grade-levels, I am most proud of and most passionate about my work in literacy. Creating a joyful community of reading and writing - whether for an entire school, or for a small group - has provided me with my greatest sense of...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts, English

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Grace
I am a ballet dancer with Ballet 5:8 in the Chicago suburbs.
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Heather
I am New York State Certified in Childhood Education (1st-6th grade). I was a tenured New York City classroom teacher, before I decided to start my own family. For the past three years I have been teaching online classes to oversea students of all ages.
Adelphi University
Master of Arts Teaching, Elementary School Teaching
Siena College
Bachelor of Science, Marketing

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Jane
I am a current student at Princeton University, obtaining a major in English with minors in Environmental Studies and Musical Theater. I graduated from Sewickley Academy in 2016 as a member of the Cum Laude Society with highest honors for all semesters. I am an AP Scholar with Honors, an Academic Al...
Princeton University
Current Undergrad Student, English

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Anna
With each of my experiences working with children my passion for education has grown. I first came to Austin to work with a Spanish literacy intervention program through Americorps called A Community for Education (ACE). After my service with ACE I taught at a dual language (Spanish-English) school ...
Oberlin College
Bachelors, Comparative American Studies
The University of Texas at Austin
Current Grad Student, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Deborah
My MA in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition, together with my MA in Adult Education and Continuing Education, qualified me to have a stellar forty-three-year career as a full-time college professor predominately in the University System of Georgia. I have successfully instructe...
Georgia State University
Master of Arts, English
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Master of Arts, Adult and Continuing Education
University of Georgia
Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Hi. I love math and I love teaching math. I am a state certified high school math teacher. I have 31 years of classroom experience. I currently teach Pre-Calculus and AP Statistics.
Clark Atlanta University
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics

Certified Tutor
Katherine
Hi, my name is Katherine and I've been tutoring in various capacities since 2012. Although I'm currently studying Computer Science at Swarthmore College, I have expertise in a number of subject areas and I'd love to help you out.
Swarthmore College
Current Undergrad Student, Computer Science
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Samantha
10th Grade Reading Tutor • +119 Subjects
I believe every student has a unique learning skill set and every teacher continues to learn from her students. To ensure every student receives the best tutoring, I strive to offer excellent communication and a diverse set of teaching skills.I obtained my Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater where I double majored in International Business and French. I also obtained my paralegal certificate and minored in Legal Studies. After my undergraduate program, I earned my Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School where I specialized in International Environmental Treaties. I also obtained my certificate in Comparative Legal Systems.I began working as a child care provider in 1998 and continued until I graduated from Law School. I also worked as a para-educator for down-syndrome children in Vermont public schools. For the past four years, I have taught at the collegiate level. I have taught many subjects including legal research and writing, political science, professional development, college career and success, sociology, computer science, English, ethics, and accounting.Besides my formal education, I have a diverse arts background, including Voice, French Horn, and Dance. I enjoy many sports including ice skating, hiking, skiing, and biking. I am currently learning photography. Lastly, I am an avid volunteer in my community. In particular, I provide event management, planning, and fundraising support to Animal Aid, the Girl Scouts, Well Arts, and Humane Educators Reaching Teachers (HEART).From this diverse background, I offer tutoring in English, Literature, Accounting, French, Voice, Elementary and Middle School Math, Phonics, Political Science, Legal Studies, LSAT Prep, Study Skills, Science, and Public Speaking.For my full work history and credential, please feel free to visit my LinkedIn page at: www.linkedin.com/pub/samantha-balmes/50/326/a0a/
Christopher
Algebra Tutor • +7 Subjects
I am a current student at Rutgers University on track to major in Electrical Engineering. I tutor a wide range of math from elementary level up to high school and college. This range includes algebra, trigonometry, pre-calc and calculus. I have had many experiences through my high school and outside work at kumon learning centers in tutoring. I love helping students not only learn the material themselves, but being able to know it well enough that they can teach it themselves, achieving my goal of getting students to work autonomously without required help. The many interests I have outside of the classroom includes playing basketball, running, video games, and computer programming.
Jerry
ACT Writing Tutor • +2 Subjects
Hey, I enjoy teaching math, computer science, and the SAT! Contact me if you are interested in these.
Amy
College English Tutor • +13 Subjects
I have a B.A. in French and a diploma in Business French from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris. I also speak Greek, Italian, and Spanish.I have worked as a private tutor in the area of foreign languages, essay writing, and a variety of other subjects for more than a decade. In that time, I have witnessed the difficulties many students have when learning something that seems unfamiliar, uninteresting, or just makes no sense. Seeing this, I believe it is my responsibility to be a positive influence by ensuring that all my students do well and understand the material. For example, with French, I always give them a brief English grammar lesson beforehand which helps tremendously boost their confidence level as the foreign gradually becomes familiar.I am truly excited about working with students and encouraging them to excel. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing a student conquer his/her fears and expressing him/herself in a way he/she never thought possible. I work with each student’s specific needs in a patient yet firm manner. I also exhibit determination, empathy, and humor to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Most importantly, I am personable and understanding and believe that brings me closer to helping my students.In my free time, I love cooking Mediterranean/Greek cuisine and would love to open a restaurant one day. I also write poetry, short stories, etc. and am currently working on my first novel. Lastly, I adore knitting and crocheting cute, fashionable clothes and accessories for girls.
Gabrielle
AP Biology Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am recent graduate of Binghamton University, with a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology. I am deeply committed to the value of education, and believe that learning is a gift and an opportunity for growth that should be available to everyone. For this reason, I am passionate about tutoring and helping students, so that everyone is able to not only do well in school, but to fall in love with learning in the process. Anyone can enrich themselves through learning. This is the foundation of my teaching philosophy: in addition to emphasizing results and academic achievement, I believe it is integral to find an individual approach to each student and to focus first and foremost on teaching students to study in a way that is effective and engaging. I tutor elementary, middle, and high school students in all subjects. In my free time, I like to go running, practice dance, learn new languages, and play ping-pong.
Julie
Languages Tutor • +4 Subjects
I am a graduate of LaSalle University in Mexico City. I received my Bachelor of Science degree inBusiness Administration with a focus on management. I am also a certifiedteacher of Spanish. Since graduation I have worked in Human Resources and I havealso been tutoring children and adults in private and public schools, as wellas online. I am very enthusiastic about teaching my native language because Ifeel that in that way I am enriching my students' education and experiences inlearning aspects of another culture. One area where we seem to have the mostfun is prepping for exams and writing assignments. I am a firm proponent ofeducation, and as a tutor, my approach is based on each of my students'level of proficiency, their goals, and their learning pace. I focus on providinga pleasant and safe experience for my students. I prepare lesson plans that arecreative and introduce new topics in a fun way, spending enough time reviewingthe material. Afterwards, I allow students time to practice on their own. I encourage you to contact me to schedule so togetherwe can start achieving your goals
Anna
ACT Writing Tutor • +27 Subjects
I honestly love tutoring. While working in finance and publishing over the past decade, I have independently tutored students from many premiere NY and NJ high schools and universities. I continued tutoring even after joining a major private equity firm because of how much I enjoy working one-on-one with students. Breaking down seemingly complex subjects is one of my favorite pastimes--it's part of the reason I also enjoy writing about arcane financial topics like quanto spreads on sovereign CDS. I've also developed a newfound respect for the challenges students face when undergoing years of testing after developing my own study plan to pass the first two CFA exams (I'm taking the third exam in June). This experience has shaped how I work with students to tackle test-taking anxiety and master difficult material quickly.I have both a BA and MA in English from New York University.
Catherine
Algebra Tutor • +15 Subjects
Hello! My name is Catherine Raj and I am a second-year medical student at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Neuroscience in 2022. Since 2015, I have tutored children from ages 3-16 in areas of math and reading, as well as their school curriculum. Apart from tutoring here, I have worked for the Kumon Learning Center as a teaching instructor for 5 years. While I am certified to tutor a broad range of subjects, I have years of experience with tutoring young children in math and reading, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, phonics, reading comprehension, and much more. I connect with elementary and middle school students very well, as I believe in understanding children in order to give them a fulfilling tutoring experience. I also very much enjoy tutoring pre-algebra and algebra as those are my favorite math subjects, as well as my best! My students and I have always had a deeper level of understanding beyond the books and I pride my style of teaching on that aspect.
Grace
ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Tutor • +22 Subjects
I am a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Education (3.95 GPA) and New York University (3.98 GPA). I have worked with students of all ages. I love adapting my teaching style to the individual needs of each student to help them fulfill their greatest potentials.
Sarah
Elementary School Math Tutor • +20 Subjects
I have been a special education teacher in Somerset County for the last 5 years. I have worked in self-contained classrooms and am currently working as a 4th grade resource room Reading and Math teacher. Next spring, I will graduate from Rutgers University's Graduate School of Education with an Ed.M in Reading Education. I will be a certified Reading Specialist as well as a certified supervisor. I am currently a certified Literacy Specialist.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-Reading Super Skills are foundational abilities that prepare young learners for reading success, including phonemic awareness, letter recognition, print concepts, and vocabulary development. These early skills are critical because research shows that children who develop strong pre-reading foundations by kindergarten are significantly more likely to become proficient readers by third grade and beyond.
Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who specialize in building these essential skills through engaging, developmentally appropriate activities that make learning to read an exciting process.
Common pre-reading challenges include difficulty with phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds in words), confusion with letter names and sounds, struggles with rhyming and syllable counting, limited vocabulary exposure, and difficulty understanding that print carries meaning. Some students also show less interest in books or have trouble sitting still for stories.
Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify exactly where a child is struggling and create targeted activities that address those specific gaps while keeping learning fun and engaging.
Expert tutors in this area use a multisensory approach that combines phonemic awareness activities, letter-sound practice, interactive storytelling, and hands-on learning. They select materials based on each student's interests and developmental level, making lessons engaging rather than rote or drill-heavy.
Tutors also work closely with parents and teachers to reinforce skills across all learning environments. The goal is to build confidence and enthusiasm for reading while establishing the specific foundational skills that predict later reading success.
With consistent personalized instruction, students typically show measurable progress in phonemic awareness, letter recognition, and print awareness within 4-8 weeks. Many students develop stronger motivation for reading, increased vocabulary, and the confidence needed to transition into formal reading instruction.
Long-term outcomes include stronger early reading skills, better phonics understanding, and a foundation for decoding words independently—all critical predictors of reading proficiency in elementary school and beyond.
Pre-Reading Super Skills tutoring is most commonly beneficial for children ages 3-6, including preschool and early kindergarten students. However, the right time depends on the individual child's development and readiness. Some younger learners benefit from early intervention, while others may need these skills reinforced in first grade.
Varsity Tutors connects families with tutors who can assess where a child is developmentally and recommend the best starting point for instruction, whether that's intensive phonemic awareness work or letter-sound practice.
Parents play a crucial role by reading aloud daily, talking about sounds in words during everyday activities, playing rhyming games, pointing out letters in the environment, and creating a language-rich home. Tutors provide specific strategies and activities families can use between sessions to reinforce skills.
Regular communication between tutors and parents ensures that learning is consistent across home and tutoring sessions, which significantly accelerates progress and builds the strong pre-reading foundation every child needs.
Pre-Reading Super Skills focus on the foundational abilities that come before reading—like phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, and understanding how print works. Reading instruction, by contrast, teaches students to decode words and comprehend text, which builds on these foundations.
Think of pre-reading skills as the building blocks, and reading as the structure built from those blocks. Many struggling readers actually have gaps in pre-reading foundations that need to be addressed first, which is why Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who specialize in identifying and filling these early gaps.
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