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Award-Winning 2nd Grade Arithmetic Tutors

Jane

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Jane

Current Undergrad Student, English
Jane's other Tutor Subjects
ACT Prep
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT Reading

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...

Education

Princeton University

Current Undergrad Student, English

Test Scores
SAT
1540
ACT
34
Anna

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Anna

Current Grad Student, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Anna's other Tutor Subjects
ACCUPLACER ESL - Listening
ACCUPLACER ESL - Reading Skills
ACCUPLACER ESL - Sentence Meaning
ACCUPLACER Language Use

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 ...

Education

Oberlin College

Bachelors, Comparative American Studies

The University of Texas at Austin

Current Grad Student, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Deborah

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Deborah

Master of Arts, English
Deborah's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade AP Language Composition
ACT Writing
Business
Business Writing

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...

Education

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

Deborah

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Deborah

Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Deborah's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Algebra 2
Geometry
Math

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.

Education

Clark Atlanta University

Bachelor of Science, Mathematics

Katherine

Certified Tutor

Katherine

Current Undergrad Student, Computer Science
Katherine's other Tutor Subjects
ACT Science
ACT Writing
Adult Literacy
AP Computer Science Principles

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.

Education

Swarthmore College

Current Undergrad Student, Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1530
Samantha

Certified Tutor

4+ years

Samantha

Juris Doctor, International Law
Samantha's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
1st-8th Grade Math
3rd-5th Grade Science

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 th...

Education

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Bachelor in Business Administration, International Business/French

Vermont Law School

Juris Doctor, International Law

Christopher

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Christopher

Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering
Christopher's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Algebra 2
Math
Middle School Math

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...

Education

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering

Test Scores
SAT
1420
Jerry

Certified Tutor

Jerry

Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Jerry's other Tutor Subjects
ACT Writing
SAT Mathematics
Test Prep

Hey, I enjoy teaching math, computer science, and the SAT! Contact me if you are interested in these.

Education

The Texas A&M University System Office

Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government

Test Scores
SAT
1570
Amy

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Amy

Bachelor in Arts, French
Amy's other Tutor Subjects
College English
College Essays
Comparative Literature
Conversational Italian

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...

Education

Hofstra

Bachelor in Arts, French

Gabrielle

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Gabrielle

Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General
Gabrielle's other Tutor Subjects
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP European History
Biology

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 ...

Education

SUNY at Binghamton

Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General

Test Scores
SAT
1550

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Chester

Creative Writing Tutor • +18 Subjects

I love English, and good writing. Since I like working one-or-one or with a small group, tutoring is a great way for me to help young people communicate more effectively in writing. As a social scientist, I also like to talking about statistics and social science. I like to teach by example and ask lots of questions so students can discover answers themselves. When not working, I like to watch movies, exercise, and write science fiction.

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Maria

ACT Prep Tutor • +15 Subjects

I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Denison University. I am currently pursuing an M.D. at Case Western Reserve University. I've been a college-level teaching assistant for both introductory biology and general chemistry. Besides chemistry, I really enjoy tutoring for test prep (ACT and MCAT) because I view these types of tests to be a collection of puzzles to solve. It's a lot of fun helping students to figure out the logic behind these puzzles and apply it broadly, and it's incredibly rewarding to see this integration of knowledge translate to a high score. When working with students, I like to challenge them to identify the purpose of the problem or question and what underlying reasoning can be applied broadly in future questions. In doing so, students gain more long-term usable skills and the ability to think independently.

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Juliet

Adult Literacy Tutor • +12 Subjects

Passionate social justice advocate eager to serve as a mentor to the youth. Sociologist at heart. I am the rose that grew from the concrete.

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Theo

ACT Prep Tutor • +25 Subjects

I am a current undergraduate student at Columbia University in New York City, pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in History and Economics. These are two of the subjects that I enjoy tutoring the most, but I also have a penchant for tutoring and learning about math and literature. I am passionate about tutoring because I benefited from the personalized guidance of great tutors in my past and I really enjoy seeing students push themselves and develop an appreciation for subject areas or even the mental exercise of test-taking thanks to tutoring. I also believe that tutoring a subject area is the greatest way to maintain and develop understanding of its material for both the student and the tutor. I was an active tutor in high school in mathematics and history and as I take more classes in college, I look forward to tutoring students in those in which I understood the material really well. In my spare time, I enjoy reading about history, camping, biking, and traveling when I can (or exploring the incredible city of New York)!

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Qin

Conversational Mandarin Tutor • +14 Subjects

Living in Great New York Area since 2008. Graduate student at Columbia University.Major in Finance + Economics (Undergraduate Program), and Public Administration (Graduate Program), Average GPA is 3.65.Speak Mandarin, English and Japanese.Subjects cover East Asian History (China & Japan), International Relation, Public sector (NPO related).

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Frequently Asked Questions

The biggest challenge for 2nd graders is the transition from counting to understanding place value and regrouping. Many students can count fluently but struggle when they need to add or subtract two-digit numbers that require breaking apart tens and ones—for example, 25 + 18 requires understanding that you're working with 2 tens and 5 ones, not just the digits themselves. Word problems are another major hurdle, since they require students to read carefully, identify what operation is needed, and then execute it. Students also often confuse addition and subtraction in context, especially when a problem involves "taking away" or "comparing" amounts. A tutor can help students build a concrete understanding of these concepts before moving to abstract strategies.

Regrouping is easier to learn when students see it physically first. Tutors often use base-ten blocks, bundled sticks, or drawings to show what "trading 10 ones for 1 ten" actually means. Once a student sees that 10 + 5 is the same as 1 ten and 5 ones, the algorithm makes sense instead of feeling like magic. A tutor can also help your child develop multiple strategies—some students prefer drawing quick tens and ones, while others use number lines or mental math. The key is moving from concrete (manipulatives) to pictorial (drawings) to abstract (just numbers), at a pace that matches your child's understanding.

Good tutors teach students to slow down and break word problems into steps: first, read the whole problem without solving; then, identify what you know and what you're looking for; finally, decide which operation makes sense. For example, in "Maya has 12 stickers. She gives 5 to her friend. How many does she have left?" a tutor might ask, "Is Maya getting more stickers or fewer?" to help the student recognize subtraction. Many tutors also encourage students to draw simple pictures or use objects to act out the problem before writing a number sentence. This approach builds confidence and helps students see that word problems are just stories about math, not mysterious puzzles.

Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s is the foundation for multiplication and division, which students learn in 3rd grade. When a 2nd grader can fluently count by 5s (5, 10, 15, 20...), they're building the mental patterns that make "5 groups of 3" feel natural later on. Skip counting also helps with telling time, counting money, and understanding patterns. A tutor can make skip counting fun and automatic through games, songs, and repeated practice so it becomes second nature. This fluency removes a barrier when students encounter multiplication, letting them focus on the new concept rather than struggling to recall the basic sequence.

"Showing work" in 2nd grade means drawing, writing, or explaining how you got your answer—it's not about following a rigid format. A student might draw circles and cross them out to show subtraction, write a number sentence, or use a number line. Tutors help students develop a habit of recording their thinking in whatever way makes sense to them, whether that's pictures, words, or numbers. The goal is for your child to have a record they can look back on and for teachers to understand their thinking. Encourage your child to ask themselves: "Can someone else understand how I solved this by looking at what I wrote?" That's the real test of showing work at this age.

Math anxiety in 2nd grade often comes from feeling rushed or from comparing themselves to faster peers. A tutor creates a low-pressure space where mistakes are treated as learning opportunities, not failures. They might celebrate small wins (like finally understanding regrouping), use games to make practice feel playful, and give students time to think without rushing to the answer. Tutors also help students develop a growth mindset by showing them that struggling with a problem is normal and that their brain gets stronger when they work through challenges. When a child feels safe and supported, they're much more willing to try hard problems and take risks, which is exactly what builds arithmetic confidence.

Understanding means a student can explain *why* 7 + 5 = 12 (maybe by showing two groups and counting, or by knowing 7 + 3 = 10 and then adding 2 more). Fluency means they can recall or quickly figure out that answer without counting on their fingers every time. Both are essential: a student who understands but is slow will struggle with multi-step problems, while a student who's fast but doesn't understand will be stuck when they hit new concepts like regrouping. Tutors build both by first ensuring deep understanding through concrete and pictorial strategies, then gradually helping students develop faster recall through spaced practice and games. This combination sets students up for success in 3rd grade and beyond.

An effective 2nd Grade Arithmetic tutor understands how children learn math conceptually, not just procedurally—they know why regrouping works and can explain it multiple ways. They're skilled at using concrete materials like base-ten blocks and number lines, and they can recognize when a student is memorizing without understanding versus truly grasping a concept. Experience with different curricula (like Eureka Math, Everyday Mathematics, or Singapore Math) is helpful since approaches vary. Most importantly, they're patient, encouraging, and able to adjust their teaching based on how a student responds. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have these skills and experience working with 2nd graders specifically.

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