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Award-Winning Mental Math Tutors

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

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Samantha
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...
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Bachelor in Business Administration, International Business/French
Vermont Law School
Juris Doctor, International Law

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Christopher
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...
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering

Certified Tutor
Jerry
Hey, I enjoy teaching math, computer science, and the SAT! Contact me if you are interested in these.
The Texas A&M University System Office
Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Amy
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...
Hofstra
Bachelor in Arts, French

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Gabrielle
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 ...
SUNY at Binghamton
Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General
Top 20 Math Subjects
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)!
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).
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Mental math involves performing calculations in your head using number sense and strategic thinking, rather than relying on written procedures or calculators. While traditional methods follow step-by-step algorithms, mental math encourages students to break numbers apart, recognize patterns, and use efficient shortcuts based on the specific problem.
For example, to multiply 15 × 12 mentally, you might think of 15 × 10 = 150, then 15 × 2 = 30, for a total of 180—rather than following the standard multiplication algorithm. This approach builds deeper understanding of how numbers work together and develops flexible problem-solving skills.
Mental math tutoring focuses on building number sense and strategic thinking, which reduces reliance on memorization and procedure-following—two major sources of math anxiety. When students develop confidence in their ability to approach problems flexibly and understand why strategies work, their overall math confidence grows significantly.
Tutors help students see that there are multiple ways to solve a problem and that making mistakes is a natural part of learning. This shift from "getting the right answer" to "understanding the process" takes pressure off and helps students develop a growth mindset about their math abilities.
Strong mental math skills are invaluable in everyday life: quickly calculating tips, estimating grocery bills, checking if a deal is actually a good price, and making fast decisions with numbers. Beyond daily convenience, mental math strengthens pattern recognition and logical thinking skills that transfer across all academic subjects.
Students who develop mental math proficiency also perform better on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, since these exams reward quick calculation and number sense. Most importantly, mental math builds the conceptual foundation that makes higher-level math—algebra, geometry, and calculus—significantly more accessible.
Mental math development begins early—even elementary students can start with simple strategies like counting on, using tens and doubles, and recognizing number patterns. However, the sophistication of mental math strategies grows throughout middle and high school as students develop stronger number sense and understand more complex concepts.
A tutor can assess where your student is currently and introduce age-appropriate strategies that build on their existing understanding. Whether your child is in early elementary or preparing for high school exams, mental math instruction is most effective when it's tailored to their grade level and learning needs.
The best mental math tutors understand both the 'how' and the 'why'—they can explain strategic thinking processes clearly and help students discover multiple approaches to the same problem. They should be skilled at recognizing patterns in student errors and adapting their teaching based on what each individual learner needs.
Look for someone who emphasizes understanding over speed, asks questions to deepen thinking, and celebrates effort and growth. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise in building number sense and mathematical reasoning, and who can adjust their approach based on your student's learning style and goals.
Absolutely. Strong mental math skills and number sense form the foundation for success in algebra, geometry, and beyond. When students understand numbers deeply—how they relate to each other, what operations mean, and how to approach problems flexibly—they find algebra word problems, multi-step equations, and conceptual problem-solving much more manageable.
Many students struggle with higher-level math not because they can't do the procedures, but because they lack the conceptual understanding that mental math develops. A tutor can help your student build this foundational understanding while also addressing specific challenges in their current coursework.
Like any skill, mental math improves with consistent, focused practice—but the quality of practice matters more than quantity. Research on learning suggests that spaced repetition (practicing over time rather than all at once) and varying the types of problems students encounter helps build lasting mental math fluency.
Most students see noticeable improvement within a few weeks of regular practice with a tutor, particularly when they're learning why strategies work rather than just drilling memorized steps. The key is practicing strategically with feedback, so a tutor can help identify which approaches work best for your student and redirect when mental math strategies aren't being applied effectively.
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