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Award-Winning 2nd Grade Tutors

Certified Tutor
Molly
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...
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Education
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, History

Certified Tutor
Allan
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 ...
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Biological Sciences

Certified Tutor
I'm an actor, writer and musician living in New York City. I grew up in Minneapolis, MN (by way of Palo Alto, California). I graduated from Northwestern University in 2014, with a B.A. in Theatre, and a minor in American History.
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Theatre

Certified Tutor
Paula
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...
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Sarah
I am an experienced tutor and classroom teacher with a passion for helping students learn - especially when it doesn't come easy. I love teaching math, especially since I know that it can be hard. While I specialize in working with middle and high school students, I have worked with students as youn...
Providence College
Masters, Secondary Education
University of Notre Dame
Bachelors, Psychology

Certified Tutor
Angela
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...
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations

Certified Tutor
Hasan
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...
Brown University
B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Madeline
I am currently a graduate student Johns Hopkins University getting my masters in chemical and biomolecular engineering. I have spent a lot of time around children and I have spent a good amount of time teaching as well. I want all students that I tutor to feel comfortable when I am tutoring them and...
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
Michael
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...
Johns Hopkins
Bachelor in Arts, Public Health/Pre-Medicine

Certified Tutor
Dakota
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...
Vanderbilt University
Master's degree
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor in Arts
Top 20 Other Subjects
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Richard
12th Grade math Tutor • +56 Subjects
I am currently a PhD candidate at Northwestern University, studying microbiology and public health (my two biggest passions). I received my Bachelor of Science with high honors from Emory University in 2011, where I double-majored in Biology and Spanish. During my time at Emory, I studied abroad in Australia working on barrier reef and rainforest ecology, and studied in Spain mastering my Spanish language skills. I can read and write Spanish with high proficiency and have tutored Spanish speakers, and received highest scores on the AP Spanish exam with listening. My favorite academic subjects are math and science, and I have received perfect scores on a variety of standardized math exams, including SAT I math, SAT II math IIC subject test, BC calculus AP exam, and the GRE quantitative exam. In addition to tutoring mathematics at all levels, I enjoy tutoring grammar and mechanics, and editing essays. I received the Carlos C. Rojas Excellence in Writing Award from Emory University, and have served on the editorial board for Emory University's undergraduate research journal, as well as have authored peer-reviewed manuscripts at Northwestern University. I have lectured to undergraduate students at Northwestern University in cell biology, and have taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in both a classroom setting and one-on-one. I have a very diverse background of knowledge and have worked in a variety of settings, both academic and in industry, and can meet any of your tutoring needs. I am a very patient person with excellent communication and listening skills who will take the time to get to know each of my tutees. After identifying and recognizing a tutee's own strengths and weaknesses, I can tailor a unique tutoring plan to help each student exceed his or her goals. Hobbies: writing, hiking, reading, cooking, traveling, music, art, travel, books
Jennifer
Calculus Tutor • +54 Subjects
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 them to talk whilst making the material seem personal and easygoing. With a more outgoing and confident student, I would invite them to be challenged in our studies, as they usually work best with a challenge.
Julian
5th Grade math Tutor • +68 Subjects
I am well-equipped to help students improve their reading comprehension and essay writing skills. As an avid reader and writing enthusiast, I naturally find great joy in reviewing and editing the work of others. Although writing is incredibly stylistic, it is also remarkably formulaic. With proper preparation, all students are capable of fine-tuning their craft with effective methodologies and strategies all that is needed is the right guidance and support. Hobbies: reading, music, hiking, art, travel, books, writing
Li
9th Grade math Tutor • +69 Subjects
I'm extremely motivated to help you succeed Hobbies: reading, music, writing, art, books, photography
Morgan
12th Grade math Tutor • +44 Subjects
I am a recent graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Science and Engineering (BSE) in Chemical Engineering. I was selected as the outstanding graduate for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and have extensive math, physics, and writing experience. I recently applied and was accepted to many top-ten PhD programs for engineering because of academic merit and personal statement writing skills. I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. Hobbies: books, reading, writing, music, running, hiking, art
Patrick
Calculus Tutor • +55 Subjects
I'm a PhD student in Modern European History at Rutgers University, and I recently did an exchange year at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris. I have 8 years of experiencing in tutoring and previously worked for the Educational Testing Service in test development for the SAT, PSAT and pre-AP English exams.
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
Damian
12th Grade math Tutor • +52 Subjects
I'm a great math tutor because I understand the material thoroughly, am patient, and know how to explain things.
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
Neil
12th Grade math Tutor • +39 Subjects
I am well versed in all types of questions the students will be faced with on homework or exams. Also, in addition to my teaching experience at Purdue, I have been teaching a one week course in Shanghai yearly since 2008 to prepare Chinese Occupational Health and Safety professionals to take the Certified Industrial Hygienist exam and part of what I help them with are some of the tricks of the trade for successfully taking these types of exams. I also helped my daughter prepare for her GRE exam when her GRE Boot Camp program was suddenly cancelled my prep work with her helped her increase her math score approximately 100 points.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Second grade is a critical transition year where students move from learning to read to reading to learn. The biggest struggles include decoding multi-syllabic words, understanding reading comprehension beyond literal recall, mastering two-digit addition and subtraction (especially with regrouping), and developing writing skills beyond simple sentences. Many students also struggle with phonics application, sight word fluency, and the shift from concrete to more abstract math concepts. Personalized tutoring targets these specific gaps before they compound into larger learning challenges.
By the end of 2nd grade, students should read grade-level texts with fluency (90-100 words per minute), decode unfamiliar words using phonics patterns, and answer comprehension questions about main ideas and details. Red flags include difficulty blending sounds into words, struggling with common sight words (the, said, were), or inability to retell a simple story in order. Students who are still sounding out every word or guessing based on pictures are typically 6-12 months behind. A tutor can assess where a student is in the reading progression and use targeted strategies like decodable readers and repeated reading to build fluency and confidence.
Second grade math focuses on place value understanding (tens and ones), two-digit addition and subtraction, and early multiplication concepts. Many students struggle because they haven't fully internalized that 24 means 2 tens and 4 ones—they see it as just a number. This makes regrouping (borrowing/carrying) confusing and frustrating. Additionally, students need strong number sense and fluency with single-digit facts (6+7, 15-8) to access two-digit problems. Tutors work with concrete manipulatives and visual models to build this foundational understanding before moving to abstract algorithms, ensuring students grasp the why behind the procedure.
In 2nd grade, students transition from simple labels and captions to writing simple narratives and informative pieces with a beginning, middle, and end. They should write in complete sentences, use some punctuation, and spell grade-appropriate words correctly. Common challenges include organizing thoughts sequentially, expanding ideas beyond one sentence, applying phonetic spelling patterns, and maintaining focus on a topic. Tutors help by modeling the writing process, providing sentence frames, encouraging revision, and giving specific feedback on both mechanics and ideas. This builds confidence and helps students see themselves as writers.
Excellent 2nd grade tutors understand literacy development and early numeracy deeply—they know why a student might reverse letters or struggle with place value, not just that they do. They should have experience with evidence-based reading instruction (phonics, fluency, comprehension strategies) and concrete-to-abstract math progression. Strong tutors are patient, flexible, and skilled at breaking complex skills into smaller steps. They also understand child development and can keep 2nd graders engaged through play-based and interactive learning. Tutors who work with Varsity Tutors for students in 2nd grade bring this specialized expertise and adapt their approach to each student's learning style.
This is one of the most common gaps in 2nd grade—students can tell you that 'c-v-c' words have a short vowel sound, but they freeze when they see a new word like 'grim' or 'spent.' The issue is that phonics knowledge hasn't become automatic or fluent. Students are still consciously thinking through rules instead of blending sounds quickly. Additionally, many students haven't had enough practice with decodable text where they apply the patterns they've learned. Tutors address this by providing systematic, repeated practice with word families and decodable readers, building automaticity so students can focus on meaning rather than mechanics.
Sight words (high-frequency words like 'the,' 'said,' 'were,' 'come') make up about 50-60% of text in early readers, so fluency with them is essential. Unlike decodable words that follow phonics patterns, sight words must be memorized because they're irregular (why is 'said' pronounced 'sed'?). Many 2nd graders struggle because they confuse sight word instruction with phonics—they try to sound out 'said' phonetically and get frustrated. Effective tutoring combines both: systematic phonics for decodable words and explicit sight word practice using multisensory techniques (tracing, writing, word games) to build automatic recognition. This dual approach accelerates reading fluency.
Within 4-6 weeks of consistent tutoring, parents should see improvements in specific skills: reading fluency (words read correctly per minute), accuracy on grade-level sight words, ability to decode unfamiliar words independently, and confidence during reading. In math, expect to see improved speed and accuracy with single-digit facts, better understanding of place value concepts, and fewer counting-on strategies for addition. Beyond academics, students often show increased confidence, willingness to attempt challenging tasks, and reduced anxiety around reading or math. Progress is typically measured through informal assessments (fluency checks, fact fluency probes) and formal benchmarks (like DIBELS or curriculum-based measurements), giving families clear evidence of growth.
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