Award-Winning Certified Reading Intervention Tutors
serving Knoxville, TN
Certified Reading Intervention
Tutors in Knoxville
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

Two years of teaching elementary students who struggled with literacy gave McKenna firsthand experience identifying where decoding, fluency, or comprehension breaks down. She builds targeted exercises around phonemic awareness and sight-word recognition for younger readers, while older students get scaffolded strategies for tackling longer texts. Her certified reading intervention approach is patient and structured, meeting each learner's specific gaps.

Hello! I'm a reading intervention specialist with over 15 years of experience helping struggling readers build stronger skills and confidence. I use an Orton-Gillinghaminspired, structured literacy that is explicit, systematic, multisensory, and tailored to each learner. Sessions may include phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, fluency, comprehension, and writing based on individual needs. My goal is to strengthen the foundational literacy skills that make reading easier.
I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cardiff University, and have a Masters in Counseling from Monash University. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy, I am passionate and experienced in using a multi-sensory approach to tutoring students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Having worked in an educational setting for over 11 years in Hong Kong, I am experienced in working with students from kindergarten all the way through to primary school.
I received my degree in Elementary Education from York College of Pennsylvania. I then attended McDaniel College where I received a masters degree in reading and became a Reading Specialist. My love for teaching reading continued and I furthered my education at Mount Saint Mary's University for training in Reading Recovery. I started my career teaching kindergarten and currently am a reading specialist in my school district, where I work one on one and in small groups with struggling readers. My passion is for tutoring early learners to help them gain the skills they need to grow as readers and writers. In my tutoring sessions I love to get to know my learners interests and personalities. I incorporate manipulatives, sight word games, leveled texts, and writing into sessions to make sessions more engaging. I love to build confidence in my learners by focusing on their strengths in order to get the most amount of growth out of my learners. My hobbies include exercise, spending time with my family, and going to the beach.
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Because the right Certified Reading Intervention tutor makes all the difference.
Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
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Frequently Asked Questions
Certified Reading Intervention is a structured, evidence-based approach designed to help students who are falling behind in reading. It focuses on foundational skills like phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension through targeted, systematic instruction. For students in Knoxville, personalized 1-on-1 reading intervention tutoring addresses specific gaps and builds confidence, helping readers catch up to grade level and develop a stronger foundation for all academic subjects.
Common signs include difficulty sounding out words, slow reading speed, trouble understanding what they've read, avoiding reading, or falling behind peers in literacy skills. Teachers often recommend intervention when students aren't meeting grade-level benchmarks. Varsity Tutors can connect you with tutors who assess your child's specific reading challenges and create a personalized plan to address them, whether the issue is decoding, fluency, comprehension, or a combination of factors.
Expert tutors working with Varsity Tutors for certified reading intervention have specialized training in literacy instruction, phonics, and evidence-based reading strategies. Many hold certifications in reading intervention or related fields and understand how to diagnose and address specific reading difficulties. When you connect with a tutor, you'll know they have the expertise to deliver structured, effective instruction tailored to your student's needs.
The first session typically involves an assessment to understand your student's current reading level, strengths, and specific challenges—whether that's phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, or comprehension. The tutor will ask questions about reading history and any previous interventions, then discuss goals and create a personalized plan. This foundation ensures that all future sessions target the exact skills your student needs to improve.
Many students show noticeable progress in fluency and confidence within 4-6 weeks of consistent, targeted instruction. However, the timeline depends on the severity of the reading difficulty and how frequently tutoring occurs. Varsity Tutors works with you to set realistic goals and track progress, adjusting the approach as needed to ensure your student continues moving forward.
Absolutely. With 122 schools across Knoxville's two school districts, reading standards are consistent, and personalized intervention tutoring helps students meet grade-level benchmarks and stay on track with classroom instruction. Tutors can align their work with your student's specific curriculum and teacher expectations, ensuring the skills developed in tutoring directly support success in the classroom.
Certified reading intervention typically uses structured, multi-sensory approaches that target the five components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Tutors employ evidence-based strategies like systematic phonics instruction, guided reading practice, and comprehension monitoring. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to adjust pacing and techniques based on how your student learns best.
Contact Varsity Tutors to discuss your student's reading challenges and goals. You'll be matched with an expert tutor who specializes in reading intervention and understands the needs of students in Knoxville. From there, you can schedule your first session and begin a personalized plan to help your student become a more confident, capable reader.
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