Award-Winning Elementary Math Tutors
serving Chicago, IL
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Award-Winning Elementary Math Tutors serving Chicago, IL

Certified Tutor
Asta
Building number sense early — understanding place value, basic fractions, and the logic behind multiplication — shapes how a student thinks about math for years. Asta's experience working with younger learners across different educational systems in both Hong Kong and the U.S. gives her a practical ...
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts in Political Science

Certified Tutor
Molly
Place value, regrouping, and early fractions click faster when a tutor knows exactly where young learners tend to get stuck. Molly has spent three years teaching math intervention in 2nd through 4th grade classrooms, so she can pinpoint a gap in number sense and address it before it snowballs. Rated...
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Education
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, History
Certified Tutor
Gabriel
Multiplication tables, place value, basic fractions — elementary math is deceptively important because every future math concept depends on it. Gabriel's background in human development gives him sharp insight into how younger learners think and build number sense. He keeps sessions interactive and ...
University of Chicago
PHD, Comparative Human Development
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Sarah
Multiplication facts, fraction models, area and perimeter — elementary math is less about memorizing procedures and more about understanding why those procedures work. Sarah's education training emphasized developmental math progressions, so she matches her explanations to how a child's brain is act...
Providence College
Masters, Secondary Education
University of Notre Dame
Bachelors, Psychology
Certified Tutor
Rebecca
Getting multiplication facts, place value, and basic fractions right early on shapes how a student feels about math for years. Rebecca approaches elementary math by making those foundational concepts tangible — using visual models and step-by-step reasoning so kids understand the 'why' behind each o...
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (minor in Religious Studies)
Certified Tutor
Multiplication tables, place value, basic fractions — these aren't just skills to memorize but building blocks that shape how a child thinks about numbers for years to come. Ali brings patience and creativity to elementary math, using visual models and real-world examples to make concepts like regro...
Northwestern University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
Taryn
Early math confidence shapes how a student feels about every quantitative subject for years to come. Taryn teaches foundational concepts like place value, multi-digit multiplication, and fraction operations by grounding each one in tangible, relatable scenarios — sharing pizza, measuring ingredients...
Northwestern University
PHD, Chemistry
Pepperdine University
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Rushi
Getting multiplication tables, fractions, and place value right at this stage sets up everything that comes later in math. Rushi approaches elementary math by building number sense through patterns and visual reasoning, not just repetition. His patience and experience teaching his younger brother gi...
Northwestern University
Current Undergrad, Industrial Engineering
Certified Tutor
14+ years
Hannah
Building number sense early — understanding place value, basic operations, and simple fractions at a gut level — shapes how a child approaches every math class that follows. Hannah's background in psychology and special education means she reads young learners well, spotting when a kid is nodding al...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor in Arts, Pre-med/Psychology, Minor in Gender Studies
Certified Tutor
14+ years
Adrianna
Teaching 7th graders in Chicago means Adrianna sees firsthand which elementary math gaps trip students up later — shaky place value understanding, weak fluency with fractions, or confusion around multi-step word problems. She breaks these foundational concepts into concrete, visual steps that make a...
Rice University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
Marvin
Marvin currently teaches upper elementary as a Teach For America corps member, so he's in the classroom every day working through place value, multi-digit multiplication, and early fraction concepts with real students. That daily practice means he knows which visual models and hands-on strategies ac...
The University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Certified Tutor
14+ years
Lewis
Strong number sense — understanding place value, basic operations, and how fractions relate to division — sets kids up for everything that follows in math. Lewis teaches these foundational concepts by making the reasoning visible, so students can explain *why* 3 × 4 gives the same result as 4 × 3, n...
Northwestern University
PHD, Linguistics
University of Oregon
Bachelor in Arts, French
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Marijke
Place value, fractions, and basic multiplication can feel abstract to young learners until someone connects them to things kids actually care about — sharing snacks equally, measuring ingredients, counting money. Marijke's anthropology background gives her a knack for storytelling and real-world con...
University of Chicago
Bachelors, Anthropology
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Kelsey
Multiplication tables and long division get all the attention, but Kelsey puts equal emphasis on number sense — understanding why 7 × 8 relates to 7 × 4 doubled, or what it actually means to regroup during subtraction. That deeper understanding is what separates a student who can answer a worksheet ...
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Bachelors, Computer Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Ellen
Building number sense early — understanding place value, fractions as parts of a whole, or why multiplication is repeated grouping — matters more than speed with flash cards. Ellen uses guided questioning to let younger students reason through problems themselves, stepping in with clear explanations...
Oberlin College
Bachelors, Biology, Chemistry Minor
Nearby Elementary Math Tutors
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Frequently Asked Questions
Elementary students often struggle with the transition from memorizing procedures to understanding why math works the way it does. Word problems, multi-step addition and subtraction, place value concepts, and early fraction work are frequent pain points. Many students also develop math anxiety when they fall behind, which can make catching up harder. Personalized tutoring helps students build confidence by breaking down concepts into manageable pieces and connecting new ideas to what they already know.
Showing work reveals a student's thinking process and helps identify exactly where misconceptions happen—whether it's a calculation error or a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept. This visibility is crucial for elementary students because it shifts focus from just getting the right answer to understanding the strategy behind it. Tutors use this same approach, asking students to explain their thinking so they can target instruction where it's actually needed.
Chicago's 12 school districts use various math programs, from traditional textbooks to standards-based approaches like Everyday Math or Eureka Math. Expert tutors are familiar with multiple curricula and can adapt their instruction to match what your child's school is teaching. During an initial session, tutors learn which program your school uses and align their teaching strategies accordingly, so the tutoring reinforces what's happening in the classroom.
Absolutely. Math anxiety is common in elementary students and often stems from past struggles or pressure to perform quickly. A personalized tutoring approach builds confidence by celebrating small wins, removing time pressure, and helping students see patterns and connections they might have missed. When students understand the 'why' behind math concepts rather than just memorizing steps, anxiety typically decreases significantly.
Effective word problem solving requires students to identify what they know, what they're looking for, and which operations to use—skills that go beyond computation. Tutors teach concrete strategies like drawing diagrams, breaking problems into smaller steps, and checking whether answers make sense in context. With practice and guided feedback, students develop confidence tackling unfamiliar problems rather than freezing when they see words instead of just numbers.
The first session focuses on understanding your child's strengths, challenges, and learning style rather than jumping into instruction. The tutor will assess which concepts are solid and where gaps exist, ask about your child's school curriculum, and learn what motivates them. This foundation helps the tutor create a personalized plan for the following sessions, ensuring every minute of tutoring directly addresses your child's needs.
Most students benefit from weekly sessions, though frequency depends on the specific gaps and learning pace. Many students show improved confidence and understanding within 3-4 weeks, though significant progress on standardized assessments typically takes longer. Consistent practice between sessions—even 10-15 minutes of homework review—accelerates results. Your tutor will track progress regularly and adjust the plan as needed.
Elementary math builds on itself—understanding place value connects to addition, which connects to multiplication, which connects to fractions. When students only memorize procedures, these connections stay hidden. Tutors explicitly help students see how concepts relate, using visuals, manipulatives, and real-world examples to make patterns visible. This deeper understanding makes new topics easier to learn and helps students retain what they've learned.
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