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Award-Winning 1st Grade math Tutors
Certified Tutor
Molly
Three years teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders gave Molly a clear picture of exactly which 1st grade skills — like understanding tens and ones, or knowing when to add versus subtract — need to be rock-solid before kids move on. She uses that backward knowledge to zero in on the specific gaps that tr...
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Education
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, History
Certified Tutor
Allan
At the 1st grade level, the goal isn't just getting the right answer — it's building number sense so that adding, subtracting, and comparing quantities start to feel intuitive. Allan breaks these early concepts into small, visual steps, using objects and stories to keep young learners engaged and co...
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Biological Sciences
Certified Tutor
Teaching a first grader to add and subtract is as much about confidence as it is about counting. Nick brings warmth and creativity to early number sense, using games and stories to make concepts like tens and ones feel natural rather than forced. His performance background gives him an instinct for ...
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Theatre
Certified Tutor
Ruth
Young learners need someone who can make counting, number patterns, and basic addition feel like play — and Ruth's years teaching elementary-aged kids give her exactly that skill. Her M.S.Ed from Northwestern deepened her understanding of how first graders build number sense, from recognizing quanti...
University of Chicago
M.S.Ed
University of Chicago
B.A. in English and Theatre
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Sarah
First grade math is deceptively important: it's where kids internalize what addition and subtraction actually mean, not just how to count on their fingers. Sarah breaks these concepts into hands-on, visual steps — number lines, ten frames, part-part-whole models — so the logic clicks before the memo...
Providence College
Masters, Secondary Education
University of Notre Dame
Bachelors, Psychology
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Madeline
Counting past 100, understanding tens and ones, and learning to add and subtract single-digit numbers are huge leaps for a 1st grader. Madeline uses games, drawings, and real objects to make these early concepts feel playful rather than intimidating. Her gentle, encouraging style — reflected in a pe...
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
Hasan
Learning to count past 100, understanding what "equals" really means, and solving simple addition and subtraction problems — 1st grade math is deceptively important. Hasan's experience as a lead teacher in an elementary after-school program means he knows how to keep young learners engaged while qui...
Brown University
B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts
Certified Tutor
Dakota
At the first-grade level, math is really about confidence — a child who believes they can count, compare, and add will keep believing it for years. Dakota brings a warm, encouraging style to early number sense, skip counting, and basic addition and subtraction facts. Her approach keeps lessons playf...
Vanderbilt University
Master's degree
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
Richard
At the first-grade level, math is really about building comfort — counting past 100, understanding what addition and subtraction mean, and recognizing basic shapes. Richard's PhD training at Northwestern taught him how to break complex ideas into their simplest parts, a skill that translates surpris...
Northwestern University
PHD, Biology and Public Health
Emory University
Bachelors, Biology and Spanish
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Julian
At the first grade level, math is really about number sense: understanding that seven is more than four, that adding means combining groups, and that subtraction means taking away. Julian keeps lessons hands-on and playful, using counting games and simple story problems to make early math feel natur...
Boston College
Bachelors, Political Science and Government
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Top 20 Math Subjects
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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
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.
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
Jessalyn
6th Grade math Tutor • +78 Subjects
I am “HQ” (Highly Qualified) certified to teach Social Studies for grades 7-12. I currently teach a sophomore level ethics class at St. Edwards University. I taught several classes at The University of Texas at Austin as a Doctoral Candidate, where I also earned my M.A. in Philosophy. At the University of Southern California, I earned my B.A. with Departmental Honors along with the Discovery Scholar’s award for excellence in independent research. I have been tutoring and teaching for eleven years, with a primary emphasis on developing my students’ writing and critical thinking skills.
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
Felice
8th Grade math Tutor • +57 Subjects
I am a graduate of Rutgers College - Undergraduate Business School. I received my Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in English. I believe that students learn best when taught in an engaging and energetic way but also believe that it is only through patience and an individualized approach that you can you truly understand the way that a student comprehends and retains that knowledge. I work hard to encompass creativity, energy, and patience in the ways that I teach. My passion for education and learning began in high school where I regularly tutored Math and English to students of all ages. For the past 9 years, I worked in the Financial Services industry in various finance and human resources roles. This experience allowed me to work with all different types of people and helped me develop my skills for understanding unique personalities and how different individuals are motivated. Throughout my career post-college, I continue to be involved in the Learning & Development of my colleagues and often create training guides and conduct training sessions on various relevant topics such as computer skills and financial applications. I am extremely excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to work with students again and in an area where my true passion has always been: education. In my spare time, I love being with friends and family, discovering food festivals around NYC and finding any excuse to travel.
Sarah
12th Grade math Tutor • +66 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky's College of Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Classics giving me a strong background in mathematics, language and the hard sciences. Hobbies: art, outdoors, reading, writing, books, music
Kenan
12th Grade math Tutor • +52 Subjects
I am more than happy to share my knowledge with others who are struggling! Tutoring is a great way for me to spend my time helping others excel.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
The biggest challenge areas in 1st Grade math are typically number sense and addition/subtraction within 20. Many students grasp counting but struggle to understand that numbers represent quantities and can be broken apart and recombined—for example, knowing that 8 can be 5+3 or 6+2. Word problems also trip up first graders because they require students to translate language into mathematical thinking. Finally, understanding place value (tens and ones) lays the foundation for all future math, and this abstract concept is genuinely difficult for 6 and 7-year-olds to visualize without hands-on support.
Effective 1st Grade math tutoring focuses on building conceptual understanding first—using manipulatives like base-ten blocks, number lines, and ten-frames to help students see WHY 7+5=12, not just memorize it. When students understand the underlying patterns and relationships, they can apply that knowledge to new problems rather than being stuck when facts don't come to mind. A tutor will ask questions like "How did you figure that out?" and encourage students to show their thinking using drawings, objects, or words, which deepens their number sense and builds confidence in their own problem-solving abilities.
In 1st Grade, showing work isn't just about getting the right answer—it's about making thinking visible so students (and teachers) can understand the strategy being used. A student might use fingers, draw pictures, use a number line, or write numbers to show how they solved 6+7. Tutoring helps students develop multiple strategies and learn to represent their thinking in ways that make sense to them, which actually strengthens their math reasoning. When students can explain their process, they're less likely to make careless errors and more likely to catch and correct their own mistakes.
Word problems require students to read, understand context, identify what's being asked, and then solve—that's a lot of steps for a first grader. Tutors break this down by helping students act out problems with objects, draw pictures to represent the story, and identify key information (like "there were 5 apples, then 3 more came"). Through guided practice, students learn to recognize patterns in word problems and develop strategies like "circle the question" or "draw what's happening." This scaffolded approach helps students see word problems as stories they can solve, rather than confusing text to dread.
Math anxiety in 1st Grade often stems from feeling rushed, not understanding concepts, or internalizing the message that they're "not a math person." Personalized tutoring removes the pressure of keeping up with a class and allows students to work at their own pace, celebrate small wins, and build confidence through success. When a tutor responds to mistakes with curiosity ("What made you think that?") rather than correction, students feel safe taking risks and trying new strategies. Over time, students realize they CAN figure things out, which transforms their relationship with math from fear to curiosity.
Place value—understanding that 15 means 1 ten and 5 ones, not just "fifteen"—is the foundation for all future math including addition with regrouping, multiplication, and decimals. Many first graders can count to 100 but don't truly understand what those numbers mean. Tutors use concrete materials like base-ten blocks or bundled straws to show that 10 ones can be grouped into 1 ten, making the abstract concept tangible. Once students see and manipulate these groupings repeatedly, they begin to internalize how our number system works, which makes two-digit addition and subtraction much more accessible.
Fluency means recalling facts quickly (like knowing 3+4=7 without counting on fingers), while understanding means knowing WHY that's true and being able to apply it flexibly. In 1st Grade, understanding comes first—students need to build number sense and see relationships before they can develop fluency. Tutoring ensures students aren't just drilling facts without meaning, which leads to fragile knowledge that falls apart when problems are presented differently. A strong foundation in understanding actually makes fluency develop more naturally and sustainably, because students recognize patterns rather than relying on rote memorization.
An effective 1st Grade math tutor understands child development and knows that 6 and 7-year-olds learn through play, manipulation, and concrete experiences—not worksheets alone. They should be skilled at asking open-ended questions, listening to student thinking, and adjusting explanations when something isn't clicking. They need to know multiple strategies for solving problems and be able to recognize which approach might work best for each student's learning style. Finally, they should genuinely enjoy working with young learners, stay patient when progress feels slow, and celebrate the small breakthroughs that build a child's mathematical confidence.
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