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Award-Winning Spelling Bee Tutors
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Microbiology coursework gave Felix years of practice with words most people never encounter — genera names, enzyme terminology, and Greek- and Latin-rooted vocabulary that follows the same construction rules competition spellers need to master. He teaches competitors to treat unfamiliar words as ass...
University of Chicago
Associate in Science
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Anna
Growing up at a selective magnet school in New Jersey and scoring a 1590 SAT, Anna developed the kind of precise, detail-obsessed relationship with language that competition spellers thrive on — catching the difference between "-ance" and "-ence" or knowing when a word's Latin medical root dictates ...
Northwestern University
Bachelor in Arts, Anthropology
Northwestern University
Graduated (Honors Program in Medical Education)
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Vivian
Spelling bees reward the same kind of pattern recognition that Vivian uses daily as a musician: once you internalize the rules — Latin roots, Greek combining forms, French-derived silent letters — unfamiliar words become puzzles you can solve logically. She drills etymology and language-of-origin cu...
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Abigail
Abigail's pre-health biology coursework loads her daily reading with the same Greek and Latin medical terminology that dominates upper-level competition word lists — terms like "hemorrhage," "obstetric," and "gynecological" that follow predictable root-and-suffix construction rules. She also coaches...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor in Arts, Women's Studies
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Hailey
Studying both mathematics and German alongside her psychology major gives Hailey an unusual double advantage for spelling prep — she thinks in systematic patterns and has daily exposure to a language whose compound-word construction and consistent phonetic rules map directly onto many English borrow...
University of Georgia
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Michelle
Michelle's background in journalism and literary analysis means she's spent years immersed in language — etymology, word roots, and the patterns that connect Latin and Greek prefixes to modern English. She teaches spellers to decode unfamiliar words by identifying structural clues rather than relyin...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Masters, American Studies
New York University
Bachelors, Journalism and Africana Studies
Columbia University
MA in American Studies
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Mollie
A linguistics background is a secret weapon for spelling bees. Mollie's University of Chicago training in morphology and etymology means she can teach spellers to decode unfamiliar words by recognizing Greek and Latin roots, language-of-origin patterns, and prefix-suffix relationships instead of rel...
University of Chicago
AB (Bachelor of Arts) in English Language and Literature and Linguistics
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Adaliss
Competitive spelling rewards more than memorization; it demands knowledge of Greek and Latin roots, language-of-origin patterns, and the ability to decode unfamiliar words under pressure. Adaliss, who teaches across English, Spanish, and ESL contexts, uses etymology and cross-language connections to...
Harvard University
Master of Arts, Applied and Professional Ethics
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Andrew
Spelling bees reward more than memorization; they reward pattern recognition — knowing Latin roots, Greek prefixes, and the language of origin behind tricky vowel combinations. Andrew builds systematic study methods that turn an overwhelming word list into manageable families of related terms. His s...
Cornell University
Bachelor of Science, Labor and Industrial Relations
Certified Tutor
4+ years
Candice
Candice's MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and her BA in English from the University of Chicago mean she's spent years swimming in unusual, literary vocabulary — the kind of obscure, beautifully strange words that populate advanced competition rounds. Her Fulbright teaching experience in ...
The New School University
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts, English
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Rhamy
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +54 Subjects
I am a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology graduate and currently attend Vanderbilt University majoring in Computer Engineering with a minor in Business. I've tutored in various subjects for about 6 years now. I've done it so much, one of the companies I started was tutoring-based. In all, I am a technology-oriented entrepreneur, an impact-driven member of the community, and a striving academic. My passion for computer engineering and dedication to solving the world's problems push me to continue to be better tomorrow than I am today. I am currently pursuing a career in engineering and business where I hope to improve the lives of those around me every step of the way.
Brian
AP Statistics Tutor • +115 Subjects
I'm a recent graduate of the California Institute of Technology in Economics and Computer Science. I was also accepted at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. I have a broad range of interests spanning science, math, engineering, social science, the humanities, the arts, and athletics (I also played on the Caltech basketball team). My background allows me to tutor general college prep, especially the SAT, ACT and the GRE. I love to teach analytical thinking, ranging from advanced Math and Physics to strategies for understanding literature and developing arguments.
Peter
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +153 Subjects
I'm looking forward to helping your student find personal success in their academic lives! Hobbies: art, books, sports, reading, music, writing
Annelisa
Calculus Tutor • +34 Subjects
I'm Annelisa, originally from Phoenix, Arizona. I recently graduated from Yale University, where I studied art and its interactions with political journalism and science. I'm happy to tutor on a wide range of subjects, especially writing, college application, and the SAT!
Juan
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +72 Subjects
I am a Senior at the University of Florida studying Industrial Engineering and Statistics. My areas of expertise include Statistics, High School and College level Math, and Government. I emphasize maintaining trust and steady communication with my students to maintain a healthy and comfortable learning environment. I believe developing micro-goals and positively reinforcing students help them stay motivated and excited.
Amy
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +52 Subjects
I am an undergraduate biochemistry major at the University of Notre Dame. Previously, I was employed at Mathnasium of Granger for two years, where I was a math instructor for all ages and math-related subjects.
Karen
Calculus Tutor • +33 Subjects
I'm Karen, I'm from New York and recently graduated from Vanderbilt University, double majoring in Secondary Education and English Literature. I am a licensed English (6-12) teacher and I have lots of experience tutoring kids of all ages and all subjects, so reach out and say hi, and let's work together! Hobbies: reading, music, writing, baking, art, books, photography
Evan
Statistics Graduate Level Tutor • +50 Subjects
I'm thrilled to work with anybody on any subjects of interest, reach out with any questions!
Asher
Trigonometry Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am a recent graduate of Penn State (May 2020) with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, and I am on a CPA track as far as having earned all 150 credits in four years of school and having had two internships. My current occupation interestingly has nothing to do with accounting, although I have been able to apply certain math and accounting-based concepts to my work over the years; I am an accredited media member for IndyCar and NASCAR and I am the head IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula 1 writer and editor for a motorsports website called Beyond the Flag, where I produce roughly 130-140 articles per month. I chose to become a tutor in Math (Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Accounting) because I believe that my success in math-related subjects from my grade school days through my college career can be used to help others achieve their goals, and I enjoy watching students as they grasp concepts with which they previously struggled; I enjoy seeing those concepts "click". Additionally, I have seen hard work pay off from my leadership role at Beyond the Flag, having worked closely with my contributors to achieve an audience growth of over 500% since I started in February 2017, so I believe that I can make a positive difference to help those around me.
Giovanna
Calculus Tutor • +52 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Neuroscience, a minor in Sociology, and a certificate in French language. I gained a great deal of tutoring experience during my time with the Penn Tutoring Center, where I tutored Cognitive Science and French. After graduation, I served as a Community Relations Coordinator at Success Academy for two years, during which I was able to practice my elementary school tutoring skills. Since I applied to 16 universities, I also have plenty of college application experience! Additionally, I am a native Spanish speaker and I am currently working on "Problem Solving and Comprehension" by Whimbey, Lochhead, and Narode to keep my standardized testing skills sharp. Hobbies: writing, reading, cooking, music, art, books
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Success in spelling bees requires more than memorizing word lists. You'll need strong phonetic awareness to break down unfamiliar words into their component sounds, knowledge of common spelling patterns and word roots (especially Latin and Greek prefixes/suffixes), and the ability to think strategically under pressure. Understanding word etymology—where words come from and how that shapes their spelling—helps you recognize patterns across hundreds of words rather than memorizing each one in isolation.
Personalized spelling bee tutoring focuses on your specific weak areas rather than generic word lists. A tutor can help you develop systematic strategies for tackling unfamiliar words, teach you to identify and master common letter patterns and etymological roots, and provide targeted practice with words at your competition level. You'll also get feedback on your pronunciation, build confidence in high-pressure situations, and create a study plan that builds momentum toward competition day.
Effective spelling bee preparation uses spaced repetition rather than cramming—revisiting words over time strengthens retention far better than last-minute studying. Group words by their etymology, letter patterns, or difficulty level rather than studying them randomly. Active recall practice (spelling words aloud without looking at them) is more effective than passive reading. A tutor can help you organize words into meaningful categories, create personalized practice routines, and identify which words deserve extra attention based on your performance.
Part of spelling bee success is developing problem-solving strategies for unfamiliar words. Ask for the word's definition, language of origin, and use it in a sentence—these clues often reveal spelling patterns. Break the word into syllables and consider common letter combinations. Think about similar words you know and whether they share spelling patterns. A spelling bee tutor can teach you how to ask strategic questions, think through word structure systematically, and manage anxiety when facing an unknown word, turning uncertainty into an opportunity to reason through the spelling.
The best spelling bee tutors combine deep knowledge of etymology, phonetics, and word patterns with the ability to teach you how to think strategically about unfamiliar words. They understand competition formats and pressure situations, and they can diagnose exactly where you're struggling—whether it's with certain letter patterns, particular word origins, or test-day confidence. They tailor their approach to your learning style and create customized study plans rather than relying solely on pre-made word lists.
Absolutely. Many successful spelling bee competitors are English language learners who leverage their awareness of language structure and patterns. Your linguistic background may actually give you an advantage in recognizing word origins and patterns. A tutor can help you build confidence with English phonetics, navigate unfamiliar words through systematic analysis, and develop strategies that work specifically for how you learn best. The key is focusing on understanding patterns and etymology rather than trying to memorize every word in isolation.
Preparation timeline depends on your competition level and starting point. Local or school-level bees might require 4-8 weeks of focused practice, while regional or national competitions typically benefit from 3-6 months of systematic preparation. However, the quality of your preparation matters much more than the raw amount of time—working with a tutor to build strong foundational strategies and target your specific gaps is far more effective than months of unfocused studying. A tutor can help you create a realistic timeline based on your current skill level and competition goals.
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