Expert tutors work with students to develop foundational skills like phonics and fluency, while also teaching comprehension strategies such as previewing, questioning, and summarizing. For older students, tutoring focuses on literary analysis, understanding complex texts, and connecting reading to writing. Tutors provide personalized feedback, adjust pacing to match each student's needs, and help build the critical thinking skills necessary for success across all subjects.

Reading fluency is the ability to read smoothly and at an appropriate pace, while comprehension is understanding what you've read. A student might read quickly but miss the meaning, or read slowly while understanding deeply. Both skills are important—fluency without comprehension wastes time, and comprehension requires adequate fluency. Tutors assess both areas and create strategies to strengthen whichever skill needs development.

Tutors guide students through the process of examining characters, plot, themes, symbolism, and literary devices to understand deeper meaning. They teach students to ask critical questions like "Why did the author choose this word?" and "What does this symbol represent?" rather than just summarizing events. Through guided practice with different texts and genres, students learn to support their interpretations with evidence from the text—a skill that strengthens both reading and writing.

Yes. Tutors diagnose the root cause of reading difficulties—whether it's decoding, fluency, vocabulary, or comprehension—and create a targeted plan. For students in Long Beach's 118 schools with varying curricula, personalized instruction ensures each student gets support matched to their specific needs and learning pace. Consistent 1-on-1 work has been shown to significantly improve reading outcomes, especially when combined with encouragement and a focus on building confidence.

The first session is an assessment and relationship-building opportunity. A tutor will evaluate your student's current reading level, identify strengths and areas for growth, and discuss goals. They'll ask about what your student enjoys reading, any frustrations they've experienced, and what success looks like for your family. From there, the tutor creates a personalized plan and begins building strategies tailored to your student's needs.

Vocabulary is foundational to reading comprehension—if a student doesn't know what words mean, understanding the text becomes nearly impossible. Tutors teach vocabulary in context, helping students learn new words through the texts they're reading rather than through isolated lists. They also teach strategies for figuring out unknown words, such as using context clues and understanding prefixes and suffixes, which empowers students to tackle unfamiliar material independently.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in reading and are familiar with Long Beach schools and curricula. Simply share your student's reading level, goals, and schedule preferences, and we'll match you with a tutor who's the right fit. You can then work together to establish a regular tutoring routine that fits your family's needs and helps your student build stronger reading skills.