Award-Winning 6th Grade Reading Tutors

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Award-Winning 6th Grade Reading Tutors

Molly

Certified Tutor

Molly

Master of Science in Education
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-8th Grade math
1st-8th Grade Writing
Pre-Algebra

Sixth grade is where reading shifts from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn, and that transition catches a lot of capable students off guard. Molly spent years delivering reading intervention in elementary classrooms before earning her Master's at Northwestern, so she understands exactly where fou...

Education

Northwestern University

Master of Science in Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor in Arts, History

Test Scores
SAT
1480
Allan

Certified Tutor

Allan

Bachelors, Biological Sciences
Allan's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade Writing
3rd-8th Grade Science

At the 6th grade level, reading starts shifting from 'what happened' to 'why does it matter' — and that transition trips up a lot of students. Allan tackles this by teaching students to identify central ideas, distinguish fact from opinion, and trace how an argument develops across paragraphs. His p...

Education

Northwestern University

Bachelors, Biological Sciences

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Maddy

Certified Tutor

Maddy

B.A. in American History and Literature (minor in Theater)
Maddy's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
6th-12th Grade Writing
Calculus
Algebra

Sixth graders often hit a turning point where reading shifts from decoding words to interpreting meaning — figuring out what a character's choices reveal, or what an author is really arguing beneath the surface. Maddy's Harvard training in literature gave her years of practice breaking down texts at...

Education

Harvard University

B.A. in American History and Literature (minor in Theater)

Paula

Certified Tutor

Paula

Bachelor in Arts
Paula's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
2nd-8th Grade math
3rd-8th Grade Science

Sixth grade reading throws students into longer, more complex texts — often with multiple viewpoints or unfamiliar vocabulary — and the leap from elementary school can feel steep. Paula uses structured pre-reading techniques like predicting from headings and breaking passages into chunks, giving stu...

Education

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1520
ACT
32
Angela

Certified Tutor

Angela

Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations
Angela's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
Calculus
Algebra

Sixth grade often marks the transition from reading for enjoyment to reading for understanding, and that can make books feel like homework for the first time. Angela eases that shift by connecting texts to students' own experiences and interests, while building concrete skills like identifying main ...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations

Test Scores
SAT
1430
Madeline

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Madeline

Bachelors
Madeline's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-10th Grade math
3rd-8th Grade Science
6th-9th Grade Writing

The leap from elementary to middle school reading can be jarring — suddenly there are longer texts, vocabulary that can't be guessed from pictures, and questions that ask "why" instead of "what." Madeline eases that transition by teaching context-clue strategies and main-idea identification that giv...

Education

Johns Hopkins University

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1510
Hasan

Certified Tutor

Hasan

B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts
Hasan's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade Writing
1st-8th Grade math
3rd-8th Grade Science

Sixth grade is often where students first encounter texts that don't hand them the answers — where theme is implied, not stated, and evidence has to be gathered across paragraphs. Hasan's background in Literary Arts from Brown trained him to read across genres and traditions, and he uses that range ...

Education

Brown University

B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Dakota

Certified Tutor

Dakota

Master's degree
Dakota's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade Writing
3rd-8th Grade Science

Sixth grade is a turning point where reading assignments start asking "how do you know?" instead of just "what happened?" Dakota's approach zeroes in on that shift, teaching students to identify main ideas, distinguish fact from opinion, and use context clues to decode unfamiliar vocabulary — all sk...

Education

Vanderbilt University

Master's degree

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
ACT
33
Jennifer

Certified Tutor

Jennifer

Masters, Theatre Directing
Jennifer's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
1st-5th Grade Writing
Calculus
Algebra

Sixth grade is a turning point where reading assignments start requiring inference, not just recall — students need to figure out what a text implies, not just what it says. Jennifer uses her storytelling instincts from theatre to make this shift intuitive, walking readers through how to spot contex...

Education

Trinity College Dublin

Masters, Theatre Directing

David

Certified Tutor

David

Master of Arts, English Adolescent Education
David's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade Reading
5th-12th Grade Writing
Calculus
Algebra

Sixth grade reading is a pivot point: texts get longer, vocabulary gets denser, and questions start asking "how do you know?" instead of "what happened?" David's experience teaching across grade levels means he can pinpoint whether a student struggles with inference, vocabulary in context, or simply...

Education

CUNY Hunter College

Master of Arts, English Adolescent Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor in Arts, English

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

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

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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.

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Meagan

Elementary Math Tutor • +65 Subjects

I am a certified and experienced former middle-school teacher, with a particular passion for teaching reading and writing. I've also enjoyed teaching ESL and sharing my enthusiasm for learning Spanish. These experiences have included working with children from kindergarten through 12th grade.

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Amy

Calculus Tutor • +46 Subjects

I am greatly passionate about (writing and literature), to help this student gain confidence in her learning abilities and get to a point where, instead of being discouraged, she could actually enjoy learning. I especially loved the moments when she reached a breakthrough in her understanding of a concept and was so happy that I had been able to use my knowledge to enhance her understanding and enjoyment of a topic. I tutored through out high school and continue to tutor in college as I help other students to realize their potential and achieve their goals. Hobbies: books, music, art, nature, reading, writing

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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

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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

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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.

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Orlando

12th Grade math Tutor • +86 Subjects

Hobbies: reading, music, running, art, books, writing

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Emily

Middle School Math Tutor • +41 Subjects

I'm a state certified teacher with many years of experience teaching and tutoring both in and out of the classroom, and I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your goals. I hope to get to know you in person soon, but until then, here are my qualifications and interests. See you soon! Qualifications: -Graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with a BA in Classics, Greek focus, and a minor in Japanese. -Graduated with Merit (UK equivalent of a 3.0 GPA) from The University of Nottingham in England, Master's in Ancient History. -Texas state certified to teach English both level and advanced for grades 9-12. -More than a decade of tutoring experience in English language arts, foreign language, and study skills; five years of classroom teaching experience: one year at a private academy of students with learning differences and disabilities and four years in public school. -Have taught students as young as 8 years old and as old as 63 -Coached and ran academic clubs and extracurricular clubs such as state spelling and writing competitions and creative writing clubs. -My proudest accomplishments to date include teaching an elementary student to love classical literature and one of my Latin students going on to join and excel in college translation courses as only a junior in high school. Interests: -Reading and creative writing such as short stories, poetry, and even fanfiction! -Singing: I hope to resume voice lessons soon! -Jogging -Watching foreign television such as anime or BBC programs -And of course studying languages!

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Adrianna

Elementary Math Tutor • +68 Subjects

I am a 7th grade English/Language Arts teacher at Gary Comer College Prep Middle School in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, IL. I have also taught math in self-contained and remedial setting. Hobbies: running, art, books, reading, music, writing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sixth graders often struggle with inferencing—understanding what's implied rather than directly stated in a text. They may also have difficulty identifying main ideas versus supporting details, especially in longer passages, and tracking multiple character motivations in more complex narratives. Additionally, many 6th graders are transitioning from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," which means they need stronger strategies for understanding informational texts and non-fiction, not just stories. A tutor can help students develop these critical thinking skills through guided practice with grade-level texts.

Many 6th graders can retell what happens in a story but struggle to analyze *why* it matters—identifying themes, character development, and author's purpose. A tutor breaks this down into manageable steps: first helping students notice specific textual evidence (dialogue, descriptions, actions), then connecting those details to bigger ideas about what the author is trying to show. For example, instead of just saying "the character is brave," a tutor guides students to find the exact moment that shows bravery and explain how it reveals something about the story's message. This personalized feedback is crucial because students need practice articulating their thinking before they can do it independently.

Memorizing isolated vocabulary lists rarely sticks for 6th graders. Instead, effective tutoring focuses on teaching context clue strategies—how to use surrounding words and sentences to figure out unfamiliar terms—and helping students recognize word families and roots. For instance, if a student encounters "resilient" in a text, a tutor might help them notice the root "resilience" they've seen before, or identify nearby clues that suggest the word means "bouncing back." When vocabulary is learned through actual reading passages rather than flashcards, students retain it better and can apply it to new texts they encounter.

Nonfiction requires different reading skills than fiction: students need to identify main ideas, understand text structure (cause-and-effect, compare-contrast, sequence), and evaluate how authors use evidence to support claims. Many 6th graders excel with narrative but struggle when reading science articles, historical texts, or opinion pieces because they're looking for a "story" when they should be tracking information and arguments instead. A tutor teaches students to adjust their approach—asking different questions, noticing headings and visual aids, and understanding how nonfiction is organized—so they can tackle textbooks and informational sources with confidence.

Comprehension always comes first. Pushing a struggling reader to go faster usually backfires and creates frustration. A tutor works with students to identify what's slowing them down—whether it's decoding unfamiliar words, re-reading because they lost focus, or simply needing time to process complex sentences—and addresses the root cause. Sometimes this means building fluency with grade-level texts through repeated, supported reading; other times it means teaching students to chunk text into meaningful phrases rather than reading word-by-word. As comprehension improves and students become more confident, reading speed naturally increases.

Reading and writing are deeply connected at this level. When 6th graders read closely—noticing how authors structure sentences, use descriptive language, and organize ideas—they internalize those techniques and can apply them to their own writing. A tutor helps students make this connection explicit: pointing out how a favorite author uses dialogue to reveal character, or how transitions help ideas flow together, then encouraging students to try similar techniques in their own essays. This approach is much more effective than teaching grammar rules in isolation, because students see *why* these skills matter and how professional writers use them.

Many 6th graders have thoughtful ideas about texts but lack confidence to share them aloud. A tutor provides a safe space to practice articulating thoughts about reading—asking open-ended questions, validating interpretations, and helping students find evidence to support their ideas. When students work through discussion-style conversations with a tutor first, they build confidence and have rehearsed answers ready for class. Additionally, a tutor can help students develop strategies like jotting down quick notes while reading or preparing one comment in advance, which makes participation feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

Standardized reading tests require students to answer questions about unfamiliar passages under time pressure—a very different skill from discussing a book they've read in class. A tutor teaches test-specific strategies like skimming questions before reading, identifying key words in the passage that answer each question, and managing time effectively across multiple passages. However, the foundation is always strong comprehension skills: students who understand how to find main ideas, make inferences, and analyze author's purpose will perform better on any assessment. Tutoring builds both the underlying skills and the test-taking strategies students need to succeed.

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