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Award-Winning Phonics Tutors

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Hi! I'm a student currently studying Government at Harvard, and I'm really looking forward to getting to work with you. I have experience tutoring high school students in a number of subjects, including math (Algebra 2 and Precalculus), English, History, and Spanish. I also have helped students writ...
Harvard University
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am attending the University of Pennsylvania where I am majoring in Bioengineering on the premed track, with my goal after graduation to become an orthopedic surgeon. My passion for tutoring stems from a genuine love for helping people discover their strengths and succeed in their learning journey,...
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Hello, I hold two soon-to-be three Ivy League degrees, an undergrad and graduate degree from the University of Pennslyvania and I am currently getting a second Masters from Harvard in Education Leadership. I know what it takes to write an essay or application to get into your dream school and specia...
Harvard University
MED
University of Pennsylvania
MED

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Tallulah
I recently graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Communications and a minor in Business. Since 2020, I have had the privilege of tutoring students of all ages, forming meaningful connections that I deeply cherish. While I tutor a diverse array of subjects, my passions lie in Math, Engl...
Northwestern University
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am a driven, positive, affirming tutor who is happy to help students in any way he can. I graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College in 2020, and I obtained my Master's in Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2022. In 2016, I received an SAT score of 1550. That year, I also r...
Dartmouth College
AM

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I'm a college student at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. I am in my junior year of a computer science degree. Outside of classes, I work as a college tour guide, IT technician, and camp counselor. I love working with young people to plan for and achieve success, especially as it pert...
Saint Vincent College
BS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Sanjana
Hi! My name is Sanjana. I graduated from Michigan State University in 2023 with a degree in Human Biology. I have been tutoring students in my neighborhood and through the Varsity Tutors platform for the past 4 years, covering a range of subjects from elementary to high school, with a focus on math....
Michigan State University
Undergraduate Degree

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I developed a passion for teaching while I was living in Brazil where my friend and I had a blast teaching our students English while they made fun of our Portuguese (only at first... we got better). I come from a family of educators. My mom, my aunts, my uncle, and my grandparents teach every age g...
Brigham Young University-Provo
BS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Alma Lizette
Ready to meet you right where you need me. With a background for teaching and tutoring both in person and online. I am dedicated to crafting each lesson to your needs.
Brown University
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Daylee
I'm a college student majoring in mathematics and information systems and technology. I'm a student at Lubbock Christian University. I have always enjoyed helping other students, whether it was students in my classes, serving as a teacher's aide, or helping my younger sisters. I'm passionate about h...
Lubbock Christian University
Bachelor
Top 20 English Subjects
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Norah
Biology Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a Yale undergraduate student majoring in American Studies! I am interested in education, specifically the subjects history and social studies, because I believe it is very important to have a holistic understanding of the world and communities we live in. I am interested in reading and writing.
Sara
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +45 Subjects
I am currently an Honors college student majoring in pre-med psychology with a goal of going into psychiatry or clinical psychology! I have about two years of professional tutoring experience, and I am currently teaching a handful of students. I took 14 AP classes in high school, earning college credit and high grades for all of them, most notably a 5 on AP English Lang and a 4 on AP Calculus AB. I genuinely enjoy teaching, and I would love nothing more than to see my students succeed.
Haley Shea
Elementary Statistics Tutor • +143 Subjects
Haley graduated from the University of North Georgia with two bachelor's degrees in English Writing & Publication and Interdisciplinary Studies (Mathematics/Technology, Social Science, and Humanities concentrations), and an associate's degree in Psychological Science (2020). Previously, she completed an associate's in Communication, Film & Digital Media Studies (2016). While at UNG, she worked as a Writing Center Peer Consultant, Supplemental Instruction Facilitator, English Department Student Administrative Assistant, Writing Fellow, and Ambassador for the Center for Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (in addition to programming stimulus displays for EEG experiments in the neuroscience lab). Her major fields of study are supplemented by three minors: Linguistics, Psychology, and Studies of English Language Learning. Combined, this background enables a flexible tutoring approach that can be customized to meet the needs of both additional-language learners and individuals facing cognitive challenges. Haley Shea is currently pursuing graduate-level education in cognitive science, conducting neuroscientific laboratory research in psycholinguistics and brain-computer interface, and training for a career in human-computer interaction. During college, her top subjects were Advanced English Grammar and Linguistics. There, she was known for her passionate leadership of study sessions for sentence-diagramming, which inspired her laboratory research. An active community member, she was Vice President of the English Honor Society chapter and led the UNG Writers Guild for two years, helping students write and gather valuable feedback from one another, enabling them to better proofread and edit their work for future publications. Many of those writers saw their work in print through UNG's award-winning student literary magazine, for which Haley Shea served as an editor for several years. Other campus engagements included running the community book drive for over two years and founding an all-student improv troupe which went on to perform and compete in tournaments around the state and region. While acting helped her become comfortable on-stage, Haley Shea also greatly benefited from her time as a member of the speech and debate team, placing first in statewide debate and slam poetry competitions over the years. Her favorite topic of both debate and poetry is that of human innovation and interaction with emerging technology, especially in relation to ethical policies on artificial intelligence. Captivated by syntax in both spoken language and computer code, she is fascinated with recent developments in language-based software and hopes to contribute to the field of computational psycholinguistics while earning her PhD. After graduating, Haley Shea knew she wanted to keep supporting other students toward their goals. A scholarship student herself, she always loves any chance to help individuals express their strengths and unique personal histories in ways that will help further their goals. To this end, she continues to mentor applicants for nationally competitive scholarships and other student support opportunities, such as the McNair Scholars Program and Goldwater STEM Scholarship, two major awards which made an immense difference toward the funding of her bachelor's education when she was named an official recipient in 2019, in honor of her interdisciplinary research and commitment to fostering student success on campus. She finds joy in any opportunity to uplift other students--especially women in STEM, individuals facing disabilities, or anyone who seeks to improve their command of the English language. In sharing her passions with her students, she helps them break out of "analysis paralysis" into a fun, personalized routine that helps foster positive associations with the topic of study and strong metacognitive skills that lead to improved performance over time. Special Topic Announcement: Students of English writing, grammar, comprehension, et cetera may enjoy developing their meta-linguistic awareness through Sentence Diagramming. Ask during booking to learn more about how you can become a grammar wiz through one-on-one classes in Sentence Diagramming taught by Haley Shea.
Vicente
8th Grade math Tutor • +148 Subjects
As a dedicated educator with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, I bring over 10 years of tutoring and classroom experience across a wide spectrum of subjects, including AP Spanish Language & Culture, High School English, Debate, Essay Writing, Reading Comprehension, College-Level Writing, foundational ELA skills, as well as Math, Social Studies, and Science. My teaching philosophy is rooted in creating a supportive, student-centered environment where learners feel confident expressing their ideas and engaging deeply with complex material. I adapt instruction to each learner's strengths, needs, and goals, emphasizing clear communication, critical thinking, and academic independence.
Leah
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +120 Subjects
I am a passionate tutor for young students ranging from kindergarten to middle school, motivated by my skill and experience in working with children for a number of years. My love for the educational environment and teaching methodology has led me to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have experience working with children through childcare, athletics, and tutoring. I have tutored students at libraries, virtually, and in school settings. As a tutor, I believe each student has a unique way in which they will comprehend the material effectively. Whether it is drawing out a visual aid, using real life examples, or analyzing the problem and breaking it down (colors are great for this), I can adapt quickly to a students situation to help them reach their goals. I am very cognizant of the extra support young students need with focusing and a structured learning environment, and have the confidence I can assist them to succeed with their work. Though I am well versed in all subjects, I favor the Language Arts and Reading subjects as an individual who finds joy in reading and writing in my leisure time. When I am not tutoring or in school, I find myself maintaining an active lifestyle spending time with my pets outside, running, doing ballet, or observing nature. I am looking forward to contributing to your student's learning success with my tutoring sessions!
Maham
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +71 Subjects
I am currently an undergraduate student at Rice University pursuing a bachelor of science in biochemistry and cell biology on the pre-med track. One of my most memorable experiences in the medical field has been working as a research intern at Texas Children's Hospital and collaborating with genetic specialists to publish a research paper about a rare genetic disease. Medicine is truly one of my greatest passions, and biology has been one of my favorite subjects to tutor through the peer mentorship program at my high school. Through this program, I have also extensively tutored math (from middle school math all the way through IB Mathematics) and find myself drawn by the methodical nature of the subject. Many times, I find that students simply label math as "difficult" because the concepts are brand new and numbers seem like a foreign language. Relating math concepts to simpler everyday ones is one of the many strategies I use when tutoring math, and I have found a lot of success through it. Throughout high school, I have been very active in my school community as the Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, president of the Speech and Debate Team, and president and founder of the Random Acts of Kindness Club. Through these roles, I have mentored younger students in areas such as writing, research, and public speaking. Additionally, I am fluent in 4 languages (English, Urdu, Arabic, and Spanish), although my favorite one to teach is Spanish. Attending an international school has emphasized to me the importance of diversity, inclusion, and tolerance, and I believe that learning a new language is one of the best ways to reinforce these ideals. In my spare time, you can find me engrossed in arts and crafts, running my Etsy store, or volunteering my local art museum's kids' crafts classes. I also love listening to music, creating music on my violin, and singing various genres.
Molly
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
Currently I am a graduate student in Stanford University's Master's Program for Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling. Prior to my enrollment at Stanford, I worked as a Genetic Counseling Assistant for Igenomix, a genetic testing laboratory. I graduated from Cornell University in December of 2021 with a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in Education. As a student, I was a member of a research lab that works with the genetic basis of epilepsy in fruit flies as well as an undergraduate TA for a genetics laboratory course at Cornell. While I tutor a range of subjects, I am most passionate about tutoring biology and genetics, as that is where most of my expertise lies. I have enjoyed tutoring SAT and ACT math and science sections in the past and have found students have great success on these stressful tests after seeking out help from tutors like me. In my free time I love watching TV shows with my friends, being active, and painting. I am also a Crisis Text Line volunteer and enjoy taking shifts to help people through difficult times.
Juliana
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a student at Yale University and am currently planning on majoring in neuroscience with concentrations in the history of medicine and public health. I tutored a variety of subjects in high school with students K-12. I am most passionate about science and math, but I also have a strong background in reading and writing courses. I am very passionate about education and believe that it is critical to a student's discipline and development of many other life skills. In my spare time, I enjoy running, traveling, baking, and listening to all genres of music.
Anna
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +33 Subjects
I am a recent graduate from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Economics! I tutor in Math and English and love helping my students achieve their academic best! I have 5 years of professional tutoring experience and have worked with students in grades K-12.
Alana
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +33 Subjects
Hello there! I would love to work with your student! I was the valedictorian of my high school, earning my diploma with a 4.6328 GPA (the highest in the history of my school), and I recently graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's in Neurobiology and Behavior as I pursue God's calling for me to become a neurosurgeon. I was the captain of the Peer Tutoring Lab at my high school from 10th to 12th grade, so I have experience tutoring students from elementary to high school level. Because I understand the importance of fully grasping material and believe that students all approach content differently, I am a patient teacher willing to explain the same concept in different ways multiple times. I strive to create a warm, caring learning experience in my sessions because every student deserves a positive academic support system. I earned a score of 5 on both AP English Exams, a 1530 on the SAT, and won the National Merit Scholarship Competition in 2022. I'd love to work with you!
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Most children benefit from phonics instruction between ages 4-6, though the right time varies by individual. Some children show early interest in letters and sounds as young as 3, while others are ready a bit later. The key is that your child should have some foundational oral language skills and be interested in written words.
A tutor can assess your child's readiness and current phonetic understanding to determine the best starting point, whether that's basic letter recognition or more advanced phonetic patterns.
Personalized 1-on-1 phonics tutoring identifies specific gaps—whether it's sound recognition, blending, or decoding multisyllabic words—that may not be addressed in a classroom setting. A tutor can slow down, repeat concepts, and use targeted practice to build confidence and fluency at your child's pace.
Tutors also employ diagnostic assessment to understand if challenges stem from phonological awareness, phonics application, or both, then tailor instruction accordingly. This individualized approach often produces faster progress than classroom instruction alone.
Yes. Tutors understand major phonics curricula and can coordinate with your child's classroom approach—whether the school uses systematic phonics, balanced literacy, or other frameworks. This alignment ensures tutoring reinforces what's being taught at school without conflicting methods.
Many tutors also ask parents and teachers about specific skills being worked on in class, so they can supplement and strengthen learning in those exact areas.
Phonics teaches children to decode words by understanding sound-symbol relationships (blending sounds like /c/ /a/ /t/ into "cat"), while sight words are words recognized instantly without sounding them out (like "the" or "said"). Both are important for reading development.
A well-rounded phonics tutor teaches systematic sound relationships while also building automaticity with high-frequency sight words. Research supports explicit phonics instruction as foundational, especially for struggling readers, even as sight word vocabulary grows.
Many students show noticeable progress within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though timeline depends on your child's starting point and frequency of sessions. A child just beginning phonics may move faster through initial concepts, while a struggling reader catching up may show progress through improved decoding confidence and reading fluency over a longer period.
Regular practice between sessions accelerates growth, and tutors typically recommend 1-2 sessions weekly for meaningful progress. Setting realistic milestones with a tutor helps you track improvement beyond just reading level gains.
The best phonics tutors combine strong knowledge of phonetic principles with patience and adaptability. Look for someone who can explain why certain sounds blend together, diagnose specific phonetic weaknesses, and adjust pacing based on your child's learning style—not just follow a script.
Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors experienced in phonics instruction who understand child development and use evidence-based methods. Many have backgrounds in reading intervention or have worked extensively with early readers, bringing depth beyond generic tutoring.
Absolutely. Phonics tutoring can be very effective for English language learners because it teaches the sound system explicitly. ESL students sometimes benefit even more from structured phonics instruction, as they're learning both the letter-sound relationships and pronunciation patterns simultaneously.
A tutor experienced with multilingual learners can address differences between your child's first language sound system and English, helping them navigate tricky pronunciations like "th" or vowel distinctions that may not exist in their native language.
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