Stronger reading starts with knowing what to do when a passage stops making sense — how to reread strategically, identify context clues, and distinguish main ideas from supporting details. Danny teaches these active reading techniques explicitly, giving students tools they can apply to everything from standardized test passages to dense textbook chapters. His 1450 SAT reflects the kind of careful reading comprehension he builds in his sessions.

A counseling psychology background gives Brita an unusual edge when it comes to reading — she understands how attention, motivation, and processing speed shape the way a student interacts with a page, not just whether they know the vocabulary. She uses that lens to tailor comprehension strategies to each reader's habits, whether that means building stamina for longer passages or teaching someone to pause and summarize after each paragraph. Rated 4.8 by students.

Every day at a Minneapolis school, Kelly works one-on-one with students on reading comprehension — decoding unfamiliar vocabulary, identifying main ideas, and making inferences from context. That daily classroom experience means he quickly spots the specific skill gaps holding a reader back and knows which strategies actually move the needle.

An English and Global Studies double major means Steve spent undergrad toggling between literary analysis and the kind of dense, context-heavy nonfiction — policy briefs, cultural critiques, international case studies — where you have to reconstruct an author's argument across unfamiliar territory. That cross-genre fluency shows up in how he teaches reading: breaking down how a passage is structured, what the writer assumes you already know, and where to slow down when the material gets thick. His 32 ACT and 4.6 rating speak to the approach.

Engineering textbooks punish sloppy reading — one misread variable definition or skipped qualifier in a problem statement can derail an entire solution. Colleen's biomedical engineering training at Arizona State built that kind of precision into how she reads, and she brings it to students who need practice slowing down, extracting key details, and making sure they actually understand a passage before moving on.

Stronger reading starts with knowing what to do when comprehension breaks down — how to use context clues for unfamiliar vocabulary, how to distinguish main ideas from supporting details, and how to annotate actively instead of passively skimming. Samantha builds these strategies into every session so students carry them into any text they encounter, from standardized test passages to classroom assignments.

Literary analysis is where Sarah lights up — she's the kind of reader who catches the shift in tone halfway through a chapter and can explain exactly how the author set it up three pages earlier. Her genetics coursework at the University of Minnesota means she's also comfortable walking students through dense nonfiction, teaching them to pull key claims from passages that feel overwhelming at first glance. Rated 5.0 by students.

Strong readers don't just decode words — they predict, question, and connect what they're reading to what they already know. Naomi teaches these active reading strategies explicitly, whether a student is working through a chapter book or a dense nonfiction passage. Her own background as a writer and avid reader means she can model the kind of thinking that turns reading from a chore into a skill.

Reading is one of Oreoluwa's core passions, and she approaches it by teaching students to actively interrogate a text — identifying author's purpose, making inferences from context clues, and distinguishing main ideas from supporting details. Her experience tutoring across age groups means she can calibrate difficulty on the fly, whether a student is tackling dense nonfiction or building fluency with longer passages.

I'm a freshman here at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I graduated from Wayzata High, and I'm currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in neuroscience. At the University, I'm usually in class, studying, hanging out with my friends, or at club meetings! In my free time, I love to breakdance, write poetry, debate politics and economics, and participate in practically every nerdy endeavor possible (huge Star Wars fan!!). I love to talk and will talk your ear off if you let me! I love trying new things, exploring the city, and traveling. My teaching philosophy is that teaching is a responsibility and a privilege; I'll put 110% into teaching if you put the same effort into learning. With hard work and patience, anything is possible!

I'm more likely to give an answer quickly when a teacher asks a question if I have a habit of properly attuned instincts. So, if I want your confidence to grow, I need to redirect the water your instincts flow through to the proper conduits of careful thinking.

I am an educator and artist with a passion for languages. I have experience teaching in both Minneapolis and Paris, and I have tutored in K-12 core subject matters - math, science, language arts, and social studies. I have my Master's of Education from the University of Minnesota in Second Languages and Cultures with a narrow focus on English as a Second Language. I am fluent in French and have an intermediate level in Spanish and Arabic. My main goals when working with students is to meet them where they are at in their learning, as well as use creative ways to make knowledge accessible. When I'm not teaching, I am spending time outside, reading up and working on anti-oppression, and watching movies. I am also a novice herbalist and astrologer, and hope to dedicate more time in learning about our plan(t)cestors and how they help with healing.

I am a class of 2015 graduate of Boston College. I have been brought to the world of tutoring because of my desire to help students through the stressful time of taking those big scary standardized tests. Both the ACT and the SAT gave me a large amount of anxiety when I was a junior in high school and I want to help other students through this process. This desire brought me to tutor kids in the local Boston high schools while I was in college and now I have taken my talents to the Twin Cities.

I am working as a Special Education Social Worker in Minneapolis. My experience includes a wide range of subjects and abilities but some of my strongest subjects are reading, writing social studies, and study skills. I think learning should be a fun and encouraging experience and look forward to making learning fun for my clients.

I am a current veterinary student and lifelong lover of science, literature and learning. My background is primarily in biology and the life sciences, and in addition to my veterinary program, I also work as part of a research team in comparative oncology that develops treatments for cancer that benefit both humans and animals. I am passionate about increasing public understanding of science, and am happy to work with students of any level of science education.

I am a graduate student living in New York and have been tutoring and teaching test prep classes for the past several years. I love working with students to help them gain confidence and understanding in subjects that have been giving them trouble, and I strive to make learning the most positive and enjoyable experience possible!

I'm experienced in and passionate about (especially computer skills, Python, and math) with others. I try to convey the principles and thought process that are the basis of my own understanding of the subject, not just rules to follow or things to memorize. Being able to explain your answer is even more important than simply getting it right! My tutoring style is personalized, with plenty of examples and frequent knowledge checks to ensure I and my student(s) are in sync. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, skiing, woodworking, reading, and vacationing to Lake Superior.

I am currently a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and I am double majoring in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development and French. I am pre-med, so I do hope to go to medical school next year and am currently in the process of applying. I graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 2012, and there I was a member of the National Honors Society which was my first experience with tutoring. I am currently a volunteer at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, and I help patients and siblings with homework and reading there, as well.

I am a senior undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities studying Genetics, Cell Biology and Development. After graduation, I will attend medical school (where is still being determined), where my goal is to become an academic physician who both cares for patients and educates residents and medical students. My favorite subjects are biology and chemistry, but I enjoy physics and humanities courses as well. My teaching experience includes teaching and tutoring summer school math (and doing some test prep work) to high school students in Rochester, MN. I also have given saxophone lessons. I love teaching, and I believe strongly in active, problem based learning. For science courses, I have considerable experience working in two cancer research labs, so I can help put that material in a real-world context. Outside of academics, I love playing and listening to music (I play jazz and blues saxophone), watching sports of all kinds, and playing basketball, golf and racquetball.

I'm dedicated to critical thought and careful, clear writing. In my independent written work, I focus on issues of political economy, critical theory, and the social and political impacts of technology. I recently also have begun to work on a science fiction novel. In tutoring, I hope to encourage students to approach writing and language with ease and technical competence. I have extensive experience in many academic areas, and can help develop skills for large research projects, short essays, standardized test taking, and everything in between. Nothing is too complex to be broken down clearly and mastered!

I am particularly passionate about math as well as standardized test prep. I studied math on a double-accelerated track throughout middle school and high school, covering math from algebra to multivariable calculus. Aside from teaching academic subjects, I am also trained in playing the piano and violin, having taken lessons for piano from the ages of 4 to 18 and playing violin in my school orchestra from 5th to 12th grade. I love working with students to improve their skills in an area of study, and my favorite part is getting to see them gain confidence in themselves and their own abilities!

I am an Economics and Political Science major at the University of Minnesota. In addition to being a tutor at Grade Potential, I work as a debate coach at Como Park High School in St. Paul. I have previously worked as volunteer tutor at East Side Neighborhood Services and as a Resident Assistant at the University of Michigan Summer Debate Institute. This summer I will also be working with high school students at the Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop.

I am a physics and chemistry major finishing my senior year of undergrad. After graduation, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering.

I am a student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities pursuing a BS in mathematics, as well as minors in creative writing and computer science. While I do not have any formal experience with teaching, I have spent much of my academic career tutoring friends and family to help them succeed in school, and I have personally improved the grades of many of my peers through studying sessions with me by as much as 30%. I am a friendly and casual tutor, but my enthusiasm for helping others to learn is likely my most important quality as a tutor. I would appreciate any opportunity to help you or your child to improve their school performance.

I'm in my senior year of college at the University of Minnesota. I'm an honors student majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in mathematics. I've always loved math and science, and I'm eager to help others understand these subjects better.

I'm a student at the University of Minnesota studying Computer Science with a minor in music. I have a wide variety of experience in many math and science subjects and programming in various languages. I know exactly what it is like to be a student in the subjects I'm tutoring, to struggle with the material, to finally get to that point understand it all. I love learning and to help others out with their work when they're struggling to learn, and I'm excited to share my passions with you!

I am a sophomore at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities studying Political Science and Spanish. Previously, I attended St. Francis High School and Anoka Ramsey Community College as a PSEO student. Some of my experience working with students I have gained through tutoring at Ramsey Middle School in Minneapolis. I tutor 6th and 8th grade math students with Algebra and Pre-Algebra. This experience is actually what led me to become interested in working as a tutor for Varsity Tutors. The subjects I am most interested in tutoring are math, Spanish, and ACT prep.

I am committed to my own ongoing learning and development as a teaching professional.

I am the perfect choice to help you unlock those secrets and your full potential.

I am an honors student at the University of Minnesota studying English and Journalism. I've been tutoring, teaching, and volunteering in schools for five years and specialize in language arts and standardized test preparation.

I am devoted to designing quality lesson plans and using top notch resources. I love teaching and have been developing my skills in various environments throughout my educational career. One of the most important characteristics of my teaching style is my focus on clear communication. Communication is key in making clear what is understood, what is not, and what is confusing for any student, which I find to be particularly important in the case of students who do not enjoy math, who can often come up against mental blocks. Some other important aspects of my teaching style are my teacher engagement in the subject matter, connecting knowledge to the real world and exploring content from my student’s perspective.

I am currently enrolled in the College of Science and Engineering at the university where I have taken courses to gain knowledge in a wide variety of subjects, such as calculus courses, physics, chemistry, programming (python), french, and writing courses. Additionally, I took many AP classes throughout high school which enabled me to enter college with over 30 credits already completed. I have spent two years tutoring in the past and have gained experience learning how to work best with struggling students. I enjoy teaching and helping others learn, be it for a specific subject, test preparation (ACT, SAT or AP), or writing skills. I am an organized, responsible, and flexible when it comes to helping others succeed.

I am currently a philosophy student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, majoring in philosophy, with much of my studies revolving around social justice and the cultivation of an equitable society for all. Often, I become an impromptu tutor in many of my classes, and due to the diverse learning environment at MCTC, I tutor students of various ages and backgrounds. Further, my experience in philosophy has led me to many discussion circles wherein a number of students, myself included, are working together towards a greater comprehension of a difficult text. These experiences have led me to a general teaching ethos of flexibility and adaptation. I believe the tutor should be working to meet the student on their level, and I take every opportunity I can to adapt my style of teaching to the individual's proficiencies. My favorite subjects to tutor are English, writing, college essays, ACT reading, ACT writing, and philosophy. When I'm not tutoring, I spend much of my time reading either for class, or self-educating within a number of subjects. Besides that, I do a lot of cooking and sewing.

I am a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I received my Bachelor of Independent Studies with focuses in English Literature, Communications Studies, and Political Science. I chose these three focus areas because they allowed me to take the maximum number of "Writing Intensive" courses at the university, therefore helping develop my understanding of writing for both creative and communicative purposes. The subjects I teach are English Literature, Creative Writing, Essay Writing, and Percussion. I believe there is no better way to set someone up for a successful and rewarding life than to help them take their education into their own hands, and develop a personal drive for learning. I have experience as an after-school tutor of K-12 English Language Learners, as well as an indoor drumline instructor. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading fantasy and sci-fi, watching and writing about film, playing tabletop RPGs, listening to music, and practicing drums. My lifelong goal is to become a professional drummer and lyricist.

I graduated from Augustana University with my Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Religion/Philosophy in 2019. I then completed my Masters in Humanities from the University of Chicago in 2020 and Masters in English Literature from University of St. Thomas in 2025. I was an English, Social Studies, and Spanish I was an English/History Instructor at a 1:1 school for middle school and high school students with learning differences. I was previously a college advisor for a nonprofit organization that assists college students from low-income backgrounds. I love encouraging students to develop their own writing and feel confident in their written communication skills! I am also eager to expand my teaching skills into more English Literature to share my passion for and knowledge the power of reading. My ultimate goal is to become an English Literature professor and I'm so grateful to grow as an educator with Varsity Tutors! I look forward to meeting and working with you!

I'm passionate about both STEM subjects and the humanities, and love helping students translate their strengths in one area to another.