Award-Winning 1st Grade Vocabulary Tutors

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Award-Winning 1st Grade Vocabulary Tutors

Haley Shea

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Haley Shea

AB
Haley's other Tutor Subjects
1st Grade Vocabulary
4th-12th Grade Writing
4th-12th Grade Reading
10th-12th Grade AP Psychology

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 comp...

Education

University of North Georgia

AB

Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580
Jai

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Jai

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jai's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Electrical Engineering
ACT Writing

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1590
ACT
35
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36
Erika

Certified Tutor

Erika

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Erika's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Test Scores
ACT
32
Jeffrey

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Jeffrey

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Jeffrey's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Calculus
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor of Science

Rice University

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
ACT
34
Zachary

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Zachary

Bachelors, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Zachary's other Tutor Subjects
Trigonometry
Statistics
Calculus
Algebra

I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies...

Education

Yale University

Bachelors, Biochemistry and Biophysics

Test Scores
SAT
1530
ACT
33
Charles

Certified Tutor

Charles

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Charles's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Trigonometry

I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best descr...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
SAT
1440
ACT
34
Tiffany

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Tiffany

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies
Tiffany's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor in Business Administration, Accounting

University of Chicago

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1440
ACT
31

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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

Matthew

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects

I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer in NYC and tackle even the most hard-science of problems with a top-down, big-picture, holistic approach. If you have a propensity to look at problems in a cross- or inter-disciplinary manner (or want to learn how to do so), I'm the tutor for you!

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Samuel

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!

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Tony

Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, English, history, and Mandarin Chinese part-time with a DC-based tutoring company. At Yale, I worked as a freshman counselor to provide academic and career advice to incoming freshmen. I have taken both SAT and MCAT test prep classes and am familiar with both tests as well as the preparation necessary to score well. My personal career goals include attending medical school to pursue either immunology/infectious diseases or psych/neurology, teaching biology at the university level, and working in public/global health with either the CDC or the WHO.

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Sharon

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classroom with middle-school students who were in approximately the 10th percentile for math (meaning they score lower than 90% of students). One-fourth of those students were able to grow around 15 percentile points by the end of the year! Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, music, art, nature, books, writing

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MaryAnn

Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects

I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to the nonprofit sector. Hobbies: reading, cooking, writing, books, music, art, travel

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Quinn

Calculus Tutor • +17 Subjects

I am willing to address any issue with an open mind and I try to develop strategies that play to a student's strengths. I would like to think I am very approachable and personable, and I have had very positive experiences with many students in the past using this philosophy. Outside of academics, I love playing basketball and watching sports, as well as chilling with friends, listening to music, and keeping up with politics and current affairs.

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Pinelopi

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects

I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)

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Earnest

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am comfortable with either setting. I'm confident that I can help you (or your student) achieve to the best of their ability, so please don't hesitate to get in touch!

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Samantha

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects

I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling

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Sami

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +19 Subjects

I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer. Hobbies: reading, writing, art, books, music

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Frequently Asked Questions

First graders are transitioning from oral language to reading and writing, so they often struggle with sight words (like "the," "was," "said"), understanding word meanings in context, and connecting new words to familiar concepts. Many students also have difficulty with phonetically irregular words and understanding that words can have multiple meanings. A tutor can identify which vocabulary gaps are holding back a student's reading fluency and comprehension.

First graders learn vocabulary best through multisensory, interactive experiences—seeing words, hearing them, saying them aloud, and using them in context. Rather than memorizing definitions, 1st graders benefit from stories, pictures, movement, and real-world connections. A tutor working with 1st graders will use games, repetition, and engaging contexts to build word knowledge, rather than relying on written definitions or abstract explanations.

Sight words—common words like "the," "and," "to," and "said"—make up about 50-80% of beginning reading texts. Since many sight words don't follow phonetic patterns, students need repeated exposure and practice to recognize them instantly. When a student can read sight words fluently without sounding them out, reading becomes faster and comprehension improves. A tutor can use targeted practice strategies to help students build automatic recognition of these high-frequency words.

When 1st graders encounter unknown words while reading, it disrupts their comprehension and slows them down. Building a strong vocabulary foundation—both sight words and concept words—helps students understand stories more fully and enjoy reading more. A tutor can teach strategies for figuring out new words in context while also building word knowledge that supports independent reading growth.

Absolutely. Strong vocabulary directly supports writing—students who know more words can express their ideas more clearly and with greater variety. In 1st grade, this means moving beyond simple words like "good" or "big" to more descriptive language. A tutor can help students learn synonyms, action verbs, and descriptive words they can use in their own writing, making their sentences more interesting and detailed.

An effective 1st grade vocabulary tutor should understand early literacy development, phonics, and how young children acquire language. They should be skilled at using games, stories, and hands-on activities to make learning engaging, and able to assess which words and strategies will help each student most. Experience working with early elementary students and familiarity with common 1st grade vocabulary benchmarks and sight word lists is important.

Progress shows up in several ways: increased fluency when reading aloud, better comprehension of stories, fewer pauses when encountering familiar words, and more varied word choices in writing and conversation. A tutor should track which sight words and vocabulary words a student has mastered and share progress updates with you. You'll likely notice your child becoming more confident and enthusiastic about reading as their vocabulary grows.

A tutor will observe which sight words the student recognizes automatically versus those requiring sounding out, listen to their reading fluency and comprehension, and ask them to explain word meanings and use words in sentences. They may also use informal assessments like word lists or running records to identify specific gaps. This personalized assessment helps the tutor create a focused plan targeting the exact vocabulary skills that will have the biggest impact on that student's reading and writing.

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