Award-Winning 9th Grade Reading Tutors

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Award-Winning 9th Grade Reading Tutors

Allan

Bachelors, Biological Sciences
1+ years of tutoring

I'm a big Boston Celtics fan and I speak three languages. I can get you the test results you need to succeed because I went through the exams myself and performed well. The first time I took the SAT I...

Education & Certificates

Northwestern University

Bachelors, Biological Sciences

SAT Scores

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Maddy

B.A. in American History and Literature (minor in Theater)
1+ years of tutoring

I'm a recent graduate of Harvard University and a natural teacher, and I'd be thrilled to help you build your skills, gain academic confidence, and get results! My B.A. is in American history and lite...

Education & Certificates

Harvard University

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

Paula

Bachelor in Arts
1+ years of tutoring

I am extremely passionate about academics and learning; the value of each was inculcated into me at a very young age. I tutor a variety of subjects largely because I have so many areas of interests an...

Education & Certificates

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor in Arts

ACT Scores

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Angela

Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations
1+ years of tutoring

I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in International Relations and minoring in French and English. The studies of English and Literature have been my passion for a long ...

Education & Certificates

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations

SAT Scores

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Marjorie

Bachelors
1+ years of tutoring

I am eager to help students prepare for college applications, including mastering standardized tests, college essays, and study strategies. I am also driven to teach young students to become better ov...

Education & Certificates

Vanderbilt University

Bachelors

ACT Scores

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David

Bachelor's
1+ years of tutoring

I'm comfortable tutoring on a number of subjects, I particularly enjoy teaching English, writing, and critical reading. I like working one on one with students, helping them to think through problems,...

Education & Certificates

University

Bachelor's

Madeline

Bachelors
10+ years of tutoring

I am currently a graduate student Johns Hopkins University getting my masters in chemical and biomolecular engineering. I have spent a lot of time around children and I have spent a good amount of tim...

Education & Certificates

Johns Hopkins University

Bachelors

SAT Scores

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Sarah

PHD, Ethnomusicology
1+ years of tutoring

I am a graduate of Oberlin College and Wesleyan University and I am currently a PhD student at Harvard University. I received my BA in English, my BM in Jazz Studies, and my MA in Ethnomusicology. My ...

Education & Certificates

Harvard University

PHD, Ethnomusicology

Oberlin College

Bachelors, English and Jazz studies

Gabriel

PHD, Comparative Human Development
1+ years of tutoring

I am studying to get my PhD at the University of Chicago. I have extensive experience teaching and tutoring a variety of ages and subjects (in particular, I have the most experience tutoring for the P...

Education & Certificates

University of Chicago

PHD, Comparative Human Development

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts

Julie

Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
1+ years of tutoring

I am a rising junior at Princeton University pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy with a certificate in Statistics and Machine Learning. I am highly passionate about education: during the academ...

Education & Certificates

Princeton University

Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy

SAT Scores

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Meet Our Expert Tutors

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

Victoria

Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am well schooled in academic writing and reading comprehension; furthermore, I have honed my ability to write pointed, direct essays for both applications and classes. After studying French in high school, I went on to spend over six months in France working on archaeological excavations. As a previous educator for high school students, I am versed in different learning styles and can't wait to work with more. It sounds trite, but it's true--I love teaching, and consider it both a privilege and a real pleasure. I look forward to helping more students achieve their academic goals!

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Dakota

12th Grade math Tutor • +126 Subjects

I am a native Texan now living in NYC. I just finished my Master's degree, and I love food, reading, and travel. I've been working and volunteering as a tutor since my high school days, and I am eager to provide advanced-level assistance to you! I'm a friendly, approachable person who maintains a professional but fun learning atmosphere. And, most importantly, we get hard work done! Hobbies: art, books, travel, reading, cooking, music, writing

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Eric

Calculus Tutor • +43 Subjects

I'm a hiker, a reader, a giant nerd, and full of terrible jokes that will (shockingly) make tutoring fun.

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Jennifer

Calculus Tutor • +54 Subjects

I'm communicating and working with a pupil that I get a proper indication of how to work best with them. It's crucial to understand every student is different. There are always indications on how to handle/work with each student. For example, with a hostile student I would try to ease off and allow them to talk whilst making the material seem personal and easygoing. With a more outgoing and confident student, I would invite them to be challenged in our studies, as they usually work best with a challenge.

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David

Calculus Tutor • +61 Subjects

I am a passionate educator with over eight years of teaching and tutoring experience. I have worked with many different kinds of learners during my career as a public school teacher, and I understand that every student has their own unique way of growing and of mastering skills. I have experience teaching a wide variety of literature and non-fiction texts and am very familiar with the Common Core and its emphasis on research skills. I especially enjoy teaching writing; I myself love to write and I teach students a clear process for approaching challenging essay assignments. Above all, I believe that learning should be meaningful and enjoyable and that any academic task is part of a student's personal journey of discovery.

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Michael

Calculus Tutor • +64 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Michigan where I earned my bachelor of science degree in cellular and molecular biology. I chose this major because I am fascinated with how cells in the body interact with each other and the pathways in which they communicate. Originally being pre-med, I applied to medical schools the year after I graduated. Also during this gap year, I taught introductory chemistry lab for science majors at Grand Valley State University. After some self reflection I decided medical school was not the path I wanted to take and decided instead to move to New York City to pursue my other passion of performing on stage. However, due to my background in academia and teaching, I desired to maintain plugged into that world in whatever way I could. That is how I discovered VarsityTutors.

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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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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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Natalie

Calculus Tutor • +47 Subjects

I'm a recent Cornell graduate who is passion about personalized education. I studied English and Film, with a lot of everything else thrown in! Hobbies: art, books, dancing, baking, films, reading, cooking, music, writing

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Joanne

Calculus Tutor • +52 Subjects

I'm well-versed in teaching students with a wide range of skills and learning styles. I graduated with Honors from Santa Clara University where I received my Bachelor of Arts in English with a specialization in Teaching English. In May 2015, I will graduate with my Masters in Educational Studies from the University of Michigan. I am passionate about teaching students to become critical readers and writers who use their communication skills to reach their goals and connect with others. I have over seven years of tutoring experience and have tutored students in reading and writing from middle school to the graduate level.

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Frequently Asked Questions

9th graders often struggle with the transition from plot summary to deeper literary analysis—they can tell you what happened in a text, but analyzing why an author made specific choices or what a symbol represents takes more practice. Many students also find it difficult to support interpretations with textual evidence, write thesis statements that go beyond obvious observations, and manage the increased volume and complexity of reading assignments. Additionally, distinguishing between a character's motivations and their actions, and understanding how tone and mood differ, are common stumbling blocks at this grade level.

A tutor works with you to move beyond five-paragraph templates by teaching how to build a thesis that makes an arguable claim rather than stating the obvious. They help you organize body paragraphs around specific evidence from the text, then connect that evidence back to your thesis with clear reasoning—not just summary. Tutors also provide feedback on your drafts, showing you where arguments are weak or where you've drifted from your main point, which helps you revise strategically rather than just fixing grammar.

Instead of just grading a finished essay, a tutor guides you through planning (brainstorming ideas, developing a strong thesis), drafting (organizing evidence and building arguments), and revising (cutting weak points, strengthening claims with better textual support). Many students benefit from talking through their ideas before writing, which helps clarify thinking and catch logical gaps early. Tutors also teach you to read your own work critically—asking questions like 'Does my evidence actually support this claim?' and 'Would a reader understand why this matters?'—skills that improve your writing across all subjects.

A tutor teaches you to zoom in on specific words, phrases, or scenes that reveal character development, theme, or author's purpose—then explain the 'so what' behind that evidence. For example, instead of 'The character was angry,' you'd analyze how the author's word choice or dialogue conveys that anger and what it reveals about the character's conflict. Tutors use close reading strategies, asking you questions that push deeper: 'Why did the author choose this word instead of a similar one?' or 'What does this scene show us that we didn't know before?' This approach transforms analysis from guesswork into a systematic skill.

A tutor helps you develop strategies for tackling longer texts and heavier reading loads—like annotation techniques, active reading strategies, and time management for balancing multiple assignments. They also help you identify what's actually important to focus on in a text versus getting lost in every detail, which makes reading more efficient and less exhausting. If you're struggling with comprehension, a tutor can work through challenging passages with you, breaking down complex sentences and building vocabulary in context so the text becomes more accessible.

Yes—tutors help you understand not just the mechanics of MLA format (in-text citations, works cited pages), but why citations matter: they give credit to sources and let readers find your evidence. Rather than treating it as a checklist, a tutor shows you how proper citation strengthens your argument by proving you've done the reading and can back up your claims. They also catch common mistakes like forgetting to cite a paraphrase, using the wrong page number, or formatting inconsistently, so you can submit polished work.

A tutor meets you where you are—whether you're reading significantly below grade level, on track, or advanced. For students reading below level, tutors focus on building foundational comprehension skills and confidence with grade-level texts through scaffolding and strategy practice. For on-level readers, the focus shifts to deepening analysis and writing skills. Advanced readers often benefit from exploring more complex texts, tackling challenging interpretations, and refining their argumentation. In all cases, personalized instruction means you're working on what actually challenges you, not generic 9th grade material.

A tutor helps you move beyond formal, stiff academic writing by teaching you to balance evidence-based analysis with your own perspective and natural voice. This means understanding when to use sophisticated vocabulary versus when simpler language is more effective, how to vary sentence structure for emphasis, and how to sound confident in your interpretations without being casual. Through feedback on your drafts, a tutor shows you patterns in your writing—maybe you're too wordy, or you hide your ideas behind weak phrasing—and helps you develop a style that's both academically credible and authentically yours.

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