Award-Winning Reading Intervention Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

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Award-Winning Reading Intervention Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

Candice

Certified Tutor

4+ years

Candice

Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
Candice's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills
SSAT- Elementary Level

Candice's path through Fulbright teaching in Taiwan, Wilson Reading instruction, and years as a teaching artist gave her an unusually wide lens on why readers struggle — sometimes it's phonics, sometimes it's language processing, sometimes it's a confidence problem masquerading as a skills problem. ...

Education

The New School University

Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts, English

McKenna

Certified Tutor

5+ years

McKenna

Bachelor in Arts, English
McKenna's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
ACT Writing
ACT English

Early reading struggles compound fast — a student who can't decode confidently at seven often avoids reading entirely by ten. McKenna spent two years working directly with elementary learners on phonics, fluency, and comprehension, designing repetitive but engaging practice that builds real momentum...

Education

Tulane University of Louisiana

Bachelor in Arts, English

Regina George

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Regina George

Bachelor's
Regina's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Algebra

Early reading skills like phonemic awareness and decoding don't always click through standard classroom methods — and Regina's background teaching phonics and elementary reading means she's built fluency-stage scaffolding for young learners who need explicit, patient instruction to connect sounds to...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Julia

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Julia

AM
Julia's other Tutor Subjects
Certified Reading Intervention
Orton Gillingham Reading

I have been an elementary and middle school teacher for the past 14 years, and enjoy working with all ages of students. My focus over the last few years has been to delve deeply into the science behind learning to read. As a result, I have become a Certified Orton Gillingham Instructor through the...

Education

Johns Hopkins University

AM

Vassar College

AM

Sapna

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Sapna

MSW
Sapna's other Tutor Subjects
Elementary School Reading
Special Education
Executive Functioning
Certified Reading Intervention

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cardiff University, and have a Masters in Counseling from Monash University. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy, I am passionate and experienced in using a multi-sensory approach to tutoring students with dyslexia and other reading d...

Education

Monash University

MSW

Emily

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Emily

AM
Emily's other Tutor Subjects
AP English Literature and Composition
Phonics
Elementary School Reading
Certified Reading Intervention

When a student reads a passage and can't recall what it said, the problem could live anywhere — weak phonics foundations, limited vocabulary, or difficulty with inference. Emily identifies the specific breakdown point and designs repetitive-but-varied practice around it, drawing on her graduate trai...

Education

Montclair State University

AM

Molly

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Molly

AM
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
Phonics
Elementary School Reading
Elementary School
Certified Reading Intervention

I received my degree in Elementary Education from York College of Pennsylvania. I then attended McDaniel College where I received a masters degree in reading and became a Reading Specialist. My love for teaching reading continued and I furthered my education at Mount Saint Mary's University for tr...

Education

McDaniel College

AM

York College

AM

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading intervention is targeted, intensive instruction designed for students who are struggling with foundational reading skills like phonics, fluency, decoding, and comprehension. Unlike general classroom reading instruction, intervention focuses on closing specific skill gaps through personalized, data-driven strategies tailored to each student's needs. For students in Des Moines, personalized 1-on-1 reading intervention can accelerate progress by addressing the exact areas where a student is falling behind.

Common reading struggles include difficulty with phonemic awareness, decoding multisyllabic words, reading fluency, comprehension of grade-level texts, and vocabulary development. Some students also struggle with tracking during reading or understanding how to apply reading strategies independently. Personalized tutoring helps identify which specific skills need reinforcement and provides targeted practice to build confidence and proficiency.

The first session typically focuses on assessment and getting to know your student's reading level, strengths, and areas for growth. A tutor will likely ask about reading history, observe your student reading aloud, and discuss specific challenges you've noticed. This information helps create a personalized plan so that subsequent sessions target the skills your student needs most to succeed.

Many students show noticeable improvements in fluency and confidence within 4-6 weeks of consistent, focused instruction. However, the timeline depends on the severity of the reading gap and how frequently your student receives tutoring. Consistent practice between sessions—through assigned reading activities and exercises—accelerates progress, and regular communication with your tutor helps track growth and adjust strategies as needed.

Varsity Tutors connects students with expert tutors who have strong backgrounds in reading instruction, literacy development, and evidence-based intervention strategies. Many have training in structured literacy approaches, phonics-based instruction, or specific reading intervention programs. When you connect with a tutor, you can discuss their experience with reading intervention and their approach to helping students overcome specific challenges.

The ideal frequency depends on your student's needs and the severity of the reading gap. Many students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week, though some may need more intensive support initially. Your tutor can recommend a schedule based on your student's progress and goals, and you can adjust frequency as skills improve or new challenges emerge.

Yes—reading comprehension is a key focus of intervention, especially once foundational decoding skills are stronger. Tutors use strategies like guided questioning, text annotation, summarization practice, and explicit comprehension strategy instruction to help students understand and retain what they read. Personalized tutoring allows a tutor to model these strategies, provide immediate feedback, and adjust difficulty based on your student's comprehension level.

Consistent practice outside of tutoring sessions is crucial for reading growth. Your tutor will likely suggest specific activities—such as guided reading practice, fluency drills, or comprehension exercises—tailored to what your student is learning. Creating a regular reading routine, reading aloud together, and celebrating small wins helps reinforce skills and builds your student's confidence and love of reading.

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