Award-Winning Reading Intervention Tutors
serving Des Moines, IA
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning Reading Intervention Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Candice
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. ...
The New School University
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts, English

Certified Tutor
5+ years
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...
Tulane University of Louisiana
Bachelor in Arts, English

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Regina George
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...
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
2+ years
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...
Johns Hopkins University
AM
Vassar College
AM

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Sapna
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...
Monash University
MSW
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Emily
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...
Montclair State University
AM

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Molly
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...
McDaniel College
AM
York College
AM

Certified Tutor
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...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate

Certified Tutor
Kate
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 ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Jai
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'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Nearby Reading Intervention Tutors
Other Des Moines Tutors
Related Learning Differences Tutors in Des Moines
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.
Connect with Reading Intervention Tutors in Des Moines
Get matched with local expert tutors