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Award-Winning Elementary Tutors

Laura

Certified Tutor

Laura

Masters, Classical Acting for the Professional Theater
Laura's other Tutor Subjects
1st-5th Grade Writing
1st-5th Grade Reading
1st-3rd Grade Math
3rd-5th Grade Science

A trained performer with a Master's from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Laura knows how to make learning feel like an event — turning multiplication drills, reading passages, and science vocabulary into activities that hold a young student's attention. She teaches across elementary su...

Education

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

Masters, Classical Acting for the Professional Theater

Belmont University

Bachelors, Musical Theatre

James

Certified Tutor

2+ years

James

Bachelor
James's other Tutor Subjects
Engineering
Agricultural Science
Civil and Environmental Engineering
COMPASS Reading

I am an educator, writer, and program builder who believes deeply in the power of steady instruction, strong relationships, and foundational skills to change lives. My path into teaching was shaped by lived experience: I entered adulthood as a student who had struggled with reading and academics, th...

Education

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Mimi

Masters in Education, Education
Mimi's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all su...

Education

Harvard University

Masters in Education, Education

Dartmouth College

B.A.

Test Scores
SAT
1560

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Solange

Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
Solange's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
ACT Writing
Public Speaking

I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campu...

Education

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)

Test Scores
ACT
34

Certified Tutor

Asta

Bachelor in Arts in Political Science
Asta's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Arithmetic
Middle School Math

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare th...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts in Political Science

Test Scores
SAT
1530
ACT
35

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Daniel

Bachelors
Daniel's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am excited to be home and help fellow straphangers on their educational paths! My largest wealth of tutoring experience is in foreign languages--particularly French--but I also feel very comfortable editing essays of any kind and working through standardized test concepts. My availability is extre...

Education

Brown University

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1500

Certified Tutor

Justin

Current Grad Student, Philosophy
Justin's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Quantitative Reasoning
SSAT- Upper Level

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, I am in the master's program at the University of New Mexico where I am continuing my education in philosophy. Ultimately, I hope to go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy so that I can continue en...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Current Grad Student, Philosophy

Test Scores
ACT
34

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Ingrid

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering
Ingrid's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Finite Mathematics
Trigonometry
Statistics

I am exploring my creativity by pursuing a double major in Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus in Korean, studying abroad in South Korea as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, leading workshops that teach 3D printing and CAD for undergraduate students as the president of 3D4E, advocating for the fir...

Education

Northwestern University

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering

Test Scores
SAT
1540
ACT
33

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Sabira

Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics
Sabira's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

I am currently attending Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Applied Math and Statistics. I love helping students and I love the feeling I get knowing that I was able to use my knowledge to make someone else happier. My favorite subject to teach is math because t...

Education

Johns Hopkins University

Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics

Test Scores
SAT
1510

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Sherry

Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics
Sherry's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, with a bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics. Currently, I am pursuing a master's degree in speech-language pathology at Teachers College, Columbia University. In the past, I have worked as a teacher's aide in a public school classroom, a mento...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1600

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Renee

Doctor of Philosophy, Spanish and Iberian Studies
Renee's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Subject Test in Spanish with Listening
College Essays

I am passionate about education, learning, teaching, and specifically literatures and languages. I have experience as an ESL teacher for young children and teens, as well as experience working as a Writing Consultant at my undergraduate institution. I also spent all four years of my undergraduate ca...

Education

Colgate University

Bachelor in Arts, Spanish

Princeton University

Doctor of Philosophy, Spanish and Iberian Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1530

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Keith

Juris Doctor, Prelaw Studies
Keith's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math
PSAT Writing Skills

I am a recent graduate of Williams College, where I studied political science with sidelines in history and English. Next fall, I am headed to Ithaca to study at Cornell Law School. I have experience tutoring in all subjects for high school standardized tests and in writing and history at higher lev...

Education

Williams College

Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government

Cornell University

Juris Doctor, Prelaw Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1560

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Emily

Master of Public Health (MPH), concentration in Epidemiology and Global Health
Emily's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am a Yale graduate with over 8 years experience tutoring students from a variety of backgrounds. I recently graduated from the Yale School of Public Health with a MPH concentrating in Epidemiology and Global Health. I also received my B.S. from Yale with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, and ...

Education

Yale University

Master of Public Health (MPH), concentration in Epidemiology and Global Health

Yale School of Public Health

Master in Public Health, Public Health

Yale University

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and French

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

Matthew

Bachelor's
Matthew's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Arithmetic

I am a rising Sophomore at Princeton University. I am majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, most likely with a minor in Computer Science. During my Junior and Senior years of High School, I tutored a few students on a regular basis. I specialize in Math and Science. More specifically, my...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Test Scores
ACT
34

Certified Tutor

Julie

Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
Julie's other Tutor Subjects
6th-12th Grade Math
9th-12th Grade Writing
9th-12th Grade Reading
AP Statistics

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 academic year, I serve as a volunteer tutor for the Petey Greene Program, which provides educational assis...

Education

Princeton University

Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy

Test Scores
SAT
1570

Meet Varsity Tutors Experts

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

Renee

Calculus Tutor • +37 Subjects

I am passionate about education, learning, teaching, and specifically literatures and languages. I have experience as an ESL teacher for young children and teens, as well as experience working as a Writing Consultant at my undergraduate institution. I also spent all four years of my undergraduate career volunteering as an SAT tutor for local high schoolers. Beyond this, I have experience both as a private and public Spanish tutor. I love to help students reach their educational and personal goals in any way that I can.

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Keith

Calculus Tutor • +35 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Williams College, where I studied political science with sidelines in history and English. Next fall, I am headed to Ithaca to study at Cornell Law School. I have experience tutoring in all subjects for high school standardized tests and in writing and history at higher levels, and am excited to pass on the benefits of my study as a tutor for the LSAT. I look forward to working with you!

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Emily

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects

I am a Yale graduate with over 8 years experience tutoring students from a variety of backgrounds. I recently graduated from the Yale School of Public Health with a MPH concentrating in Epidemiology and Global Health. I also received my B.S. from Yale with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and French. I have experience both leading group classes and working with students one on one. I will respond to a student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning style in order to help them succeed and make the most of our time together. I earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, 2280 on the SAT, and qualified as a National Merit Scholar on the PSAT. I look forward to working with you! Hobbies: writing, art, books, music, dancing, baking, reading

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Matthew

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am a rising Sophomore at Princeton University. I am majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, most likely with a minor in Computer Science. During my Junior and Senior years of High School, I tutored a few students on a regular basis. I specialize in Math and Science. More specifically, my strongest subjects are Algebra 1/2/3, Geometry, Trigonometry and ACT Science. I have always found the maths and sciences to be both the most interesting subjects, but also the most applicable to real world problems - this is why I chose to major in what I did. Because I usually tutor in Math, I often tutor in the style of showing how to do a few problems step by step, and then having the student try a few more difficult problems, asking questions along the way. I do this because in my experience, this is the best way to learn and prepare for Math related exams. Outside of academics I play Viola, enjoy running and exercising to stay healthy, and listening to all kinds of music.

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Julie

12th Grade Math Tutor • +82 Subjects

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 academic year, I serve as a volunteer tutor for the Petey Greene Program, which provides educational assistance to those incarcerated in New Jersey prisons; after graduation, I hope to work toward becoming a high school mathematics teacher. This summer, I am interning part-time at IntegrateNYC4me, a nonprofit that seeks to integrate New York schools. I believe that quality educational opportunities should be accessible to all, and I hope to dedicate my career toward realizing this vision!

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Maya

Calculus Tutor • +37 Subjects

I am a Yale University graduate with over seven years of tutoring experience with children and adults of all ages, specializing in writing, reading, English, college prep, and working with differently-abled learners. As a writer and entrepreneur, I have tutored since high school because it is something I truly enjoy. I approach tutoring with patience, and with finding a motivation to learn and excel that is specific to each student. With young adults and older learners, I approach each skill with purpose in reaching their individual goals and dreams, and with younger learners it is all personalize-practice-reward, working with parents and mentors to understand their needs and facilitate their individual learning and success. I'd love to hear from you and discuss how we can make the most out of our time together!

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Ellie

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +45 Subjects

I'm Ellie, and I am a junior at Yale University studying Biomedical Engineering (pre-med)! I have always considered myself a life-long student, and I strive to make learning exciting and empowering for everyone. On campus, I work as a graphic designer for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), volunteer EMT, am the Arts Editor for the Yale Scientific Magazine, am the Layout Editor for the Yale Globalist Magazine, conduct autism research in the School of Medicine, and tutor a Differential Equations course to small groups of students weekly. Aside from my passion for science and math, I enjoy writing essays in my literature classes, designing in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and more and also have much experience writing application essays for colleges and jobs!

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Valerie

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +37 Subjects

I am an undergraduate student at the University of Chicago majoring in Classics and Theatre. However, my college uses the core curriculum and as a result, I've had a well-rounded, eclectic education covering everything from math to fine arts. I've won awards in community service, dance, and film, but most notably, 20 writing prizes before I reached eighteen. I was a National Merit Semi-Finalist in high school and I've had a passion for education and the art of learning since I was a child. I hope to instill in my students the love of amassing knowledge, excelling in your studies, and walking out of a test feeling like you rocked it. I especially had a passion for the Critical Reading and the Writing portions of the SAT's and the SAT 2 in Literature. I have teaching experience with everything from stand-up comedy to Emergency Medical Services to tap dancing, and I've been told that I am unmatched in my enthusiasm. In my free time, I like to perform sketch and improv comedy, dance, play the banjo, and volunteer in my local hospital.

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Jessica

College Algebra Tutor • +50 Subjects

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 writing requirement at the University prior to matriculating, I was the first freshman tutor to be accepted into this selective program. The tutoring program involved a preliminary peer-tutor training course prior to beginning tutoring, in order to certify that I had the appropriate background to provide professional feedback to fellow students on their literary works and projects. After graduation, I worked for a full-service learning center where I created and implemented high school lesson plans for home-schooled students, provided academic support for students ranging in ages from 8 to 20 years old, and taught group and individual standardized testing preparation classes. I have also assisted students with application essays for various undergraduate and graduate programs.

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Brian

AP Statistics Tutor • +115 Subjects

I'm a recent graduate of the California Institute of Technology in Economics and Computer Science. I was also accepted at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. I have a broad range of interests spanning science, math, engineering, social science, the humanities, the arts, and athletics (I also played on the Caltech basketball team). My background allows me to tutor general college prep, especially the SAT, ACT and the GRE. I love to teach analytical thinking, ranging from advanced Math and Physics to strategies for understanding literature and developing arguments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The elementary years build the foundation for all future learning, with reading fluency, phonemic awareness, and basic math computation being the most critical skills. Students typically need to master phonics and decoding by end of 2nd grade, develop reading comprehension strategies by 3rd-4th grade, and build automaticity with addition and subtraction facts. When students fall behind in these core areas, gaps compound quickly—a child struggling with phonics in 1st grade often faces reading comprehension difficulties by 4th grade. Personalized tutoring can target these specific skill gaps before they widen.

Reading comprehension, multi-digit multiplication and division, and writing mechanics are where elementary students most commonly hit walls. Many students can decode words but struggle to understand what they've read, while others master basic facts but can't apply them to word problems. Writing is another major challenge—students often know letters and sounds but struggle with sentence structure, organizing ideas, and editing. Additionally, the transition from concrete manipulatives to abstract mathematical thinking in grades 3-4 causes significant difficulty for many students. A tutor can break these complex skills into manageable steps and provide the repetition needed for mastery.

The best elementary tutors combine deep knowledge of child development with expertise in foundational literacy and numeracy instruction. They should understand phonics-based reading approaches, the progression of mathematical thinking from concrete to abstract, and how to diagnose specific skill gaps rather than just reteaching the same material. Experience with different learning styles—visual, auditory, kinesthetic—is essential, as is patience with the slower pace of skill-building in younger grades. Look for tutors who can explain their teaching approach clearly and adjust strategies when something isn't working, rather than using a one-size-fits-all method.

Reading intervention is most effective when it targets the specific area where a child is struggling—whether that's phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, or comprehension. A tutor can assess where the breakdown is occurring and provide intensive, focused practice on that skill before moving forward. For example, a child who struggles with blending sounds needs different intervention than one who reads fluently but doesn't understand what they've read. Research shows that students who receive small-group or 1-on-1 reading intervention with explicit instruction in phonics and fluency make significantly faster progress than those in classroom settings alone.

Elementary math progresses from concrete (counting objects, using manipulatives) to representational (pictures and diagrams) to abstract (numbers and symbols)—and many students struggle with these transitions. In K-2, the focus is number sense and basic facts; in 3-4, it shifts to multi-digit operations and early fractions; and in 5-6, abstract thinking and problem-solving become central. A student might excel with addition using blocks but freeze when seeing the same problem written as an equation. Tutors who understand this progression can identify exactly where a child's understanding breaks down and rebuild skills using the right level of concrete support.

Elementary writing develops in stages—from letter formation and simple sentences in K-2, to paragraph organization and basic editing in 3-4, to multi-paragraph writing with supporting details in 5-6. Many students struggle not with ideas but with mechanics: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence construction. A tutor can break writing into manageable components, starting with sentence-level work before tackling paragraph organization, and provide immediate feedback on specific errors rather than overwhelming a child with corrections. Regular, low-pressure writing practice with a tutor who models the writing process builds both skills and confidence.

Most states administer standardized reading and math assessments starting in 3rd or 4th grade, measuring skills in reading comprehension, vocabulary, computation, and problem-solving. Rather than "teaching to the test," effective tutoring builds the underlying skills these assessments measure—strong decoding and comprehension for reading, and number sense and application for math. Tutors can also help students become comfortable with test format and pacing, which reduces anxiety and allows students to show what they actually know. Preparation is most effective when it begins well before the test date, focusing on skill gaps rather than test-specific strategies.

Elementary students learn in different ways—some are strong visual learners, others learn best through movement or listening—and effective tutoring adapts to these differences. Students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, or ADHD benefit from tutors who understand how these differences affect learning and can use evidence-based strategies like multisensory phonics instruction, concrete manipulatives for longer periods, or frequent movement breaks. A tutor can also help identify whether a child's struggles are typical developmental delays or signs of a learning difference that might benefit from further evaluation. Personalized instruction allows tutors to use the specific approaches that work best for each individual student.

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