Award-Winning Susan Barton Tutors
serving Springfield, MA
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning Susan Barton Tutors serving Springfield, MA
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old e...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
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...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Nina
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant ...
Columbia University
Masters in biostatistics
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences (focus in neurobiology)
Columbia University in the City of New York
Current Grad Student, Biostatistics
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...
Harvard University
PHD, Education
Wesleyan University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
Certified Tutor
Charles
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...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Christopher
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tut...
Harvard College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Solange
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...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
Certified Tutor
Liz
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received ...
Simmons College
Masters, Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities 5-12
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in History (minors in Humanities and Anthropology)
Certified Tutor
Michelle
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medici...
Baylor College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, M.D.
Rice University
Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Com...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Sabira
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...
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics
Certified Tutor
10+ years
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...
Brown University
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Isabella
I am a graduate of MIT. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies. Since graduation, I have started my PhD at Georgia Tech in Operations Research. Throughout my career I have TA'd several math and computer science courses at t...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies)
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Current Grad Student, Operations Research
Certified Tutor
Asta
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...
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts in Political Science
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Ingrid
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...
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering
Nearby Susan Barton Tutors
Other Springfield Tutors
Related Learning Differences Tutors in Springfield
Frequently Asked Questions
The Susan Barton Reading System is a structured literacy approach designed to teach reading through explicit, systematic instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, and decoding skills. It's particularly effective for students who struggle with traditional reading instruction or have dyslexia, as it breaks reading into manageable, sequential steps that build confidence and fluency.
Students who benefit most include those with dyslexia, reading delays, or difficulty with phonics-based learning; students who haven't responded well to classroom reading instruction; and those needing explicit, step-by-step instruction in decoding and word recognition. The system works well for students across grade levels, from early elementary through high school, as long as they're motivated to improve their reading skills.
Personalized instruction allows tutors to move at your student's pace, repeat concepts until mastery, and adjust lessons based on their specific learning needs—something difficult in a classroom with a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio like Springfield's average. One-on-one sessions also provide immediate feedback, targeted practice on weak areas, and the ability to build confidence in a low-pressure environment, which is especially important for students who've struggled with reading.
Common challenges include difficulty with phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds in words), struggling to decode unfamiliar words, reversing letters or words, slow reading fluency, and comprehension problems stemming from decoding difficulties. Susan Barton's systematic approach directly targets these foundational skills, helping students build the automaticity and confidence they need to become independent readers.
The first session typically includes an assessment of your student's current reading level, phonics knowledge, and specific areas of difficulty. The tutor will explain how the Susan Barton system works, establish goals, and begin introducing foundational concepts at an appropriate level. This session helps create a personalized roadmap for instruction tailored to your student's needs.
Many students show noticeable improvement in phonics understanding and decoding accuracy within 4-8 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction. More significant gains in fluency and comprehension typically emerge over 3-6 months, depending on the student's starting point and frequency of sessions. Consistent practice between sessions accelerates progress, making 2-3 sessions per week more effective than sporadic instruction.
Tutors who work with Varsity Tutors and specialize in Susan Barton reading instruction have specialized training in the Susan Barton system and structured literacy approaches. They understand phonics, phonemic awareness, and reading science, and have experience working with struggling readers. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors whose expertise matches your student's specific reading needs.
Yes, the Susan Barton system is effective across grade levels because it addresses foundational reading skills that may be missing regardless of age. A struggling third grader and a high school student with undiagnosed dyslexia can both benefit from the same systematic, explicit approach—tutors simply adjust the content, pace, and practice materials to match grade-level expectations and interests.
Connect with Susan Barton Tutors in Springfield
Get matched with local expert tutors