Award-Winning Elementary School Reading Tutors serving Columbia, SC

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Award-Winning Elementary School Reading Tutors serving Columbia, SC

Pinelopi

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Pinelopi

Bachelor in Arts in Psychology
Pinelopi's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Geometry
Calculus

I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you...

Education

Duke University

Bachelor in Arts in Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1530
Tiffany

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Tiffany

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies
Tiffany's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor in Business Administration, Accounting

University of Chicago

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1440
ACT
31
Sharon

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Sharon

Master of Science, Journalism
Sharon's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classro...

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Master of Science, Journalism

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1550
Molly

Certified Tutor

Molly

Master of Science in Education
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
1st-8th Grade Reading
1st-8th Grade math
1st-8th Grade Writing
Pre-Algebra

I am an Illinois certified Teacher in grades K-9. I attended Northwestern University and received a Master's of Science in Education. I have ample classroom experience and expertise in elementary Math and Reading intervention. I have several tools and resources from various curricula to work with an...

Education

Northwestern University

Master of Science in Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor in Arts, History

Test Scores
SAT
1480
Mimi

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
Allan

Certified Tutor

Allan

Bachelors, Biological Sciences
Allan's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade Reading
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade Writing
3rd-8th Grade Science

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 actually wasn't satisfied with my score, so I spent 2 months working hard to get my score to where ...

Education

Northwestern University

Bachelors, Biological Sciences

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Zach

Certified Tutor

Zach

Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Zach's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Geometry

I am a Yale University Berkeley College graduate of the Yale Class of 2012 with an Intensive B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Eager for tutoring opportunities, I welcome any of you who wishes to undergo SAT/PSAT or ACT Test Preparation that will get you the scores you need for...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Test Scores
SAT
1590
Esther

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Esther

Current Undergrad, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
Esther's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I'm currently a Junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and a 2014 graduate of Phillips Academy. As a product of great tutoring myself, I focus on being patient, flexible, and kind with all of my students. Outside of my academics, I'm a member of the ...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Current Undergrad, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics

Test Scores
SAT
1500
Nathan

Certified Tutor

4+ years

Nathan

Bachelor in Arts, History
Nathan's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am currently a student at Rice University studying both History and Neuroscience. Being the oldest of five kids, working with younger students has always been a part of my life. I can tutor a wide variety of subjects, but I specialize in writing, public speaking, and test taking. My goal for every...

Education

Rice University

Bachelor in Arts, History

Test Scores
SAT
1530
Michael

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Michael

Bachelor in Arts
Michael's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Statistics

I'm now a few years removed from academia, I still consider myself an intellect at heart. Stints at New York University's Stern School of Business and Northwestern University have given me extensive scholastic training, and running my own private tutoring service throughout college as a means of mak...

Education

Northwestern University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
ACT
33

Frequently Asked Questions

Elementary readers often struggle with phonics foundations, fluency, and comprehension—especially when transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn. In Columbia's diverse school districts, students may also face challenges with vocabulary development and connecting what they read to their own experiences. Personalized tutoring can target these specific gaps, whether a student needs help sounding out words or understanding what a story means.

Elementary reading typically progresses through guided reading levels (often A-Z or similar systems) that reflect increasing complexity in vocabulary, sentence structure, and concepts. Early elementary (K-2) focuses on phonemic awareness and decoding, while upper elementary (3-5) emphasizes fluency, comprehension strategies, and beginning literary analysis. Tutors can assess where a student falls on this spectrum and create a personalized plan to build confidence and skills at the right pace.

During an initial session, a tutor will typically assess your student's current reading level through informal reading inventories, observe their decoding and fluency, and discuss specific concerns you or their teacher have noticed. This helps establish a baseline and identify whether the focus should be phonics, fluency, comprehension, or a combination. From there, the tutor creates a personalized plan tailored to your student's learning style and goals.

Tutors teach evidence-based comprehension strategies like predicting, visualizing, asking questions, and making connections—skills that help students actively engage with text rather than passively decode words. Through guided practice with books at the right level, students learn to summarize, identify main ideas, and discuss what they've read. Personalized instruction allows tutors to model these strategies and give immediate feedback as your student applies them.

Fluency—reading smoothly with appropriate pace and expression—is essential because it frees up mental energy for comprehension; struggling readers often focus so hard on decoding that they miss meaning. Tutors build fluency through repeated reading of engaging texts, modeling expressive reading, and providing corrective feedback on pacing and expression. As fluency improves, comprehension typically follows, and reading becomes more enjoyable.

Strong vocabulary is foundational to reading comprehension, and tutors build it through context clues, word families, and explicit instruction paired with real-world application. Rather than isolated word lists, personalized tutoring embeds new vocabulary into engaging texts and conversations, helping students understand and retain words more deeply. This approach makes vocabulary learning meaningful and connected to what students are actually reading.

Many students show noticeable improvements in confidence and engagement within a few weeks of consistent tutoring, while measurable gains in fluency or comprehension often appear within 2-3 months. The timeline depends on the student's starting point, frequency of sessions, and how actively parents support reading at home. Tutors track progress regularly and adjust strategies to keep momentum going.

Effective elementary reading tutors typically have training in literacy development, phonics, and reading assessment—and ideally experience working with diverse learners. They should be able to explain why they're using specific strategies and adjust their approach based on how your student responds. Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced tutors who understand elementary reading instruction and can provide the personalized attention your student needs to thrive.

Connect with Elementary School Reading Tutors in Columbia

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