Students often struggle with phonemic awareness, decoding multisyllabic words, fluency, and comprehension—especially when reading grade-level texts. Some students also have difficulty connecting what they read to prior knowledge or making inferences. With Greenville's 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio, many students benefit from one-on-one attention to address these specific challenges and build reading confidence.

During the first session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, identify specific areas of struggle, and learn about their learning style and interests. This diagnostic approach helps create a personalized plan that targets the root causes of reading difficulty rather than just symptoms. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your student's strengths and the next steps for improvement.

Many students show noticeable progress in fluency and confidence within 4-6 weeks of consistent, personalized instruction. More significant gains in comprehension and decoding typically emerge over 2-3 months as foundational skills strengthen. The timeline depends on the severity of the reading gap and how frequently your student receives tutoring, but consistent 1-on-1 work accelerates progress compared to classroom instruction alone.

Look for tutors with expertise in evidence-based reading interventions like structured literacy, phonics-based approaches, or programs such as Orton-Gillingham. Ideally, they have experience working with students who have dyslexia, ADHD, or other reading-related challenges. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Greenville who have demonstrated knowledge in reading intervention and a track record of helping struggling readers succeed.

Absolutely. Comprehension struggles often stem from weak fluency, limited vocabulary, or difficulty with reading strategies like predicting, inferencing, and summarizing. A tutor can teach explicit comprehension strategies, help your student build background knowledge, and practice active reading techniques. Personalized instruction targets the specific comprehension gaps your student has, whether it's understanding main ideas, sequencing events, or analyzing character motivations.

Most students benefit from 2-3 sessions per week for meaningful progress, though frequency depends on the severity of the reading gap and your student's learning pace. Consistent, regular practice is key to building automaticity in decoding and fluency. Your tutor can recommend an optimal schedule based on your student's needs and goals during the initial assessment.

Start by telling Varsity Tutors about your student's reading challenges, grade level, and availability. We'll connect you with expert tutors in Greenville who specialize in reading intervention and have availability that works for your family. You can meet with a tutor for an initial session to discuss your student's needs and see if it's a good fit before committing to ongoing instruction.