Award-Winning Certified Reading Intervention Tutors
serving Salt Lake City, UT
Certified Reading Intervention
Tutors in Salt Lake City
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

Two years of teaching elementary students who struggled with literacy gave McKenna firsthand experience identifying where decoding, fluency, or comprehension breaks down. She builds targeted exercises around phonemic awareness and sight-word recognition for younger readers, while older students get scaffolded strategies for tackling longer texts. Her certified reading intervention approach is patient and structured, meeting each learner's specific gaps.

Hello! I'm a reading intervention specialist with over 15 years of experience helping struggling readers build stronger skills and confidence. I use an Orton-Gillinghaminspired, structured literacy that is explicit, systematic, multisensory, and tailored to each learner. Sessions may include phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, fluency, comprehension, and writing based on individual needs. My goal is to strengthen the foundational literacy skills that make reading easier.
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 difficulties. Having worked in an educational setting for over 11 years in Hong Kong, I am experienced in working with students from kindergarten all the way through to primary school.
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 training in Reading Recovery. I started my career teaching kindergarten and currently am a reading specialist in my school district, where I work one on one and in small groups with struggling readers. My passion is for tutoring early learners to help them gain the skills they need to grow as readers and writers. In my tutoring sessions I love to get to know my learners interests and personalities. I incorporate manipulatives, sight word games, leveled texts, and writing into sessions to make sessions more engaging. I love to build confidence in my learners by focusing on their strengths in order to get the most amount of growth out of my learners. My hobbies include exercise, spending time with my family, and going to the beach.
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Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
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Frequently Asked Questions
Certified Reading Intervention is a structured, evidence-based approach to help students who struggle with foundational reading skills like phonics, fluency, and decoding. Unlike general reading support, it follows specific diagnostic and instructional protocols designed by reading specialists to target the root causes of reading difficulties. For students in Salt Lake City, this means getting matched with tutors trained in these specialized methods to address gaps that typical classroom instruction may not catch.
Signs include difficulty sounding out words, slow reading speed, trouble understanding what they've read, avoiding reading, or falling behind grade-level expectations in reading. If your child has been identified through school screening or you've noticed persistent struggles despite regular reading instruction, Certified Reading Intervention can help. Varsity Tutors can connect you with tutors who assess where your child's reading skills stand and create a personalized plan.
The first session typically includes an assessment to understand your child's current reading level, identify specific challenges (like phonemic awareness, decoding, or comprehension), and gather information about their learning history. Based on these findings, the tutor develops a personalized instruction plan targeting the areas that need the most support. This diagnostic approach ensures every session builds on your child's strengths while addressing their specific gaps.
Many students show noticeable progress within 4-6 weeks of consistent, targeted instruction, though the timeline depends on the severity of the reading difficulty and how frequently tutoring occurs. Research on reading intervention shows that intensive, personalized instruction can accelerate progress significantly compared to classroom-only support. Regular tutoring sessions combined with practice at home help reinforce skills and build momentum.
Look for tutors with certification or specialized training in reading intervention methods, such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, or similar evidence-based programs. Many hold credentials like Reading Specialist certification or have formal training in literacy instruction. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have the expertise and credentials to deliver effective reading intervention for students in Salt Lake City.
Effective reading intervention addresses both decoding and comprehension, since students need strong foundational skills (phonics, fluency) to free up mental energy for understanding. Once decoding becomes more automatic, tutors focus on comprehension strategies like predicting, summarizing, and asking questions while reading. This balanced approach helps students not just read words, but truly understand what they're reading.
Consistent practice outside tutoring sessions is key—tutors typically recommend 15-30 minutes of daily reading practice using strategies and materials provided. This might include phonics exercises, fluency practice with decodable texts, or comprehension activities. Your reading intervention tutor will give you specific guidance on how to practice at home in a way that reinforces what's being taught in sessions without overwhelming your child.
Yes—communicating with your child's teacher helps ensure everyone is working toward the same goals and using consistent strategies. Teachers can provide valuable insights about your child's classroom performance and may adjust their approach to complement the intervention work. This coordination between home, tutoring, and school creates a stronger support system for reading improvement.
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