Award-Winning Reading Tutors
serving Richmond, VA

Strong readers don't just decode words — they track arguments, question assumptions, and notice when an author is leading them somewhere specific. Molly's Global Affairs degree at Yale required consuming dense, complex texts daily and extracting the core claims quickly, a skill she now teaches to students at every level. Whether it's building vocabulary in context or learning to annotate effectively, she brings a practical, structured approach to reading comprehension.

Bioinformatics training at VCU means Shahad spends her days reading across two very different registers — molecular biology papers loaded with technical vocabulary and programming documentation where misreading one line breaks everything. She brings that precision to reading sessions, teaching students how to slow down, pull apart a sentence's structure, and figure out unfamiliar words from context clues instead of skipping past them. Rated 4.9 by students.

Strong reading comprehension starts with knowing what to do when a passage doesn't click on the first pass — how to identify a main argument, track supporting details, and distinguish fact from inference. Julia's English training makes her especially effective at teaching students to slow down and interrogate a text rather than skimming for surface-level answers.

When a passage feels like a wall of text, the problem usually isn't vocabulary — it's not knowing where to anchor your attention. Lauren teaches active reading strategies like annotation, identifying paragraph function, and distinguishing main claims from supporting details. These are skills she honed through her English coursework and now applies across fiction, nonfiction, and standardized test passages alike.

Years of teaching ESL students and working with children of immigrants gave Andrea a deep understanding of how reading comprehension actually develops — from decoding vocabulary in context to making inferences across paragraphs. She tailors her approach based on where a student's comprehension breaks down, whether that's unfamiliar text structures, figurative language, or simply building the stamina to engage with longer passages.

I am very excited to have the chance to work with students preparing for the PSAT, the SAT, or the LSAT! While I'm originally from Connecticut, I attended college and law school in Buffalo, New York. While there, I worked for a test prep agency helping students prepare for the SAT and the LSAT. In 2003, I moved to Richmond. I worked with the Virginia Department of Taxation for 7 years doing policy work and assisting with the legislative process. In 2011, I began working for Bryant and Stratton College, where I taught students in the Paralegal Studies program. I loved helping my students prepare for new careers. I can't wait to work with you and help you succeed as well!

I am most interested in improving the critical thinking and critical writing skills of students who will comprise the next generation of college graduates and working professionals. The ability to express oneself clearly through writing is an invaluable skill both within academia and the professional workforce. I believe it is my job to provide students with the necessary preparation and skills they will need to succeed in a college environment and beyond. When I am not tutoring, I enjoy reading fiction (with a special soft spot for sci-fi/fantasy), running and training for my next marathon, and experimenting with new recipes in my kitchen.

I am a current third-year student at Virginia Commonwealth University. I am in the BS/MD Guaranteed Admissions program for Medicine at VCU, and I am majoring in Biology with a minor in Business and a minor in Dance. I am originally from Phoenix, Arizona and I have a passion for teaching. I have had lots of experience with tutoring and also in a large variety of subjects. I worked at a place called "The Tutoring Center" for 8 months where I had the opportunity to teach students aged 5 through 18 in varying levels of Math, English, and Writing. I have also been now tutoring with Varsity for nearly 2 years. While I tutor in a large variety of subjects, I am especially passionate about teaching Math, Chemistry, Biology, and also tutoring in Standardized Test prep such as for the SAT, PSAT, and ACT.

I am currently preparing to begin a Master's of Teaching program at VCU this fall and have continued to excel in the math and history courses I need to round out my teaching endorsements. Because my future career path focuses on teaching at the high school level, I have a preference for tutoring math (especially algebra through calculus) and history, along with writing and my current subject of philosophy. Besides my career motivations, I find that I stand out the most as a tutor in these areas because of my capability in clearly presenting complex material and my ability to grasp the diverse perspectives of my students.

I am a graduate of Tufts University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English as well as a minor in History. Since graduation, I have worked as a 7th grade Reading Language Arts teacher in Dallas Texas at a newly formed public all boys school. This has provided me with great experience and insight into how students best learn and how to create culturally responsive lessons that students will engage with. I am most passionate about English, Literature, History, and Spanish. In my experience, working to prepare students for state standardized tests has had the additional benefit of helping students to discover what they enjoy reading about. This increase in intrinsic motivation to read has had an important impact on struggling students. I am dedicated towards ensuring that students are provided with an education that increases their quality of life.

I'm Kendra, a professional ESL and Curriculum Development professional. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I have worked both abroad and domestically, online and in the classroom teaching students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. I focus heavily on proper pronunciation, grammar and building your confidence as an English speaker. I look forward to seeing you in class!

I am currently a lead preschool teacher. I received my Bachelor's in Psychology from VCU and am looking to return to school to further my education. While in college, I worked as a Supplemental Instruction leader, teaching general biology and anatomy. I have also worked in an after school program with elementary age children, but I have my fondest memories volunteering as a counselor for Camp Kesem. In my own experience, I loved school and now I love teaching even more at all age levels! I especially enjoy the challenge of getting creative to discover what approach and mediums work best for each student. I am available for in person as well as online tutoring.

I am currently applying to medical schools in hopes of attending in the Fall of 2015. Helping my younger brother manage his genetic disorder, in addition to years of teaching special needs students at summer camp, has inspired me to pursue a career as a Pediatrician with a focus in Medical Genetics.

I am fourth-year medical student seeking to use some flexible time before I graduate to work with students interested in learning and growing to new heights.

Years of teaching high school English in a rural Virginia district gave Andrew a sharp eye for the specific moment students stop reading passively and start noticing how a text is built — the shift in tone between paragraphs, the argument buried under narrative, the vocabulary that unlocks itself once you learn to lean on context. He brings that same close-reading discipline to standardized test prep, where knowing how to dissect a passage under time pressure is half the battle. Rated 5.0 by students.

I'm currently a Junior at VCU. My major is Biology and I'm minoring in Chemistry and Mathematics. In addition, I'm also on the pre-med track, so I have taken many science classes!

I am especially familiar with critical analysis of film and theater, but have studied a variety of literary traditions.

I'm Jess, and I graduated from the University of Richmond in December 2018 with a degree in International Studies and minors in Economics and Latin American and Iberian Studies. During my time in college, I was able to study and work in Spain and Brazil, respectively.

I'm also interested in working with individuals learning English as a second language.