Award-Winning Certified Reading Intervention Tutors
serving Seattle, WA
Certified Reading Intervention
Tutors in Seattle
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 helping students who struggle with reading skills like decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Unlike general reading support, it uses diagnostic assessments to identify specific gaps and applies targeted interventions based on the science of reading. For students in Seattle, this specialized approach can be particularly valuable in addressing foundational reading challenges that may have accumulated over time.
Many Seattle students struggle with phonemic awareness, decoding multisyllabic words, reading fluency, and comprehension—especially when tackling grade-level texts. Some students also face challenges with vocabulary development and understanding complex sentence structures, which impacts their ability to engage with academic content across subjects. Certified Reading Intervention tutors can pinpoint exactly where a student's reading breaks down and provide targeted practice to build confidence and skills.
Your first session typically includes an assessment to understand your student's current reading level, strengths, and specific areas of difficulty. The tutor will discuss reading history, any previous interventions, and learning goals to create a personalized plan. This foundation ensures that every subsequent session targets the exact skills your student needs to improve.
Many students show measurable progress within 4-8 weeks of consistent, targeted intervention—though timelines vary based on the severity of the reading gap and frequency of tutoring. Research on reading intervention shows that students benefit significantly from regular, focused practice combined with expert guidance. Varsity Tutors connects you with certified professionals who can track progress and adjust strategies to keep momentum going.
Certified Reading Intervention tutors have specialized training in evidence-based reading instruction, often holding certifications such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, or similar structured literacy credentials. They understand the science of reading and can diagnose and treat specific reading challenges like dyslexia, decoding difficulties, and fluency issues. When you connect with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, you're getting someone with the expertise to deliver real results.
Certified Reading Intervention can help students from early elementary through high school, and even into adulthood. The earlier intervention begins, the better—catching and addressing reading gaps in grades 1-3 prevents compounding struggles later. However, it's never too late; older students and teens can still make significant gains with the right targeted support and personalized instruction.
Most students benefit from 2-3 sessions per week to see consistent progress, though frequency can be adjusted based on your student's needs and schedule. More frequent sessions allow for better skill reinforcement and faster progress, while the tutor can also provide strategies for practice between sessions. Varsity Tutors helps you find a tutoring schedule that works for your family while maximizing learning outcomes.
Certified Reading Intervention addresses both decoding and comprehension, as they're interconnected—students who struggle to decode words fluently often have less mental energy left for understanding meaning. Tutors use comprehension strategies like visualization, summarization, and questioning to help students engage with text at deeper levels. This comprehensive approach ensures students don't just read words, but truly understand what they're reading.
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