Award-Winning Pre-Reading Super Skills Tutors

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Award-Winning Pre-Reading Super Skills Tutors

Nicholas

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Nicholas

Bachelor in Arts, English
Nicholas's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
College Essays

Running a small-group literacy pod that produced two years of reading growth in a single year taught Nicholas something specific: the kids who accelerated fastest were the ones whose pre-reading foundations — sound discrimination, print directionality, oral blending — had been laid carefully before ...

Education

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts, English

Grace

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Grace

Bachelor's
Grace's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade AP Language Composition
Calculus
Algebra
ACT English

Growing up as a performer, Grace learned that rhythm and repetition are how the body internalizes patterns — and that same principle drives how she teaches young children to hear sounds in words, clap out syllables, and connect spoken language to print on a page. Her music theory background and expe...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Test Scores
ACT
33
Heather

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Heather

Master of Arts Teaching, Elementary School Teaching
Heather's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
College Essays
Literature

Letter recognition, print awareness, rhyming — these pre-reading building blocks look simple, but the order and pace at which a child encounters them matters enormously. Heather's classroom teaching experience in grades 1–6 gave her a sharp eye for where a young learner's foundation has gaps, and sh...

Education

Adelphi University

Master of Arts Teaching, Elementary School Teaching

Siena College

Bachelor of Science, Marketing

Harleen

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Harleen

BS
Harleen's other Tutor Subjects
1st-5th Grade Math (in Spanish)
1st-5th Grade ELA (in Spanish)
6th Grade AP Language Composition
AP Statistics

I am a Molecular Engineering major at the University of Chicago, I am currently taking time off to focus on other aspects of my career but I don't want to stop tutoring outside college campus!. I am a child of immigrants and have spent my life tutoring my siblings and younger students, and I loved...

Education

University of Chicago

BS

Aaron

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Aaron

AB
Aaron's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade AP Language Composition
Middle School Math
Elementary School Math
PSAT Writing Skills

I am a recent college graduate with an A.B. in Education Studies from Brown University (Providence, RI). I have worked as a remote tutor for other online platforms throughout 2021. I am most passionate about English, especially literary analysis and essay writing. When I am not tutoring, I enjoy exe...

Education

Brown University

AB

Camille

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Camille

AM
Camille's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Algebra
Elementary School Math

Camille's biology training at Brown and public health work at Yale both required mastering one thing: breaking complex systems into their smallest functional parts — which is exactly what pre-reading asks of young children learning to isolate sounds, recognize letters, and connect spoken words to pr...

Education

Yale University

AM

Brown University

AM

Mary

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Mary

AM
Mary's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade AP Language Composition
PSAT Writing Skills
CAHSEE English
TOEFL

Hello! I am Mrs. Mary Grace and I am happy to help you get on the road to academic success. I love going above and beyond to give you the knowledge you need due to my high level of expertise. I have a Master's in English as well as a B.A. in Writing and a B.A. in Media Studies. I also hold a Cal...

Education

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

AM

Pitzer College

AM

Molly

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Molly

AM
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
English Grammar and Syntax
Phonics
Writing
Reading

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 tr...

Education

McDaniel College

AM

York College

AM

Jai

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Jai

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jai's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Electrical Engineering
ACT Writing

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1590
ACT
35
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

Jessica

College Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writing requirement at the University prior to matriculating, I was the first freshman tutor to be accepted into this selective program. The tutoring program involved a preliminary peer-tutor training course prior to beginning tutoring, in order to certify that I had the appropriate background to provide professional feedback to fellow students on their literary works and projects. After graduation, I worked for a full-service learning center where I created and implemented high school lesson plans for home-schooled students, provided academic support for students ranging in ages from 8 to 20 years old, and taught group and individual standardized testing preparation classes. I have also assisted students with application essays for various undergraduate and graduate programs.

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Jeffrey

Pre-Calculus Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and coming members of such a great field. I have experience tutoring both Calculus and Physics at Notre Dame, as well as experience as a Student Assistant for Differential Equations and Mechanics. I believe the key to learning is much deeper than learning to solve problems and that seeking knowledge is one of the best means for personal improvement.

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Erika

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects

I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am not in school myself, I love rowing, equestrian and exploring my new city of Boston! I look forward to meeting and working with you soon!

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Rhea

AP Statistics Tutor • +49 Subjects

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various subjects as well as tutoring private clients in Standardized Test preparation. Given that I graduated high school recently, I have taken several Standardized Tests and high school subjects myself, so I have a comprehensive understanding of not only how to tutor these subjects and exams, but also what it is like to take them. While I have a wide range of interests and am able to tutor various subjects, I am most passionate about tutoring in Standardized Test preparation (including ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP Exams), Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Spanish. I truly believe that students should have the opportunity to learn in the way that works best for them, and I love being able to help them succeed by creating a comfortable tutoring environment in which we can best assess their particular needs and use strategies specific to them. My passion for learning drives everything that I do, and tutoring is the platform that I use to try to spread that passion to others. In my free time, you can find me playing badminton, listening to music, or baking something (hopefully) delicious.

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Matthew

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects

I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer in NYC and tackle even the most hard-science of problems with a top-down, big-picture, holistic approach. If you have a propensity to look at problems in a cross- or inter-disciplinary manner (or want to learn how to do so), I'm the tutor for you!

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MaryAnn

Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects

I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to the nonprofit sector. Hobbies: reading, cooking, writing, books, music, art, travel

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Tony

Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, English, history, and Mandarin Chinese part-time with a DC-based tutoring company. At Yale, I worked as a freshman counselor to provide academic and career advice to incoming freshmen. I have taken both SAT and MCAT test prep classes and am familiar with both tests as well as the preparation necessary to score well. My personal career goals include attending medical school to pursue either immunology/infectious diseases or psych/neurology, teaching biology at the university level, and working in public/global health with either the CDC or the WHO.

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Annie

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.

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Charles

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects

I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing

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Sharon

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects

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 classroom with middle-school students who were in approximately the 10th percentile for math (meaning they score lower than 90% of students). One-fourth of those students were able to grow around 15 percentile points by the end of the year! Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, music, art, nature, books, writing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Reading Super Skills are foundational abilities that prepare young learners for reading success, including phonemic awareness, letter recognition, print concepts, and vocabulary development. These early skills are critical because research shows that children who develop strong pre-reading foundations by kindergarten are significantly more likely to become proficient readers by third grade and beyond.

Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who specialize in building these essential skills through engaging, developmentally appropriate activities that make learning to read an exciting process.

Common pre-reading challenges include difficulty with phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds in words), confusion with letter names and sounds, struggles with rhyming and syllable counting, limited vocabulary exposure, and difficulty understanding that print carries meaning. Some students also show less interest in books or have trouble sitting still for stories.

Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify exactly where a child is struggling and create targeted activities that address those specific gaps while keeping learning fun and engaging.

Expert tutors in this area use a multisensory approach that combines phonemic awareness activities, letter-sound practice, interactive storytelling, and hands-on learning. They select materials based on each student's interests and developmental level, making lessons engaging rather than rote or drill-heavy.

Tutors also work closely with parents and teachers to reinforce skills across all learning environments. The goal is to build confidence and enthusiasm for reading while establishing the specific foundational skills that predict later reading success.

With consistent personalized instruction, students typically show measurable progress in phonemic awareness, letter recognition, and print awareness within 4-8 weeks. Many students develop stronger motivation for reading, increased vocabulary, and the confidence needed to transition into formal reading instruction.

Long-term outcomes include stronger early reading skills, better phonics understanding, and a foundation for decoding words independently—all critical predictors of reading proficiency in elementary school and beyond.

Pre-Reading Super Skills tutoring is most commonly beneficial for children ages 3-6, including preschool and early kindergarten students. However, the right time depends on the individual child's development and readiness. Some younger learners benefit from early intervention, while others may need these skills reinforced in first grade.

Varsity Tutors connects families with tutors who can assess where a child is developmentally and recommend the best starting point for instruction, whether that's intensive phonemic awareness work or letter-sound practice.

Parents play a crucial role by reading aloud daily, talking about sounds in words during everyday activities, playing rhyming games, pointing out letters in the environment, and creating a language-rich home. Tutors provide specific strategies and activities families can use between sessions to reinforce skills.

Regular communication between tutors and parents ensures that learning is consistent across home and tutoring sessions, which significantly accelerates progress and builds the strong pre-reading foundation every child needs.

Pre-Reading Super Skills focus on the foundational abilities that come before reading—like phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, and understanding how print works. Reading instruction, by contrast, teaches students to decode words and comprehend text, which builds on these foundations.

Think of pre-reading skills as the building blocks, and reading as the structure built from those blocks. Many struggling readers actually have gaps in pre-reading foundations that need to be addressed first, which is why Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who specialize in identifying and filling these early gaps.

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