Award-Winning Reading Fundamentals: Phonics and Decoding
Tutors
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning Reading Fundamentals: Phonics and Decoding Tutors

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Camille
I am a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelors Degree in Biology and Yale University with a Masters in Public Health. I also hold a Level 5 certification in TEFL. I am passionate about working with children and students of all ages to assist them in achieving their highest potential. My favori...
Yale University
Master of Public Health
Brown University
Bachelor's Degree in Biology

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Ariana
I am a former middle-school English teacher (and former high-school French teacher). I am certified to teach English (grades 6-12), History/Government/Social Studies (grades 6-12), Psychology (grades 6-12), Health (grades PreK-12), General Music (grades PreK-12), and French (grades PreK-12). I have ...
Kansas State University
Master of Arts, Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language
Kansas State University
Bachelor in Arts, French

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Madison
I am dedicated to helping students progress towards their goals and learn with nobility, self discipline, endurance and with respect. Rice University, Texas A&M University, my alma maters, as well as Pat Neff Elementary, my beloved ESL campus and I believe in the importance of core values to guide l...
The Texas A&M University System Office
Bachelor in Arts, International and Intercultural Communication
Rice University
Current Grad Student, Global Studies
Rice University
undergraduate

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Grace
I am a ballet dancer with Ballet 5:8 in the Chicago suburbs.
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Heather
I am New York State Certified in Childhood Education (1st-6th grade). I was a tenured New York City classroom teacher, before I decided to start my own family. For the past three years I have been teaching online classes to oversea students of all ages.
Adelphi University
Master of Arts Teaching, Elementary School Teaching
Siena College
Bachelor of Science, Marketing

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Emily
I am a graduate of Boston College where I studied Education and Psychology. I received my Master's in Education at the University of Notre Dame. Since graduation, I have taught Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades in both general education and special education settings. I am trained in elementary (K-4...
University of Notre Dame
Master's in Education
Boston College
Bachelor in Arts, Psychology

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Brianna
I am in school at Grand Canyon University and am working on obtaining a degree in Elementary Education. I currently work full-time as a literacy interventionist in a local elementary school. I'm very good at staying organized and enjoy most school subjects.
Grand Canyon University
Bachelor of Education, Elementary School Teaching

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Roberto
I tutored classmates in high school and elementary and high school students at the Dome Project in their after school and summer program. I taught at DeWitt Clinton High School for a year and a half before moving onto to other public service work. I take an interdisciplinary approach, using other su...
Harvard University
Masters, Public Policy
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelors, History

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Reshma
Hi everyone, I am a recent graduate in Biochemistry and Africana studies from Knox College in Galesburg. I have about 3 years of tutoring experiences in biology as well as other subjects as well. I also love to paint and will be working on finishing a few pieces soon!
Knox College
Bachelor in Arts, Biochemistry

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Rachel
I graduated with highest honors from Texas A&M University and received a B.S. in Forestry and Ecological Restoration. While in college, I worked for three years as a tutor for the A&M Athletics Department, tutoring in multiple math subjects, biology, chemistry, ecology, botany, history, English, and...
Texas A & M University-College Station
Bachelors, Ecological Restoration, Forestry
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Meredith
Algebra Tutor • +18 Subjects
I am a student and a researcher with a lifelong passion for teaching! A twice exceptional* student myself, I specialize in helping other 2e and neurodivergent students reach their goals while making learning a fulfilling process. However, I love working with all students and cultivating a love of learning and curiosity.
Jennifer
College English Tutor • +19 Subjects
I am a graduate of The University of Kentucky and received my Bachelor of Arts in Special Education (K-12.) I have taught for 17 1/2 years, teaching the last 16 years in Gilbert. I have experience teaching all subjects and grade levels in elementary schools in special education classrooms and general education inclusion settings. I enjoy tutoring students in all subjects and find that I am most passionate about Reading and Math. I advocate for students and believe that all children can learn but differ in the ways they learn and the timeframe in which they learn. Each student brings unique qualities, talents and interests to learning and it is my job to use those to enhance and influence their learning. My interests include reading, watching movies and going to garage and estate sales.
Yazmin
Business Tutor • +3 Subjects
With 20 years of experience in Human Resources, I have gained knowledge in every area of the Human Resources field and have become a subject expert. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management as well as a Professional Human Resources Certification (PHR). Currently, I am pursuing my Masters's degree in Human Resources Management at Florida International University (FIU). I have a passion for teaching and have been a volunteer teacher for many years. I also have many years of experience training and teaching HR topics. I take pride in preparing for my classes and personalizing them for each individual's learning style. My goal is to bring the lesson to life for my students in a way that's practical and gives a real-world understanding of the subject matter. I look for different learning and memorization techniques that work for each individual to help them grasp the information. I provide coaching to those looking to pass their Human Resources Professional Certifications as well as training and guidance to those growing in their HR Careers. I am also available for job seekers and career planning.
Mark
College Physics Tutor • +11 Subjects
I was never a straight A student, in fact, I struggled to get B's. It was never a problem with the content I was learning but the context in which that material was presented. After learning about the many different learning profiles that exist in the classroom I realized that students like myself were being left out to dry. I decided three years into my first college experience that I wanted to become an educator. Transferring to Wright State University and enrolling in their Teacher Preparation program is undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made. This upcoming fall I will be working in the Dayton Public School district to help students who, like myself, who struggle with "playing school."Outside of teaching, I enjoy reading science-fiction and taking hikes at the many metro parks in the South Dayton area. I occasionally work at a locally owned running store on the weekends and even do some coaching in the fall and spring. I have spent most of my life in Dayton but also moved around a lot as my father was in the military. I hope to move and teach in Philadelphia some day in the future but for now, my focus is on revitalizing the school system in Dayton.
Marla
Algebra Tutor • +46 Subjects
Hi! I'm Marla. I specialize in SAT Prep (Math and Verbal), Elementary and Middle School Math, Algebra, Geometry and Essay Writing. I particularly enjoy test taking and solving tricky math questions. I will help your student learn to enjoy the process, so he or she is better able to excel!I am originally from Los Angeles and have a BA in Psychology from Pomona College. I'm also a singer and musician and recently went back to school to pursue a graduate degree in Music Education. My long term goal is to become an Elementary or Middle School Choir Director.
Tim
Adult Literacy Tutor • +10 Subjects
I am a certified English teacher at the middle school level and the high school level. I have over ten years experience in private schools and public schools. I am patient and kind. I welcome the opportunity to work with you to find clarity and skill in the subject of Engish.
Inrich
French Tutor • +11 Subjects
As a highly motivated, goal and success oriented tutor, I have a proven track record of providing excellent tools for everyone around me to overcome the challenges that they encounter when facing difficult situations. I will graduate from Baruch college with a bachelor's in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and have always received A's in all my mathematic courses. I am always positive and enthusiastic, and I love to share that with everyone. I have been a tutor for about 6 years now, in French and Mathematics. I have helped my students to build the necessary skills that they need to succeed. I show my students how to study effectively. For instance, Mathew who is a former student of mine did not like algebra at all. I showed him how easy it is with 3 effective rules to master in algebra. Read-Follow-Do. Now he is taking calculus and is doing well. My previous experience as a tutor and my daily life as a student has enabled me to develop not only specific skills to be the best tutor, but also to be patient and understanding. This is because I have lived the frustration of not understanding a subject myself. This pushes me to read and go find the help that I need. Living this myself makes me devoted and goal oriented, and motivates me to help my students even more. I want to get my PhD in I.O. in the future and develop more and better skills to be the best tutor that I can ever be.
Miriam
Algebra Tutor • +18 Subjects
I have been tutoring since I was in Middle School. I really enjoy helping students that are struggling. It's my goal to help the students really understand and enjoy what they are learning. It's really fun when you finally understand the material.On my free time I like to go hiking.
Ann Marie
6th Grade AP Language Composition Tutor • +27 Subjects
My decision to pursue a teaching career is because I have a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of my students. I see teaching as the best way to do this. I also have a strong love for learning and as an educator, having this quality is essential if one is to instill a love for learning in his/her students. I am helping students reach their fullest potential. I am laying the foundation for lifelong learning and achievement and to me that is the greatest job of all.I have taught a wide variety of students in both early childhood and elementary grades in both public and private settings. I have also helped colleagues prepare for different standardized exams such as the GRE, PRAXIS and the New York State teacher examination. My experiences have taught me a lot about what are best practices and how best to implement these best practices. They have taught me the value of being patient and the importance of differentiated instruction.I have my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pace University. I also have a Masters in Science in Childhood Education (1-6). In addition, I have a 15-Credit Post Masters in Early Childhood Education (Birth-2nd Grade). I am able to tutor reading (comprehension, phonics); writing (style, grammar); math (number operations, measurement, geometry, problem solving, and number sense); science (biology, health, physiology, astronomy; weather, earth science); and social studies (civic engagement, geography and history).My favorite subjects to tutor are reading, writing and math. As an educator I take the time to get to know my students and what really interests them. I believe this is essential to learning how to best teach the students I am teaching or tutoring. It is important to help make the content relatable and accessible. This means getting to know my students and their learning styles.Outside of academia I enjoy doing yoga, reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Adam
Conversational Spanish Tutor • +5 Subjects
Hi, I'm Adam. I'm 29 years old, and have recently moved back to the US from several years of living in Australia. I've had lots of experience doing many things over the years. I've always had a passion for digging into different skills and learning whatever I can get my hands on. I've also always had a knack for taking whatever I've learned and conveying it to new learners easily. I love the experience and process that comes with learning new things, and love to facilitate the excitement of learning & growth in others however I can.Some more personal details and credentials:have a major in Community Health with a focus on Health Education from Texas A&M University, as well as a Minor in Spanish Language. I have lived abroad in Seville, Spain, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and have spent quite a bit of time in Mexico and Costa Rica throughout my life. I currently live in Texas, and am able to practice my Spanish regularly.I have over ten years of guiding youth groups during the summers in team building activities, ropes courses, and other challenging activities. I've worked with groups from ages 4 to 16 years old of all genders and backgrounds, and have experience with special needs and varied learning abilities as well. My last outdoor youth guiding position focused on middle school to high school aged expeditions, team building, rappel/abseil guiding, and overnight survival skills expeditions.I have a long background in emergency and wilderness medicine, and pursuing emergency services and search and rescue focuses is my main goal. I have completed the nationally registered EMT and Wilderness EMT courses, and wish to pursue either a Paramedics or Nursing degree next.I have travelled extensively throughout my life, especially during my twenties, and get extreme enjoyment in absorbing whatever I can about the cultures and languages belonging to wherever I find myself.During my three years in Australia I found myself around a lot of Brazilian friends, so I picked up a decent amount of Portuguese, and am currently starting to teach myself Arabic as well.I adore the outdoors and time spent adventuring in nature. Hiking, bushwhacking, swimming, surfing, climbing, SCUBA diving, wakeboarding, snow skiing, rappelling, ropes courses, cliff jumping, and the list goes on. If it involves being outside and something extreme, challenges me, and gets my heart rate going, I'm there.I have also been around martial arts for most of my life. I have a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a year or so of practice in Krav Maga regarding self defense & urban combatives. I started practicing Muay Thai ago it a year ago, have had one amateur fight, and am currently practicing Muay Thai and jiu jitsu.I have a long standing background in sports shooting and self defense tactics with firearms. I worked in private law enforcement for over a year, and have given private lessons to family and friends in self defense & basic firearms safety training.My longest and most persistent passion has a always been music. I began playing drums at the age of 9, and have been playing ever since. I took music lessons from then on throughout high school. During my years at school I captained my 5A high school drum line, played with strings and full wind orchestras, percussion ensembles, musicals, and solo performances at the Texas state level. Beyond that, I continued to play and teach myself, write and play live performances with various musicians, and have since been in a band for a few years with heavy doses of large live performances, studio recording time, and several tracks on Spotify.As you can see, I've gotten my hands on quite a few things over the years. I am absolutely an open book, so if you have any interests in any of these areas or any questions on my background, teaching styles, or anything at all, so not hesitate to reach out to me!My personal cell phone number is: (817)-964-9402
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Most students begin formal phonics instruction in kindergarten or early first grade, typically around ages 5-6. However, some children benefit from pre-phonics activities like letter recognition and sound awareness in preschool. Every child develops at their own pace, and a tutor can assess where your student is and provide targeted instruction to build a strong foundation in phonics, regardless of their current age or grade level.
Phonics tutoring addresses the core skill of decoding—connecting letters to sounds and blending them into words. Many struggling readers have gaps in phonics knowledge, which makes everything from reading fluency to comprehension harder. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows a tutor to identify exactly where your child's decoding breaks down and use targeted, multi-sensory strategies to strengthen these foundational skills. This foundation unlocks better reading fluency and confidence.
Phonics teaches students to decode words by recognizing letter-sound relationships and blending sounds together. Whole-word (or sight-word) reading asks students to memorize words as complete units. Research shows that a balanced approach works best: systematic phonics instruction for decoding unknown words, combined with sight-word practice for common irregular words. A tutor can help your student integrate both skills so they can tackle any word they encounter while building reading speed and automaticity.
Yes. Students with dyslexia or decoding challenges often benefit significantly from explicit, structured phonics instruction. Evidence-based approaches like Orton-Gillingham or Structured Literacy focus on direct, sequential teaching of sound-symbol relationships and decoding patterns. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors experienced in supporting students with reading differences, who use multisensory techniques and individualized pacing to build decoding skills and reading confidence.
When students master phonics and decoding, they spend less mental effort sounding out words and more energy on understanding what they read. Automaticity—the ability to recognize words quickly and accurately—is built on solid phonics skills. Once decoding becomes automatic, students can read faster and with better comprehension. A tutor reinforces phonics patterns through repeated practice and guided reading, helping your student transition from struggling to decode to reading smoothly and with confidence.
Different schools use different reading programs—some emphasize structured phonics, others use balanced literacy, and approaches vary by grade level. A skilled tutor will understand your child's school curriculum and either reinforce what's being taught in the classroom or fill gaps if the school approach isn't working for your student. This personalized alignment means tutoring strengthens classroom learning rather than creating confusion or overlap.
Look for tutors with strong understanding of phonics structure (sound systems, phoneme awareness, letter-sound correspondence, blending strategies) and experience working with students at your child's level. Great tutors are patient, can explain concepts clearly, use engaging activities to maintain motivation, and track progress with specific decoding milestones. They should also be willing to communicate with you about what's working and adjust strategies based on your student's needs and learning style.
Connect with Reading Fundamentals: Phonics and Decoding Tutors
Get matched with expert tutors in your subject


