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Award-Winning Spelling Bee Tutors

Felix

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Felix

Associate in Science
Felix's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

Microbiology coursework gave Felix years of practice with words most people never encounter — genera names, enzyme terminology, and Greek- and Latin-rooted vocabulary that follows the same construction rules competition spellers need to master. He teaches competitors to treat unfamiliar words as ass...

Education

University of Chicago

Associate in Science

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Anna

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Anna

Bachelor in Arts, Anthropology
Anna's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Middle School Science
PSAT Writing Skills

Growing up at a selective magnet school in New Jersey and scoring a 1590 SAT, Anna developed the kind of precise, detail-obsessed relationship with language that competition spellers thrive on — catching the difference between "-ance" and "-ence" or knowing when a word's Latin medical root dictates ...

Education

Northwestern University

Bachelor in Arts, Anthropology

Northwestern University

Graduated (Honors Program in Medical Education)

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1590
ACT
36
Vivian

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Vivian

Bachelor in Arts
Vivian's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Mathematics

Spelling bees reward the same kind of pattern recognition that Vivian uses daily as a musician: once you internalize the rules — Latin roots, Greek combining forms, French-derived silent letters — unfamiliar words become puzzles you can solve logically. She drills etymology and language-of-origin cu...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1530
ACT
36
Abigail

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Abigail

Bachelor in Arts, Women's Studies
Abigail's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

Abigail's pre-health biology coursework loads her daily reading with the same Greek and Latin medical terminology that dominates upper-level competition word lists — terms like "hemorrhage," "obstetric," and "gynecological" that follow predictable root-and-suffix construction rules. She also coaches...

Education

Washington University in St. Louis

Bachelor in Arts, Women's Studies

Test Scores
ACT
33
Michelle

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Michelle

Masters, American Studies
Michelle's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Reading
PSAT Critical Reading

Michelle's background in journalism and literary analysis means she's spent years immersed in language — etymology, word roots, and the patterns that connect Latin and Greek prefixes to modern English. She teaches spellers to decode unfamiliar words by identifying structural clues rather than relyin...

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Masters, American Studies

New York University

Bachelors, Journalism and Africana Studies

Columbia University

MA in American Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1380
Mollie

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Mollie

AB (Bachelor of Arts) in English Language and Literature and Linguistics
Mollie's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Reading

A linguistics background is a secret weapon for spelling bees. Mollie's University of Chicago training in morphology and etymology means she can teach spellers to decode unfamiliar words by recognizing Greek and Latin roots, language-of-origin patterns, and prefix-suffix relationships instead of rel...

Education

University of Chicago

AB (Bachelor of Arts) in English Language and Literature and Linguistics

Test Scores
SAT
1500
ACT
33
Hailey

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Hailey

Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Hailey's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus

Studying both mathematics and German alongside her psychology major gives Hailey an unusual double advantage for spelling prep — she thinks in systematic patterns and has daily exposure to a language whose compound-word construction and consistent phonetic rules map directly onto many English borrow...

Education

University of Georgia

Bachelor of Science, Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1570
Rhamy

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Rhamy

Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering, General
Rhamy's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
Pre-Algebra
Trigonometry
Middle School Math

Graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology — one of the most academically competitive environments in the country — Rhamy spent years surrounded by peers drilling technical vocabulary drawn from engineering, physics, and computer science, building the kind of precise spe...

Education

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering, General

Test Scores
SAT
1570
Adaliss

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Adaliss

Master of Arts, Applied and Professional Ethics
Adaliss's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

Competitive spelling rewards more than memorization; it demands knowledge of Greek and Latin roots, language-of-origin patterns, and the ability to decode unfamiliar words under pressure. Adaliss, who teaches across English, Spanish, and ESL contexts, uses etymology and cross-language connections to...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Arts, Applied and Professional Ethics

Andrew

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Andrew

Bachelor of Science, Labor and Industrial Relations
Andrew's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills

Spelling bees reward more than memorization; they reward pattern recognition — knowing Latin roots, Greek prefixes, and the language of origin behind tricky vowel combinations. Andrew builds systematic study methods that turn an overwhelming word list into manageable families of related terms. His s...

Education

Cornell University

Bachelor of Science, Labor and Industrial Relations

Test Scores
ACT
34

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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

Candice

Calculus Tutor • +45 Subjects

I am an English instructor dedicated to enriching the lives of my students. I hold a BA in English Language and Literature from The University of Chicago and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. Over the years, I have merged my love of language and literature with my long-standing commitment to the welfare of children and young adults. In addition to tutoring, I have worked as a substitute teacher, classroom aide, afterschool mentor, and teaching artist. I have also recently served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. From these experiences, I have developed a fluid understanding of teaching methods and a keen sense of students' diverse learning styles. I can tutor various English subjects, such as PreK-12 ELA curricula, ELL literacy, composition, creative writing, and ESL (conversational English) instruction; I also offer writing support to new and prospective college students, helping them craft effective admissions essays and persuasive course papers. Essentially as an educator, I believe in fostering a holistic, student-centered teaching/learning environment that prioritizes curiosity, inquiry, critical thought, and conversation. I aim to actively inspire and empower my students, equipping them with the tools to thrive throughout their academic journey.

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Peter

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +153 Subjects

I'm looking forward to helping your student find personal success in their academic lives! Hobbies: art, books, sports, reading, music, writing

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Brian

AP Statistics Tutor • +115 Subjects

I'm a recent graduate of the California Institute of Technology in Economics and Computer Science. I was also accepted at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. I have a broad range of interests spanning science, math, engineering, social science, the humanities, the arts, and athletics (I also played on the Caltech basketball team). My background allows me to tutor general college prep, especially the SAT, ACT and the GRE. I love to teach analytical thinking, ranging from advanced Math and Physics to strategies for understanding literature and developing arguments.

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Annelisa

Calculus Tutor • +34 Subjects

I'm Annelisa, originally from Phoenix, Arizona. I recently graduated from Yale University, where I studied art and its interactions with political journalism and science. I'm happy to tutor on a wide range of subjects, especially writing, college application, and the SAT!

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Juan

AP Calculus BC Tutor • +72 Subjects

I am a Senior at the University of Florida studying Industrial Engineering and Statistics. My areas of expertise include Statistics, High School and College level Math, and Government. I emphasize maintaining trust and steady communication with my students to maintain a healthy and comfortable learning environment. I believe developing micro-goals and positively reinforcing students help them stay motivated and excited.

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Amy

AP Calculus BC Tutor • +52 Subjects

I am an undergraduate biochemistry major at the University of Notre Dame. Previously, I was employed at Mathnasium of Granger for two years, where I was a math instructor for all ages and math-related subjects.

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Evan

Statistics Graduate Level Tutor • +50 Subjects

I'm thrilled to work with anybody on any subjects of interest, reach out with any questions!

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Asher

Trigonometry Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Penn State (May 2020) with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, and I am on a CPA track as far as having earned all 150 credits in four years of school and having had two internships. My current occupation interestingly has nothing to do with accounting, although I have been able to apply certain math and accounting-based concepts to my work over the years; I am an accredited media member for IndyCar and NASCAR and I am the head IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula 1 writer and editor for a motorsports website called Beyond the Flag, where I produce roughly 130-140 articles per month. I chose to become a tutor in Math (Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Accounting) because I believe that my success in math-related subjects from my grade school days through my college career can be used to help others achieve their goals, and I enjoy watching students as they grasp concepts with which they previously struggled; I enjoy seeing those concepts "click". Additionally, I have seen hard work pay off from my leadership role at Beyond the Flag, having worked closely with my contributors to achieve an audience growth of over 500% since I started in February 2017, so I believe that I can make a positive difference to help those around me.

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Katie

Middle School Math Tutor • +32 Subjects

I am a graduate of The Hartt School of Music, Dance, and Theatre with a BFA in Musical Theatre (Summa Cum Laude). I am currently pursuing a career in musical theatre while exploring my other passions like teaching! I love this work because I have had tutors throughout my own education and I know how much of an impact they can make. Having that kind of personal support made a huge difference in my education, and I hope to do that for others. While in college, I tutored music theory, ear training, and piano. Music has always been one of my favorite subjects to help others with because I come from a household of musicians! I also have always had a knack for patterns and rules, which is why I am a huge grammar nerd, and love subjects like language and math! I believe that any student is capable of tackling whatever subject they want to, so long as they have attentive and thoughtful instruction!

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Giovanna

Calculus Tutor • +52 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Neuroscience, a minor in Sociology, and a certificate in French language. I gained a great deal of tutoring experience during my time with the Penn Tutoring Center, where I tutored Cognitive Science and French. After graduation, I served as a Community Relations Coordinator at Success Academy for two years, during which I was able to practice my elementary school tutoring skills. Since I applied to 16 universities, I also have plenty of college application experience! Additionally, I am a native Spanish speaker and I am currently working on "Problem Solving and Comprehension" by Whimbey, Lochhead, and Narode to keep my standardized testing skills sharp. Hobbies: writing, reading, cooking, music, art, books

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Frequently Asked Questions

Success in spelling bees requires more than memorizing word lists. You'll need strong phonetic awareness to break down unfamiliar words into their component sounds, knowledge of common spelling patterns and word roots (especially Latin and Greek prefixes/suffixes), and the ability to think strategically under pressure. Understanding word etymology—where words come from and how that shapes their spelling—helps you recognize patterns across hundreds of words rather than memorizing each one in isolation.

Personalized spelling bee tutoring focuses on your specific weak areas rather than generic word lists. A tutor can help you develop systematic strategies for tackling unfamiliar words, teach you to identify and master common letter patterns and etymological roots, and provide targeted practice with words at your competition level. You'll also get feedback on your pronunciation, build confidence in high-pressure situations, and create a study plan that builds momentum toward competition day.

Effective spelling bee preparation uses spaced repetition rather than cramming—revisiting words over time strengthens retention far better than last-minute studying. Group words by their etymology, letter patterns, or difficulty level rather than studying them randomly. Active recall practice (spelling words aloud without looking at them) is more effective than passive reading. A tutor can help you organize words into meaningful categories, create personalized practice routines, and identify which words deserve extra attention based on your performance.

Part of spelling bee success is developing problem-solving strategies for unfamiliar words. Ask for the word's definition, language of origin, and use it in a sentence—these clues often reveal spelling patterns. Break the word into syllables and consider common letter combinations. Think about similar words you know and whether they share spelling patterns. A spelling bee tutor can teach you how to ask strategic questions, think through word structure systematically, and manage anxiety when facing an unknown word, turning uncertainty into an opportunity to reason through the spelling.

The best spelling bee tutors combine deep knowledge of etymology, phonetics, and word patterns with the ability to teach you how to think strategically about unfamiliar words. They understand competition formats and pressure situations, and they can diagnose exactly where you're struggling—whether it's with certain letter patterns, particular word origins, or test-day confidence. They tailor their approach to your learning style and create customized study plans rather than relying solely on pre-made word lists.

Absolutely. Many successful spelling bee competitors are English language learners who leverage their awareness of language structure and patterns. Your linguistic background may actually give you an advantage in recognizing word origins and patterns. A tutor can help you build confidence with English phonetics, navigate unfamiliar words through systematic analysis, and develop strategies that work specifically for how you learn best. The key is focusing on understanding patterns and etymology rather than trying to memorize every word in isolation.

Preparation timeline depends on your competition level and starting point. Local or school-level bees might require 4-8 weeks of focused practice, while regional or national competitions typically benefit from 3-6 months of systematic preparation. However, the quality of your preparation matters much more than the raw amount of time—working with a tutor to build strong foundational strategies and target your specific gaps is far more effective than months of unfocused studying. A tutor can help you create a realistic timeline based on your current skill level and competition goals.

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