With Detroit's diverse student population across 54 school districts, students benefit from personalized instruction tailored to their specific reading challenges. Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors trained in the Wilson Reading System who can provide targeted practice in phonemic awareness, decoding, and fluency—skills that form the foundation for stronger reading comprehension and academic success across all subjects.

The Wilson Reading System is designed for students in grades 2-12, though it's often used with younger children and adults who need foundational reading support. The program adapts to each student's level, whether they're just beginning to decode words or working to improve fluency and comprehension. A tutor can assess where your student is and determine if Wilson Reading is the right fit.

During the initial session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, identify specific areas of difficulty, and discuss learning goals. This diagnostic approach helps the tutor create a personalized plan using Wilson Reading strategies that target your student's unique needs. You'll also learn what to expect from the tutoring process and how to support progress at home.

Many students begin showing improvement in decoding and fluency within 4-6 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline varies based on the severity of reading challenges and frequency of sessions. The Wilson Reading System's structured approach builds skills progressively, so sustained practice is key. Regular sessions combined with at-home practice typically accelerate progress and build lasting reading confidence.

Wilson Reading is effective for students struggling with phonics, decoding, word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension difficulties. It's particularly helpful for students with dyslexia or other reading disabilities who need explicit, structured instruction in how sounds and letters work together. The system also supports students who've fallen behind grade-level expectations and need to rebuild foundational skills.

Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who have expertise in the Wilson Reading System and understand how to apply its structured approach to individual learners. These tutors have experience working with students of various reading levels and can adapt instruction to keep students engaged and motivated while building essential literacy skills.

Your tutor will provide guidance on at-home practice activities and strategies that reinforce what's being taught during sessions. Consistent, brief practice using Wilson Reading principles—like decoding exercises and repeated reading of controlled texts—helps solidify skills between tutoring appointments. Your tutor can also recommend resources and explain how to provide constructive feedback that keeps your student motivated.