Personalized Certified Wired for Reading instruction targets your child's unique reading level and learning style, which is particularly valuable given Grand Rapids' average student-teacher ratio of 17.7:1 in classrooms. Tutors work with students to strengthen decoding skills, improve reading fluency, and develop comprehension strategies that help them understand and retain what they read. This focused support can boost confidence, improve grades across subjects that depend on reading, and help students keep pace with grade-level expectations.

Many students struggle with fluency (reading too slowly or with poor expression), comprehension (understanding what they've read), or decoding unfamiliar words. Some students also have difficulty with phonemic awareness or struggle to connect ideas across sentences and paragraphs. Certified Wired for Reading uses structured, evidence-based techniques to target these specific areas, and personalized tutoring allows tutors to focus on exactly what your child needs most.

During an initial session, a tutor will assess your child's current reading level, identify specific strengths and areas for growth, and discuss your goals for improvement. This helps the tutor create a personalized plan that aligns with the Certified Wired for Reading approach and addresses your child's particular needs. You'll also have a chance to ask questions about the program and how tutoring will be structured going forward.

Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who have expertise in literacy instruction and the Certified Wired for Reading program. These tutors understand the science of reading, phonics, fluency development, and comprehension strategies—and they know how to adapt instruction to meet individual student needs. When you get matched with a tutor, you can review their background and experience to ensure they're the right fit for your child.

The program teaches explicit comprehension strategies like predicting, questioning, summarizing, and making connections between ideas—skills that help students actively engage with text rather than passively reading words. Tutors model these strategies, guide students through practice with increasingly challenging texts, and provide feedback that builds independence. Over time, students develop stronger skills in understanding main ideas, supporting details, and deeper meaning in what they read.

The ideal frequency depends on your child's current level, specific challenges, and goals. Some students benefit from weekly sessions, while others may need more intensive support initially. A tutor can recommend a schedule during your first session and adjust it based on progress. Consistency matters more than intensity, so regular, ongoing support typically produces better results than sporadic sessions.

Simply reach out to Varsity Tutors to describe your child's reading needs and goals, and you'll be matched with a qualified tutor who specializes in Certified Wired for Reading. The process is straightforward—you'll connect with your tutor, schedule your first session, and begin working toward improved reading skills. Varsity Tutors handles the matching process so you can focus on supporting your child's literacy development.