Question 1

What happens during the first reading tutoring session?

Accepted Answer

During your first session, a tutor will assess your child's current reading level, identify specific challenges (like decoding, fluency, or comprehension), and learn about their interests and learning style. This helps the tutor create a personalized plan tailored to your child's needs and goals for reading improvement.

Question 2

How can tutoring help my child understand what they read?

Accepted Answer

Tutors use targeted strategies to strengthen comprehension skills, such as asking guiding questions, teaching students to identify main ideas and supporting details, and connecting stories to real-world experiences. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, your child gets immediate feedback and can ask questions in a pressure-free environment, building confidence and deeper understanding.

Question 3

What if my child reads too slowly or struggles with fluency?

Accepted Answer

Reading fluency—the ability to read smoothly and with appropriate expression—develops through guided practice and exposure to engaging texts. Tutors work with students on sight word recognition, phonics strategies, and repeated reading of meaningful passages to build speed and confidence without sacrificing comprehension.

Question 4

Do tutors align with Queens elementary school reading curricula?

Accepted Answer

Yes, tutors understand the reading standards and expectations for elementary grades in New York schools and can support skills taught in your child's classroom. Whether your school uses guided reading, balanced literacy, or another approach, tutors complement classroom instruction and help reinforce key skills like phonemic awareness, decoding, and comprehension strategies.

Question 5

My child doesn't enjoy reading. Can tutoring help?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Many struggling readers develop negative feelings about reading, but personalized tutoring can change that by building skills, boosting confidence, and connecting students with books that match their interests. Tutors help create positive reading experiences that make learning feel achievable rather than frustrating.

Question 6

How do tutors teach literary analysis and story comprehension?

Accepted Answer

Tutors teach students to think deeply about stories by asking them to identify characters, plot, setting, and themes, and to explain why events matter. Through guided discussion and personalized feedback, students learn to support their ideas with details from the text, developing critical thinking skills that go beyond simple recall.

Question 7

How long does it typically take to see reading improvement?

Accepted Answer

Progress varies based on your child's starting point and the specific challenges they face, but many students show noticeable improvements in fluency and confidence within a few weeks of consistent tutoring. Regular practice combined with expert guidance accelerates progress, and tutors track growth through assessments and reading level increases over time.

Question 8

What qualifications do reading tutors have?

Accepted Answer

Tutors who work with Varsity Tutors bring strong expertise in elementary reading instruction, phonics, fluency, and comprehension strategies. Many have backgrounds in education or reading specialization and understand how to adapt their teaching to different learning styles and needs.

Award-Winning Elementary School Reading Tutors
serving Queens, NY

Who needs tutoring?

FEATURED BY

TUTORS FROM