The biggest hurdle is regrouping (borrowing), where students must understand place value deeply to subtract correctly. Many students also struggle with the abstract concept of "taking away" versus "finding the difference," and they may rush through problems without checking their work. Personalized tutoring can address these specific misconceptions through targeted practice and concrete strategies that make the concept click.

A tutor can diagnose exactly where your child is struggling—whether it's regrouping, understanding negative numbers, or simply building confidence—and create a focused plan to address those gaps. With one-on-one instruction, students get immediate feedback, can ask questions without hesitation, and practice at their own pace until concepts truly stick. Research on personalized instruction shows that students make significantly faster progress with targeted support compared to classroom instruction alone.

The first session is typically an assessment where a tutor gets to know your child, understands their current skill level, and identifies specific areas of difficulty. The tutor will ask diagnostic questions, observe problem-solving approaches, and listen to your child's concerns about subtraction. From there, they'll develop a personalized plan with clear goals and a teaching approach tailored to how your child learns best.

Effective strategies include using number lines and manipulatives to visualize subtraction, breaking problems into smaller steps, and practicing regrouping repeatedly with real examples. Tutors often teach multiple strategies—like counting up from the smaller number or using the standard algorithm—so students can choose what makes sense to them. Consistent, spaced practice combined with immediate error correction accelerates mastery significantly.

Yes. Beyond basic subtraction, tutors help students understand subtracting with larger numbers, decimals, fractions, and negative numbers—all critical for success in upper-level math. A tutor can also help students apply subtraction in word problems and real-world contexts, which many students find challenging. Building a strong foundation in subtraction concepts makes these advanced applications much more manageable.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Rochester who specialize in elementary math and subtraction instruction. You can specify your child's grade level, current challenges, and preferred schedule, and you'll be matched with a tutor who fits your needs. Most tutors offer flexible scheduling and personalized instruction designed around your child's learning style and pace.

Many students show noticeable improvement within 4-6 weeks of consistent, focused tutoring—especially if they're receiving 1-2 sessions per week. The timeline depends on the student's starting point and how frequently they practice between sessions. With regular tutoring and homework reinforcement, most students gain confidence and accuracy relatively quickly, which often motivates them to engage more with math overall.