During an initial session, a tutor will assess your student's current math skills, learning style, and specific areas where they need support. This might include reviewing recent homework, understanding how your student approaches problem-solving, and identifying gaps in foundational knowledge. The tutor will then create a personalized plan tailored to your student's needs and pace, ensuring they feel comfortable and ready to make progress.

Showing work is essential for building mathematical reasoning and catching mistakes. Tutors work with students to develop clear problem-solving strategies and encourage them to explain each step aloud, which strengthens their understanding. Through guided practice and feedback, students learn that showing work isn't just a requirement—it's a tool that helps them think through problems more carefully and build confidence in their answers.

Yes. Dayton's 29 school districts use various math programs and approaches, and tutors are familiar with different curricula and teaching methods. Whether your student's school uses traditional textbooks, problem-based learning, or other approaches, Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can align their instruction with your student's classroom experience and help bridge any gaps between home and school learning.

Absolutely. Math anxiety is common and can prevent students from engaging with problem-solving, even when they have the ability to succeed. Tutors create a low-pressure, supportive environment where students can ask questions, make mistakes safely, and gradually build confidence. By breaking concepts into manageable pieces and celebrating small wins, students often discover that math is more approachable than they thought.

One-on-one instruction allows tutors to slow down and help students recognize patterns—like how multiplication relates to repeated addition, or how fractions connect to division. By making these connections explicit and exploring them through multiple examples, students develop deeper conceptual understanding rather than just memorizing isolated facts. This approach helps math feel more logical and less like random rules to follow.

Varsity Tutors matches you with tutors who have expertise in elementary mathematics and understand how to teach for conceptual understanding. When you connect with us, we learn about your student's specific needs, grade level, and learning style, then connect you with a tutor who's a great fit. This personalized matching process ensures your student gets instruction tailored to their unique situation.

The ideal frequency depends on your student's specific needs and goals. Some students benefit from weekly sessions to build consistent progress, while others might start with twice-weekly sessions to address urgent gaps. A tutor can recommend a schedule based on your student's current level and the concepts they're working on. Regular, ongoing practice between sessions also plays a key role in building lasting understanding and skills.