Early intervention is powerful—students who get support with reading in grades K-2 often catch up faster than those who wait. If your child is struggling to recognize letters, blend sounds, or remember sight words, or if they're avoiding reading altogether, that's a good time to connect with a tutor. Varsity Tutors matches students with tutors who specialize in early literacy and can work at your child's pace.

Reading comprehension involves multiple skills—decoding, vocabulary, background knowledge, and the ability to ask questions while reading. Tutors teach evidence-based strategies like previewing text, making predictions, visualizing, and asking "why" and "how" questions to deepen understanding. With personalized instruction, tutors can model these strategies with books your child actually enjoys, making comprehension feel natural rather than like a test-taking skill.

Fluency is reading smoothly and at an appropriate pace; comprehension is understanding what you've read. A student can read quickly but miss the meaning, or read slowly while understanding everything. Both matter because fluency frees up mental energy for comprehension. Tutors assess both skills and may use repeated reading, guided reading, or echo reading to build fluency while keeping comprehension the ultimate goal.

The first session is about getting to know your child—their reading level, interests, strengths, and challenges. Tutors typically assess where your student is (phonics, sight words, fluency, comprehension) and listen to what's frustrating them about reading. This foundation helps the tutor create a personalized plan that builds on strengths and addresses gaps, often using books and materials your child cares about.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have deep expertise in elementary reading instruction, literacy development, and evidence-based strategies like structured literacy and guided reading. Many tutors have teaching backgrounds, literacy certifications, or specialized training in reading intervention. When you connect with a tutor, you can learn about their experience with students at your child's level and reading challenges.

Progress depends on where your child is starting and the intensity of tutoring, but many students show noticeable improvement in fluency and confidence within 4-8 weeks of consistent sessions. Reading comprehension and vocabulary growth often take a bit longer. Tutors track progress regularly and adjust their approach based on what's working, so you'll have clear visibility into your child's growth.

Reading together daily, even for 10-15 minutes, is one of the most powerful things you can do. Your tutor will likely suggest specific strategies—like asking questions about the story, letting your child choose books, or practicing sight words in context. The goal is to make reading feel enjoyable and connected to your child's interests, not like homework. Your tutor can give you specific activities that reinforce what you're working on in sessions.