Award-Winning Certified Reading Intervention Tutors
serving Phoenix, AZ
Certified Reading Intervention
Tutors in Phoenix
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

Two years of teaching elementary students who struggled with literacy gave McKenna firsthand experience identifying where decoding, fluency, or comprehension breaks down. She builds targeted exercises around phonemic awareness and sight-word recognition for younger readers, while older students get scaffolded strategies for tackling longer texts. Her certified reading intervention approach is patient and structured, meeting each learner's specific gaps.

Hello! I'm a reading intervention specialist with over 15 years of experience helping struggling readers build stronger skills and confidence. I use an Orton-Gillinghaminspired, structured literacy that is explicit, systematic, multisensory, and tailored to each learner. Sessions may include phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, fluency, comprehension, and writing based on individual needs. My goal is to strengthen the foundational literacy skills that make reading easier.
I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cardiff University, and have a Masters in Counseling from Monash University. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy, I am passionate and experienced in using a multi-sensory approach to tutoring students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Having worked in an educational setting for over 11 years in Hong Kong, I am experienced in working with students from kindergarten all the way through to primary school.
I received my degree in Elementary Education from York College of Pennsylvania. I then attended McDaniel College where I received a masters degree in reading and became a Reading Specialist. My love for teaching reading continued and I furthered my education at Mount Saint Mary's University for training in Reading Recovery. I started my career teaching kindergarten and currently am a reading specialist in my school district, where I work one on one and in small groups with struggling readers. My passion is for tutoring early learners to help them gain the skills they need to grow as readers and writers. In my tutoring sessions I love to get to know my learners interests and personalities. I incorporate manipulatives, sight word games, leveled texts, and writing into sessions to make sessions more engaging. I love to build confidence in my learners by focusing on their strengths in order to get the most amount of growth out of my learners. My hobbies include exercise, spending time with my family, and going to the beach.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Certified Reading Intervention is a specialized, evidence-based approach that targets specific reading deficits like decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Unlike general reading support, it uses structured assessments to identify exactly where a student is struggling and applies targeted interventions based on the science of reading. Tutors trained in reading intervention follow systematic protocols to address foundational skills that impact overall literacy development.
With Phoenix's 17.6:1 average student-teacher ratio across 580 schools, many students don't get the individualized attention needed to overcome reading challenges. Certified Reading Intervention provides personalized 1-on-1 instruction focused specifically on your child's reading gaps, whether that's phonics, sight words, fluency, or comprehension strategies. This targeted approach helps students catch up and build confidence in their reading abilities.
Certified Reading Intervention addresses foundational reading skills including phonemic awareness, phonics and decoding, sight word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension strategies. It's also effective for students struggling with dyslexia, reading delays, or those who simply haven't clicked with traditional classroom instruction. Tutors assess each student's specific needs and create a personalized plan to build stronger reading skills from the ground up.
The first session focuses on getting to know your student and understanding their reading strengths and challenges. Tutors will likely conduct informal assessments, ask about reading history, and discuss specific concerns or goals. This information helps create a personalized tutoring plan tailored to your student's needs, learning style, and pace of progress.
Look for tutors with specific training in reading intervention frameworks (such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, or similar structured literacy programs) and ideally credentials like a Reading Specialist certification or training in the science of reading. Experience working with students who have reading difficulties or dyslexia is valuable. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise in evidence-based reading intervention techniques.
Reading progress depends on the severity of the student's challenges and consistency of tutoring, but many students show noticeable improvements in fluency and confidence within 4-8 weeks of regular sessions. More significant gains in comprehension and decoding typically develop over several months of sustained, targeted instruction. Tutors track progress regularly and adjust strategies to keep students moving forward.
Most students benefit from 2-3 sessions per week for consistent progress, though frequency can vary based on the severity of reading challenges and your student's schedule. More frequent sessions early on can accelerate foundational skill development, while some students maintain progress with once-weekly sessions after building stronger skills. Your tutor will recommend a frequency that best supports your student's goals.
Parent involvement significantly boosts reading progress. Tutors typically share strategies and practice activities you can reinforce at home between sessions, and regular communication about your student's progress helps you understand what they're working on. Even 10-15 minutes of daily reading practice with your student, guided by tutor recommendations, can make a meaningful difference in building fluency and confidence.
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