Award-Winning Pre-Reading Super Skills
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Award-Winning Pre-Reading Super Skills Tutors
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Nicholas
Running a small-group literacy pod that produced two years of reading growth in a single year taught Nicholas something specific: the kids who accelerated fastest were the ones whose pre-reading foundations — sound discrimination, print directionality, oral blending — had been laid carefully before ...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts, English
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Grace
Growing up as a performer, Grace learned that rhythm and repetition are how the body internalizes patterns — and that same principle drives how she teaches young children to hear sounds in words, clap out syllables, and connect spoken language to print on a page. Her music theory background and expe...
University
Bachelor's
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Heather
Letter recognition, print awareness, rhyming — these pre-reading building blocks look simple, but the order and pace at which a child encounters them matters enormously. Heather's classroom teaching experience in grades 1–6 gave her a sharp eye for where a young learner's foundation has gaps, and sh...
Adelphi University
Master of Arts Teaching, Elementary School Teaching
Siena College
Bachelor of Science, Marketing
Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am a recent college graduate with an A.B. in Education Studies from Brown University (Providence, RI). I have worked as a remote tutor for other online platforms throughout 2021. I am most passionate about English, especially literary analysis and essay writing. When I am not tutoring, I enjoy exe...
Brown University
AB
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Camille
Camille's biology training at Brown and public health work at Yale both required mastering one thing: breaking complex systems into their smallest functional parts — which is exactly what pre-reading asks of young children learning to isolate sounds, recognize letters, and connect spoken words to pr...
Yale University
AM
Brown University
AM
Certified Tutor
Kate
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Jai
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Certified Tutor
I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rhea
I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Erika
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am not in school myself, I love rowing, equestrian and exploring my new city of Boston! I look forward to meeting and working with you soon!
Tiffany
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +56 Subjects
I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.
MaryAnn
Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects
I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to the nonprofit sector. Hobbies: reading, cooking, writing, books, music, art, travel
Sami
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +19 Subjects
I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer. Hobbies: reading, writing, art, books, music
Samuel
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!
Sharon
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classroom with middle-school students who were in approximately the 10th percentile for math (meaning they score lower than 90% of students). One-fourth of those students were able to grow around 15 percentile points by the end of the year! Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, music, art, nature, books, writing
Matthew
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects
I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer in NYC and tackle even the most hard-science of problems with a top-down, big-picture, holistic approach. If you have a propensity to look at problems in a cross- or inter-disciplinary manner (or want to learn how to do so), I'm the tutor for you!
Quinn
Calculus Tutor • +17 Subjects
I am willing to address any issue with an open mind and I try to develop strategies that play to a student's strengths. I would like to think I am very approachable and personable, and I have had very positive experiences with many students in the past using this philosophy. Outside of academics, I love playing basketball and watching sports, as well as chilling with friends, listening to music, and keeping up with politics and current affairs.
Samantha
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling
Charles
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-Reading Super Skills are foundational abilities that prepare young learners for reading success, including phonemic awareness, letter recognition, print concepts, and vocabulary development. These early skills are critical because research shows that children who develop strong pre-reading foundations by kindergarten are significantly more likely to become proficient readers by third grade and beyond.
Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who specialize in building these essential skills through engaging, developmentally appropriate activities that make learning to read an exciting process.
Common pre-reading challenges include difficulty with phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds in words), confusion with letter names and sounds, struggles with rhyming and syllable counting, limited vocabulary exposure, and difficulty understanding that print carries meaning. Some students also show less interest in books or have trouble sitting still for stories.
Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify exactly where a child is struggling and create targeted activities that address those specific gaps while keeping learning fun and engaging.
Expert tutors in this area use a multisensory approach that combines phonemic awareness activities, letter-sound practice, interactive storytelling, and hands-on learning. They select materials based on each student's interests and developmental level, making lessons engaging rather than rote or drill-heavy.
Tutors also work closely with parents and teachers to reinforce skills across all learning environments. The goal is to build confidence and enthusiasm for reading while establishing the specific foundational skills that predict later reading success.
With consistent personalized instruction, students typically show measurable progress in phonemic awareness, letter recognition, and print awareness within 4-8 weeks. Many students develop stronger motivation for reading, increased vocabulary, and the confidence needed to transition into formal reading instruction.
Long-term outcomes include stronger early reading skills, better phonics understanding, and a foundation for decoding words independently—all critical predictors of reading proficiency in elementary school and beyond.
Pre-Reading Super Skills tutoring is most commonly beneficial for children ages 3-6, including preschool and early kindergarten students. However, the right time depends on the individual child's development and readiness. Some younger learners benefit from early intervention, while others may need these skills reinforced in first grade.
Varsity Tutors connects families with tutors who can assess where a child is developmentally and recommend the best starting point for instruction, whether that's intensive phonemic awareness work or letter-sound practice.
Parents play a crucial role by reading aloud daily, talking about sounds in words during everyday activities, playing rhyming games, pointing out letters in the environment, and creating a language-rich home. Tutors provide specific strategies and activities families can use between sessions to reinforce skills.
Regular communication between tutors and parents ensures that learning is consistent across home and tutoring sessions, which significantly accelerates progress and builds the strong pre-reading foundation every child needs.
Pre-Reading Super Skills focus on the foundational abilities that come before reading—like phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, and understanding how print works. Reading instruction, by contrast, teaches students to decode words and comprehend text, which builds on these foundations.
Think of pre-reading skills as the building blocks, and reading as the structure built from those blocks. Many struggling readers actually have gaps in pre-reading foundations that need to be addressed first, which is why Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who specialize in identifying and filling these early gaps.
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