Expert tutors use a combination of methods including reading fluency checks, comprehension assessments, and informal observations to understand a student's strengths and areas for growth. They may ask students to read aloud, answer questions about what they've read, or work through guided reading passages at different levels. This assessment helps create a personalized learning plan tailored to your child's specific needs.

The first session focuses on getting to know your student and understanding their reading goals. The tutor will typically have a conversation about what your child enjoys reading, what challenges they face, and observe their reading in action. This information helps establish a foundation for future sessions and allows the tutor to recommend strategies and materials that match your student's interests and level.

Effective strategies include previewing text before reading, asking questions while reading, visualizing scenes, making connections to prior knowledge, and summarizing key ideas. Tutors also teach students to identify main ideas versus details, understand character motivations, and recognize story structure. With consistent practice and personalized feedback, students develop stronger comprehension skills and become more engaged readers.

Yes—phonics and fluency are foundational skills that tutors specifically target with younger elementary students. Through structured practice, word recognition games, and guided reading, students build decoding skills and increase their reading speed and accuracy. Improved fluency allows students to focus more mental energy on understanding what they're reading rather than sounding out every word.

Grade-level expectations vary, but generally kindergarteners begin recognizing letters and sounds, 1st graders decode simple words and read short sentences, 2nd graders read simple chapter books, and by 3rd grade students should be reading longer texts with growing comprehension. However, every child develops at their own pace—some advance faster while others need more time to solidify foundational skills. A tutor can help determine where your child stands and create a plan to reach grade-level benchmarks.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in elementary reading instruction and understand the needs of students in Buffalo. Simply share your student's grade level, reading challenges, and goals, and we'll match them with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit your family. You can then schedule personalized sessions at times that work for your schedule.

Many students show noticeable progress within 4-6 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline depends on the student's starting point and the specific skills being addressed. For foundational skills like phonics, improvement can come relatively quickly with focused practice. For comprehension and higher-level reading skills, progress builds gradually as students apply new strategies across different texts and genres.