Award-Winning Certified Reading Intervention Tutors
serving Philadelphia, PA
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Award-Winning Certified Reading Intervention Tutors serving Philadelphia, PA

Certified Tutor
5+ years
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 ...
Tulane University of Louisiana
Bachelor in Arts, English

Certified Tutor
5+ years
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 tr...
McDaniel College
AM
York College
AM
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all su...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Aaron
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old e...
The University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Nina
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant ...
Columbia University
Masters in biostatistics
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences (focus in neurobiology)
Columbia University in the City of New York
Current Grad Student, Biostatistics
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...
Harvard University
PHD, Education
Wesleyan University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
Certified Tutor
Liz
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received ...
Simmons College
Masters, Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities 5-12
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Arts in History (minors in Humanities and Anthropology)
Certified Tutor
Christopher
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tut...
Harvard College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Michelle
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medici...
Baylor College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, M.D.
Rice University
Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Certified Tutor
Charles
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 descr...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Solange
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campu...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts (Sociology & Women's Studies)
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Justin
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Com...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor's in Physics and Mathematics
University of Chicago
Doctor of Philosophy, Computational Mathematics
Certified Tutor
Asta
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare th...
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts in Political Science
Certified Tutor
10+ years
I am excited to be home and help fellow straphangers on their educational paths! My largest wealth of tutoring experience is in foreign languages--particularly French--but I also feel very comfortable editing essays of any kind and working through standardized test concepts. My availability is extre...
Brown University
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Isabella
I am a graduate of MIT. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies. Since graduation, I have started my PhD at Georgia Tech in Operations Research. Throughout my career I have TA'd several math and computer science courses at t...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies)
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Current Grad Student, Operations Research
Nearby Certified Reading Intervention Tutors
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Frequently Asked Questions
Certified Reading Intervention is a structured, evidence-based approach to reading instruction that targets specific foundational skills like phonics, fluency, and comprehension. Unlike general reading support, it uses diagnostic assessments to identify exactly where a student is struggling—whether that's decoding words, understanding text, or building reading stamina—and applies targeted interventions to address those gaps. Tutors trained in this methodology follow a systematic curriculum designed to help students catch up to grade level and develop lasting reading confidence.
With an average student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1 across Philadelphia's 91 school districts, many students don't get the individualized attention needed to overcome reading challenges. Personalized 1-on-1 reading intervention fills that gap by providing focused, diagnostic-driven instruction tailored to each student's specific needs. This targeted approach is especially valuable for students who are falling behind in reading proficiency, allowing them to build foundational skills at their own pace and keep up with classroom expectations.
Reading Intervention is most effective when started early—typically in elementary and middle school—when foundational reading skills are still developing. However, students at any grade level who struggle with decoding, fluency, or comprehension can benefit from this targeted approach. Whether a student is in 2nd grade learning to decode or a high schooler working to improve reading speed and comprehension for academic success, certified intervention can be adapted to meet their specific needs.
Certified Reading Intervention targets foundational struggles like difficulty with phonics and decoding, slow reading fluency that makes it hard to keep up with grade-level texts, and comprehension gaps where students read words but don't understand meaning. It also helps students who have been identified with dyslexia or other reading-based learning differences, as well as English language learners building reading skills in English. A tutor trained in this methodology will diagnose which specific area needs support and build a plan to address it.
The first session typically focuses on assessment and relationship-building. The tutor will ask about the student's reading history, current challenges, and goals, and may administer informal assessments to understand where the student's strengths and struggles are. This diagnostic information guides the creation of a personalized plan. You'll leave the first session with a clear understanding of what's being targeted and how the tutoring will help your student build reading skills and confidence.
Look for tutors who hold certifications in reading intervention methodologies such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, or similar evidence-based programs. Ideally, they have background in literacy instruction, special education, or reading specialist training. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise in reading intervention and a track record of helping students improve decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills.
Progress in reading intervention is measurable through regular assessments of fluency (words read correctly per minute), accuracy in decoding, and comprehension of grade-level texts. Most students show noticeable improvements in reading speed and confidence within 8-12 weeks of consistent tutoring. Tutors typically share progress updates and can track growth using standardized benchmarks, so you'll have clear evidence of how your student is building foundational reading skills and moving toward grade-level proficiency.
Start by connecting with Varsity Tutors and describing your student's reading challenges and goals. We'll match you with a tutor who has expertise in certified reading intervention and understands the specific needs of Philadelphia students. After an initial consultation, you can schedule your first session and begin personalized instruction designed to target your student's reading gaps and build the foundational skills they need to succeed in school.
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