The scoop on reading tutors

Reading tutors can be essential to a good education. Here’s the scoop on what you need to know about them and how to hire one.

When choosing a person to help you or your child one-on-one, it’s important to remember that reading is a foundational skill that will affect every aspect of a student’s education. Finding a tutor who really knows how to teach the subject is important.

I've partnered with WyzAnt to provide you with an amazing database of 40,000 verified professional tutors. You can even pay your private tutor securely through their site. It's easy to get started. Simply enter zip code and subject, then search for the right tutors. I recommend emailing your top three today.

Reading tutors know more than how to read

Because we all know how to read, it’s easy to think anyone can tutor reading. Nope!

For me, reading is a difficult subject to teach because, luckily, reading came easily to me. (Teaching math is much easier, because I had to learn math step by step. Ironic, isn’t it?)

What to look for in one-on-one reading help

In a word, expertise. Many universities offer special courses in reading education, certificate programs, etc. You want to find a tutor who has some training in teaching reading specifically.

Look for someone who has completed some kind of formal education training in the subject.

Reading tutors are not all created a like!

Age matters—for the student, anyway

I routinely teach reading to college students. That means I show them how to take notes on texts, get the most meaning out of what they read, and manage their reading time.

That’s for adults, and with training I’ve managed to do it just fine. Now, what if my students were six years old? I’d be clueless.

The same is true for most English teachers, and especially professors. We are trained most in teaching writing and literature, not (usually) in the building blocks of reading. So, if you’re a parent evaluating sources of help for your child, find someone who has age-appropriate expertise.

If you’re a college student overwhelmed with academic texts, don’t despair. Ask around at your college or university for help. If none is available, ask your professor, the chair of your English department, and/or the English department secretary for referrals.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for tutoring services, plus some tips on finding free tutoring.

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Here’s what you can expect to pay for tutoring services, plus some tips on finding free tutoring.

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