Tutoring Services
Reading, Writing, and Math Tutoring
We Bring Reading, Writing, and Math to Life for All Learners
Our teachers are different than your typical tutor. Dedicated and caring, they know how to make learning easier, build a relationship that motivates, and celebrate persistence for long-term success.
Yes, we are experts in teaching reading, writing, and math, but Stern Center students also learn how to get organized, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks. The result? Success in the classroom and beyond and a lifelong love of learning.
Reading Instruction That Really Works
Your child isn’t alone. Learning how to read well is challenging for millions of kids, with 69% of our nation’s fourth graders reading at or below the basic level. Students with reading struggles need proven strategies and clear instruction. We’ve taught students to read successfully for more than forty years, tailoring lessons that create trust so students can work on difficult things one on one. No fear of making mistakes. No feeling like the one who doesn’t get it. Our kind of teaching turns struggle into success and lasts for your child’s lifetime.
Reading
Instruction
Using a carefully planned, step-by-step approach—full of multisensory experiences—we help struggling readers develop fundamental reading skills, including phonological awareness, phonics, spelling, and reading comprehension.
Reading
Comprehension
We help students grow the underlying skills that lead to deep comprehension, such as vocabulary, sentence structure, background knowledge, problem solving, and critical thinking.
Orton-Gillingham Experts
Our teachers are skilled reading instructors with years of extensive training and Orton-Gillingham certification. They provide intensive support for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
Writing Instruction
Writing is necessary in so many parts of life. Plus, writing, like reading, is a tool for learning. Students who struggle with writing lose an all-too-important vehicle for thinking deeply about what they learn. We help students become better writers by teaching foundational writing skills, expanding writing knowledge, and sparking joy in writing.
Writing
Instruction
Students will learn fundamental writing skills, including handwriting, spelling, sentence structure, brainstorming, and grammar, so they can effectively communicate their ideas.
Expanding
Writing
We help students expand their writing knowledge and hone essential writing skills, such as understanding their audience, planning and organizing, revising and rewriting, and publishing.
Dysgraphia Interventions
Our specialists use evidence-based techniques to help students with dysgraphia, written expression disorders, and other learning differences.
Math Tutoring
Our instructors work closely with students of all ages to improve their math skills, helping them understand math concepts more easily and become more math-minded. We use research-backed approaches that are rich in sensory experiences: students can see, hear, and feel math come alive, making it easier to understand what numbers and symbols represent. Our math specialists make math less stressful overall and tailor their lessons to each student’s needs.
Let’s Make Sense of Math
Signs your child might need help
- Avoids math or says they’re
“just bad at it” - Struggles to remember basic
math facts - Gets lost in multi-step problems
or word problems - Mixes up numbers, symbols,
or math procedures - Finds telling time, estimating,
or using money difficult
An approach that gets results
- Individualized 1:1 instruction
- Diagnostic-informed lesson planning
- Multisensory, structured methods
- Progress monitoring and parent updates
- In-person and online options
- Step-by-step modeling with guided practice
- Built-in review to strengthen retention and mastery
- Strategies that build independence
Math
Instruction
Our specialists use proven multisensory approaches to teach math concepts and skills, such as numeracy, addition, multiplication, fractions, subtraction, and early algebraic thinking.
Expanding
Math
We help students master math concepts and use them to solve problems, increasing their confidence, developing their mathematical thinking, and building their skills in algebra, geometry, measurement, and more.
Dyscalculia
Interventions
Dyscalculia, a disability that makes it hard to understand numbers, is more common than you might think. Through specialized instruction and intervention, we help struggling students develop essential math skills.
The Stern Center Difference
Highly Trained Teachers
Our dedicated and caring teachers are skilled specialists with advanced credentials and years of extensive training.
Proven
Approaches
We use evidence-based, multisensory approaches that give students that, “Wow, I get this!” feeling in every lesson.
Powerful
Outcomes
Since 1983, we have been helping students reach their goals through life-changing learning.
Tailored to your Needs
We tailor instruction to specific learning needs and help people develop essential study skills.
What Learners Have to Say
Our Reach by the Numbers
2,250+
Teachers Served Every Year
When a teacher takes one of our courses, the positive impact ripples beyond one life, spreading through an entire classroom, school, and community.
Our Reach by the Numbers
13,891+
Student Services Hours This Year
We offer one-on-one teaching that transforms lives, lifts up voices, and inspires learners to bring forth their unique gifts to a world that awaits them.
Our Reach by the Numbers
94%
of Vermont School Districts Served
We celebrate the dedication of our school partners and share their commitment to a brighter future for all learners.
Our Reach by the Numbers
37
States and Counting
We’re a national leader in language and literacy. Our impact currently extends across 37 states and 9 countries through the thousands of educators we reach and students we serve.
Meet Our Team
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a payment plan?
We’ll provide you with a contract and invoice which can be paid in full by our deadline or managed through a payment plan that spreads the cost of services over several months.
Are there other sources of financial assistance?
There are other sources that may assist with the financing of Stern Center Services. These include your school or school district, employer, Hireability Vermont, VSAC, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, health insurance provider, and others. Please note, we are not an insurance provider and do not bill insurance.
Do you accept insurance?
The Stern Center is not an insurance provider and cannot provide information explicitly for the purpose of insurance billing.
How do I apply for financial assistance?
Contact us to register for services and let us know you are interested in applying for financial assistance. We’ll ask you to complete a short application, which our team will review to determine the amount of financial assistance we can offer. After reviewing your application, we’ll notify you of our decision within a few days and apply your award directly as a need-based assistance discount.
Does the Stern Center offer financial assistance?
Yes. Through the generosity of individuals, organizations, and foundations, we can award need-based funds and provide additional assistance. Awards are based on income and the number of people in your family. Depending on family eligibility, costs may be reduced by 20–70%. Please review our Financial Assistance page and let us know if you want to apply for financial assistance when you register for services.
Do I (or my child) need an evaluation to start instruction?
You don’t need an evaluation to start instruction sessions. Our team will examine your strengths and challenges and tailor treatment to meet your needs. To learn more about evaluations and testing at the Stern Center, visit our Evaluations page, email evaluation@sterncenter.org, or call 802-276-8681.
What is your cancellation policy for instructional services?
Full or partial withdrawal prior to November 1st for the first semester or March 31st for the second semester will result in a pro-rated adjustment of fees. Because the Stern Center has committed significant resources to meet the needs of clients by planning for and guaranteeing scheduled instructional times, no refund will be made for withdrawals after these dates. The Stern Center may consider exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances such as long-term illness or family emergency.
How much does instruction cost?
Fees range in scale based on the service we’re offering. Our highly trained experts provide individualized, research-based instruction for each student. Through the generous support of our donors, we can offer need-based funds to those who qualify for financial assistance. These awards are based on income and the number of people in your family. Depending on family eligibility, costs may be reduced by 20–70%. Please review our Financial Assistance page for more information and contact us about our range of services.
Do you offer instruction off-site?
Yes, Stern Center instructors may be able to provide instruction at schools and work sites. We also offer lessons online.
Do you offer summer instruction?
Yes, we offer six weeks of intensive instruction in reading, writing, math, and organizational skills over the summer, either in person or online. For more information about these sessions, please visit our Summer Learning page.
Does the instructor collaborate with my child’s teacher(s)?
Yes, with a parent or guardian’s permission, the instructor will collaborate with a student’s school teacher(s) and team.
How do you teach reading?
We teach what the National Reading Panel calls the BIG FIVE: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. We do it through a structured literacy approach, which means that the teaching is explicit, systematic, and sequential.
When can I begin instruction?
You may begin instruction at any time during the school year and continue into the summer. You may also participate in our six-week long summer program.
What is the frequency and length of your instruction sessions?
The number and length of sessions are based on individual needs, schedules, and program requirements. Most students come for one or two hours of instruction per week during the school year in their area of academic need.
Additional Support
Evaluations
We help people understand how they learn so they can overcome challenges and move forward academically, professionally, and socially.
Social-Emotional Learning
Through direct teaching, coaching, and practice, our social learning experts help individuals learn the fundamental building blocks of social success.
Reading Readiness Check-Up
For parents curious about their child’s early reading skills, we offer a helpful check-up and expert advice for raising strong readers.
Keep Learning
Academic Calendar
View the Stern Center’s academic calendar, with openings and closings at a glance, including holidays and make-up days.
Summer Learning
Supercharge your child’s learning this summer. Get expert help with reading, writing, math, and more.
News and Resources
Keep learning and stay in the know with news and resources from our Stern Center experts.
Get in Touch!
To inquire about tutoring services, email learning@sterncenter.org, call 802-276-8563, or fill out the form below. Ready to register? Start here.
