Brooklyn Letters IconBrooklyn Letters

1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

4.9 56 reviews

  • Avatar Emily Matles ★★★★★ a week ago
    We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
    ~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old
  • Avatar Natalie Levon ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
  • Avatar T Ainsley ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
  • Avatar Jackie Vasquez ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Excellent services, caring therapists.
  • Avatar Lil Amatore ★★★★★ 8 months ago
    Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
  • Avatar Colin Peters ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
  • Avatar Heather Liljengren ★★★★★ a year ago
    We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
  • Avatar Chris duke Fields ★★★★★ a month ago
    The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
  • Avatar Nikhil Jaisinghani ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
  • Avatar Linda Parsley ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
  • Avatar Amanda Clay Mackin ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
  • Avatar Pete Peters ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
    Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
    Thanks to both for a job well done...
  • Avatar Brigid Bower ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
  • Avatar Larry Barton ★★★★★ a year ago
    Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
  • Avatar Megan Haller ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
  • Avatar Megan Magsam ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
  • Avatar Collins Youngblood ★★★★★ a year ago
    Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
  • Avatar kanu patel ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
    Kanu Patel
  • Avatar Liz Jones ★★★★ 2 years ago
    We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
  • Avatar S CL ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
  • Avatar Nicole May ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
  • Avatar Gillian Davidoff ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
  • Avatar carolina luttmann ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
  • Avatar Eric Fingerman ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
  • Avatar Susan Wong ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
  • Avatar Christine Gennetti ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
    I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them.
  • Avatar Fabiola FITZPATRICK ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
  • Avatar Jude Eugene ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
  • Avatar Janice Eidus ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
  • A Google User ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
  • Avatar Fara Jones ★★★★★ 5 years ago
    Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
  • Avatar Frances Simpson ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
  • Avatar Mary Jean Babic ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
  • Avatar Nina Herman ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
  • Avatar Frances ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
  • Avatar Michael Birnbaum ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
  • Avatar Monica Alzate ★★★★★ 5 years ago
    We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.

WRITING TUTOR NYC FOR GRADES 1–8 | IN-HOME & ONLINE WRITING TUTORING

Best Writing Tutors for Elementary & Middle School Students (Grades 1–8) in the NYC Metro Area | Free Consultations & Meet-and-Greets With Our Staff | We Travel to You!

writing tutors for middle school students

Our Writing Tutor NYC Program for Grades 1–8

Writing tutor NYC services require more than general homework help. We provide structured, in-home and online writing tutoring across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the greater NYC metro area, working with students navigating competitive public schools, private school rigor, and rising middle school expectations. Our 1:1 writing tutoring for grades 1–8 focuses on structure, clarity, and academic confidence.

Our writing program is designed for families who want more than homework help. We work with students who need structure, clarity, and confidence as writing expectations increase throughout elementary and middle school. Whether your child is learning to organize sentences in the early grades or struggling with multi-paragraph writing in middle school, our tutors provide individualized instruction aligned with school expectations and ELA standards.

Our writing tutors place a strong emphasis on task initiation—helping students move past the “blank page” using brainstorming techniques, outlines, and graphic organizers. Lessons are goal-driven, scaffolded, and reinforced with consistent feedback so students build independence over time.

 

This page is designed for grades 1–8 (elementary and middle school).

 

Families seeking high school writing, college essays, or graduate-level support can discuss appropriate options during the consultation.

 

Every family begins with a FREE consultation and remote meet-and-greet to ensure the right tutor match.

 

Local Tutoring Availability

 

We offer in-person and online writing tutoring for grades 1–8 in:

Why Writing Struggles Happen — And Why They’re So Stressful for Families

Writing is one of the most demanding academic skills students are asked to master. It requires language development, organization, planning, attention, and creativity to work together at once. When one or more of these skills is underdeveloped, writing can quickly feel overwhelming.

Families often reach out after noticing these common challenges:

  1. Homework Turns into a Daily Battle
    Writing assignments take far longer than expected, leading to frustration, avoidance, or emotional shutdown—especially when students freeze at the blank page.
  2. Confidence Drops Over Time
    Students may rush work, avoid writing tasks in class, or compare themselves negatively to peers.
  3. Organizing Thoughts Feels Impossible
    Capable students often struggle to plan ideas, sequence paragraphs, or stay on topic—frequently tied to executive function gaps rather than ability.
  4. Digital Distractions Make Focus Harder
    Screens and multitasking disrupt sustained attention, making writing especially difficult for younger learners.
  5. NYC Schools Move Fast
    In Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, writing expectations ramp up quickly—particularly during the transition from elementary to middle school. Students are expected to write longer responses, use text evidence, and meet tighter rubrics with less instructional scaffolding.

Parents often feel stuck—wanting to help but unsure how. Writing improves most effectively with targeted instruction, guided practice, and consistent support.

Our Approach: Structured Writing Instruction That Builds Academic Independence

Strong writing depends on planning, organization, and sustained attention. Our writing instruction explicitly teaches structure, clarity, grammar, and revision while building the academic habits students need to complete assignments independently.

This approach leads to meaningful, lasting progress—not short-term assignment fixes.

Expert 1:1 Writing Tutoring for Grades 1–8

Our writing tutoring supports students from early literacy through advanced middle school coursework. Each session is individualized around your child’s current assignments, academic goals, and school expectations.

Foundational Literacy for Grades 1–4

 

We focus on:

 

  • Letter formation and handwriting habits
  • Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure
  • Spelling and vocabulary development
  • Organizing simple stories and explanations
  • Building confidence and writing stamina

 

Mastering the Writing Process for Grades 5–8

 

We teach:

 

  • Brainstorming and idea prioritization
  • Paragraph and essay outlining
  • Topic sentences and transitions
  • Revision for clarity and flow
  • Writing across genres (narrative, expository, persuasive, literary analysis)

 

Strengthening Reading & Literature Analysis

 

Middle school writing increasingly depends on reading comprehension. We help students:

 

  • Identify themes and central ideas
  • Use textual evidence effectively
  • Write analytical responses
  • Prepare for reading and writing assessments

Executive Function Coaching That Supports Writing Success

Even when students understand writing concepts, planning and follow-through can be major obstacles. Executive function coaching helps students initiate tasks, manage time, and complete writing assignments independently.

Practical tools we teach include:

 

  • Chunking long assignments
  • Task initiation strategies
  • Pomodoro-style focus systems
  • Goal-setting for writing projects
  • Reducing screen-based distractions
Executive Function Coaches Tiers

TESTIMONIALS

My son got to a point in his writing where he just hit a wall with brainstorming. He needed some extra 1:1 time outside of school with someone who could handle the executive functions aspect, the anxiety piece, the extra time/silence my son sometimes needed, and the warmth and creativity that is his native space. Jake was beyond perfect. I just couldn’t have dreamt up a better fit. In addition, he documented his process and what was working with my son so that I have a collection of emails to look back on when I need reminders about how to help my son when he’s feeling stuck – which is now very seldom. If I had five thumbs, they’d all be up. So I’ll just say 5 stars! Thank you, Jakek, and thank you, Themba Tutors. (By the way, this was affordable, to boot.)

 

-Micaela B.     

Samantha was great! Samantha was always punctual, nice, and clear when she sent her message to my son during her sessions. It helped my son improve his writing skills and schoolwork and gain some confidence.
After each session, she explained how he was doing and his progress, which I appreciated.

 

-Kay L.

Jill does an amazing job. She is incredibly patient with my son, and he has made great progress with his writing.

 

-Lisa V.    

Stephen was an amazing tutor to my bristly middle schooler! He helped with his writing and high school application process and was a wonderful influence on him. We are so grateful for his help and would highly recommend him!

 

-Erica W.    

At Themba Tutors, we take the time to help students/clients understand their strengths and progress in areas where they need to improve. We offer personalized tools for each of our clients to help them become more aware of their individual needs as they work towards short-term goals. Improving these skills will benefit our students’/clients’ long-term plans.

WRITING (GRADES 1-8)
REBECCA S.

Master’s in Social Work, Bachelor’s in English Writing

BRIAN F.
BRIAN F.

M.S. in Education

WRITING (GRADES 1-8)
MARIA

M.S. in Bilingual, Childhood and Special Education & Ed.M in Language and Literacy

WRITING (GRADES 1-8)
STEPHEN S.

BA in English and History, MA in Teaching, MA in Liberal Studies

WRITING (GRADES 1-8)
JURGA

Special Education Teacher, Certified Orton-Gillingham Literacy Specialist

Specialized Support for Diverse Learners

writing tutor NYC Metro Area

We support students with:

Instruction is carefully paced and adapted while maintaining high academic standards.

Support for ESL & Multilingual Learners

 

We help students build:

  • Academic vocabulary
  • English grammar and syntax
  • Written clarity and confidence
  • Classroom participation skills

Flexible Tutoring Options Across the NYC Metro Area

In-person writing tutor NYC services available throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, Northern New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut.

 

Online tutoring available everywhere, with hybrid options for flexibility.

Who We Are?

writing tutors for middle school students (1)

Founded in 2012 by CEO Craig Selinger, Themba Tutors provides customized writing tutoring for students in grades 1–8 across the NYC metro area—with a strong focus on Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and additional availability in Westchester and Long Island.

 

Our team includes advanced-degree educators and specialists who collaborate closely with families and schools to support long-term academic growth.

A Simple, Guided Intake Process for Grades 1–8 Writing Support

We make it easy for families to get the right writing support—without pressure or long-term commitments.

 

  • Free consultation to discuss your child’s needs
  • Thoughtful tutor matching based on grade level and learning profile
  • Free remote meet-and-greet before committing
  • Flexible, pay-as-you-go scheduling

 

Most families are matched and scheduled within 1–3 business days.

Not ready to fill out the form yet? We’re here to make this easy.

📞 (917) 382-8641 | 📲 (917) 382-8641 | ✉ [email protected]


Every coach offers a free 15-minute remote meet-and-greet, so you can get to know them and see if it feels like the right fit. We’re very responsive and easy to communicate with throughout the process. From there, we’ll thoughtfully match you with one or more of our coaches.