Introduction

If your teen dislikes reading or writing, it’s easy to feel like the battle is already lost. After all, if you can’t get them to like it, and their teacher hasn’t had any luck either, what could a tutor possibly do?

Here’s what I think: while improving in reading and writing doesn’t require students to love the subjects, online ELA tutoring with a good tutor can often shift their perspectives. Let’s bust this myth once and for all.

Why This Myth Exists

Many parents worry that their teen’s mindset toward reading or writing is set in stone. If they’ve already decided they don’t like it, what’s going to change their mind now? This belief can make tutoring feel pointless, or worse, like a waste of time and money.

Parents may also think, “If I can’t get through to them, and their English teacher can’t either, how can anyone else?”

The reality, though, is that mindset shifts and skill-building can happen simultaneously. Even if a student never grows to love reading or writing, they can still learn to excel at it. And sometimes, they might even surprise themselves along the way.

How Tutors Engage Reluctant Students

A good tutor doesn’t need students to arrive excited about reading and writing; they just need them to show up. From there, it’s about personalization, variety, and building confidence. Here’s how I approach reluctant readers and writers:

• Give them choices: For reading, I offer 5 books tailored to their interests and let them choose. When students pick the material, they’re more invested, and I’ve never had a student dislike a book we’ve chosen together. Writing prompts for essays are the same: 4-5 options to choose from that are tied to the book we’re reading.

• Switch it up: Academic writing is the focus, but I weave in narrative, descriptive, and persuasive pieces. Creative writing keeps things fun and helps build skills like vocabulary as well.

• Build confidence: Sometimes, dislike for a subject stems from not feeling good at it. By focusing on skill-building and small wins, students gain confidence, and with confidence comes a willingness to engage more deeply.

The focus of tutoring isn't to make reading and writing a student's favorite activities overnight but rather to find ways to meet students where they are and help them grow.

The Benefits of Personalized Tutoring

Unlike a classroom or even at-home efforts, tutoring offers a completely tailored experience. A reading and writing tutor:

• Adapts to each student’s needs and interests

• Provides a one-on-one environment where students feel heard

• Works at a pace that ensures students aren’t overwhelmed

Even for students who aren’t excited about these subjects, tutoring offers a space to explore and build skills in a way that feels manageable and meaningful.

Real Progress, Even Without Instant Enthusiasm

One of my students came into tutoring with a strong dislike for writing. It felt overwhelming and frustrating for him. Over the past year, though, he’s grown more confident and willing to write because we’ve broken it down into manageable steps and connected the assignments to topics he actually cares about. He's even shown pride in the work he's produced.

While writing still isn’t his favorite activity, he now approaches it with less hesitation and more clarity, knowing what’s expected and how to get started. He may never become a passionate writer, and that’s okay. He’s still writing stronger paragraphs, organizing his thoughts more clearly, and feeling more capable with every session.

What Parents Should Know

Here’s the good news: students don’t have to like a subject to improve in it. They just need support that builds their confidence and helps them feel capable.

While I’ve helped many students discover a new appreciation for reading and writing, it doesn’t happen with everyone, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t necessarily to change their minds; it’s to give them the skills they need to succeed, regardless of how they feel about it.

Final Thoughts

Disliking reading or writing doesn’t mean a student is doomed to struggle forever. With personalized online ELA tutoring, students gain confidence, build skills, and often discover that these subjects aren’t as bad as they thought. Even if they never grow to love reading or writing, they can still excel.

If your teen is ready to turn things around—even if they’re reluctant—let’s start the journey together.