Mariam Alwarith
Meet Mariam Alwarith - Expert Elementary, Math, Reading & Study Skills Tutor
Mariam Alwarith is a Virginia-licensed educator who tutors elementary math, middle school math, algebra and geometry, reading, writing and grammar, English language arts (ELA), science, social studies, social-emotional learning (SEL), music and study skills, with a preference for 2nd through 8th grade. She holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners from George Mason University and has taught kindergarten and 3rd grade at Arlington Science Focus Elementary, along with elementary music at Barrett Elementary School. For about five years, she also worked one-on-one with students as a certified brain trainer at a cognitive training center, supporting learners with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia and other learning differences. Based in Fairfax, Mariam tutors in person in students' homes and at local libraries across Annandale, Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax, starting by understanding why a student is struggling rather than simply repeating the instruction.
Areas Of Expertise
Elementary Math: Mariam has taught math to kindergarten and 3rd grade classes in Arlington, delivering differentiated instruction and connecting math to real-life experiences, and she has taught math the same way it is taught in Asia. She adapts her teaching with scaffolding, explicit modeling and visual supports, depending on each student's needs.
Middle School Math, Algebra & Geometry: Mariam tutors math through 9th grade, and her skills include algebra and geometry. She uses thoughtful questioning, observation and informal assessments to find exactly where the disconnect occurs.
Reading: As a brain trainer, Mariam worked with learners from kindergarten to adults on reading, responding to text, word roots and sentence structure, and she delivered literacy instruction to her kindergarten classes. She brings in hands-on experiences, movement or visual supports when a student needs a different way in.
Writing & Grammar: Mariam planned and delivered writing and grammar lessons for a summer academic program, grading assignments and giving personalized, specific feedback to strengthen each student's writing. She documented each student's progress and recommended targeted next steps for continued growth.
English Language Arts (ELA): English is one of Mariam's main subjects from middle school through 9th grade, and English language arts tutoring is among her core skills. She keeps students engaged by building in their interests, meaningful choices and achievable challenges.
Science: Mariam's teaching experience includes inquiry-based STEM instruction and hands-on science projects, including her years at Arlington Science Focus Elementary. She draws on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and evidence-informed strategies to make challenging concepts accessible and engaging.
Social Studies: Social studies is one of Mariam's primary subjects from middle school through 9th grade, and she tutors all subjects at the elementary level. She builds real-world connections into lessons so concepts make sense beyond the page.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): In her classrooms, Mariam taught self-regulation strategies and built classroom community, confidence and social-emotional skills. She is good with students who move quickly and need to slow down, helping them regulate and stay open to creative problem-solving methods.
Music: Mariam taught music to preschool through 5th grade students at Barrett Elementary School, with differentiated lessons for varied abilities and learning styles. She coordinated with classroom teachers to connect music with broader academic content.
Study Skills, Focus & Organization: For about five years, Mariam worked one-on-one with students as a certified brain trainer, building attention, working memory, processing speed and reasoning with learners who have ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia or are twice-exceptional or neurodivergent. She has also helped high school students, college students and adults with study skills and study material, and as a pod teacher she coached students through attention, engagement and self-regulation strategies.
Grade Levels: Kindergarten through 9th grade, with a preference for 2nd through 8th grade. Mariam has also supported high school students, college students and adults with study skills.
Teaching Philosophy
"When a student struggles with a concept, my first priority is understanding why they're struggling rather than simply repeating the instruction. I believe every student is capable of growth, but not every student learns through the same approach. My responsibility as an educator is to identify and remove barriers to learning, not mistake those barriers for a lack of ability. I begin by building trust and creating a space where students feel safe asking questions, making mistakes, and expressing frustration. Through thoughtful questioning, observation, and informal assessments, I identify where the disconnect occurs. I then adapt my instruction using scaffolding, explicit modeling, visual supports, hands-on experiences, movement, or real-world connections, depending on the student's needs. My background in executive functioning, differentiated instruction, and working with neurodivergent learners has taught me how closely motivation, emotional regulation, confidence, and learning are connected. I incorporate student interests, meaningful choices, achievable challenges, and opportunities for small successes to maintain engagement and build intrinsic motivation. Above all, I prioritize student agency. I want students to understand how they learn, recognize their strengths, develop strategies for navigating challenges, and feel empowered to advocate for what they need. To me, educational equity isn't about giving every student the same instruction; it's about ensuring every student has a meaningful opportunity to succeed while feeling seen, respected, and capable."
What Makes Mariam Special
Classroom Teacher, Arlington Science Focus Elementary: From 2022 to 2024, Mariam taught 3rd grade and then kindergarten, using assessment data to adjust lessons and close individual learning gaps. She delivered cross-curricular instruction connecting math, reading, writing and content to real-life experiences, and she collaborated with teachers, specialists, administrators and caregivers to improve student outcomes.
Certified Brain Trainer: From 2016 to 2021, Mariam worked one-on-one with students to develop their cognitive and learning skills, formally assessing new clients and analyzing results to design individualized learning plans. She built strong relationships with students and families and collaborated with teachers to reinforce learning strategies.
Experience Across Elementary Classrooms: Mariam has taught music to preschool through 5th grade at Barrett Elementary School, student-taught preschool and 1st grade, taught kindergarten at Randolph Elementary, and served as a substitute teacher for Arlington Public Schools. As a pod teacher, she gave individualized academic support to kindergarten and 2nd grade students during virtual lessons.
Experience With Teenagers: Mariam has experience working with teenagers and adapting to their learning styles. She has also supported college students and adults with study skills and study material.
Multilingual Communicator: Mariam is fluent in Arabic and speaks intermediate Spanish. She has communicated student performance and learning needs to parents in person and electronically, and she is comfortable using text and email to stay in touch.
Education & Achievements
Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners, George Mason University (2021).
Bachelor of Arts in Advertising/Integrated Studies, George Mason University (2014).
Certifications: Virginia Teaching Certification (2022–2032).
Languages: Arabic (fluent) and Spanish (intermediate).