Tutoring that starts with where your child actually is.
Every student begins with a diagnostic, works from a plan built for their level, and goes home with a progress note after every single session. No guessing, for them or for you.
Why Learning with Carter exists
Too many kids get labeled "behind" without anyone stopping to find out what they actually missed. A child who can't divide usually isn't bad at division — there's a gap two grades back nobody caught.
Learning with Carter was built to find those gaps and close them. We teach Pre-K through 8th grade reading, writing, and math using a curriculum aligned to Illinois standards and tiered three ways, so a student who needs foundational review and a student ready for enrichment can both be met honestly, without shame and without a ceiling.
Families deserve to see the work. That's why every parent hears from us before and after each session, gets written notes the same day, and sees a full reassessment every six sessions — so "is this helping?" is a question with an answer, not a feeling.
— Charlotte "Lottie" Marshall, Founder
What we offer
Two ways to work with us one-on-one, plus free programs open to the whole community.
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One-to-one tutoring
Pre-K – 8th grade · reading, writing, mathA twelve-week course of study, twenty-four lessons per subject, placed by diagnostic into foundational review, on-level, or enrichment. Sessions include exit checks so we catch a shaky concept in the same week it appears, not at report-card time.
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High school placement prep
HSPT, PreACT 9, CPS selective enrollmentFor 7th and 8th graders testing into selective enrollment or Catholic high schools. We start with a full-length baseline in the real format, then build a phased plan around the actual test dates — content gaps first, then pacing, mental math, and test-day strategy.
Session packages start at $160 for four sessions. Diagnostic placement and the first consultation are included at no charge. Ask about sponsored spots if cost is a barrier — we keep some open.
How it works
The same five steps for every student, so nothing depends on a tutor's memory or a parent's persistence.
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Free consultation
We talk through what you're seeing at home and in school, what the teacher has said, and what you want twelve weeks from now to look like.
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Diagnostic placement
A grade-level assessment that finds the actual gaps — including ones from earlier grades. The score places your child into foundational review, on-level, or enrichment.
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A plan you see first
You get the placement results and the plan for the twelve weeks ahead before we begin, in plain language.
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Sessions with same-day notes
We speak with you before and after each session, and a written progress note follows within a couple of hours — what we worked on, what clicked, what to practice.
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Reassessment every six sessions
A formal check against the baseline. You see growth in numbers, and we adjust the plan based on what the data says rather than how the sessions felt.
Progress you can point to
Tutoring should be measurable. Ours is built to be.
of our students show improvement in standardized tests, homework, and classwork.
ends with a written progress note sent to parents, usually within a couple of hours.
sessions, a full reassessment against your child's original baseline.
Charlotte is a really great tutor! She demonstrates a lot of patience with children and she is also good at finding creative ways to keep your child engaged and excited about learning. Charlotte is also professional and good about keeping you updated about the progress of your child. You can truly tell that she is passionate about education.
Cam, parent
Free for the community
Not everything we do is a paid service. Some of it is just what a neighborhood needs.
Back to School Bash
Every August · Stony Island Plaza, South Side
A free community day for kids and families before school starts. We hand out packed bookbags, connect families with local resources, and give everybody a reason to be outside together.
The 2026 Bash has wrapped. The next one lands in August — check back in early summer for the date, or get on the list below and we'll tell you first.
Six-week tutoring workshop
Small group · reading and math · no cost
Foundational reading and math in small groups, with separate sessions for each subject, taught from the same curriculum our tutoring students use.
Dates, times, and location to be announced. Families and volunteer tutors can sign up now — we reach out to the list first.
From the Bash
A few from this past August at Stony Island Plaza.
Who you're working with
Learning with Carter is led by Charlotte "Lottie" Marshall, a Chicago educator who works inside Chicago Public Schools and is studying education at Chicago State University. The practice is named for her son.
Everything families receive here — the curriculum, the diagnostics, the progress reports — was built in classrooms, not bought off a shelf. That's the difference you'll feel in the first session.
- Chicago Public Schools educator, currently student teaching
- Studying education at Chicago State University
- Author of the full Learning with Carter curriculum, aligned to Illinois standards
- Serving Chicago families, Pre-K through 8th grade
Get the family newsletter
Local resources worth knowing about — transportation, afterschool programs, extracurriculars, enrollment deadlines — plus first word on the Bash and the free workshop. No spam, and you can leave any time.
Let's start with a conversation
Tell us a little about your child, or how you'd like to help. We'll follow up to set a time and answer questions. Consultations are free and there's no obligation.
info@learningwithcarter.com