Children struggling to read or those who read below grade-level benchmarks might need more help than parents know how to provide. Reading aloud with children, asking questions as they read and helping them sound out words can aid a child during their reading journey.

Even children who receive additional assistance at school or within their classroom might need more enrichment beyond school hours to help them catch up to peers. Private tutoring could be an option. Parents might wonder: “how do I find tutoring near me for reading help?” Here are some helpful resources to help find reading tutors locally.

When Tutoring Might be the Best Option

Some children simply need more time and more intensive guidance beyond a parent or caregiver’s abilities. While teaching children to read might be easy when the child catches on quickly to sounds and other literacy skills, not all parents know how to best help children who exhibit great difficulties in a specific subject.

Reading could be easy for parents, and they might not know how to explain processes in a way that can best be understood by a struggling reader. Some tutors have backgrounds in education or even special education. This specialized background allows them to decipher lessons and concepts to help children catch on and move forward in their reading journey.

Tutoring also could be the best option for a child if a parent (or caregiver) just doesn’t have the time to provide additional help for children. Work hours might be long. Some parents work multiple jobs, too.

Other parents might simply wish to not act as an instructor to their child. Some parents don’t want to take on that role…or maybe they just don’t know how to take on that role.

Tutors can be a fresh face for children. And they may be able to provide fun or interesting techniques to better engage the child.

How Do I Find Tutoring Near Me?

Parents likely don’t want to drive an hour out of their way to take children to tutoring sessions for reading instruction. Ideally, parents want a tutor near the home or the child’s school.

Many tutors will meet in public places like a library to conduct tutoring sessions. This is a safe option for the child and the tutor. Parents could request a tutoring location like a nearby library.

However, some tutors work out of tutoring locations. Others conduct tutoring sessions at local YMCAs. Some schools also could offer after-school assistance for students.

There are a number of ways to find local tutors. Parents can:

• Research tutoring companies to find the best tutor for their child. The tutor and parent can discuss where to hold lessons.
• Look for tutoring companies that offer virtual tutoring sessions.
• Inquire about tutoring programs by contacting the school or dropping an email to the child’s teacher.
• Contact local YMCA or Boys and Girls Clubs of America locations (Boys and Girls Clubs offers Power Hour). Some organizations might require that families have memberships in order to access programs.

The Price of Tutoring

One barrier to private tutors could be their cost. The price of tutoring sessions can vary, and parents will need to know how much they can reasonably afford each month for their child’s tutoring. However, parents also might need to understand how much help their child needs.

Tutoring companies might have different packages or rates. Parents might contact companies to receive quotes for sessions. Depending on the tutoring company, there also could be other options available—like group classes.

Some programs might offer free tutoring. A child’s school might have more information related to free tutoring programs.

Virtual or In-Person Tutoring

Some companies or tutors might offer parents the option of virtual tutoring sessions. This may require a specific conferencing app.

Virtual tutoring could be a more convenient option for parents who have incredibly busy schedules. Children can access tutoring from home, and a time can be arranged that works for both the tutor and the family. Good Housekeeping rounded up the best online tutoring websites for parents who want this remote option.

In-person tutoring might be a better option for children who need one-on-one guidance. Not all children can learn best via virtual methodologies. In-person tutoring sessions also can allow more interactive instruction.

Parents should choose the tutoring option that works best for their child, their schedule and their comfort level, too.

Reading Apps and Programs

Private tutoring might not be a financially affordable option for all families. Tutoring prices can vary, and the cost of tutoring can be expensive. Some children need multiple tutoring sessions each week. Even weekly tutoring sessions could add up to a few hundred dollars over the course of a month.

Parents who don’t have the budget for private tutoring or who might not have the time in their schedule to fit in sessions for their child could utilize reading programs online or reading apps. Some reading apps—like Readability—include virtual tutoring experiences…at a price that works for nearly every budget.

Readability offers an AI tutor that guides lessons via the program; the tutor is programmed with voice recognition software, which allows it to understand the unique voice of each child. When using Readability, children read stories aloud. This is how the AI tutor can identify when a child needs help.

If a child stumbles on a word or seems to struggle with a lesson, the AI tutor will provide help and direction. In addition, the tutor will ask questions at the end of each story to measure the child’s comprehension of the story.

Children only advance to a more difficult level in the program when they have demonstrated proficiency in both reading fluency and comprehension. But how does a parent know what level a child should begin lessons?

Parents can set their child’s reading level when beginning the program using the child’s reading level at school. Or if parents don’t know the child’s reading level, Readability can determine the most appropriate starting point for the child.

Do Parents Need to Help with Lessons via Reading Programs?

Parents who opt to use a reading program or reading app to help tutor their child might wonder if they have to be present during lessons. When the child is first using the program, it might be beneficial for parents to be nearby to help the child begin the program. Parents also might want to sit-in during the first lesson or two to better understand how the program works.

However, Readability is very easy for children to use without assistance. Once children learn how to navigate lessons, they can independently use the program. Readability is also designed to be engaging and interactive, and children might discover that every story offers a unique reading experience.

Readability encourages children to be curious about the story…and explore it. For example, children can click on a word to learn the definition and build their vocabulary.

Parents can always follow their child’s progress on the program via a portal called the Parent Dashboard. This hub offers a glimpse of the child’s reading level, their fluency (measured in words per minute) and parents also can see how long the child reads during Readability lessons.

Parents can share this reading data with the child’s teacher, too! The Parent Dashboard allows parents to create reading reports to help facilitate communication between the school and parents.

When researching reading programs and tutoring opportunities, parents will want to gather as much information as possible. For tutoring, parents need to know the pricing structure and the background of who will be helping their child.

With reading programs, parents also need to understand the cost of subscriptions and how the program will be billed. Not every tutor will be a perfect match for every child, and not every program might resonate with children.

Parents should inquire about free trial periods for reading programs. These trials can help parents better understand how the program works and if it holds their child’s interest. Some programs might not meet the educational needs of the child, too.

Readability offers a free seven-day trial period that lets children explore stories, work with the AI tutor and become familiar with the program format. Interested in virtual tutoring with Readability? Sign up today to explore the power of Readability’s AI reading tutor!

Millions of children struggle with reading. Some have difficulty with decoding, others might struggle with comprehension, and children also could struggle with all aspects of reading. After all, difficulty decoding words could leave a child to have little understanding of a sentence or paragraph of text. One mispronunciation could throw off the entire meaning, leaving children to ponder what they just read.

Parents might have to pool their own resources to help their child. Private tutoring could help struggling readers gain proficiency, but not all families can afford one-on-one in-person instruction. However, online reading tutors could offer a unique and effective reading resource for struggling readers. Online tutors also might be more budget-friendly and convenient, too!

What are Online Reading Tutors for Kids?

An online reading tutor is fairly self-explanatory. While typical tutoring sessions often take place in person, online tutoring is virtual and happens via computer (or other tech device). Tutoring sessions could take place via platforms like Zoom, and this type of remote tutoring might have been commonplace during the pandemic when most schooling was remote.

For Zoom or other conference-type virtual tutoring sessions, the price of tutors could be similar to face-to-face sessions. Virtual tutors could be available via professional tutoring service companies. These companies help parents or students find tutors for a particular subject, grade-level, etc. Parents can search for the best tutor for their child. Rates may vary.

Online reading tutors also could be programmed into specific educational programs. These virtual or AI tutors might guide lessons or ask questions during lessons. Schools might use programs that feature guided lessons. However, these programs also are available for parents to use at home with their children.

Are AI Online Reading Tutors Really Tutors?

Readability offers an AI tutor that provides guidance during reading lessons. So how does this work? And is an AI tutor really a tutor? Yes!

Different programs might handle virtual tutoring differently. With Readability, the virtual tutor is AI (artificial intelligence) and is programmed with voice recognition software. The AI tutor learns to identify a child’s unique tone and vocal inflections. This helps the tutor to recognize when a child has mispronounced a word or is struggling with the story.

Like an in-person tutor, the AI tutor will help provide guidance for the child. The tutor will correct any mispronunciations or correct a child’s errors. At the end of each story, Readability’s AI tutor also will ask questions about what the child has read. This enables the tutor to gauge whether or not the child has comprehended the story.

Children advance to the next level when the program determines that they have mastered their current level. Both proficiency and comprehension mastery are necessary for a child to move up to another reading level. Each level also includes numerous lessons (or stories).

While the AI tutor isn’t a human sitting next to the child, it still aids the child during lessons and compiles data related to the child’s reading mastery. An in-person tutor listens with their ears, while an AI tutor listens through programming.

The Cost of Program-Based Online Reading Tutors

When online reading tutors are programmed into a lesson-based learning platform (like Readability), parents don’t need to pay per hour or pay separately for the tutoring sessions. Instead, access to the tutor might be offered via a subscription price (per month, for Readability).

And while in-person tutors typically charge per hour, parents opting for online tutors via a program might just pay that one monthly price. The savings could be substantial; if a private in person tutor charged a per hour rate of $20 and the child needed weekly sessions each month, parents could pay $80 to $100 every month.

Reading program subscriptions could be much more affordable. A Readability subscription costs $19.99 per month, and there is no limit to how often children can use the program each week or even each month. Children can get reading help as often as they need it, and parents will only pay for the monthly subscription price.

Families with multiple children who need reading help could face quite a hefty monthly expense if they choose to use a private in-person tutor. Readability, however, allows up to three children to use one subscription. That monthly price wouldn’t change! Parents could actually gain tutoring help for three children for less than $7 per child per month.

Beyond Online Reading Tutors: How Parents Can Help at Home

While using online reading tutors can help children gain confidence and proficiency, parents also can encourage other healthy reading habits to ensure that children keep reading beyond the online platform. Some parents also could limit their child’s screen time, and they might not wish for their child to use online reading programs beyond a specific duration each week.

How can parents help their child become confident readers when they also are using a reading program (with the help of an online tutor)? There are many easy ways to keep children reading and enjoying books and other reading materials. Parents can…

Let children choose their books

This feels almost overstated, but parents need to let children choose their reading materials. If children are using Readability, they are reading lots of different stories via the program. When children aren’t using Readability, let them choose their books. Visit the library to help children find books of interest. Yes, children also can read graphic novels or comic books. Reading is reading! Let them enjoy what they read.

Help children choose the right books

Choosing the right books doesn’t mean that parents are necessarily choosing the books for a child (see above!). Instead, parents should just make sure that books are at the appropriate level for their child. Reading books that are too difficult could just lead to frustration.

Encourage a reading habit…and build a reading habitat

Make reading a habit. Set aside time when the entire family shuts off technology and just reads for fun. Everyone should grab a book and read. Make the reading habit even more enjoyable by building or creating a reading habitat for everyone. Encourage kids (and adults!) to bring pillows and blankets or even special plushies to the reading room. Kids might even want to read in a makeshift reading tent (toss a blanket over chairs). If the weather is warm outside, set up a tent and take the reading outdoors. Don’t forget blankets and flashlights!

Stop the clock.

Yes, most children need to read daily for a specific set of minutes. However, it’s ok not to use a timer. This could cause disruption during reading. Children might read for an hour one day and 20 minutes the next; the only concern is that the minutes still add up to the allotted time per the teacher. Children might need to read 100 minutes per week, but parents can break that down in different ways.

Read more difficult books to their child

Some struggling readers might read below grade level, and this might mean that they can’t easily read the popular books that their friends are reading. Parents can read these books to their child. Talk about the story as it’s read to make sure children understand the plot, etc.

Many children struggle to read, and parents might consider using a private tutor to help children hit grade-level reading benchmarks. However, reading programs like Readability feature online reading tutors that also can provide guided reading instruction to children. These AI tutors help children during lessons and ask questions related to the story. As these virtual tutors are part of the reading program, parents will only pay for the subscription to the program…not a tutoring rate. This means that online reading tutors could be a more cost effective option for families on a budget.

To find out if Readability’s AI tutor is a good fit, try Readability for free for one week! Sign up today!

Private reading tutors can be expensive, especially if a family is on a tight budget. While many parents aren’t experts in reading instruction or might not have degrees in education, they can still provide guidance and basic reading instruction at home.

If a child only needs a little extra guidance to meet benchmarks or to advance their reading skills, parents may be able to provide enrichment activities in addition to in-school instruction. Here’s how parents can be their child’s reading tutor at home to help them with basic reading struggles.

Keep in mind, though, that children who have more profound reading struggles may need additional support or interventions. Parents who feel that their child needs more instruction or who are concerned about a child’s reading level or perhaps lack of reading mastery may wish to reach out to both their child’s pediatrician and the school.

Start the Reading Habit…and Create a Reading Habitat

Kids should be reading daily, because the more they read the better readers they may become! Typically, schools assign nightly reading minutes—15+ minutes or more. Reading everyday is a great habit to ensure that children make reading a part of each day. However, some children might not be too excited to grab a book.

One of the first steps that parents can take to help their child with reading is to ensure that kids adopt a reading habit. Parents can get creative to make reading time enjoyable by establishing a reading routine for kids that may even include a reading habitat. So what is a reading habitat? This is a special area designated for reading, like a pillow mountain, a beanbag chair, a homemade fort or just a quiet area.

Every family may establish its own reading routine and reading habitat. When creating a reading routine, parents may consider:

• A specific time. Maybe daily reading takes place during bedtime.
• Reading aloud. Parents can mix up the reading routine by reading aloud to kids and then encouraging the child to read aloud. Maybe parents and kids alternate who reads a page or a chapter.
• Book choice. Reading may be more fun when kids can choose their own books.
• Ditching the timer. Sometimes a reading timer is more of a distraction. When kids really become engrossed in a book, the timer might not be necessary.

When creating a reading habitat, parents should ask kids about where they like to read. Some kids like to curl up on a bed or the couch. But others may be excited to build a reading habitat like a fort or a mountain of pillows. Ask kids about their ideal reading sanctuary and help them create it.

Tutoring at Home: Talk While You Read

For children who might have difficulty retelling a story, describing what they have read or other comprehension challenges, parents may provide guidance during reading time by discussing the story. This doesn’t necessarily mean quizzing a child. Reading avoidance may be related to feeling as though story time or reading time is a homework assignment, so parents may want to find ways to make the discussion engaging.

Instead of asking a barrage of questions after a child has read a story or book, use these strategies to engage:

• Discuss the story’s action as it is ongoing. When a major event takes place, ask a child how the character might feel or ask them to predict what might happen next.
• After each chapter, help children summarize what happened in the story. Use that discussion to also see if children can recall past chapters and how they relate.
• For younger children, read stories in chunks of texts and discuss the story after each chunk.
• If parents are reading to children, switch voices for each character and emote during the conversation. See if children can pick up on the inflection of emotion.

Tutoring at Home: Play Reading Games for Fun

Reading doesn’t have to just involve books, comics, magazines or other written material. Games focused on reading or on reading strategies also may help kids. Reading games can be board games, DIY games or apps.

While games aren’t necessarily reading tools, they may help kids view reading and words in general as fun. Some classic board games like Scrabble or Bananagrams help children form words, and this may help them with spelling or vocabulary. When playing word games, parents may want to keep a dictionary on hand for kids to find the definition of each word.

Reading app games can focus on all types of reading strategies. Some app-based games are geared towards sight words, others may focus on other skills.

Parents also can create their own reading games at home. Reading games can be completely unique, and parents should feel inclined to get imaginative to design games that their child will like to play.

Go on a sight word scavenger hunt at the store, and encourage kids to find all the words on their sight word list. Maybe they receive a small prize if they find every word.

Comprehension skills also can be developed via a game using a simple beach ball. Write comprehension prompts on each section of the ball; toss the ball, and have the child answer the prompt that faces upwards. Comprehension beach balls also are available pre-made online. Not sure what to write on the ball? Parents may focus on the ‘wh’ questions of comprehension: who, what, where, when and how. Prompts also can focus on character traits or even ask about specific events.

Tutoring at Home: Use Worksheets

A child’s teacher may be one of the best resources for determining the best ways to help a child with reading at home. Reading worksheets may be used in school to work on spelling patterns, comprehension or other literacy skills. Teachers may be able to send extra worksheets home that parents can use to practice with children.

Worksheets also may be available online. Some are organized by grade level, which may help parents figure out what lessons are best for their child. Teachers also can advise parents on sites that offer these worksheets.

Tutoring at Home: Activities to Complement the Book

Supplementary or complementary activities can help boost a child’s enjoyment of reading. These activities, however, are simply entertainment activities that may help a child think about the book using other media.

Listening to the Book

Some children like having parents or a teacher read to them. Hearing the story may help a child pick up on emotions or social clues related to the plot. Parents can use audiobooks for children who enjoy listening to the story. Children can read the chapter and then listen to it, or, perhaps the child listens and follows along in the book.

Parents should still ask children questions related to the plot or characters to help gauge comprehension.

Watching the Movie

Lots of children’s books have been adapted to the big screen. After a child finishes reading a book, parents can find the movie. Watch the movie as a family and talk about how the book and movie were different. Were the characters portrayed like the child pictured them? Were any major plot details missing from the movie? Ask children if they liked the book or movie better.

Cooking a Book Recipe

Many adults and children have read a book only to become hungry, craving something the character is enjoying in the book. Or maybe the character is eating something new and exciting? Ask kids about the foods their favorite characters are enjoying, and then cook up something similar. Reading and following recipes may help children with math skills, too!

Foods from the books might not be a child’s favorite, but trying that food can help them experience part of the story. Foods can be immersive, too!

Book Field Trips

Taking a book field trip is another way to immerse in the story. Eating foods the character eats, and visiting places the character visits help children step into the book. While parents might not live close to a New York museum, visit a similar museum near home. Or take a virtual tour online! Many museums offer virtual experiences during Covid.

Reading about the planets? Visit a planetarium or a science center. Stories set in the past may lead to a field trip to a historical site nearby. Ask a child about major activities and plot points in the book, then plan a book field trip.

The Cost of Tutoring

While there are many ways that parents can help guide kids on a reading journey at home and serve as at-home tutors, some parents might still want more enrichment for their child that can better help them hit reading benchmarks. Private tutoring can be expensive, although rates vary. Some companies offer tutoring services, and parents can find a tutor near them. Schools also may have recommendations.

Parents may feel that there is only so much help they can provide at home using basic tools like games, worksheets and reading guidance. If a child is still struggling, what other tools can parents use at home?

Free Tutoring Services

Depending on a child’s age or grade, there may be options or programs related to no-cost tutoring. For example, some high school students tutor other high school or middle school students for free as part of school programs.

If there are free programs in the area, a child’s teacher or school may be the best resource.

Reading Apps or Programs

If parents are interested in private tutoring but perhaps cost is an issue, they can utilize online reading programs like Readability. When researching online apps and programs, parents should look for options that are research-based. Programs—like tutors—vary in cost. Parents should make sure that the app or reading program is a good fit for their child’s needs and struggles.

Content also should be engaging and appropriately leveled. Readability, for example, features stories that are engaging and interactive. Story content is leveled based on a child’s ability to ensure that lessons aren’t too difficult…or too easy.

Parents may be concerned about older children who struggle with reading. Older children don’t always want to read stories that are focused on a younger age group. While they may struggle to read grade-level text, stories for these children should still focus on topics that interest them. A 9-year-old shouldn’t be forced to read about Fluffy the bunny. Unless, of course, the child really wants to read about that bunny! Readability keeps lessons appropriate for age and ability.

What about results? Parents of children who struggle to read want to know that the money they invest on an app or reading program will be beneficial. Reading programs should offer parent a portal that shows the child’s progress with the program. Readability offers the Parent Dashboard, which gives parents details on a child’s reading level and progress and also provides data related to how long the child engaged with the program.

So what program or app is best? This really depends on a child’s needs. Some apps or programs—including Readability—offer a free trial period for parents and kids to explore the features. Trial periods can help parents determine if the program is a good fit.

From Parent to Tutor

While parents may act as a sort of at-home tutor for children, taking on the role of teacher may take some adjustment. However, during Covid, many parents already had to take on the role of both teacher and parent, so tutoring might feel like a breeze!

Parents shouldn’t stress out trying to make a perfect reading plan at home. Instead, sit down and focus on how to best help kids while making reading time enjoyable. Figure out a reading schedule and then talk to kids about the best reading habitat. Build a fort, pile up some pillows or get comfortable on the couch. Help kids during reading, and, if they prefer, maybe take turns reading pages or a chapter.

Parents can utilize enrichment activities like games, field trips, and even cooking to help children immerse in the reading adventure. Children who need more guidance and help beyond what parents may offer at home could benefit from a reading app or program. Parents can ask teachers for recommendations or research programs on their own. However, free trial offers make take the guesswork out of the investment!

The reading test results came back from school. You might have feared those results and those reports. What you feared, though, might not have been reflective of those scores. Maybe they were a tad lower than expected, but nothing bad. Still, maybe as a parent, you feel that your child needs a little help to hit the benchmarks.

Should you hire a reading tutor? That depends on your budget and your preference. If you’re interested in a tutor to help your child, though, here is our recommendation for the best tutor for reading. Surprise: it doesn’t necessarily involve an actual person!

The Private Tutor

There are many companies that offer tutoring services; these companies may link you up to a private tutor who has been vetted and meets your needs. Typically, parents can find rates to figure out if the cost is in line with the budget. Angie’s List says that parents may expect to pay anywhere from $45 to $60 per hour. The rate, though, may depend on the company, individual and the subject.

Tutoring—private tutors—can get expensive over time. If your child needs tutoring multiple times a week, the cost will go up quickly. While tutors are a great option to help a struggling reader, they certainly aren’t the only option.

Parents need to feel comfortable with the tutor’s abilities, background, and, of course, pricing, before moving forward with lessons. Parents also may need to figure out times that work with the tutor’s schedule and the child’s schedule, too. Unfortunately, this can be a lot of juggling, especially if the child is involved in multiple sports or activities.

A Virtual Tutor

If a private tutor isn’t an option because of cost, time or personal comfort (some parents just aren’t comfortable), then a virtual reading tutor also could be a solution. Some companies offer parents an online tutoring option, which, during Covid, could be ideal. Again, though, cost could be a factor.

Another way to find a virtual tutor is by using a reading program at home. Some reading apps like Readability include an integrated AI-guided reading tutor. The tutor recognizes the child’s voice and provides feedback and assistance when a child struggles during lessons. Readability’s AI tutor also asks questions related to the story’s content to gauge understanding. 

A virtual tutor built into a reading program can provide feedback and guidance similar to an in-person tutor. The difference for parents is that programs like Readability are typically charged per month, not per hour.

A virtual tutor also could provide parents with more control over lessons. Readability includes a Parent Dashboard that shows how long a child used the program as well as their current reading level and progress. There isn’t a question about if the program is working. If a parent is concerned about progress, they simply need to review the dashboard.

Are There Free Reading Tutors?

Parents may wonder if they can find free tutors. While programs exist that could provide free tutoring to students in need, these may be limited. Children also may need to qualify; some are provided to children who have a diagnosed medical condition. Others may be tied to high school programs and may only be offered to certain grade levels (high school children may only be able to tutor middle schoolers or peers in their school).

Many tutors will charge for their services, although parents might find relatives who may offer services for free (maybe an aunt was a former teacher). While free programs may be limited, parents can still research programs offered in their area. It never hurts to research free programs.

Before committing to any tutor or program, parents should make sure that the program or individual is vetted. Background checks are typically required by tutoring companies. Make sure all tutors are properly screened, and parents also shouldn’t hesitate to inquire about educational background.

Do Tutors Offer a Free Trial?

Unfortunately, when you hire a tutor you likely won’t be able to secure a free trial. Not many tutors would be too willing to tutor for free just to make sure that the parents are happy. However, using a reading app allows parents to try the virtual tutor free of charge.

If those reading scores were just a little low and parents need to get a child back on track, they may want to try out a few programs before committing. Many apps or programs will provide a free trial period for this reason. Readability offers a seven-day trial period that gives children access to the app’s features and benefits. If parents aren’t happy with the program or the child just doesn’t like it, just cancel and move on.

Ready to try Readability? Sign up for a free seven-day trial today!

Teachers everywhere know that reading is an important part of the learning process. Reading is the key way that many students learn information and concepts as they get older. When children first enter school they are learning to read, but eventually they will make the switch to reading to learn. That’s why it is important for parents and teachers to make sure children are getting the right reading support early on. Teachers and parents alike can help improve reading skills by providing reading tutoring activities for teaching reading online.

Sight words and building vocabulary

Learning sight words is essential for new readers to be able to build their other reading skills. Sight words are commonly used words, and they also do not follow the usual spelling rules and conventions.

New readers will also greatly benefit from building their vocabulary in general. Knowing more vocabulary words can help increase a reader’s fluency and reading comprehension.

Here are two online activities that can help with tutoring your child to learn more sight words and vocabulary words:

Vocabulary.com – This website is a great tool to use for building vocabulary. The website has many different kinds of vocabulary lists or you can make a custom list for your child. There are specific lists such as ones that only have sight words.

The website also has tons of worksheets and word games you can use to help your child have fun and learn new words at the same time.

Word Bingo – This fun version of the traditional game of bingo helps improve vocabulary but also spelling. There are many different ways you can play this game.

In one fun version, you can have each square with a letter and your child must be able to spell a word successfully to win. You can also have each square with one word and as you read aloud the definition your child must guess which word in the square corresponds to the definition.

You can find many versions of word bingo online with already made bingo cards that are printable.

Fluency

Fluency is a reading skill that consists of other skills working together. Your child’s reading fluency depends on their vocabulary bank, speed, accuracy, and proper expression.

All these elements work together to make sure that your child is reading fluently, which means they are reading in a way that is natural. If they were to read aloud, they would sound just as fluent as when they are speaking.

Readability – Apps are a great online tool to use for tutoring because you can take them everywhere, and your child is able to learn and practice reading anywhere and anytime.

Readability in particular can help with fluency because it offers a model of reading for your child and also gives your child feedback for how well they are reading.

Readability has a large library of original content that is constantly being updated, so your child will always have something to read.

The app gives your child the option of reading the book aloud as the app listens to them and gives them feedback and error correction to help them improve. Your child can also switch roles and have the app read the story to them as they follow along. This can help with fluency as your child can have multiple exposures and time to practice the materials.

Rewordify – This website is great for building vocabulary and simplifying sentences in any text that your child is reading. You can input any text into the website and it will identify difficult vocabulary words and simplify it. This helps your child understand texts easier and improve their fluency.

Reading comprehension 

Reading comprehension is generally the overall goal of reading instruction.

Reading comprehension is being able to understand what the reading material actually says and then being able to make connections between the information in the reading and to what you already know.

Successful reading comprehension means your child not only understands the meaning of the text but can think critically and outside of it. This is important for them to master because it is an academic skill they will use all throughout their education.

Mind mapping – A mind map is a great activity to help your child organize their thoughts about the reading and to actually visually see the connections they are making in their mind.

Quizlet – Asking questions about the reading and recalling information from the reading are also important parts of comprehension. You can create custom quizzes about anything your child is reading with Quizlet that can help your child check their understanding of the reading material.

There are many different skills that new readers should improve and master as they learn to read.

Successful reading means being able to recognize vocabulary quickly and easily. It also involves reading fluently or as naturally as possible. Reading comprehension is often the last step in successful reading processes.

Improving these skills can help your child learn to read successfully and they can improve all of these skills from the comfort of their home thanks to online tools such as Readability that assist teachers and parents teach from home.

Watching your child learn to read for the first time is an exciting time for you and them. While some children can easily jump into reading, many new readers struggle with some parts of learning to read.

Finding your child the right help can mean a lot to improve their reading process. Extra practice at home can help but a private reading tutor can make a big difference in how quickly they improve.

Finding the right tutor for your child is often also a matter of cost. Private in-person tutors can be very expensive. Here are some tips I found to be helpful when looking for great private reading tutors near me and some cheaper, alternative options that can improve your child’s reading skills. 

What does a reading tutor do?

A reading tutor can be a great asset to your child’s reading journey. They can help improve your child’s reading through personalized strategies. Many parents might think that reading tutors just read the materials to their children, but reading tutors often do so much more.

They assess your child’s specific reading issues and then target those issues. A reading tutor will also assess your child’s reading level, so they can check if they are at the appropriate level. They then create a set plan with reading goals for your child. Often a reading tutor will also create personalized activities and materials to help your child reach those reading goals.

When searching for a reading tutor, you want to make sure your child and their tutor get along well. However, you want to make sure that they also stay on task and actually are able to make effective improvements.

How do I find a reading tutor?

Finding a private reading tutor is easy, but finding the right tutor for your child can actually be tricky.  The best places to search for a reading tutor are:

1. Your child’s school – Some schools set up reading buddy systems where an older student helps a younger student learn to read. This could be a great place to start to look for a reading tutor. 
2. The local college – Many college students try to make some extra cash by working as a private tutor. You can often find listings for college students working as a private tutor in the school’s newspaper or their career center. 
3. Reading app – Another alternative option is to utilize an online reading tutor such as an app. This is a great way for your child to get personalized tutoring at a cheaper cost and for a much more independent but interactive experience. 

How much is a private reading tutor?

On average a private tutor will cost about $40-50 an hour. This will depend on the tutor’s experience and credentials. Keep in mind that good and high in-demand private reading tutors can cost up to $100 an hour depending on the needs of your child and their reading goals.

Your child most likely will need to meet with their tutor several times a week to see actual improvements and for tutoring to be effective. If your child is meeting with their private tutor even just once a week for only one hour,  that will cost you about $160-400 a month.

Before searching for a tutor, you need to consider if your child could benefit from alternative forms of tutoring. A reading app might be the solution you are looking for if you want a cheaper and more accessible private reading tutor for your child. Using an app as a private reading tutor is an innovative way to make sure your child is getting the reading help they need whenever they need it. 

Why should I use an online reading tutor?

The perfect private reading tutor would be one that could be available whenever your child needs help. However, realistically a private tutor is likely not available 24/7 and often charges high rates. Instead of hiring an expensive tutor, you can help your child improve their reading by utilizing a reading app.

Readability is a great app that acts as a private reading tutor. The app works by assessing your child’s reading level and provides a wide variety of original content for your child to read. The library is often updated, so your child will never run out of reading materials.

The app uses A.I. and speech-recognition technology to help your child improve their reading skills. Your child has the option of having the app read the story to them as they follow along, or they can choose to read the story aloud themselves as the app listens to them read. While they are reading, the app will give them instant feedback and error correction.

The app also helps them with reading comprehension. By using the innovative Interactive Voice-based Questions & Answers, the app and your child engage in the material together just like an in-person tutor.

The app provides you with progress reports with a detailed analysis of their progress. You can check to see how your child is improving and what they still need to work on when it comes to accuracy and comprehension. You can also see how much time your child spends practicing on the app.

A great private reading tutor near you can be easy to find if you know where to look. A reading app can be an even better reading tutor that can be there for your child whenever they need help. Readability is a great tool to have on hand 24/7 for your child to practice and improve their reading skills wherever and whenever they want.