Second graders typically must learn a list of sight words as part of their reading curriculum. They also might be reading short chapter books and thinking about the stories they read more in depth and beyond the basic plot elements.

Second graders should have a reading fluency rate of 50 to 60 words per minute and might be at an L or M reading level by the end of the year. Parents who are concerned their child isn’t meeting benchmarks or those who want to accelerate their child’s reading can use these tutoring ideas for 2nd grade reading:

• Hire a private tutor

• Use virtual tutoring services

• Tutor a child at home

• Engage with an AI tutor via a reading program

Hire a Private Tutor

A private tutor works one-on-one with a child. However, some tutors also offer small group sessions, and these might be a more affordable option.

Some children might find the personalized instruction more engaging and this could accelerate their learning potential. Parents also could find a private tutor that was a former teacher or even a former reading instruction (or a special education instructor).

Finding the best tutor for a child’s needs could require a bit of research, though. There are many tutoring companies that offer private tutors for different subjects, different grade levels and perhaps different learning needs, too.

Parents will want to find a tutor that is experienced with children with reading struggles; they also might look for tutors who have experience working with their child’s specific grade-level or even a specific learning disorder diagnosis (if the child has been diagnosed with a particular learning disorder).

The price of tutors can vary. Many charges per hour. Some may require that parents commit to a specific number of sessions each month.

Some parents might find that hiring a private tutor or paying for group tutoring sessions is not an affordable option. Parents who feel that their child could benefit from a private tutor could contact the school for any affordable recommendations; there could be local programs that offer free tutoring.

Some schools might even offer after-school help for children who need additional support.

Use Virtual Tutoring Sessions

Parents might not feel comfortable having their child meet up with a private tutor. In addition, work and other obligations could make scheduling difficult. Virtual reading tutoring sessions could be an option when parents are stressed about their schedule.

Not all tutors might offer virtual sessions. Those that do offer virtual tutoring might prefer a specific platform for sessions. Costs for virtual sessions also could be the same price as in-person sessions. Again, tutors might charge per hour, and parents will need to find a tutor that fits their budget.

Tutor a Child at Home

If a child is struggling to hit literacy benchmarks, parents also could help them at home. For younger children, parents could be the tutor to help guide their child’s reading journey.

Here are five strategies to help a child with reading at home:

• Read aloud to children every day and talk about the story

• Use a comprehension bookmark

• Let children choose their book but ensure it’s at their level

• Play games to memorize sight words

• Use phonics worksheets to practice sounds, blends, decoding, etc.

Read Daily

Reading regularly helps children become better readers. However, parents can read aloud to children, too. Some children might find hearing a story beneficial.

When parents read aloud to children, they should talk about the story. Ask the child questions about characters and the plot. Parents can encourage their child to take a turn at reading, too. Children and parents can each read a page.

Reading with parents could help a child feel supported. If a child struggles to sound out a word, parents can help them break the word into sounds or syllables. Work on reading together.

Make and Use a Comprehension Bookmark

Some children might need a visual prompt to help them think about the story as they read. A comprehension bookmark helps keep the child’s place in a story and gives them the prompts they need to focus on different aspects of the story.

A bookmark also can be flipped horizontally to help children focus on one sentence at a time (the bookmark helps to cover other text). Parents can purchase bookmarks online, but they also are a fun and easy project for children to make and create.

Use a poster board to cut out a bookmark strip. Have children write reading prompts on the bookmark and let them decorate the bookmark, too. Need examples of comprehension bookmarks for second graders? Check out the site What I Have Learned Teaching for lots of comprehension bookmark ideas and examples.

Choose Appropriately

Children should be allowed to choose the books they want to read. The ability to choose their own books can help empower children and help them find the books, genres and authors that resonate most with their interests and personalities.

However, those books should be at a child’s reading level. While choice is important, parents also should check the reading level. A book that is too difficult could cause unneeded frustration; children also might not be able to grasp the plot or underlying themes of the book.

For books that children want to read but are too advanced for them, parents can choose to read the story to children. However, parents should talk to children about the book as they read together to ensure the child understands the book.

Fun Ways to Memorize Sight Words

Second graders will need to memorize a list of sight words. Parents can use flash cards to help their child master the list of words, but playing games to gain mastery might be a bit more fun. Children can learn through play, and they might have so much fun they don’t realize that the game is a lesson.

Play Sight Word Go Fish. Make four cards of each sight word and use these cards to play Go Fish. Just follow the standard rules of the game.

Sight Word Match also is a fun way to help children memorize their sight words. Create two cards of each sight word. Mix up the cards and flip them all face down. Take turns turning over two cards. Children should say the word after they flip over each card.

There are also numerous free apps available on the App Store or on Google Play that offer sight word games. Parents can search for ‘free sight word games’ to explore all their app options.

Use Phonics Worksheets

Some children struggle with letters, sounds and sound blends. Decoding a word is crucial to reading. There are many free worksheets available online that can be used at home to help children with decoding and phonics stills.

Parents also could reach out to teachers to inquire about any enrichment worksheets that they could use at home. Teachers might be able to send a few extra worksheets home with children.

Use a Reading Program with an AI Tutor

Parents who need a tutor for a child who struggles with reading or to help their child advance their reading skills also might consider an AI tutor via a reading program. Readability is a reading app designed for preschool through fifth grade that includes a built-in AI tutor

This tutor is designed with voice recognition software that learns each child’s voice. Children read stories aloud in Readability, and the AI tutor is always on during reading sessions. This means that if a child stumbles on a word or is struggling, the AI tutor will identify that the child needs help and provide reading assistance.

The reading tutor also asks children questions at the end of each story. This is how the tutor measures comprehension.

If the child answers a question incorrectly, the tutor will show the child a section from the book that provides clues to the answer; the tutor also reads the section aloud. Then the child can answer the question again.

Readability’s AI tutor also measures the child’s reading fluency. As a child reads aloud, the tutor is gauging the number of words that are accurately read per minute. 

Parents can access a portal called the Parent Dashboard or Progress Dashboard to review the child’s reading level, reading fluency and reading comprehension data.

Parents who are interested in using an AI tutor to help guide their child’s reading journey can sign up for Readability’s free-seven day trial. The free trial gives children access to the reading tutor and all the books and features of the program. Try Readability for free today!