Short vowels and blending
Reading short vowel words smoothly, including words with blends like "stop" and "frog", without sounding out every letter slowly.
Online Reading Tutor for 1st Grade
Focused 1-on-1 help for the most important year in learning to read.
First grade is the year most children truly learn to read. In a few months they go from sounding out short words to reading simple books on their own. It is also the year when gaps become obvious: some children start guessing, avoid reading aloud, or feel like everyone else gets it except them.
Our online 1st grade reading tutors work 1-on-1 with your child over live video, next to a colorful shared whiteboard. Tutors find exactly which phonics patterns and reading skills are missing, teach them clearly and in order, and give short daily practice so progress continues between lessons. Catching gaps in first grade is much easier than fixing them in Grade 3 or 4.
Book your free consultation
Tell us about your child and we will hand pick the tutor that best fits their needs.
What grade is your child in?
Tap a grade to get started.
By grade level
What 1st graders work on in reading
Tutors check each of these skills and focus on the ones your child needs most.
Digraphs and silent e
Patterns like "sh", "ch", "th" and "ck", and how a silent e changes a vowel sound, as in "hop" and "hope".
High frequency words
Common words like "said", "was" and "they". Tutors teach these by connecting the sounds and letters, not just memorizing shapes.
Fluency and understanding
Reading short books smoothly and with expression, then retelling the story and answering simple questions about it.
Common challenges
Signs your 1st grader needs reading help
Reading level is below the class
If your child’s teacher says they are reading below grade level, or reading logs feel like a battle, a tutor can find the exact gaps holding them back.
Guessing from pictures or first letters
Guessing works in early books but breaks down quickly. Tutors teach your child to read through every sound in a word.
Very slow, effortful reading
If reading a short page takes a long time and leaves your child exhausted, fluency practice builds speed and confidence together.
Spelling and writing lag behind
Trouble spelling simple words often points to the same phonics gaps that affect reading. Tutors work on both at once.
Getting started
How it works
Book a free consultation
Tell us about your child’s grade, what is going well and what has been hard. There is no cost and no pressure to sign up.
We hand pick a tutor
We match your child with a tutor who fits their needs and personality, and you choose days and times that work for your family.
Live 1-on-1 lessons
Lessons happen on a video call next to a colorful shared whiteboard, so your child can write, draw and practice right alongside the tutor.
See progress
We recommend 3 lessons a week, which we have found produces results fast. Your child keeps the same tutor every lesson if they like them.
Pricing
Tutoring prices
Quality 1-on-1 tutoring without the $50 to $80 an hour price tag charged by many tutoring companies.
- Lessons are booked in packages of 12, with no obligation to continue afterward.
- Reschedule any lesson with 24 hours notice at no cost.
- 10% off for a second child.
JK to Grade 8$30 USDper 45 minute lesson
Grades 9 to 12$40 USDper 1 hour lesson
How we help 1st grade readers
Our Reading Boost Program is grounded in the Science of Reading and covers phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. For first graders, most of the focus is on phonics and fluency, taught explicitly and in order, with lots of practice reading real books at the right level.
Tutors range from Certified Teachers and Early Childhood Educators to experienced reading tutors. Lessons can also support what your child is learning in class, including reading logs and spelling lists.
What a lesson looks like
A typical 45 minute lesson includes a quick warm up with known sounds and words, one new phonics pattern, word building with letter tiles on the whiteboard, reading a short decodable book, and a game to finish on a win.
We recommend 3 lessons a week for first graders, and your child keeps the same tutor if they like them. Short daily exercises between lessons help new patterns stick.
Tutors
Meet some of our amazing tutors
With over 500 tutors hand-picked to be on our staff, we are sure we have the right one for you!
Ellison
Math Tutor
Holds a Bachelor's in Medical Physics.
I find joy in guiding a struggling student to reach their full potential.
Natalie
Teacher
Holds a Bachelor's of Education.
I've been teaching for 13 years and have loved every second of it!
Rachel
Writing Tutor
Majoring in English Literature.
I like to build habits in my students, ensuring they stay on top of their work!
FAQ
1st Grade Reading tutoring questions
What should a 1st grader be able to read?
Expectations vary, but by the end of first grade most children read short books with simple sentences, sound out new one syllable words, and know many common words by sight. If your child is not there yet, it is very fixable with focused practice.
Is it normal for a 1st grader to struggle with reading?
Many first graders find some parts of reading hard, and children develop at different rates. If your child is falling further behind or getting upset about reading, extra help early is the best approach.
How much does it cost?
Lessons are $30 USD for a 45 minute 1-on-1 lesson, booked in packages of 12.
Will lessons match what my child does at school?
They can. Tutors can work with your child’s reading logs, spelling lists and school books, as well as our own curriculum to fill gaps.
How do I get started?
Book a free consultation. We will ask about your child’s reading, then hand pick a tutor and schedule lessons that fit your week.
Keep exploring
Related tutoring
Free printable worksheets
From our blog
Book your free consultation
Tell us about your child and we will hand pick the tutor that best fits their needs.
What grade is your child in?
Tap a grade to get started.