Grades 2 and 3
Retelling a story in order, identifying characters and setting, answering questions about what happened, and learning new words from context.
Online Reading Comprehension Tutor
For children who can read the words but miss what they mean.
Some children read aloud beautifully and still cannot tell you what happened on the page. Others read well enough in Grade 2, then struggle in Grade 4 when texts get longer, vocabulary gets harder and questions ask "why" instead of "what". Comprehension problems are easy to miss because the reading sounds fine, but they show up in every subject that involves reading.
Our online reading comprehension tutors teach the thinking that good readers do automatically: predicting, asking questions, picturing what is happening, connecting ideas, and summarizing. Lessons are 1-on-1 on a live video call with a shared whiteboard, using texts your child finds interesting as well as their school reading. We work with students across the US and Canada, mostly in Grades 2 to 8.
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
Comprehension skills by grade
Tutors build each skill directly, with lots of modeling and practice.
Grades 4 and 5
Finding the main idea and supporting details, making inferences, comparing characters, understanding text structure in nonfiction, and summarizing in their own words.
Grades 6 to 8
Analyzing theme and author’s purpose, evaluating arguments, reading longer novels and informational texts, and writing answers supported by evidence from the text.
Vocabulary
Comprehension depends heavily on knowing what words mean. Tutors teach word meanings, prefixes, suffixes and roots, and strategies for figuring out unfamiliar words.
Common challenges
Signs of a comprehension gap
Cannot retell what they read
If your child finishes a chapter and cannot say what happened, they may be decoding words without building meaning. Tutors teach active strategies to stay engaged with the text.
Struggles with "why" questions
Questions that ask for inference, such as why a character acted a certain way, need reading between the lines. Tutors model this thinking out loud until your child can do it.
Low marks on reading tests
Comprehension questions with multiple steps can be hard even for fluent readers. Tutors teach how to find evidence in the text and answer clearly.
Slow or effortful reading
Sometimes comprehension suffers because reading itself takes so much effort. Tutors check fluency and phonics too, and fix any foundation gaps first.
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 teach comprehension
Our Reading Boost Program is grounded in the Science of Reading and covers all five components of reading. For comprehension, tutors explicitly teach one strategy at a time, model it with a text, practice it together, and then have your child try it on their own. Vocabulary and background knowledge are built along the way.
Tutors can use your child’s school novels and assignments or our own texts. Our tutors range from Certified Teachers to subject experts with professional tutoring experience, and we closely monitor lessons to make sure your child is progressing.
What a lesson looks like
A typical lesson includes a short warm up, a mini lesson on one comprehension strategy, reading a passage together with the tutor pausing to think aloud and ask questions, and a short written or spoken response at the end.
Lessons are 45 minutes for JK to Grade 8 and 1 hour for high school. We recommend 3 lessons a week, with the same tutor each time if your child likes them.
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
Reading Comprehension tutoring questions
My child reads fluently. Can they still have comprehension problems?
Yes. Reading the words and understanding them are different skills. Many fluent readers benefit from being taught comprehension strategies directly.
Can the tutor help with school novels and book reports?
Yes. Tutors can read school novels with your child, work on reading responses and book reports, and teach the strategies needed to do them independently.
How much does it cost?
Lessons are $30 USD for a 45 minute lesson for JK to Grade 8 and $40 USD for a 1 hour lesson for high school, booked in packages of 12.
How do you know if the problem is comprehension or decoding?
The tutor listens to your child read and asks questions about the text. If decoding or fluency is part of the problem, they address that first, since comprehension depends on it.
How do I get started?
Book a free consultation. We will ask about your child’s reading and schoolwork, then hand pick a tutor and set up a schedule.
Keep exploring
Related tutoring
Free printable worksheets
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.