What to Look For When Choosing a Reading Tutor for Kids
Updated: Aug 12
What Should Families Consider When Hiring a Reading Tutor for Kids?
If your child or teen is struggling with reading, finding the right tutor can make all the difference. Here’s what to look for to ensure your investment pays off in your child’s reading progress and confidence.
1. Science-Based Instruction
A reading tutor for kids should follow the Science of Reading, which emphasizes explicit, systematic instruction grounded in research. If you’re looking to build your student’s foundational reading skills, this means making sure your tutor is trained and experienced in:
A strong phonological program like Kilpatrick or Heggerty to help your student learn to manipulate words by adding, deleting and substituting syllables, onset/rime and later individual sounds.
A strong phonics program like Orton-Gillingham that emphasizes structured, multisensory learning.
Explicit fluency work to make sure your student can read not just accurately, but fluently.
These approaches are proven to build foundational reading abilities for all kids who are struggling with reading, whether or not they’ve been diagnosed with dyslexia. Read more about the Orton-Gillingham and Kilpatrick programs on our website and why reading tutors for kids should use those programs.
2. Individualized Assessment and Instruction
Every student’s reading struggles are unique, which is why effective reading tutoring begins with an assessment of kids’ phonological and phonics skills. The tutoring program should:
Test kids up front and periodically throughout the tutoring to identify strengths and areas of need.
Tailor the instruction to target the specific skills the student needs to learn.
This personalized approach ensures that each session is focused on skills your child or teen needs to learn in order to become a fluent reader and good speller.
3. High-Intensity Instruction
If you want your student to catch up to their peers quickly, high-intensity instruction is key. A good reading tutor should:
Offer 45 or 60 minute sessions to maximize kids’ attention and focus.
Work with each student at least three times per week.
Maintain a focused and engaging pace to keep kids engaged and maximize the learning in each session.
This level of intensity provides consistent learning and reinforcement of reading and spelling skills, helping kids get caught up to their classmates as quickly as possible.
4. Flexibility and Convenience
In today’s busy world, a good reading tutoring program for kids should be flexible to fit your family’s schedule. This is where online reading tutoring stands out with unique benefits, including:
Easier Scheduling: Online tutoring allows sessions to be scheduled at convenient times, whether that’s before school, after school, on weekends or even between school and other activities like piano or soccer. If you need to do the tutoring at different times on different days, or some sessions during the week and others on weekends, a good online tutor can accommodate your needs.
No Commuting Hassles: No driving, no traffic jams and no waiting around in a tutoring center’s lobby. Online tutoring happens in the comfort of your home, saving valuable time and reducing stress for parents and children alike.
No Disruptions to Your Routine: With online tutoring, you won’t have a tutor in your home while you’re working, preparing dinner, or getting siblings ready for bed.
Tailored Convenience: Online reading tutoring provides tools that enhance the learning experience for kids, such as interactive games, digital resources, and progress tracking delivered to you by email every week.
5. Reputation and Results
Finally, choose a tutoring service with a strong track record of success in teaching kids to read and spell. Look for reviews and testimonials from other families who’ve seen significant improvements. Ask to speak with current or past clients to vet potential reading tutors and help you make this important decision.
Finding the right reading tutor can transform your child’s learning experience. By prioritizing evidence-based, high-intensity 1-on-1 instruction with flexible scheduling and convenient sessions, you’ll set your student up for reading and spelling success. The key is to focus on research-backed teaching methods and do frequent sessions so kids can get caught up, “graduate” out of tutoring and move on with their lives.
Take the First Step
If your child or teen is struggling with reading, now is the time to take action.
Investing in their reading success is investing in their future. With the right instruction, kids can become confident, capable readers ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way.
About the Author
Daniela Feldhausen is the founder of Kids Up Reading Tutors. A former attorney with a master’s degree in special education, she has extensive training in Structured Literacy, the Science of Reading, and Orton-Gillingham–based instruction. Her team evaluates each student’s reading and spelling skills, creates an individualized Structured Literacy Plan, and provides the one-on-one tutoring needed to carry it out.
What sets Kids Up Reading Tutors apart?
Evaluation and Structured Literacy Plan
Evidence-based instruction with Orton-Gillingham+
Data-driven systematic, explicit instruction
For all learners, with or without dyslexia/dysgraphia
Kids & teens in grades 1-12 get caught up ASAP
Customized, 1-on-1 sessions with a dedicated tutor
High-dosage tutoring (2-5x/week) via Zoom
Focused, with an end in sight (not endless tutoring & investment)
Flexible scheduling
45/60 minute sessions
Daytime/evenings/weekends/summer
Team of tutors; switch tutors if needed for schedule changes
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