What to Look For in a Reading Tutor

Reading is a fundamental skill that is necessary for success in education and in life. Unfortunately, some children struggle with reading due to learning disabilities, attention deficits, or other factors. In such cases, parents may need to hire a reading tutor to help their child catch up and develop their reading skills.

A quick Google search for a reading tutor can be quite overwhelming! In this blog, we will help you figure out what to look for in a tutor to ensure that your money will be well spent, and your child will actually make meaningful progress.

While there are many considerations to take into account based on your child's individual needs, here are some basic things to consider:

Orton-Gillingham based methods

The Orton-Gillingham approach is a research-based, structured, multisensory teaching method that has been proven to be effective in teaching students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. It involves teaching phonics, phonemic awareness, and other decoding skills in a systematic and sequential manner. If your child has a reading disability, look for a tutor who is trained *and certified* in Orton-Gillingham based methods.

Certification

While there is no federal or state certification for reading tutors, it is important to ensure that your tutor has received training from a reputable organization. Certification from an accredited organization indicates that the tutor has completed a rigorous training program and has demonstrated proficiency in teaching Orton-Gillingham based methods. Be sure to clarify that the person working with your child holds the certification, and is not just "trained" by someone in their organization who does.

Wilson Reading System

The Wilson Reading System is an Orton-Gillingham based program that has been widely used and researched for over 30 years. It is a highly structured program that teaches phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills in a sequential and multisensory manner. If your child has a reading disability, consider a tutor who uses the Wilson Reading System.

Virtual tutoring

In today's digital age, virtual tutoring has become a popular and effective way to provide reading intervention services. Virtual tutoring allows tutors to work with students remotely, using video conferencing and other online tools. This can be especially beneficial for families who live in rural areas or who have busy schedules. Instead of driving to the library or someone's home and waiting in your car for an hour, you can look for a tutor who offers virtual tutoring services.

If someone tells you virtual tutoring does not work, it's usually because they struggle to provide it well.

LD Expert is a premier provider of virtual reading tutoring nationwide, and they offer Orton-Gillingham based programs that are certified and effective. They use the Wilson Reading System and have a team of highly trained and experienced tutors who work with students of all ages and skill levels. LD Expert's programs are designed to be engaging, interactive, and multisensory, which is important for students with reading disabilities. More parents choose LD Expert over other providers after learning everything their program has to offer.

Conclusion

when choosing a reading tutor, look for someone who uses Orton-Gillingham based methods, is certified, uses the Wilson Reading System, and offers virtual tutoring services. LD Expert is an excellent choice for families who want the best for their children's reading success.