Reading Tutoring Resources

If your child struggles with reading, it can be hard and frustrating to figure out how to help them.  As a reading teacher, I too have a child who struggles with reading! She is doing well now, in second grade, but, it definitely takes her a lot of work and practice to help her succeed.  Fortunately along the way I have found a few online reading tutoring resources that she has enjoyed (and I love too!).  I also have my own tips and tricks for teaching a struggling reader.

Online Reading Tutoring Resources

  1.  Reading Buddy Software:  (Grades 1-8)  The first of the online reading tutoring resources I am going to share is a program called Reading Buddy Software.  I was given a free trial to the program to test with my daughter.  They also sponsored this post…but, I have to say, Reading Buddy Software is impressive.  Reading buddy Software is a software that listens to your child read.  Not only does it listen to your child read but it also corrects your child when they read a word incorrectly.   The best way to improve fluency (reading accurately and quickly) is to read correctly, read correctly, read correctly.  The best way to improve comprehension is to read correctly, read correctly, read correctly.  Reading Buddy Software makes sure your child is reading correctly and comprehending correctly.   Reading Buddy Software is like a reading tutor except you only pay once monthly.  It gives your child unlimited access to books and will listen to your child read and correct their mistakes.  Reading Buddy Software reads the story to your child.  Then your child reads it back to Reading Buddy Software.  If your child makes any mistakes, Reading Buddy Software does not let your child move on.  Your child must correct her mistake before continuing.  After reading the passage, Reading Buddy Software reads the passage again.  Then your child practices the words she got wrong by reading them again to Reading Buddy and then she reads the entire passage to Reading Buddy Software.  Then Reading Buddy Software will ask some reading comprehension questions.  There is a built in reward system so your child will like to do reading buddy software to be able to earn rewards.  (You set the rewards so you could do a hug or a trip to the library or an ice cream or screen time).  Many time children feel embarrassed to read to a real person because they make mistakes.  Children won’t feel embarrassed to read to Reading Buddy Software!  My daughter really loved Reading Buddy Software.  When we first started using it, we had a headset and microphone set that was not very good.  My daughter got frustrated and hated reading.    I bought a new headset/microphone set that had good ratings and Reading Buddy Software turned into a friend!   She asked for it every day.  I think she could tell it was helping her.  I could tell it was helping her too!  I could see her progress and her scores for each reading passage.  What a difference a good set of headsets makes!  Every day I usually have my daughter read out loud to me.  (You should not have a child read silently because you don’t know if they are really reading and you don’t know if they are reading correctly).  Many times when she reads to me out loud I am making dinner or doing laundry or doing something.  I am not looking at the words, I am listening.  She could be making errors and I am not noticing.  Reading Buddy Software is reading the words and does notice when she reads incorrectly.  It would correct her and she would improve her vocabulary and reading ability.  Two thumbs up for Reading Buddy Software!
  2. ABCmouse.com -(Ages 2-6)You can see my ABCMouse reviews here.   I was thoroughly impressed with it.  The program definitely does not explicitly teach your child to read.  That is up to you (or a teacher, or, you can use our free online reading program)…but, it does really help with practicing the fundamentals!  My kids LOVE ABC Mouse.  They go on it all the time to play games and practice skills.
  3. Sight and Sound Reading (PreK-2) (This is my site!)- You can help your struggling reader with our free online reading program/. It is a great homeschool reading curriculum, or you can use it as supplement to a classroom to help struggling readers.
  4. Reading Eggs(Ages 3-13)- I have not formally written a Reading Eggs post yet but I also did purchase that to know whether or not to recommend it.  I have to say, I was underwhelmed with it, and so were my children.  If we did not also do ABC Mouse, I probably would have been impressed.  The issue is that I am comparing it to ABC Mouse.  ABC Mouse is a clear winner (but also costs more too!).  If I had just bought Reading Eggs… the kids would only have known reading eggs and they would have been happy and enjoyed it.  So, I only mention it because people often ask about it.  Do I completely recommend it?  No. It is hard for me to know how awesome it is and how well my kids enjoyed it because we also did it alongside ABC Mouse and they clearly preferred that.  I have talked to many parents though who have just done Reading Eggs and they loved it…  I think it is just a matter of perspective.  If the child only knows Reading Eggs, it will be okay.

These 4 programs are the Reading Tutoring Resources I have tried.  Have you heard of any others?  Let me know and I will be happy to test them out and add to the review!

Here are some more favorite resources you will enjoy:

Free Online Math Games – Living Life and Learning

10 Free Online Homeschool Resources – Simple At Home

Resources for Homeschooling With Google Play Book – Maria Magdalena Living Ideas

Kid-Friendly Resources for Learning to Code – Schooling a Monkey

11 Awesome Homeschool Sites That Are Free – Embark on the Journey

Home Occupational Therapy Program -Our Crazy Adventures In Autismland

Resources We Recommend for Middle and High School -Classes By Beth

My Favorite Resources for Unit Studies – Chestnut Grove Academy

Websites That Encourage Creativity in Kids – Amy’s Wandering

My Favorite Online  Homeschool Resources- A Sip of Southern Sunshine

8 Fun and Educational Websites for Preschoolers – Homeschool Preschool

Elections 2016 Homeschool Resources – Ben and Me

A Few of My Favorite {Homeschool} Things – Embracing Destiny

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Madreen Karle is a master first grade reading teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience. She taught reading in a special needs and English as a Second Language classroom. After retiring she wrote a reading program to help others learn how to teach reading. She is a trusted educator and author of 5 books to help teach children to read and write. In addition to her books, she is a mentor for 3 websites that give reading teacher tips (Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound ReadingMrs. Karle’s Reading Patch, and Mrs. Karle’s Handwriting Patch). Through her teaching she learned that confidence was the key to learning to read. A child who is not confident at reading does not like to read and struggles to read. Mrs. Karle created “sunshine moments” to help teach children how to grow their confidence and learn to read.
Meeghan Karle Mousaw (Madreen’s daughter) has her Master’s in Special Education. She has 8 years experience teaching children to read online. In addition, she developed a curriculum to teach children handwriting called The Handwriting Patch. With the Handwriting Patch learning is fun because children learn to draw and learn handwriting at the same time. In 2019 The Handwriting Patch curriculum became an amazon best seller the first year it was released, helping thousands of kids learn handwriting with a unique, fun method. She is mom to 6 kids, each with differently learning abilities and struggles.
The Reading Patch was established by the creators of Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading. Together they have been featured on the NBC media outlets and Parents Magazine online. Over the last 8 years in their online platform, Madreen and Meeghan have worked tirelessly with teachers, homeschoolers and parents looking to help children learn to read to become a trusted authority in teaching children to read and advocating early literacy skills. They often partner with other educational experts to deliver the most current information to the Reading Patch community.

2 Comments

  1. Cool browser says:

    Thanks for your list

  2. Reading Buddy Software is advanced, speech recognition reading software that listens, responds, and teaches as your child reads. It’s like having a tutor in your computer
    Tool : Buddy Software

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