Elementary school · Ages 6-7
1st Grade Reading Tutor: Patient One-to-One Help
Phonics, sight words and first little books, taught gently so your six-year-old starts to read with confidence.
Prefer to ask a question first? Chat on WhatsApp
How it works, in short
First grade reading tutoring at TaleemSquare is a live, one-to-one online lesson focused on the skills that turn a child into a reader: letter sounds, blending sounds into words, long vowel patterns like silent e and vowel teams, common sight words, and reading simple books with understanding.
First grade is the most important year for learning to decode, so early help pays off. Lessons are short, playful activities. Plans start at $85 a month after a free assessment.
- Format
- Live, one-to-one, online
- Lesson length
- 45 minutes
- Level
- Ages 6-7
- Price
- From $85 a month
What changes after a term of lessons
Sounds out new words
Blends sounds to read short words and many longer ones, instead of guessing.
Knows common sight words
Reads high-frequency words like said, was and they quickly.
Reads a simple book alone
Reads early readers aloud and can say what happened.
What we cover
Lessons follow your child's own school or homeschool curriculum. These are the areas we work on most at this level.
Letter sounds and blending
Every letter's sound and blending sounds to read words like map and stop.
Digraphs
Two letters, one sound: sh, ch, th, wh and ck.
Long vowels
Silent e words like cake and bike, and vowel teams like ee and ai.
Sight words
High-frequency words like said and was, practised until your child reads them at a glance.
Fluency
Reading short books aloud smoothly, with lots of practice.
Understanding stories
Retelling, describing characters and talking about the pictures and words.
Signs your child could use help
- Guesses words from the first letter or picture
- Knows letter names but not their sounds
- Can't blend c-a-t into cat
- Reading is behind classmates
- Gets upset at reading time
- Did not pass the phonics check
One of these on its own is normal. Two or three together usually point to a specific gap, and finding it is what the free assessment is for.
Taught to your curriculum, wherever you live
Common Core ELA Grade 1 (or your state's standards)
Grade 1 standards cover phonics and word recognition, including digraphs, long vowels and two-syllable words, reading fluency, and understanding stories and simple informational texts.
National Curriculum English, Year 2 (Key Stage 1)
Year 2 continues phonics, with a retake of the phonics screening check for children who did not pass in Year 1, and builds fluency and comprehension.
Level: Year 2
Ontario Language, Grade 1 (other provinces similar)
Ontario's Language curriculum requires explicit teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency in Grade 1.
Level: Grade 1
Australian Curriculum: English, Year 1
Phonics and word knowledge, reading decodable texts and comprehension. Several states run a Year 1 Phonics Check.
Level: Year 1
What a 1st grade reading lesson looks like
One 45-minute session. Tutors adjust the timings to your child.
7 min
Sound game
Quick, fun review of letter sounds.
8 min
New pattern
One new sound pattern with actions.
9 min
Read words
Blending words with the new pattern.
7 min
Write words
Spelling a few words and a short sentence.
10 min
Read a book
Reading a little book together.
4 min
Goodbye
A home reading tip sent on WhatsApp.
How we teach first grade readers
Systematic phonics
Sounds are taught in order and reviewed often, so your child always builds on what they know.
Decodable books
Your child reads books with the patterns they have learned, so they can succeed.
Games and movement
Short, lively activities keep a six-year-old engaged for the whole lesson.
Lots of praise
Children are praised for effort and progress, which keeps them trying.
After each class you get a WhatsApp note: what was read, what clicked, and one thing to practise at home.
Simple monthly plans
$85a month for 2 one-to-one reading and English lessons a week
- Free 45-minute assessment first
- No contract, cancel any month
- No registration fee
- 4-class money-back promise
- Switch tutor at no cost
- WhatsApp update after every class
Starter
2 lessons a week, best for keeping up with school
$85/mo
GrowthMost chosen
3 lessons a week, best for catching up + building confidence
$119/mo
Intensive
4 lessons a week, best for exam prep & fast improvement
$149/mo
Common worries, honest answers
“Is my child just a slow starter?”
Some children do take longer, but trouble blending sounds in first grade is worth addressing now rather than waiting a year. After the free assessment you get a straight answer about whether help is needed.
“Will my six-year-old sit through an online lesson?”
Most do, because activities change every few minutes. A parent nearby for the first lessons helps them settle.
“The school teaches reading differently.”
Tell us your school's phonics program. Tutors can follow the same sound order and words.
Frequently asked questions
What reading level should a 1st grader be at?
How can I help my 1st grader with reading at home?
Should my 1st grader be reading fluently?
How much does a 1st grade reading tutor cost?
What is the phonics screening check?
Do you also help with 1st grade math?
Book a free 45-minute assessment
Your child meets a tutor for a real one-to-one session. You get an honest read on where they are and what would help, even if the answer is that they don't need tutoring right now.
- 1
We reply on WhatsApp
Usually within 10 minutes, to find a time that suits your family.
- 2
Your child meets the tutor
A relaxed 45-minute session to see their level and how they learn.
- 3
You decide
You get a recommendation and a plan. No card details, no pressure.