Online Tutoring vs. In-Person

When parents first hear “online tutoring,” a lot of them picture their child zoning out in front of a screen while someone reads a script at them. I get it. We all lived through a version of that during the pandemic, and it wasn’t exactly inspiring.

But online tutoring — done right — looks nothing like that. And Outschool classes specifically offer something that’s hard to find anywhere else: expert-led, small-group instruction that fits into your family’s real life.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Outschool?

Outschool is an online learning platform where independent educators — teachers, tutors, and subject-matter experts — offer live classes for students ages 3 through 18. Classes happen over video in small groups, usually with anywhere from 2 to 12 students, and they cover everything from reading and math to art, coding, and creative writing.

As an educator on Outschool, I offer live classes focused on reading, writing, and ELA skills for students in grades 3 through 8. Every class is taught by me personally — not a teaching assistant, not a recorded video. Just me, your child, and a small group of motivated learners.

What Makes Online Tutoring Work (When It’s Done Right)

The secret to effective online instruction isn’t the technology — it’s the relationship and the structure. Here’s what I prioritize in every session:

Small groups mean real attention. I keep my classes small on purpose. In a group of 4 to 6 students, every child gets seen, heard, and challenged. There’s nowhere to hide — and that accountability is actually a good thing.

Live and interactive, not passive. My classes aren’t lectures. Students read aloud, answer questions, work through activities, respond to each other’s ideas, and engage with the material actively. The pace is brisk and the energy is intentional.

Consistent structure builds confidence. Every class follows a predictable structure so students know what to expect. That consistency is especially important for students who struggle with reading — it reduces anxiety and lets them focus on learning.

Flexible enough for real families. One of the biggest advantages of Outschool is the flexibility. You can enroll in individual sessions or full courses, choose class times that work for your schedule, and access classes from anywhere with an internet connection. No commute, no after-school scramble, no problem.

Who Are My Classes Best For?

My Outschool classes are designed for students in grades 3 through 8 who are ready to grow as readers and writers. They work well for:

  • Students reading below grade level who need structured, research-based support in decoding and comprehension
  • On-grade-level students who want to strengthen specific skills or get ahead
  • Avid readers who want to go deeper with book clubs, creative writing, or analytical writing
  • Homeschool families looking for live, interactive ELA instruction that fits their curriculum
  • Busy families who need quality academic support without the logistics of in-person tutoring

What My Outschool Classes Look Like

I currently offer a range of classes including Reading Detectives (a comprehension-focused course for grades 3–5), Story Magic (creative writing for grades 3–6), Book Club series focused on books like Holes, Esperanza Rising, and Ella Enchanted, and Speak Up! Persuasive Writing for grades 5–8.

Each class is carefully designed with clear learning objectives, engaging activities, and materials your child can use beyond the class itself. I also teach summer reading camps for students who want an immersive, themed experience during the break.

What About One-on-One Tutoring?

If your child needs more individualized support than a small group can offer, I also provide one-on-one tutoring through SO Smart Tutoring. Private sessions allow me to do a more detailed assessment of your child’s specific skill gaps and create a truly personalized learning plan.

One-on-one tutoring is especially beneficial for students who are significantly behind grade level, students with learning differences who need a highly tailored approach, or students preparing for a major transition like middle school.

How to Get Started

The easiest way to get started is to browse my current classes on Outschool and enroll in a session that looks like a good fit. Most classes offer a free first session or a trial option so your child can experience the class before you commit to a full course.

If you’re not sure which class is right for your child, reach out through the Contact page and I’ll help you figure out the best fit based on your child’s grade, goals, and current reading level.

The right support at the right time can make all the difference. I’d love to be that support for your family.

What Is the Science of Reading — And Why Does It Matter for Your Child?

If you’ve spent any time in education circles lately, you’ve probably heard the phrase “the Science of Reading” popping up everywhere — in news articles, school board meetings, and teacher training sessions. But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, what does it mean for the child sitting at your kitchen table who is struggling to read?

Let me break it down for you — no education jargon required.

What Is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading isn’t a single program or curriculum. It’s a body of research — decades of studies from cognitive scientists, linguists, and education researchers — that tells us how the brain actually learns to read.

And here’s what that research has found: reading does not come naturally to the human brain. Unlike spoken language, which children typically acquire naturally just by being exposed to it, reading is an invention. The brain has to be explicitly taught to connect sounds to written symbols. This process requires direct, systematic instruction — and when it doesn’t happen, children struggle.

For years, many schools used reading approaches based on the idea that children would naturally figure out how to read if they were surrounded by books and given enough exposure to text. Programs encouraged children to guess unknown words from pictures or context clues rather than sounding them out. The research is now very clear: this approach doesn’t work for most children, and it’s particularly harmful for struggling readers.

What the Research Says Works

The Science of Reading points to five essential components of effective reading instruction:

1. Phonemic Awareness — Understanding that spoken words are made up of individual sounds (phonemes). For example, the word “cat” has three sounds: /k/ /æ/ /t/.

2. Phonics — Learning the relationship between letters and sounds so children can decode (sound out) written words. This needs to be taught explicitly and systematically, not left to chance.

3. Fluency — Reading accurately and at an appropriate pace. Fluency frees up brain power for comprehension.

4. Vocabulary — Knowing the meaning of words, both in reading and in everyday life. A wide vocabulary is one of the strongest predictors of reading success.

5. Comprehension — Understanding and making meaning from text. This is the ultimate goal of reading.

Strong reading instruction addresses all five components — but phonemic awareness and phonics are the foundation, and they must be built first.

Why This Matters Right Now

Many adults today learned to read in classrooms that used methods not aligned with the Science of Reading. Some of us got lucky — our brains figured it out anyway. But roughly one in three children in the U.S. does not reach grade-level reading proficiency, and research strongly suggests that ineffective instruction is a major reason why.

States and school districts across the country are now updating their reading curricula to align with the Science of Reading. If your child’s school is making changes to how reading is taught, this is why.

What This Looks Like in Practice

A classroom or tutoring session grounded in the Science of Reading will look different from what many parents experienced growing up. You’ll see:

  • Explicit phonics instruction with a clear, logical sequence
  • Students learning to decode words by sounding them out rather than guessing
  • Frequent practice with decodable texts — books written specifically to match the phonics patterns students have already learned
  • Direct instruction in vocabulary and comprehension strategies
  • Regular review and repeated practice of previously learned skills

It’s structured. It’s sequential. And the research shows it works — especially for students who struggle.

How I Use the Science of Reading in My Teaching

As a certified Science of Reading educator, every tutoring session and Outschool class I teach is grounded in these research-based principles. Whether I’m working with a beginning reader on phonemic awareness or helping a 4th grader tackle multisyllabic words, the approach is always explicit, systematic, and tailored to where the student is right now.

If you have questions about whether your child’s reading instruction is aligned with the Science of Reading — or if you’re a teacher looking for resources to bring these principles into your classroom — I’m here to help.

Your child deserves reading instruction built on what the research actually says works. That’s what I’m here to provide.

Why Your Child Struggles to Understand What They Read (And What to Do About It)

Does your child sit down, read every single word on the page, and then look up at you with a blank stare when you ask what it was about?

You’re not alone. This is one of the most common concerns I hear from parents — and from teachers who have students who can decode words just fine but struggle to make sense of what they’ve read. The good news is that reading comprehension is a skill, and like any skill, it can be taught and strengthened.

Here’s what’s really going on — and what you can do about it.

Reading the Words and Understanding the Text Are Two Different Skills

Many children are taught to read by learning to decode — sounding out words, recognizing letter patterns, and building fluency. And that’s absolutely essential. But decoding is only half of reading. The other half is comprehension — actually making meaning from the words on the page.

A child can be a perfectly fluent decoder and still struggle to comprehend. Why? Because comprehension requires a whole separate set of skills: making inferences, identifying the main idea, understanding cause and effect, connecting new information to what they already know, and monitoring their own understanding as they read.

If those skills haven’t been explicitly taught, even a strong decoder will hit a wall — usually around grades 3 or 4, when texts get more complex and content-heavy. Teachers and researchers even have a name for it: the fourth-grade slump.

Signs Your Child May Be Struggling With Comprehension

  • They can read aloud fluently but can’t summarize what they just read
  • They answer comprehension questions by searching for exact words in the text instead of thinking about meaning
  • They struggle with inference questions (“Why do you think the character felt that way?”)
  • Reading feels like a chore and they avoid it whenever possible
  • They do fine with fiction but fall apart with nonfiction texts

If any of these sound familiar, it’s not a sign that your child isn’t smart. It’s a sign they need direct instruction in comprehension strategies.

5 Strategies That Actually Work

1. Stop and retell. After every page or two, have your child pause and tell you — in their own words — what just happened. This simple habit builds the mental habit of monitoring meaning while reading, not after.

2. Ask “thick” questions, not “thin” ones. Thin questions have one right answer: “What color was the dog?” Thick questions require thinking: “Why do you think the character made that choice?” Push your child to think beyond the text.

3. Make connections. Encourage your child to connect what they’re reading to their own life, to other books they’ve read, or to things happening in the world. Connections make information stick.

4. Visualize the story. Ask your child to close their eyes and picture what’s happening like a movie in their head. Kids who visualize while they read comprehend significantly more than those who don’t.

5. Pre-teach vocabulary. If a text has challenging words, go over them before reading — not after. Understanding key vocabulary before reading removes a major roadblock to comprehension.

What Teachers and Tutors Can Do

If you’re an educator, the most powerful thing you can do is make your comprehension instruction visible. Don’t just ask comprehension questions after reading — teach students the strategies they need to answer those questions before and during reading.

Use graphic organizers to help students organize their thinking. Model think-alouds where you narrate your own comprehension process out loud. And choose texts that are slightly challenging — students build comprehension skills when they have to work a little to understand, as long as they have the right tools.

How SO Smart Tutoring Can Help

In my one-on-one tutoring sessions and Outschool classes, I work with students on comprehension strategies in a structured, step-by-step way. We don’t just read and answer questions — we practice the specific skills that make reading meaningful, and we use texts students actually find interesting.

If your child is struggling with reading comprehension, I’d love to help. Check out my current Outschool classes or reach out about personalized tutoring sessions designed around your child’s specific needs.

Reading should feel like opening a door, not running into a wall. With the right strategies and a little consistent practice, your child can get there.