1st Grade Reading & ELA Tutor
Live 1:1 reading and writing tutoring for 1st graders — phonics, sight words and first sentences, step by step.
Book a free lesson
Signs Your 1st Grader Needs Extra Reading Support
- Guesses a word from the picture or the first letter instead of sounding it out.
- Mixes up letters like b and d, or reads "was" as "saw".
- Sounds out each letter but can't blend them into a word.
- Has to stop and work out common words like "the" and "said" every time.
- Writing a full sentence on their own still feels hard.
These are common in 1st grade — and the right support can make a real difference.
How We Help Your 1st Grader
1st grade is when kids start reading on their own — letters become sounds, sounds become words, and words become sentences.
Master it before moving on
Because every class is 1:1, the tutor doesn't move to new sounds until your child can blend the ones they've learned.
Reading and writing together
Your child writes in every lesson, from single words to complete sentences with a capital letter and a period.
Tutors fluent in English
Every ELA tutor teaches live and 1-on-1. See how a TomoRise tutor teaches in the free demo lesson.
Help with school homework
Your child can bring 1st grade reading and spelling homework to class, and the tutor helps them work through it step by step.
What Your 1st Grader Learns in ELA
Following the Common Core State Standards for 1st grade.
Phonics: letter sounds & blending
Short and long vowels, blends like st and bl, and digraphs like sh, ch and th.
Sight words
Read common words like "said" and "they" quickly, without sounding them out.
Reading fluency
Read simple books aloud smoothly, and go back to fix a word that doesn't make sense.
Understanding stories
Retell a story in order, and talk about its characters, setting and main events.
Understanding informational texts
Find the main topic and key details, and use headings and pictures to find facts.
Grammar & spelling
Capital letters, end punctuation, and spelling words with common patterns.
Writing
Write a few sentences to share an opinion with a reason, give facts about a topic, or tell a story in order.
4 Steps to Stronger 1st Grade Reading
Take a free 1st grade level check
In a free 45-minute demo lesson, the tutor checks your child's level live.
Find your starting point ↗LEVEL CHECK01 / 04A little challenge.
A clearer starting point.?AB ✓CGet your tutor's recommendation
Where to start and how many lessons a week.
YOUR LEARNING PATH↗1Start here2Build3GrowMade for your childLearn with weekly live 1:1 classes
On a schedule that fits your family.
Little by little. Week by week.A RHYTHM THAT FITS↻M12T13W14T15F16S17S18▶Live 1:1 lesson45 minutes · Just for your child↗Track progress with parent reports
See what your child has learned and what's next.
PROGRESS, MADE VISIBLE↗123456Small steps. Real growth.✦
By the End of 1st Grade, Students Are Expected To…
- Sound out and read one-syllable words, including words with blends and digraphs.
- Read common sight words quickly and automatically.
- Read a simple book aloud and retell the story in order.
- Find the main topic and a few key details in a short informational text.
- Write a few complete sentences with capital letters and periods.
Start with a Free 1st Grade ELA Lesson
Book a free 45-minute live 1:1 lesson first, then choose a plan. Lessons start at $17.70 (2 lessons a week on a 12-month plan).
1st Grade Reading FAQ
What will my 1st grader work on with a TomoRise tutor?
A TomoRise 1st grade reading tutor works on phonics, sight words, reading simple books aloud, retelling stories and writing complete sentences, following the 1st grade Common Core State Standards for ELA, in live 1-on-1, 45-minute lessons.
How do I know if my 1st grader needs reading help?
A 1st grader may benefit from a TomoRise reading tutor if they guess words from the picture or the first letter, can say each letter sound but can't blend them, mix up letters like b and d, or find it hard to write a full sentence. A free TomoRise demo lesson helps you see where your child stands.
Why does 1st grade reading matter so much?
1st grade is when kids learn to sound out words on their own, and TomoRise 1st grade lessons focus on that phonics foundation. Reading in 2nd and 3rd grade builds on these skills, so a TomoRise tutor makes sure each sound is solid before moving on.
How many lessons a week does a 1st grader need?
Families can choose 1, 2 or 3 TomoRise lessons a week, each a live 45-minute 1-on-1 class. After the free demo lesson, the tutor recommends how many lessons a week fit your child's level and goals.
Is a 45-minute online class OK for a 1st grader?
Yes — TomoRise lessons for 1st graders are built for young kids, with short on-screen activities and lots of reading aloud with the tutor, all live and 1-on-1. For the first few lessons, it helps to have a parent nearby to get your child set up.
My 1st grader is already reading — can TomoRise help?
Yes, TomoRise tutors can pick up the pace and add challenge for strong 1st grade readers, with longer books, richer discussion and more writing. If your child is ready, we'll move them up to 2nd grade ELA lessons.
Can a TomoRise tutor help with 1st grade homework?
Yes, a TomoRise tutor can help with 1st grade reading and spelling homework. Your child can bring the questions to the lesson, and the tutor will help them work through them step by step.
