Online Reading Tutoring That Actually Works with Miss Beth
If you’re searching for an online reading tutor, chances are you’re feeling a little worried. Maybe your child is struggling with reading. Maybe you’ve tried everything you know to do at home, and it still feels like they’re falling behind.
Most parents don’t start looking into tutoring until they’ve hit that “we need help now” point.
And I’d love to help!
Here’s the good news: your child isn’t “behind”, but they may be missing some of the building blocks that make reading click. And those building blocks can be taught in a way that feels fun, doable, and confidence-boosting.
That’s exactly why I created Big City Readers’ online courses. Think of them as tutoring you can access anytime, anywhere, without the stress of weekly appointments or the high cost of private sessions.
If you’re new here — hi! I’m Miss Beth, the founder of Big City Readers. Welcome! Around here, we use the five pillars of early literacy (read, write, sing, talk, and play) along with the science-backed Orton-Gillingham approach to make reading fun, doable, and exciting for kids. I share this work through my workshops and courses (both online and in person) and with our community of over 140k families on Instagram.
Why Traditional Tutoring Isn’t Always the Best First Step
When kids struggle with reading, it’s usually because they haven’t mastered the fundamentals like phonemic awareness, decoding, or spelling patterns. Traditional one-on-one tutoring often focuses on “helping kids catch up” by practicing sight words or worksheets.
But that doesn’t fix the root issue.
I know this because when I was a classroom teacher, I was trained to teach kids to read mainly through memorization. And I saw firsthand how many of them struggled because of it. That’s what pushed me to dig deeper into the science of reading and create a better way.
So while one-on-one tutoring can feel like the answer, it often ends up being a temporary band-aid to address what is going on in their classroom this week.
What kids really need is a clear, engaging way to learn the actual skills that make reading possible.
Why Online Tutoring With Big City Readers Works
Big City Readers’ online tutoring courses are designed to feel like one-on-one support, but smarter, more flexible, and way more fun.
Here’s what makes them different:
Flexibility that fits real life. Watch lessons whenever it works for your family. Pause, rewind, and replay as much as needed — something you can’t do with a live tutor.
Cost-effective. Traditional tutoring sessions cost $50–$80 each. If you’re booking with a specialized tutor who is Orton-Gillingham trained, like with Miss Beth's courses, it can cost around $120 for a private lesson. With Big City Readers, you pay once for lifetime access.
Proven approach. Every lesson is built on the science of reading. Kids aren’t memorizing or guessing — they’re learning the actual rules and patterns of language.
Parent partnership. You see exactly what your child is learning, so you can support them at home. No more “mystery tutoring” where you’re left wondering what’s happening each week.
Confidence boosters. Short, engaging video lessons keep kids motivated, and guided activities help them apply skills right away.
The result? Kids move from guessing and memorizing to actually reading — and loving it.
Online Reading Tutoring for Every Age
Every child’s reading journey looks different, which is why I designed online reading courses for every stage:
Ready to Read (Pre-K): Builds early phonics and letter recognition so kids start kindergarten feeling prepared.
Ready to Write (Kindergarten): Strengthens fine motor skills and letter formation so writing feels natural.
Kindergarten Ready: Covers literacy and social-emotional growth so kids step confidently into school.
First Grade Bootcamp: Reinforces reading and spelling skills through short, fun lessons that make independent reading click.
Mastering Spelling Rules (2nd–3rd grade): Breaks down spelling patterns so kids can read and write more independently.
Why Kids Struggle With Reading (and What I See Most Often in My Students)
In my courses, I see the same few struggles come up again and again. Most kids who are having a hard time with reading are missing one or more of these core skills:
Phonemic awareness: being able to hear and play with the sounds in words.
Decoding: connecting letters and patterns to the sounds they make.
Spelling rules: understanding predictable patterns that make reading and writing easier.
Confidence: believing they can be readers.
When a child struggles with reading, it’s rarely “reading as a whole.” The key is finding exactly where the gap is and then targeting that building block. That’s why in my courses, kids don’t just get general practice. Instead, they get video lessons (often many!) dedicated to the specific skill they need most.
If your child is struggling in one of these areas, they’re not alone. I see it all the time.
The earlier we pinpoint and strengthen these foundations, the easier everything else becomes. Research shows that kids who aren’t reading at grade level by third grade often face bigger challenges later on, which is why building strong foundations now matters so much.
Common Questions About Reading Tutoring
How do your courses work?
You simply choose the year your child is in. If it’s not the perfect fit, we can always switch their class.
Each course includes short, engaging lessons that target the exact skills your child needs at that grade level, such as phonemic awareness, decoding, and spelling rules.
Lessons are fun, easy to follow, and can be replayed anytime until the skill sticks.
What makes this different from in-person tutoring?
Traditional tutoring is expensive and happens once a week. With Big City Readers, you pay once for lifetime access. Lessons are fun, effective, and can be replayed as often as needed!
What if my child is already behind?
That’s exactly who these courses are for. Because you can see every lesson, you’ll know where your child is struggling and can support them in filling those gaps right away.
How is this different from what they learn in school?
All of our courses follow the science of reading. Many schools still lean on memorization, but here your child learns decoding, phonemic awareness, spelling rules, and the building blocks that actually make reading click.
Will it actually work?
Absolutely. Families tell me all the time how quickly their kids gain confidence and start reading independently. And because lessons are designed to feel fun and engaging, kids actually want to practice.
A Note From Miss Beth
If you’re feeling overwhelmed because your child is struggling with reading, please know you’re not alone. I’ve seen so many kids hit the same roadblocks — and I’ve also seen how quickly things can turn around when they’re given the right tools.
That’s why I created these courses. I want every parent to feel confident that their child is learning to read the right way, not just memorizing or guessing. With short, engaging lessons based on the science of reading, your child will build the skills they need and the confidence to believe, “I really am a reader.”
I’d love to be part of your family’s reading journey. You don’t have to do this on your own. I’m here to guide you and your child every step of the way.
With love,
Miss Beth