Chicago schools recently reported a significant improvement in student performance on state tests. They reported an increase from 36 percent to 62 percent for students passing the state test. Admittedly the tests had changed, scoring had been eased up, and students were given an extra 10 minutes to complete the exams. Nonetheless, the gains were substantial enough to believe something had changed to improve student learning. Some of the credit has been given to early childhood programs and to after-school tutoring.

We should never underestimate the power of one-on-one tutoring with struggling readers. In fact, the Department of Education regards the benefits of one-on-one tutoring as one of two gold standards in empirical research findings. The other was reduced class size. When you consider the massive volumes of research on reading performed over the years, you have to figure that citing the benefits of tutoring as one of two gold standards, makes a strong case for including tutoring in your reading intervention program.

Our belief in the value of tutoring led us to create Reading-Tutors.com. We recognize that the tutoring experience is even more valuable when a tutor has developmentally appropriate materials to use during the tutoring session and a simple lesson to follow. Reading-Tutors materials include a book that a child can take away from the tutoring session and use for further practice. Reading-Tutors.com provides downloadable resource packets that include a book, lesson, worksheet, and a game for a tutor to use during a tutoring session. You can get free packets to try at Reading-Tutors.com.