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Institute of Reading Development
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Reading Programs for 1st Graders

In our 1st grade reading program, your child will build strong phonics skills, learn to recognize common sight words, and develop reading comprehension, all while cultivating a love of reading.

Reading plays a huge role in your child’s experience in 1st grade.

As they learn to read, first graders need to master important phonics and sight word skills, develop comprehension, and get a lot of practice in books at the right level of difficulty.  Throughout the school year, they must continue building new skills and the confidence to read independently.

When your child takes one of our reading programs, you can be sure it will be a fun and effective learning experience. Your child will learn key skills to succeed with grade-level reading, develop lots of confidence, and build a lasting love of books that inspires reading for fun.

Each Six-Week Online Program Includes:

  • Age-Appropriate Books tab arrow
  • Engaging Group Activities & Discussions tab arrow
  • Skill Development & Independent Practice tab arrow
  • 1-1 Support tab arrow
  • Progress Report tab arrow
Age-Appropriate Books

Every program features high-quality books filled with timeless, relatable stories. Each book is carefully selected to be both challenging and accessible at your child’s reading level.

Engaging Group Activities & Discussions

Your child will participate in six dynamic, live online group classes led by a teacher who specializes in teaching core skills, facilitating thoughtful discussion, and bringing books to life.

Skill Development & Independent Practice

In between weekly classes, your child will complete reading assignments and interactive activities to build age-appropriate skills and overall confidence in reading.

1-1 Support

Whether your child needs a little extra help, or you’d like to meet with your child’s teacher, one-on-one appointments are available. You’ll also have access to our on-demand Homework Helpline for added individualized reading support.

Progress Report

At the end of the program, you'll receive an overview of the skills your child has learned, along with a certificate of completion.

1st Grade Sessions

We offer five sessions for 1st graders throughout the year. Each session features a unique set of books chosen specifically to be both enjoyable and appropriately challenging, ensuring kids have a successful, engaging experience.

  • Summer

  • Early Fall

  • Late Fall

  • Winter

  • Spring

Summer

Summer Program for Entering 1st Graders

Available to Start in June and July

Ham and Sal and the Very Good Smell
Danny and the Dinosaur
Lucy and Jack
A New Job for Stu
Morris the Moose
Ready, Set, Go!

Enrollment Opens in February

Summer Program for Incoming 2nd Graders >>>
Early Fall

Early Fall Program for 1st Graders

Available to Start in August and September

Sammy the Seal
Morris and Boris at the Circus
Little Bear
Three By the Sea
Norma Jean, Jumping Bean
Who Will Help?

Enrollment Opens in June

Late Fall

Late Fall Program for 1st Graders

Available to Start in October and November

Good Night, Good Knight
The Giant Jelly Bean Jar
Buzby
Morris Goes to School
Crocodile and Hen
Fox on Wheels

Enrollment Opens in August

Winter

Winter Program for 1st Graders

Available to Start in January and February

Harry and the Lady Next Door
There is a Carrot in My Ear
Space Cat
Penny and her Marble
Pirate Mom
The Best Mistake Ever
View Winter Schedules
<<< Winter Program for Current Pre-K & Kindergartners
Spring

Spring Program for 1st Graders

Available to Start in March, April, and May

Pirate Mom
The Best Mistake Ever
The Case of the Missing Monkey
The Stinky Giant
Three Up a Tree
Puss in Boots

Enrollment Opens in January

<<< Spring Program for Current Pre-K & Kindergartners

What Skills Will Your Child Gain in Our 1st Grade Program?

Phonics

Phonics instruction teaches kids the relationship between letters and the sounds they stand for. It is at the heart of how children learn to read. 1st graders begin by learning basic phonics skills, starting with blending short words like dog or hat. They then move on to learn long vowel sounds, consonant blends, and vowel teams like ai in rain. By the end of the year, they can also recognize easy prefixes and suffixes and decode two-syllable words.

When 1st graders develop strong phonics skills in our programs, they are able to sound out words quickly and easily. Over time and with practice, they read more and more challenging words with confidence. They feel a real sense of accomplishment.

Sight Words

Sight words are the most common words kids encounter while reading, such as was and do. Kids can learn to read these as whole words, rather than sounding them out. Many of these words have irregular spelling patterns or require advanced phonics, so it is much easier for 1st graders to learn how to recognize them by sight.

In our 1st grade programs, children learn many of the most common sight words found in first-grade books. The more sight words kids know, the fewer words they have to sound out. This means that learning to read is faster, easier, and more enjoyable.

Comprehension

Comprehension, or the ability to understand what you read, is the goal of reading. In 1st grade, children are mainly focused on the mechanics of reading, but they also start building comprehension and learn that every story has a beginning, middle, and end. Talking about books and what characters do is a great way for 1st graders to develop their comprehension.

In our 1st grade programs, students learn to visualize what’s happening in a story and to identify with the characters during engaging book discussions and activities. When kids understand the meaning of what they read, it makes reading fun! They can begin to make connections between stories and their own lives.

Building a Lifelong Love of Reading

A positive attitude and love of books motivates students to power through the challenges that come with reading.

Our programs give students positive experiences with books that inspire confidence and enthusiasm about reading. Your son or daughter will want to read even more and will develop the habit of reading for pleasure that leads to a lifetime of academic and personal benefits.

Learn more about how a love of reading makes all the difference.

Now Enrolling Winter Programs

View Schedules

Trust Our Reading Expertise

  • 50+ Years of Experience tab arrow
  • Dedicated Focus on Reading tab arrow
  • High-Quality Teachers tab arrow
  • Integrated Approach tab arrow
  • Outstanding Book Selections tab arrow
  • Assessment Without Tests tab arrow
50+ Years of Experience

The Institute of Reading Development was founded in 1970. Since then, we’ve been endorsed by more than 200 of the country’s most well-respected universities and helped more than three million students succeed with reading.

Dedicated Focus on Reading

Unlike organizations that teach too many subjects and specialize in none, we’ve remained focused on what we excel at and love to do: teaching reading.

High-Quality Teachers

We are extremely selective in the teachers we hire. They must be intelligent, dynamic, and warm in their communication, with a knack for nurturing participation. Above all, they must have a personal passion for reading.

Integrated Approach

We provide a truly all-encompassing learning experience that combines group discussion with independent practice and one-on-one support. No other organization integrates skills instruction and guided book discussions the way we do.

Outstanding Book Selections

We're known for curating the best books for every age. The books in our programs are not only written at the appropriate difficulty level, but also tell exciting and relatable stories that students genuinely love to read.

Assessment Without Tests

Tests are often the antithesis of fun. Instead of focusing heavily on testing, we assess students' progress through their work with the teacher and performance on grade-specific reading exercises and activities.

Endorsed by Leading Colleges and Universities

Auburn Logo
North Florida logo
UAA logo
UNLV logo
Hawaii logo
Baylor
Clemson logo

We Excel at Teaching in an Online Environment

  • Virtual Program Pioneer tab arrow
  • Specialized Training tab arrow
  • Maximum Participation tab arrow
  • Varied Perspectives tab arrow
  • Small Class Sizes tab arrow
Virtual Program Pioneer

We introduced our online offering in 2014, making us one of the first educational organizations to offer live online programs for kids. To date, we’ve taught more than 150,000 students online.

Specialized Training

Our teachers understand every stage of reading development. They go through intensive training to ensure they are well-prepared to teach core reading skills in a virtual classroom - across all grade levels.

Maximum Participation

We structure our classes to ensure that everyone's voice is heard. Our teachers track participation and call on every student, making sure each child is comfortable and confident reading aloud and sharing their thoughts.

Varied Perspectives

Our programs bring together students from across the country, each with unique backgrounds. It’s a dynamic mix of perspectives you won’t find in any traditional classroom.

Small Class Sizes

We’ve found that the most engaging and effective classes have a max of 15 students. Our average class size is about 13 students, ensuring optimal participation opportunities and individualized attention.

We Make It Easy for Parents

Not only are our programs engaging and enriching for kids, we also strive to make the entire process as stress-free as possible for parents, providing robust support throughout the entire program.

View Parent Resources

From the blog

Phonics: The Most Important Skill that Beginning Readers Learn

Phonics is at the heart of how children learn to read. Building strong phonics skills in the early years of school is the key to your child becoming a strong, independent reader.

Read More about Phonics: The Most Important Skill that Beginning Readers Learn

Reviews

Read What Parents Have to Say

“My daughter always waited for her online reading class. She enjoyed the whole experience. I appreciate the time that the teacher took to talk about some reading recommendations for my daughter. Overall it was a great experience.”

- Yanitza, Parent

Read More Reviews

Let the Adventure Begin!

Enroll your child in our 1st grade reading program today.

Only $249
Plus $39 Materials & Shipping

Enroll Now

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Questions?
Call 1-800-470-2891

Our knowledgeable advisors can answer questions and help find a schedule that works for your family.

Questions? Contact Us!

  • (800) 470-2891
  • contact@readingprograms.org
Enroll Now

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