Who Is This For?

Is this the Right Summer Reading Program for Your Child?

If your child is struggling, losing confidence, or just not reaching their potential in reading — this is designed to create real progress.

Here's what makes it work:

50-Minute Live Classes

No Passive Learning

Every session is interactive — your child is reading, responding, and getting real-time feedback the entire time.

Max 6 Students

More Attention

Small groups mean your child stays engaged and gets the attention they need to improve.

Expert Reading Teachers

Top 3%

Your child works with a highly trained reading teacher — not a general tutor.

Practice Between Sessions

Skills That Stick

Short daily practice builds on each lesson so skills actually stick.

Personalized Reading Report

Clear Progress You Can See

At the end, you'll know exactly what improved and what comes next.

Flexible Schedule

Fits Your Summer

Choose times that work for your family — without rearranging everything.

About the Format

Most "Online Learning" Doesn't Work.
This Is Different.

Most online programs mean videos, clicking through lessons, and kids zoning out.

This isn't that.

Every class is live, led by an expert reading teacher — with just 6 students per group.

Your child isn't watching.

They're reading out loud, participating, and getting real-time feedback every session.

Why This Works (And Most Online Programs Don't)

Teaching children online is different. It requires different techniques, different pacing, and a completely different way of keeping kids engaged.

Most programs tried to figure this out during COVID. We started years before that.

We began teaching in 2013 — and spent years refining our approach before bringing it online. Since then, we've continuously improved how we teach in this format — so kids stay engaged, make real progress, and actually enjoy the experience.

That's why many parents tell us their child is more focused here than in a classroom — fewer distractions, more attention, and no way to check out.

We've now taught over 250,000 students this way.

Students per class

11+

Years teaching live online

<3%

Of teachers accepted

Programs by Grade

Summer Reading Programs by Grade Level

Choose your child's grade to see exactly what they'll learn — with instruction designed specifically for their level.

Pre-K & Kindergarten

Letters, Sounds, and Early Reading Skills

Your child learns the building blocks of reading — letter sounds, blending, sight words, and early comprehension — in a structured, supportive environment with just 6 students per group.

Recognize letter sounds and connect them to words
Blend sounds to read simple words and sentences
Build early comprehension through guided reading

1st Grade

From Sounding Out to Reading Smoothly

Your first grader builds the skills that make reading click — moving from sounding out words to reading simple stories with confidence.

Apply phonics skills to read real stories independently
Read with growing confidence and fluency
Understand characters, events, and story structure

2nd Grade

From Phonics to Fluency and Meaning

Your second grader moves from decoding to fluency — tackling longer words, reading with expression, and starting to truly understand what they read.

Decode longer words and read with expression
Understand characters, motivations, and story meaning
Build vocabulary through context and discussion

3rd Grade

Richer Stories, Deeper Thinking

Third grade is the shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Your child builds the comprehension and fluency that power every subject from here forward.

Read fluently across fiction and nonfiction
Identify main ideas, details, and themes
Solve unfamiliar words using context and structure

4th Grade

Stronger Comprehension, More Complex Text

Your fourth grader strengthens comprehension across increasingly complex text — building the analytical skills that separate strong readers from students who just get by.

Summarize, analyze, and monitor understanding while reading
Identify themes and support them with evidence
Expand vocabulary through context and discussion

5th Grade

Critical Thinking and Independent Reading

Your fifth grader tackles grade-level text with confidence — developing the comprehension and critical thinking skills they'll need for middle school and beyond.

Analyze author's purpose, point of view, and argument
Synthesize information across multiple sources
Build academic vocabulary and independent reading habits

6th – 8th Grade

Read Critically, Write Clearly, Study Independently

Your middle schooler builds skills across four connected areas — the same skills that drive success in every class, not just English.

Analyze fiction for theme, character motivation, and literary technique
Tackle nonfiction, textbooks, and primary sources with confidence
Write clearly — from organized paragraphs to multi-paragraph essays

An Honest Conversation

If Not This, Then What?

Most parents considering a reading program are weighing a few options — some intentional, some not. Here's what those actually look like.

Option 1 · You teach them yourself

The hardest one to admit. Even experienced educators struggle to teach their own children. Every correction feels personal. Every session becomes a battle.

Your job is to be the parent — not the teacher.

Option 2 · A random local tutor

Most parents end up with a college student, a generalist, or someone without specialized reading training. No consistent curriculum. No system. No guarantee it builds toward anything.

If it doesn't work, you start over.

Option 3 · A learning center

Reading is just one of many subjects. Instructors are often generalists, not expert reading teachers. The curriculum is designed to be delivered anywhere — which means consistency, not depth.

At $200+ per week, you're paying for overhead — not specialized instruction.

Option 4 · Wait and hope

The most common choice. "We'll figure it out later." "They'll catch up next year."

But kids lose months of reading progress every summer. By middle school, that compounds into years.

Waiting is a decision — and it has a cost.

Then there's a different option.

Live, small-group instruction (just 6 students), taught by expert reading teachers using a system built and refined over decades.

About $50/week. Designed to create real progress — not just keep kids busy.

The real question isn't "online vs. in-person."

It's: which option gives your child the best chance of real reading progress this summer?

See Summer Programs →

How We Compare

Most Reading Help Looks Similar. It Isn't.

Here's what parents are actually choosing between — and why the difference matters.

Feature	IRD Programs	Doing It Yourself	Random Local Tutor	Online Apps	Other Services
Expert Reading Teachers	✓ Top 3% of applicants — trained in this system	✗ Not trained for this	Varies widely	✗ No teachers	Generalists
Proven Curriculum	✓ 50+ years refined and continuously improved	✗ None	Depends on the tutor	Algorithm-based	Broad, non-specialized
Small Group Size	✓ Max 6 students (live, interactive)	N/A	1:1 only	Self-paced	8–18 students
Complete Books — Not Excerpts	✓ Full books, carefully leveled	Maybe	Sometimes	✗ Excerpts only	Worksheets
Guided Book Discussions	✓ Every session	✗ Hard to do as a parent	Rare	✗ None	Rare
Personalized Reading Report	✓ Included — from your child's teacher	✗ None	Varies	App metrics	Monthly summaries
Cost per Week	~$50/week	"Free" — but at the cost of the parent-child relationship	$80–240/week	$5–10/week — but no instruction	$120–200/week

Expert Reading Teachers

IRD Programs✓ Top 3% — trained in this system

Doing It Yourself✗ Not trained for this

Random Local TutorVaries widely

Online Apps✗ No teachers

Other ServicesGeneralists

Cost per Week

IRD Programs~$50/week

Doing It Yourself"Free" — but at the cost of the relationship

Random Local Tutor$80–240/week

Online Apps$5–10/week — no instruction

Other Services$120–200/week

Curriculum

IRD Programs✓ 50+ years refined

Doing It Yourself✗ None

Random Local TutorDepends on the tutor

Online AppsAlgorithm-based

Other ServicesBroad, non-specialized

Most options solve for convenience or cost. Very few are designed to actually improve how a child reads.

The real difference isn't format.

It's whether there's a system behind it — and a teacher who knows how to use it.

See Summer Programs →

Summer 2026 Programs

Choose the Right Program for Your Child

All programs are live, small-group classes taught by expert reading teachers.

4 weeks is enough to see real progress.
8 weeks builds the consistency and momentum that leads to lasting improvement.

4-Week Program

Start Seeing Real Progress
A strong starting point. Four weeks of expert instruction to build skills and confidence.

$199

Regular price $249

4 weekly 50-min live classes
Max 6 students per group
Daily practice between sessions
Expert reading teacher
Personalized end-of-program Reading Report

Enroll in 4-Week Program →

Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Reading Programs

Yes — and it surprises most parents. With only 6 students per class, every child reads aloud, speaks, and is called on every session. There's no hiding in the back row. Our teachers are trained specifically in live online engagement, and after 11 years and 250,000+ students in this format, we've learned how to make 50 minutes feel fast. This isn't screen time — it's active, guided instruction.

Students are grouped by grade level and taught accordingly — your child won't be in a class that's too easy or too hard. Our teachers adjust in real time based on what they see, and the small group size means no child gets lost. If you're concerned about where your child is, the program itself will tell you: you'll receive a personalized Reading Report at the end showing exactly where they started and how far they've come.

Our summer reading programs serve children from Pre-K through 8th grade. Every program is designed for your child's specific grade — with age-appropriate books, pacing, and skills focus. When you enroll, you select your child's grade and we place them in the right group. For high school students (9th–12th), we offer 1:1 tutoring.

Yes — every IRD class is live online, on Zoom, by design. We've been teaching reading this way since 2015 — over 250,000 students — and it's the format that lets us do three things no in-person class can: cap groups at just 6 students (vs. 16+ on campus), use teachers trained specifically for this format, and run a curriculum we've spent 11 years refining for live online instruction. The result is more individual attention, more participation, and more engagement per session than a traditional classroom — not less. This isn't a webinar, and it isn't screen time. Every child reads aloud, speaks, and is called on every single class.

With Early Enrollment (through April 15), programs start at $199. After April 15, regular price is $249.

• 4-Week Program — $199 (reg. $249). One live class per week + daily practice. The best starting point.
• 8-Week Bundle — $398 (saves $100 vs. two 4-week programs). Same teacher, same schedule, double the duration.
• Reading Camp — $199 (reg. $249). Five consecutive days, three hours a day. Curriculum rotates weekly.

All programs include expert reading teachers, groups of 6 or fewer, and a personalized Reading Report.

Our programs are taught by expert reading teachers trained in a curriculum developed and refined over 56 years. Our teachers focus exclusively on reading instruction — not math, not science, not test prep. We're extremely selective in who we hire (fewer than 3% of applicants are accepted). Your child's teacher knows reading deeply, and they'll know your child by name.

Each week, your child attends one 50-minute live online class with an expert teacher and a small group of peers. Between sessions, they practice 15 minutes a day. For Pre-K–5th graders, that's in our interactive Reading Routine App — independent, guided activities your child does on their own. For 6th–8th graders, structured reading practice that reinforces each week's skills. Either way: 5 days a week of reading instruction, 1 live class + 4 practice days.

Yes. The reading camp curriculum rotates weekly (A, B, C), so each week is a different experience with different books and activities. Families can enroll in multiple weeks as long as they don't repeat the same curriculum.

Absolutely. Strong readers benefit from deeper comprehension, critical thinking, and guided book discussions they won't get anywhere else. We serve Pre-K through 8th grade — including students who read well and want to go further. Our grade-level programs challenge advanced readers with richer texts and more sophisticated analytical skills.

Before your program starts:
• Within 72 hours of purchase — 100% refund
• After 72 hours, through April 30 — 75% refund
• After 72 hours, through May 31 — 50% refund

After your program starts:
Our "We'll Make It Right" commitment. Teacher not a fit? We'll move your child to a different group by their next session. Level not right? We'll reassess and adjust within a week. We don't do refunds after the program starts — we fix what isn't working.

Most parents asking this question are quietly trying to figure out if they should hire a tutor, sign up for an app, or send their child to a learning center instead. Here's the honest answer: the in-person reading help most parents imagine usually doesn't exist for most families. The "tutor" you can actually find locally is typically a college student, a retired teacher, or a generalist with no specialized reading training. Apps can drill phonics, but they can't lead a book discussion or notice when your child is guessing from context. Learning centers teach a dozen subjects and aren't focused on reading. IRD does one thing — reading — with teachers trained in a curriculum refined over 56 years, in groups of 6, for about $50/week.

If you do want 1:1 attention from an expert reading teacher, that's a real category, and we offer it too — see our 1:1 Tutoring program ($349/month). The 4-week summer program is the small-group version of the same expert teaching, at a different price point.

Summer reading loss — where kids lose about two months of reading progress over the break — is prevented by structured reading practice with expert guidance, not by telling kids to read more. The Institute of Reading Development's summer programs provide live instruction with expert teachers, daily practice between sessions, and a personalized reading report at the end of the program. Research shows that students who read 20 minutes a day read 1 million more words per year than non-readers — our programs build that habit with support.

Many families continue with our Monthly Reading Programs during the school year — $199/month, same structured approach, cancel anytime. It's the same routine your child built over the summer, just kept going. Most parents tell us the transition is seamless. We also offer 1-on-1 tutoring ($349/month) for families who want individual attention year-round. A $49 Reading Diagnostic can help determine if that's the right path — and the $49 credits toward the first month if your family enrolls.

We offer 1:1 tutoring with a dedicated expert reading teacher — same caliber of instructor, fully personalized to your child. It's available for all ages, including 9th–12th graders. If you're not sure whether your child needs group instruction or individual tutoring, our $49 Reading Diagnostic is a great starting point. An expert reading teacher will assess your child's skills and recommend the right path — and the $49 credits toward the first month if you enroll in tutoring. Learn more about 1:1 tutoring →

Real Parent Stories

Hear From Families Like Yours

These parents share what changed for their children — in their own words.

April

Parent of a Pre-K student

Teri and John Ross — 1st grade parent testimonial

Teri & John Ross

Parents of a 1st grade student

Romona

Grandmother of a 3rd grade student

Chintana

Parent of a 5th grade student

Aiden

7th grade student

Lorilla and Aniyah — 8th grade parent and student

Lorilla & Aniyah

Parent and 8th grade student