Our take
Online 1:1 tutoring from the company that publishes Phonics First, an Orton-Gillingham reading and spelling program, and Structures, which adds morphology and Greek and Latin roots for older students. Sessions are 45 to 60 minutes depending on age, with progress data after every lesson. Brainspring does not publish prices.
A good fit for
- Families who want tutors trained in a named Orton-Gillingham program
- Teens and adults as well as young children
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want to see prices before calling
How far it goes
About the skill ladder- 7Latin and Greek rootsconstruct, phonographTaught
- 6Prefixes, suffixes and spelling ruleshopping, unkindTaught
- 5Multisyllable wordsnapkin, fantasticNot published
- 4Vowel patternscake, rain, carNot published
- 3Blends and digraphsstop, ship, chinNot published
- 2Short-vowel wordscat, sit, hopNot published
- 1Letter soundsm says /m/Not published
Phonics First covers foundational reading and spelling; Structures adds morphology and Greek and Latin roots. A step-by-step sequence is not published for parents.
How it works
How we rate- Who hears your child read?
- A trained tutorA trained person hears every word and corrects in the moment.
- Does your child spell?
- Writes from dictationPhonics First teaches reading and spelling together.
- What do they read?
- Not publishedWe could not confirm what kind of text it uses.
- How is progress gated?
- Tutor decidesPlacement assessment, then the plan is updated after each lesson.
- How much of your time?
- Trained tutorDelivered by a trained tutor or clinician.
- What does the evidence show?
- No outcome studyNot rated on Evidence for ESSA; no independent study of the tutoring found.
Watch-outs
- Its pages describe tutor qualifications differently: one says every tutor holds or is pursuing IDA-accredited certification, another says "degreed professionals" with Brainspring training.
How it compares
| App | Price | Goes up to | Hears reading | Spelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brainspring Virtual Tutoring | Contact for price | Latin and Greek roots | A trained tutor | Writes from dictation |
| iReading Tutor | $85.50 per 45-minute online session, or $684/mo for 8 sessions | Prefixes, suffixes and spelling rules | A trained tutor | Writes from dictation |
| Reading Horizons At-Home | $199 for the first year, then $50/yr; $25 per extra student; $10 30-day trial | Multisyllable words | No automated listening | Writes from dictation |
| Lexercise Professional Therapy | $495/mo (rates vary by therapist), billed every 4 weeks | Latin and Greek roots | A trained tutor | Writes from dictation |
| Kids Up Reading Tutors | $135–$200/hr depending on tutor level, plus a $500 evaluation; 3+ sessions a week recommended | Latin and Greek roots | A trained tutor | Writes from dictation |
Sources
Checked October 2026 against the maker's own pages and the sources above. Spot something out of date? Tell us.