Tutoring vs. Summer School: What’s Best for Your Child?
- smartstarttutorsin
- May 1
- 2 min read
If your child is struggling with reading—especially in those critical Kindergarten through fifth grade years—you might be wondering what kind of support they need over the summer to catch up or stay on track.
Two common options are tutoring and summer school, but they serve very different purposes.
Let’s break it down and see which one is best for your child!
Tutoring: Personalized, Focused, and Foundational
Tutoring is ideal for students who need targeted support. Whether your child is dealing with decoding issues, fluency struggles, or other foundational reading skills, tutoring meets them exactly where they are.
As online Reading Specialists, my team and I work with kids who may have Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, or processing challenges—or who are simply not reading on grade level yet.
Tutoring allows us to dig into the root of their reading struggles and create a plan that’s tailored just for them.
If your child has specific gaps in their reading skills and needs one-on-one attention, tutoring is the better choice.
Summer School: Generalized, Group-Based, and Often Broad
Summer school tends to be broader and is usually delivered in a classroom setting. It’s often geared toward credit recovery, state test prep, or general academic review—not personalized reading instruction.
While some summer school programs may help reinforce classroom concepts for children who may struggle with that, they usually aren’t designed to close foundational reading gaps for kids with learning differences.
If your child needs a structured environment with peer interaction, standardized test preparation or is trying to make up for a missed subject, summer school could be helpful. But it’s not a substitute for focused intervention.
How to Decide Between Tutoring vs. Summer School: Know Your Child
Every child is different. When choosing between tutoring and summer school, ask yourself:
Does my child need personalized instruction or general review?
Are we dealing with foundational reading gaps, or just a need for extra practice?
Does my child do better in a one-on-one setting or a group environment?
How much support and structure does my child need to stay engaged?
How to Get Personalized Reading Help
If your child is a struggling reader—whether they’ve been officially diagnosed or not—and you’re not sure what’s holding them back, tutoring is likely the most effective route.
We specialize in helping K–5 students close their reading gap, build confidence, and feel successful in school and beyond.
Not every child needs summer school—but every child deserves to learn to read in a way that works for them. Contact us if you want to learn more about how we can help your child become a stronger reader this summer!