Our take
Live online tutoring in the Barton Reading & Spelling System, a ten-level program that teaches reading and spelling together from basic sounds to advanced spelling rules, Latin roots and morphology. Students who do not pass Barton's screening start with its foundational sounds program. Sessions run at least twice a week. Prices are not published.
A good fit for
- Families who want Barton without being the tutor themselves
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want to see prices before calling
How far it goes
About the skill ladder- 7Latin and Greek rootsconstruct, phonographPartly
- 6Prefixes, suffixes and spelling ruleshopping, unkindTaught
- 5Multisyllable wordsnapkin, fantasticTaught
- 4Vowel patternscake, rain, carTaught
- 3Blends and digraphsstop, ship, chinTaught
- 2Short-vowel wordscat, sit, hopTaught
- 1Letter soundsm says /m/Taught
Barton covers Latin roots and morphology; Greek forms are not mentioned.
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 dictationBarton teaches reading and spelling together, with dictation.
- What do they read?
- DecodableTexts primarily follow taught patterns; see each program’s treatment of irregular words.
- How is progress gated?
- Tutor decidesBarton's screening places your child; levels are taught to mastery.
- How much of your time?
- Trained tutorDelivered by a trained tutor or clinician.
- What does the evidence show?
- No outcome studyNo independent study of the service or of Barton found.
How it compares
| App | Price | Goes up to | Hears reading | Spelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond Bell (online Barton tutoring) | Contact for price | Latin and Greek roots | A trained tutor | 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 |
| 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 |
Sources
Checked October 2026 against the maker's own pages and the sources above. Spot something out of date? Tell us.