How to Set Up Online Tutoring Sessions That Actually Work — Especially If You’re Teaching with UFLI
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 27
You’ve got the UFLI lesson open.
Your Zoom tab is ready.
And somewhere between sharing your screen, clicking through decodable passages, and trying to keep your student from sliding out of their chair, you realize this was supposed to be the “easy” part.
Online tutoring should feel efficient.
It should feel structured.
And honestly, it should be a lot more fun.
But most tutors are stuck stitching together UFLI slides, last-minute TPT downloads, and random whiteboard tools that make each session feel like a scramble.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
This post breaks down the core mechanics of smooth, engaging online tutoring, especially if you're using UFLI or something similar. And if you want a shortcut, we’ll show you how The Teach-To-Read Blueprint (TTRB) helps you skip the prep, cut the clutter, and deliver high-quality instruction with ease.
Best Platforms for Online Reading Instruction
If you’re tutoring online, your video platform is your classroom. You need it to work smoothly, support interaction, and not distract your student every two minutes.
Top Choice: Zoom
Zoom gives you the most flexibility and control of any free video conferencing tool. It lets you:
Set controls before the session even begins
Share just a portion of your screen so you can follow instructions while keeping your student focused
Use annotation tools to highlight, cover, draw, or write directly on the screen
Let your student interact with the lesson by controlling your mouse (yes, even to play games!)
Use breakout rooms if you're working with small groups
Other options like Google Meet or Skype work in a pinch, but they’re missing features that are especially helpful for structured literacy instruction.
Why this matters with TTRB: When you use the TTRB inside Zoom, you can display only the part of the interactive lesson you want your student to see while following private instructions behind the scenes. Built-in games, annotations, and direct mouse control make sessions feel lively and hands-on.
Keeping Materials Organized (So Sessions Run Smoothly)
If you’ve ever lost precious session time digging through tabs or downloading PDFs mid-lesson, you know how important it is to have everything ready before you click “Start Meeting.”
UFLI slides are clean but not especially interactive. Many tutors need to supplement with:
TPT resources
Boom cards
Canva slides
Self-made visuals
Printables from all over the place
That’s a lot to organize.
Tips for smooth session prep:
Choose one consistent way to organize your materials (by skill, unit, or activity type)
Open everything you plan to use before the session starts
Have 1–2 backup activities ready to fill extra time
After the session, make a quick note of what you used for easy reference later
What’s different with the TTRB: Everything is already mapped out for you. Each TTRB lesson is pre-sequenced with step-by-step interactive slides, games, and printable extras. If you finish early? No problem — there are built-in extension options right inside the same folder.
Between-Session Practice: The Secret Ingredient
Even the best session won’t stick if students don’t practice in between.
One or two sessions a week isn’t enough for most students with decoding gaps, especially those in UFLI-based intervention programs. To reinforce what you teach, you’ll need to provide asynchronous practice that’s easy for families to follow.
Ideas for between-session reinforcement:
Send home a printable passage or game that aligns with the week’s skill
Link to reading or phonics practice sites like Lexia or ReadTheory
Share links to games or interactive activities related to your lesson
What TTRB offers: For every unit, the TTRB includes both printable and digital practice options. Share a game or a decodable passage directly with families. Need help communicating with parents? The Launch & Grow Toolkit includes email templates so you can follow up professionally and consistently — without spending an hour crafting each message.
Why Better Systems Lead to Faster Progress
You’re not just managing Zoom. You’re managing attention, pacing, behavior, motivation, and comprehension, all through a screen.
If your materials are disorganized, your slides aren’t interactive, or your student zones out while you’re opening files, progress slows. And when you’re paid by the session, every minute matters.
More engagement = more practice = more growth.
The best tutors aren’t just good teachers.They’ve built systems that let them focus on teaching — not tech or transitions.
The TTRB Difference
You don’t need to be tech-savvy. You don’t need to build slide decks. You don’t even need to prep.
With the TTRB, you get:
✅ Structured lessons, aligned with foundational phonics sequences
✅ Full-color decodable passages (printable + interactive)
✅ Digital games that reinforce each concept
✅ Progress monitoring tools built in
✅ Between-session practice resources
✅ BONUS: A toolkit to help you launch, organize, and grow your tutoring practice
And yes — it was designed by a dyslexia specialist who gets what online tutors need to keep things simple and effective.
Want a peek?
🎁 Get a free interactive decodable plus a printable passage
See what it’s like to teach with lessons that actually work online.
P.S. Thinking About Starting Your Tutoring Business?
If you're considering launching a tutoring side hustle (or making it your full-time gig), the Launch & Grow Toolkit is included with your TTRB subscription.
It gives you all the business-side support you need, including:
Business setup checklists
Outreach and referral templates
Social media posts
Policy docs and client onboarding materials
Parent email templates
It’s your business-in-a-box, made just for online reading tutors.
👉 Read this next: How to Make UFLI Lessons More Fun— Discover practical ways to bring more joy and engagement to your structured literacy routine.
About the author:
I’m a dyslexia specialist and creator of The Teach-to-Read Blueprint, a plug-and-play structured literacy curriculum for tutors and teachers. I help educators make research-backed reading lessons effective and engaging—online or in person.
🔍 Want to help your own student thrive with a dyslexia-friendly approach? I’ve built a curriculum designed to make decoding easier, lessons more engaging, and instruction fully online. 👉 Teach-To-Read Blueprint
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