Online Russian Reading and Writing Classes: How to Choose a Course

Separate the different parts of reading

A child may know every letter but still sound out one letter at a time; read words quickly without understanding the sentence; guess from the first syllable; or apply English reading rules to Russian.

If the two alphabets are getting mixed up, start with our guide to Russian and English letter confusion.

Account for literacy in another language

English literacy gives the child useful concepts about print and meaning, but it can also create cross-language habits: letter names, expected sound patterns and writing conventions are different.

A good course builds on existing literacy instead of pretending it does not exist, while teaching the differences explicitly.

What writing instruction should include

Writing is more than handwriting practice. A child needs sound-letter links, spelling awareness, sentence construction and, gradually, the ability to produce a short connected text.

Ask whether handwriting is included, how written work is checked and whether parents need to print materials.

Questions about workload and progress

Before enrolling, ask how long homework should take and how the school decides that the child is ready for a more demanding text.

• Which skills are assessed at the start?
• How are decoding, comprehension and writing connected?
• How often does the child write by hand?
• Is there work between lessons?
• When is the reading level changed?
• How is progress shared with parents?

LUMI programme

The Russian Reading and Writing course focuses on these skills online. If writing needs to sit within a broader programme, consider an individual Russian course.

Begin with an assessment so the child does not repeat secure skills or skip an important foundation.