FOG Readers offers one-on-one tutoring for students in grades 1-4 who are behind in their reading by one or more grade levels. Enrolled students meet with their tutor once a week for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Tutoring sessions take place at any San Francisco Public Library or virtually.
FOG Readers focuses on basic, fundamental reading skills.
Student Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade.
Students in kindergarten or 5th grade and higher are not eligible. - Behind in reading by one or more grade levels.
- Has difficulty decoding words on a page.
- Can meet at a San Francisco branch library or virtually.
- Lives or attends school in San Francisco.
- Can commit to meeting once a week for a 45-minute to 1-hour tutoring session
FOG Readers Tutors
Our tutors are community volunteers and are specifically trained to cover the FOG Readers curriculum and activities. FOG Readers tutors are not professional educators and dedicate their time as unpaid volunteers.
FOG Readers volunteer tutors will not assist with subjects outside the FOG Readers program, such as homework help or test preparation.
Although all tutors have been background checked and fingerprinted, will not, and should not be asked to meet at your home or any other location.
Enroll a Student
The Family Orientation is for parents and guardians that is interested in enrolling a child in the FOG Readers program. The parent or guardian must arrive on time for the online or in-person orientation. Orientation starts promptly at the start time. Attendees arriving 10 minutes or more after the start time will not move forward in the student enrollment process. The informational part of the orientation lasts no longer than 30 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.
The orientation provides additional steps to families who attend the entire session.
A parent or guardian must attend a FOG Readers Family Orientation.
Full attendance at the FOG Readers Family Orientation is mandatory.
Children are not required to attend the family orientation.
Family Orientation Registration for Saturday, December 20, 2025
Virtual Orientation
Attend the Family Orientation via Zoom!
Important Information:
Your camera must remain active, and you must be visible to verify attendance.
Late arrivals will not receive attendance credit.
Zoom Registration (Orientation schedule by language):
In-Person Orientation Viewing
In-Person viewing of the Family Orientations are scheduled in the Learning Studio, located on the 5th floor of the Main Library on: Saturday, December 20, 2025
Important Information:
Registration is required: Space is limited, and registration will close once full.
Late arrivals will not receive attendance credit.
In-person Registration (Orientation schedule by language)
Location:
San Francisco Public Library
Main Library, Learning Studio
100 Larkin St., 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
Frequently Asked Questions
FOG Readers is a reading remediation program designed to support students who are not reading at grade level. Students who are reading at grade level or higher are beyond the scope of FOG Readers and will not be enrolled.
FOG Readers does not accept students in kindergarten or younger, or in 5th grade or higher.
Kindergarten and below
If your student is in kindergarten or younger, they are not yet eligible for the FOG Readers program.
Resources for kindergarten and below:
- ABC Mouse
- Early Literacy San Francisco Public Library
- Reading Rockets
- San Francisco Public Library Decodable Readers Collection
- Sparkler App
5th grade and higher
If your student is in 5th grade or higher, they are beyond the scope of the program. Students in 5th grade or higher may require more remediation help than what FOG Readers can offer.
If you are concerned about your child’s reading ability as a 5th grader or higher, please make sure to contact your student’s schoolteacher and school administrator. If you need assistance seeking school support, please connect with the community organizations below for guidance.
Resources for 5th graders and higher
Additional Reading Support
Resources to help support a student’s learning:
Community Organizations that support families seek academic support:
- Support for Families
- San Francisco Parent Coalition
- Reading Partners
- Oakland Reads
*Look under tab: Reading Concern >How to Request an Assessment
The FOG Readers program helps improve a student’s English decoding skills. It does not teach English. Most FOG Readers tutors do not speak a language other than English. As long as a student can follow basic instructions, tutors are happy to work with students using the FOG Readers curriculum, while a student is still developing their English Language communication skills. Please let us know if this is an area for concern.
Resources non-English speaking students:
FOG Readers is not formally associated with SFUSD or private schools, and we do not have access to your student’s academic record. The FOG Readers program is not based on your student’s classroom curriculum. Tutors do not communicate with teachers or the school.
No, FOG Readers tutors do not assist with homework subjects. Please refrain from asking them for help with anything outside the FOG Readers program.
Homework help Resources:
Additional library resources can be found at sfpl.org/kids.