My daughter taught herself to read at a very young age. So when my son struggled to name the letters of the alphabet after years of trying, we were completely at a loss.

 

We did everything we were supposed to do. We read aloud together, attended story time at the library, filled our home with books, and modeled a love of reading. Other parents reassured us that he would learn in his own time, but deep down, we knew something was different.

 

He loved being read to, yet would do almost anything to avoid sounding out words. He could create beautiful drawings but could not write his own name. As homeschoolers, we began to wonder if we were the problem. Believing the school system could provide what we could not, we enrolled him in public school.

​

Instead, we faced school avoidance, daily tears, and a child whose confidence seemed to shrink with each passing month. Watching him struggle broke my heart.

 

After a year with virtually no progress, we sought an evaluation from an educational psychologist. The diagnosis we received changed the trajectory of our lives.

 

The psychologist encouraged me to pursue specialized training, homeschool him again, and work with him directly. That is exactly what I did.

 

I immersed myself in learning about dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and evidence-based instruction. What began as a quest to help my own child soon became a passion for helping other children like him.

 

I will never forget the day everything began to change.

 

After successfully sounding out a lesson's worth of words on his own, my son looked at me very seriously and said:

 

"Huh. So I'm not stupid after all."

 

Those words have stayed with me ever since.

 

They guide every interaction I have with my students.

 

Because the children I work with are not lazy. They are not unmotivated. They are not being difficult. They are bright, capable learners who need instruction that matches the way their brains learn.

 

Today, I strive to build not only academic skills, but confidence. I create lessons that are engaging, supportive, and tailored to each student's interests. I use games, humor, and meaningful relationships to help students feel safe enough to take risks, make mistakes, and grow.

 

My goal is for every student to leave a session feeling more capable than when they arrived.

 

Because no child should have to wonder whether they are smart enough.

 

If you're looking for a tutor who understands both the academic and emotional side of learning differences, I'd love to talk with you.