We get comfortable
A conversation, a bit of humor, and space to make a mistake. Your child gets to know the person helping them.
For the child who finds reading hard
Big feelings.
Small steps.
Reading and spelling support with patience, humor, and a reason to keep trying.
Almost eight years working with children, including several years supporting children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. One-to-one online lessons with a Canadian tutor who makes time to get to know your child.
20 minutes · Free · Just parents to begin
A familiar face. Every lesson.
Canadian tutorTeaching since 2018
One child. Individual attention.
One tutor. A consistent connection.
One clear next step. A plan you can follow.
You don’t need another “just practice more.”
Start with what’s hard.
Find something to build on.
Maybe your child avoids reading aloud. Maybe spelling turns homework into a struggle. Or perhaps they can explain an idea beautifully, but getting through the words takes all their energy.
We begin with what you’re noticing, then use reading and spelling activities to find a useful starting point. Lessons combine clear explanations, guided practice and encouraging activities, with time to revisit what needs another try.
A lesson, up close
Less mystery.
More “I see it.”
A small example: two letters can work together to make one sound. We notice the pattern, use it in a word, then try it again.
Explore the three steps. This is an original teaching example, not a test or an assessment of your child.
WORD WORKExample · 1 of 3
Two letters. One sound.
ship
The letters “s” and “h” work together to make /sh/.
A manageable step. A chance to practice. Room to try again.
A little music. A memorable pattern.
Sing the short vowel sounds
with Nicolas.
Take a minute to meet the playful side of my teaching. I use music and humor to make practice feel more inviting.
The Vowel Song · Short vowel sounds · Less than two minutes
Watch on YouTubeConnection before correction
A laugh. A little challenge.
Something worth earning.
I talk with children, take their ideas seriously, and use humor to build rapport. The tone is relaxed and friendly, with a clear learning goal underneath.
Practice has a purpose
We work through a reading or spelling skill together, with explanations, prompts and another try when needed.
Gems add some fun
Children earn gems to spend on in-game items in Playground, a building game I use as part of the reward system.
The activities and rewards are selected for the child and the lesson. Playground is a third-party tool.
For the parent behind the screen
You shouldn’t have to guess
what happened in the lesson.
You receive a friendly email with the key concepts we covered, what I noticed, and a few practical ideas for home. After the first four weeks, we talk through the progress and decide what to keep practicing or change.
A fictional sample in the style of my lesson emails.
A note after the lessonEXAMPLE
Hello!
We had a great lesson today! We practiced reading and spelling words with “sh”, then tried the same pattern in a short sentence.
Key concepts covered
- Two letters, one sound: “s” and “h” work together in words like ship, shop, and fish.
- A step forward: Your child read shop without a prompt. We’ll revisit the pattern next lesson to see what sticks.
Optional practice
If there’s time, try ship, shop, and fish. Say the sounds together, then blend them into the whole word. Keep it brief, and let me know how it goes!
Warm regards,
Nicolas
Meet Nicolas
Almost eight years.
One lesson at a time.
I’m a Canadian tutor who grew up in the US. I’ve been working with children for almost eight years, teaching and tutoring since 2018. That includes two years teaching English in China and several years helping children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
Over time, I’ve helped students go from not being able to read “cat” to being able to spell “establishment.” Some of my students have gone on to surpass their classmates in reading and spelling.
I bring patience, humor, and a clear plan to each lesson. We build from your child’s starting point and adjust as they learn.
The experience I bring
Almost eight years working with childrenTeaching and tutoring since 2018
TESL trainingDouglas College
Bachelor’s degreeTrinity Western University
International teaching experienceIncluding two years in China
A clear first step
Meet first.
Then decide.
A free, 20-minute parent conversation helps us check fit. If we decide to begin, the first teaching session is charged at the regular rate.
A clear goal. A first-month promise.
We agree on a meaningful reading or spelling goal and record your child’s starting point. If your child completes the agreed lessons over the first four teaching weeks and that goal isn’t met, you receive two additional lessons of the same length at no charge. Those are our final two sessions; afterward, tutoring with me ends and I provide a referral to another teacher.
How often should we meet?
We discuss frequency after learning about your child. Two sessions per week is one possible starting plan; the recommendation depends on their needs and available times.
Can you support a child with dyslexia?
I have experience teaching children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. We will discuss your child’s needs and any professional recommendations you wish to share. Tutoring does not provide a diagnosis or replace a clinical assessment.
What do we need for online lessons?
A computer or tablet with a camera, reliable internet, headphones if useful, paper and a pencil. A parent or guardian should be reachable during the session.
How does the first-month promise work?
Before teaching begins, we agree in writing on an observable reading or spelling goal, a starting point, and a lesson schedule. We review that goal after four teaching weeks, accounting for agreed breaks and rescheduled lessons. If your child completes the agreed lessons and the goal is not met, the next two lessons are free and are our final sessions. I then provide a referral to another independent teacher and refund any unused prepaid lessons at the amount you paid for them. The other teacher’s availability and acceptance are subject to their own arrangements. This promise does not specify a universal reading-level gain or guarantee a diagnosis or clinical outcome.
You bring the questions
Find a time.
Let’s talk about your child.
A free, 20-minute conversation for parents and guardians. Choose a blue time to get started.
20 minutes · FreeNo payment neededLesson times are arranged afterward
Choose a time to prepare an email request. Nicolas confirms your appointment by email. You can also email Nicolas directly.