WNY Homeschool Tutor
Hi, I'm April.
certified teacher · special educator · master's in literacy · homeschool mom
I help K–2 kids in Western New York learn to read — really read — and I work exclusively with homeschool families.
I spent years teaching K–2 in a Buffalo classroom — and I loved it. But somewhere along the way I knew I'd end up homeschooling my own kids, and I started seeing the same struggles in homeschool families that I'd been helping fix in my classroom for years.
So I left.
Not because traditional school is bad — but because I wanted to spend my days helping the families I most relate to. The ones up at 10pm googling "how to teach my kid to read." The ones quietly wondering if they're doing enough. The ones who didn't sign up to be a reading teacher on top of being mom.
I'm a certified teacher with a master's in literacy — and a homeschool mom myself. I've sat where you sit. I still sit there some days.
my training →
What I'm trained in
The short version: I have the credentials, and I keep them sharp.
- Master's degree in Literacy
- Certified teacher (NYS) and certified special educator
- 8+ years teaching K–2 in the classroom
- Specialized in early reading instruction and identifying learning gaps
- Trained in evidence-based reading interventions (the science of reading, structured literacy, phonemic awareness, fluency)
- Math instruction K–5
I won't bury you in jargon — but if you ever want the technical "why" behind what we're doing in a session, just ask. I love that part.
why I get it →
Why I get it
Because I'm not just the tutor — I'm also the mom.
I know what it's like to plan a beautiful reading lesson and have your kid cry through it. I know the guilt of "should I just send them to school?" thoughts at 9pm. I know what it feels like to read curriculum reviews for three hours and still not click "buy."
Most of the parents I work with are carrying:
- A child who's resistant, emotional, or shut down around reading or math
- A nagging worry about learning gaps
- Late nights researching solutions that don't quite fit
- The fear of "doing homeschooling wrong"
You're not failing. You're not behind. You're doing one of the hardest, most loving jobs there is — and you're doing it without a manual.
That's why I do this. To be the trusted teacher friend you can text when your kid is struggling.
in session →
What a session feels like
Calm. Focused. A little fun.
We don't follow a rigid 8-week plan. We move fast on the wins, slow down on what's not clicking, and adjust based on your actual kid — not a generic curriculum.
Here's the rhythm:
- We start where they are. No pretending, no leveling-up just to look impressive.
- One focused skill at a time. Sight words, phonics, blending, fluency, comprehension, math facts — whatever's the next domino.
- Short, frequent wins. Confidence is the real curriculum.
- You get the play-by-play. I tell you what we worked on, what I noticed, and what to keep doing at home.
Most kids leave a session lighter than they came in. Most parents do, too.
