Personalized reading, writing, and math support for young learners, meeting your child exactly where they are.
"Designed with a pencil in hand and a purpose in heart."
Founder & teacher, Pencil & Purpose Learning · M.Ed.
I'm a former primary classroom teacher, and I started Pencil & Purpose Learning to give young students the individual attention a busy classroom can't always offer. Every lesson is crafted with deliberate educational intent, never busywork.
I hold a Master's degree in Curriculum and Pedagogy, and I draw on that training to design evidence-based programming rooted in structured literacy and the Science of Reading. Every plan is built on what research shows actually helps children learn, and shaped around your child's specific needs.
My focus is simple: fill in the gaps, reinforce the essential reading, writing, and math skills, and help your child build the clarity and confidence they need to thrive.
One-on-one, in person across Greater Victoria. Small-group and online sessions available by arrangement.
Phonics, fluency, and comprehension, plus the confidence to enjoy reading and tackle new words independently.
Number sense, problem-solving, and foundational skills taught step by step until they truly click.
From sentence building to organizing ideas, helping young writers put their thoughts on the page with clarity.
Four steps from first hello to seeing real progress.
We talk about your child's strengths, challenges, and goals. No pressure, just a conversation.
A focused 1-hour session with your child to find out exactly where they are. It's what the whole plan is built on, so we're working on the right things from day one.
1 hourI build a plan tailored to your child's pace and curriculum, and we get to work in a supportive setting.
You receive regular updates, so you can see the growth in both skills and confidence.
Beyond face-to-face sessions, I design high-quality workbooks and resources to support your child at home and in the classroom. Everything is 50% off right now: units from $1.99 (regularly $3.99), or the complete teacher's package for $24.99 (regularly $49.99).
Structured-literacy practice materials built from the same programme used in tutoring sessions. Instant PDF download after checkout.
Launch pricing: 50% off every unit and the Complete Teacher's Package.
Five practice pages plus a parent guide covering the short-a sound, the first step in the phonics sequence. A good way to see whether this approach fits your child.
Five two-page practice sheets with original illustrations, covering all five short vowels in CVC words. Decodable throughout: nothing appears before it has been taught.
All twelve unit packs plus the 117-page Structured Literacy Teacher's Guide: 57 scripted lessons, Elkonin box and letter-tile prompts, the full heart-word sequence, and word-sum scripting for morphology. Every future unit included free.
All twelve units are available now. Browse the full catalogue on Payhip. Every file is a PDF, delivered by email the moment you check out.
Books and hands-on materials for building reading and math skills at home or in the classroom. They're well-reviewed, easy to find in Canada, and a good match for our structured-literacy approach.
A boxed set of 20 sturdy board books covering letters, numbers, colours, shapes and first words. It's an easy way to make books part of every day before school starts.
Twelve short decodable books that use only the sounds a new reader has already learned. Kids can read a whole book on their own from the first day.
Colour-coded letter and sound tiles with a dry-erase board and storage case. Kids build and change words by hand, like turning cat into cap into chap.
Sound boxes with counters and picture cards. Kids push one counter into a box for each sound they hear, which builds the listening skills that come before reading.
Coloured see-through strips that highlight one line of text at a time. They help children who skip lines or lose their place on a busy page.
A long-time bestseller for parents. Each lesson takes about 20 minutes and is fully scripted, so you always know exactly what to say.
A clear, practical guide for teachers bringing the Science of Reading into their classroom. It explains six specific changes you can make, and why.
Snap-together cubes for counting, patterns, adding and taking away. Kids can hold and see the numbers, which makes new ideas easier to grasp.
Blocks for ones, tens and hundreds. They show children what numbers like 245 are actually made of, so place value makes sense.
Red-and-yellow chips for counting, making ten, and splitting numbers into parts. They're cheap, simple and useful for years.
Short, chunky three-sided pencils sized for small hands. The triangle shape guides fingers into a comfortable grip while children learn to form letters.
A primary journal with 100+ pages of wide-ruled lines and a blank box on top of each page. Kids draw their idea first, then write about it.
Soft silicone grips in five styles that slip onto any pencil. They help children who squeeze too hard or hold the pencil awkwardly settle into a relaxed grip.
Two 9×12 boards, blank on one side and lined on the other, with 8 markers and 2 erasers. The lines help kids practise letter size and spacing at home.
Double-sided boards (lined on one side) with markers and erasers. They're great for dictation, sound boxes and quick math checks, with no paper wasted.
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Quick tips from Shanelle to help you support your child's reading at home. Start with the quick tip: how long should you read together each day? Subscribe so you never miss a new one.
Watch more tips on YouTubeNew reading tips from Shanelle, free to watchReal words from families Shanelle has worked with.
“It was lovely to see her confidence grow.”
“We feel so lucky that Salma had the chance to work with Shanelle. Her warmth, patience, and encouragement made Salma feel comfortable and supported, and it was lovely to see her confidence grow. Each session was thoughtful and productive, and we saw real progress in Salma’s reading and writing. Shanelle made learning enjoyable while helping her accomplish so much during their time together. She made such a lovely difference for Salma, and we would happily recommend her to other families!”
“Both of our children have made tremendous progress and have always looked forward to their time with her.”
“We have been so fortunate to have Shanelle tutoring our children (aged 8 and 6) for the past three years. The oldest beginning in Grade 1. She is incredibly friendly and warm and quickly developed a wonderful connection with both of them. She was especially helpful in supporting their reading development, particularly when the older one was struggling in the early stages. She found ways to make learning click by using age-appropriate resources, activities and games that kept them engaged and made tutoring feel positive and fun. When they found something difficult, she was always patient and encouraging, helping them work through it without becoming discouraged. Both of our children have made tremendous progress and have always looked forward to their time with her. We would highly recommend Shanelle to any family looking for a kind, engaging and effective tutor.”
Reach out for a free, no-pressure consultation. I'll get back to you within one business day.
Send a message anyway. The consultation is free and there is no obligation. Sometimes the most useful outcome is a couple of things to try at home first. Tutoring supports your child's learning but does not guarantee specific academic outcomes.