About EdVentures in Learning
A Tutor Who Believes Every Child Is a Reader
Hi, I'm the founder of EdVentures in Learning — a reading tutor, literacy advocate, and firm believer that the right instruction, delivered with joy, can unlock reading for any child.
I started EdVentures in Learning because I saw too many bright, capable children struggling to read — not because they couldn't learn, but because they hadn't received the structured, phonics-based instruction their brains needed. I'm here to change that.
Michelle Lucas
Founder · EdVentures in Learning LLC
Master of Arts in Teaching
Licensed in K–Grade 6
MN Read Act — Science of Reading
Careiall Program, University of Minnesota
10+ Years in Early Literacy
Classroom teaching and private tutoring experience
My Story
Why I Started EdVentures in Learning
My journey into literacy education began by providing one-on-one and small-group support to struggling readers in kindergarten and first grade. I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed working closely with young learners, helping them build foundational skills and watching their confidence grow as they experienced success in reading.
As I continued working with students, I noticed something troubling: many children were struggling — not because they lacked intelligence or effort, but because the instruction they were receiving wasn't always aligned with how the brain actually learns to read.
Determined to better serve my students, I immersed myself in the research. I completed Minnesota Read Act training through the Careiall program at the University of Minnesota and deepened my understanding of the Science of Reading. What I discovered was both exciting and eye-opening: we know how to teach reading effectively, yet many children still aren't receiving the explicit, systematic instruction they need to become successful readers.
I founded EdVentures in Learning to help bridge that gap. My mission is to provide research-based, phonics-first reading instruction that gives children the skills and confidence they need to thrive. I believe that learning should be engaging, encouraging, and joyful — because when children feel successful, they develop a lifelong love of reading.
Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic that comes with unlocking the written word. Helping young learners build strong reading foundations — and watching their confidence blossom — is what EdVentures in Learning is all about.
Teaching Philosophy
How I Teach
Every session at EdVentures in Learning is grounded in Structured Literacy — an approach that is explicit, systematic, and cumulative. Here's what that looks like in practice:
- Explicit, systematic phonics instruction — not guessing from pictures or context
- Multisensory learning that engages sight, sound, and movement
- Structured, cumulative lessons that build on each other
- Warm, encouraging sessions where mistakes are part of learning
- Regular progress monitoring so we always know what's working
- Clear communication with parents every step of the way
What I Believe
The Values Behind EdVentures
Every Child Can Learn to Read
Reading difficulties are not a reflection of intelligence or potential. With the right instruction at the right time, every child can become a confident, capable reader.
Research Must Drive Practice
The Science of Reading gives us a clear roadmap. I follow the evidence — not trends or guesswork — because your child deserves instruction that actually works.
Joy Is Not Optional
Learning to read should feel like an adventure, not a chore. I design every session to be warm, encouraging, and genuinely fun — because engaged learners are successful learners.
Families Are Partners
Parents are a child's first and most important teachers. I keep families informed, involved, and equipped with simple strategies to support reading growth at home.
My Training
Grounded in the Science of Reading
The Science of Reading isn't a program or a curriculum — it's a body of research spanning decades and thousands of peer-reviewed studies that tells us, definitively, how the brain learns to read.
It tells us that reading is not a natural process (unlike speaking). The brain must be explicitly taught to connect sounds to letters and letters to meaning. This is why systematic phonics instruction is so critical — especially in the early years.
My training includes the MN Read Act course through the Careiall Program at the University of Minnesota — one of the most rigorous professional development programs in literacy education, grounded in the Science of Reading.
MN Read Act — Science of Reading
Mastered course through the Careiall Program, University of Minnesota
Phonological Awareness Specialist
Advanced training in the foundational skills of early literacy
Ongoing Professional Development
Staying current with the latest reading research and best practices
Let's Talk About Your Child
I'd love to learn about your child's reading journey and share how EdVentures in Learning can help. Book a free 20-minute consultation — no commitment required.