Mel Henderson
BA
Small Group Program Manager
Learn More Small Group Instruction
Is your child struggling with reading, writing, math, organization or keeping up with school?
Give you child targeted, research-informed learning support in a small, neuroaffirming group. Learners receive explicit instruction while building confidence, independence and skills alongside peers.
Who
Learners in Grades 1–10 who need targeted support in reading, writing, math or executive function/school skills.
Where
In person at our Vancouver location.
When
Two 50-minute sessions each week.
Groups meet either:
– Mondays and Wednesdays
– Tuesdays and Thursdays
Specific times depend on the learning focus and available group.
Find the right group for your child
Reading Foundations: Grades 1-4
Start with what your child needs support with. We form small groups around similar learning needs, instructional levels, and goals.
For learners who need support building essential reading skills.
Focus Areas:
- phonological awareness
- phonics and decoding
- reading fluency
- spelling
- reading comprehension
Possible schedule:
Mondays & Wednesdays: 3:30 or 5:30 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 3:30 or 4:30 p.m.
Writing: Grades 4-7
Start with what your child needs support with. We form small groups around similar learning needs, instructional levels, and goals.
For learners who can read but need support strengthening literacy skills and becoming more confident writers.
Focus Areas:
- reading comprehension
- vocabulary development
- sentence structure
- paragraph and essay development
- organizing ideas
Possible schedule:
Mondays & Wednesdays: 3:30 or 5:30 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 3:30 or 4:30 p.m.
Math Skills: Grades 5-7
Start with what your child needs support with. We form small groups around similar learning needs, instructional levels, and goals.
For learners who need additional support understanding math concepts and building stronger foundational skills and confidence.
Focus Areas:
- number sense
- operations and computation
- fractions and decimals
- mathematical reasoning
- problem-solving strategies
Possible schedule:
Mondays & Wednesdays: 6:30 p.m.
Executive Function & School Skills – Grades 7-10
Start with what your child needs support with. We form small groups around similar learning needs, instructional levels, and goals.
For learners who understand their schoolwork but find it difficult to organize, plan, get started or work independently.
Focus Areas:
- organization
- planning and prioritizing
- starting and completing tasks
- time management
- studying
- managing assignments
- independence at school
Possible schedule:
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 3:30 or 4:30 p.m.
Limited Monday/Wednesday availability.
Specialized instruction — with the benefits of learning alongside peers
Small Group Instruction combines individualized, explicit instruction with opportunities to learn, practise, and problem-solve alongside peers.
Each group includes no more than three learners and is formed around similar learning needs, instructional levels, and goals.
Instruction is targeted to the learners in each group while giving children opportunities to:
- practise strategies with others
- learn from different approaches
- problem-solve together
- build confidence participating
- develop greater independence
- see that they are not alone in finding some aspects of learning difficult
Program Details
What to expect
- Maximum three learners per instructor
- Two 50-minute sessions each week
- Targeted, explicit instruction
- Carefully matched groups
- Neuroaffirming, strengths-based learning
- Opportunities to learn and problem-solve with peers
- Support for confidence, self-regulation and independence
- Regular progress updates
- Case management
- Informal assessment and progress monitoring
How groups are formed
The right match matters.
Small Group Instruction isn’t simply based on age or grade.
We carefully match up to three learners based on:
- learning needs
- instructional level
- goals
- grade/age
- available schedule
When you apply, tell us:
- What your child needs help with – reading, writing, math, school skills or executive function.
- Your child’s grade
- Which available times work for your family
Our team will review your child’s needs with you in an intake call and recommend an appropriate group.
Groups are confirmed once we have learners who are a strong match. If the right group is not currently available, we will talk with you about other options.
Who is Small Group Instruction for?
A good fit may be a learner who:
- needs targeted support in a particular academic area
- benefits from explicit and structured teaching
- can work effectively alongside two other learners
- would benefit from practising skills with peers
- is developing confidence and independence
- does not require continuous one-to-one support to participate
Program Fees
The Small Group Instruction full fee is $77/hour. As with all our programs, this fee is on a sliding scale based on household income.
The fees below are for the 26/27 academic year.
The RISE One-to-One Instruction fees are available here as a reference.
| Household Income | Small Group Instruction Hourly Fee | RISE One-to-One Hourly Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $10.25 | $16.25 |
| $30,000–$70,000 | $10.25 | $16.25 |
| $70,000–$85,000 | $30.00 | $56.25 |
| $85,000–$120,000 | $52.00 | $95.00 |
| $120,000–$160,000 | $67.00 | $100.00 |
| $160,000+ | $77.00 | $106.00 |
Family FAQs
Our expert inclusive educators and professionals help explain learning support questions that parents or guardians may have about our programs and services here at Lightwell Learning.
1
/
2
What's the difference between small group and one-to-one instruction?
Why choose online learning if I'm trying to reduce my child’s screen time?
Why summer tutoring is the best time to start learning support?
How's our learning support different from traditional tutoring?
1
/
2
Find the Right Fit for Your Child
Small Group or One-to-One?
Both offer specialized, research-informed instruction. The difference is how that support is delivered.
RISE One-to-One provides fully individualized pacing, goals, and instruction for one learner.
Small Group Instruction provides targeted instruction around shared learning goals in a carefully matched group of no more than three learners, adding opportunities to learn and practise alongside peers.
Some families choose one, while others combine both to support their child’s growth.
Comparing One-to-One and Small Group
Feature | RISE One-to-One | Small Group Instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Highly individualized skill development based on the learner’s specific needs and goals | Targeted skill development with opportunities to learn, practise, and problem-solve alongside peers |
| Best For | Learners who need highly individualized pacing, goals, or support | Learners who can work toward shared learning goals in a carefully matched small group |
| Learning Environment | One learner working directly with one instructor | Up to three carefully matched learners working with one instructor |
| Pacing | Fully individualized to the learner | Structured around shared goals, with flexibility for individual learner needs |
| Focus Areas | Customized to the learner’s individual academic, executive function, and learning needs | Targeted areas such as reading, writing, math, and executive function or school skills |
| Instructional Approach | Instruction can be continually adapted to the individual learner’s needs and progress | Explicit, structured instruction based on the learning needs and instructional levels of the group |
| Social-Emotional Learning | Embedded and individualized within instruction | Embedded within instruction, with opportunities to practise skills alongside peers |
| Peer Learning | Learning takes place one-to-one with the instructor | Learning with peers is an important part of the experience, including sharing strategies and problem-solving together |
| Session Frequency | Scheduling can be more flexible based on the learner’s program | Two 50-minute sessions each week on a consistent schedule |
| Group Formation | Not applicable | Learners are carefully matched based on learning needs, instructional level, goals, grade or age, and schedule |
| Ongoing Feedback | Session-by-session updates following each lesson | Regular updates reflecting progress across group sessions |
| Progress Monitoring | Ongoing progress monitoring with mid-year and end-of-year reports | Ongoing progress monitoring with mid-year and end-of-year reports |
| Case Management & Assessment | Case management and informal assessment are included | Case management and informal assessment are included |
Ready to find a group?
Apply for Small Group Instruction and tell us:
- what your child needs support with
- their grade
- all the available group times your family could attend
We’ll use that information to find the strongest possible group match.
Apply NowInstructors & Case Managers
See all instructors
Become a Donor
Thank you to our supporters who contribute to making our programming accessible for families in need. If you would like to contribute to our bursary fund to ensure all students have access to the educational support they deserve, please consider making a monthly or one-time donation.
Donate Contact UsDiscover Similar Programs
See All Open
Social Explorers
This dynamic, neuroaffirming social communication group, developed and led by a Speech-Language Pathologist, supports learners in grades 4-5 and 6-7 to understand social communication, foster emotional growth, and form friendships.
- Grades
- 4-5 and 6-7
- Where
- East Vancouver Learning Centre
- Dates/Times
- Thursdays from 4:00 – 5:20pm. Grade 4-5 Explorers from Sept 17 – Jan 14; Grade 6-7 Explorers Jan 28 – May 27
Open
RISE One-to-One Instruction
Our comprehensive learning support is personalized to meet each student’s learning goals. Get support in foundational skills – literacy and/or math and school skills – executive function, self-regulation for learning, studying, homework and coursework.
- Ages
- 5 – 18
- Where
- Live online, East Vancouver & North Vancouver Learning Centres, and at Schools
- Dates/Times
- Monday to Friday 9 am – 7 pm, Saturdays 9 am – 4 pm
Closed
Summer Tutoring
One-to-one summer tutoring in Greater Vancouver or live online across BC for students with ADHD & learning differences.
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12
- Where
- Live online and at our learning centres in East Vancouver and North Vancouver
- Dates/Times
- Session are scheduled between 9:00 AM – 5:50 PM twice a week for either July, August, or July and August
Thank you to our Donors
Our donors play a vital role in sustaining our programming. We are so grateful for their continued support of children and youth in our community with learning differences.