My Happy Teacher
Watching Your Child Struggle With Reading Is Hard.
We provide personalized, one-on-one online reading tutoring for students who need a different approach to learning to read.
Specialized support for students with dyslexia, reading difficulties, and other learning differences.
Finding the Right Help Shouldn’t Be.
Whether you are just beginning to figure out why reading is so difficult, or your child already has an IEP and is still struggling, we can help.
Our experienced tutors provide individualized instruction based on your child’s specific needs, while also helping you understand the support they may need at school.
Wherever You Are Right Now, We Can Help You Take the Next Step
Every Child's Journey Looks a Little Different. Here are Two Common Paths.
You can see that something isn't clicking at school. Maybe school is harder than it should be, homework ends in tears, or your child is starting to lose confidence.
You might be wondering:
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Does my child need an evaluation?
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Could dyslexia or another learning difference be involved?
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What kind of instruction would actually help?
You do not need to wait for a diagnosis to get started.
Our one-on-one tutoring meets your child where they are and helps us better understand what they need next.
Your child may already be receiving support at school, but you are still seeing the struggle.
We can help by:
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Providing one-on-one tutoring that targets the skills they need most
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Helping you understand goals, progress, testing, and services
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Working alongside you and your child so you both feel supported and better equipped to navigate challenges at home and at school.
Having an IEP does not always mean your child is getting enough of or the right kind of instruction.
Why Families Choose My Happy Teacher
Your child does not need more of the same.
They need instruction that is matched to how they learn.
Experienced Reading Specialists
Our tutors have specialized training in structured literacy approaches such as Wilson Reading and Orton-Gillingham, with many holding advanced training or certification in these programs.
Personalized Instruction
If something isn’t clicking, we don’t just keep pushing ahead. We adjust the lesson and give your child the instruction and support they need to move forward.
Confidence Matters Too
We want students to build stronger reading skills while also feeling more capable and successful.
No one-size-fits-all lesson plans.
I UNDERSTAND!
I Have Been On Both Sides of the Table
I have spent more than 30 years helping students with learning disabilities, and I am also the mom of two sons with learning differences.
I have sat at that table from both sides.
As an educator, I did the testing, wrote IEPs, and worked closely with families and school teams. As a mom, I sat in those same meetings, seeing everything through a completely different lens.
I understand how much a parent can carry into that room: the questions, the worry, the responsibility of making the right decisions, and the hope that everyone truly sees and understands your child.
That is a big part of why supporting parents is so important to me. I want families to feel heard, supported, and better prepared to understand what is happening, know what questions to ask, and speak up for what their child needs.
Most of all, I want parents to know they do not have to figure everything out on their own.
Kathy Cousineau, M.Ed., W.D.P.
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Getting Started Is Simple
Tell Us About Your Child
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We start with a conversation about what you are seeing, what has already been tried, and what you hope will change
Meet the Right Tutor
We match your child with an experienced tutor based on their needs, personality, schedule, and the type of instruction that will help most.
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Starting Building Skill and Confidence
Your tutor creates individualized lessons, tracks progress, and keeps you informed after each session.
What Parents Are Saying
There's nothing better than hearing that a child is making progress and starting to feel better about learning. Here's what some of our families have shared.
Christina M.
"My Happy Teacher and specifically our sons tutor, Ms. Lisa have been amazing. She has developed a great relationship, even virtually which can be hard. Our son has been working with her for almost two years. In that time, he’s come up two reading grade levels in school. We’ve seen such an improvement in his confidence in reading, his decoding skills, speed, and spelling."
When my son was diagnosed with dyslexia and was going to have to repeat first grade, I started looking for tutors and found My Happy Teacher. Kathy Cousineau (Owner & CEO) was able to match my son with one of her amazing online tutors. Her lessons are fun and engaging, my son adores her, and he has made remarkable progress in his reading skills since he started seeing her. In addition, Kathy was able to connect me with one of her parent coaches who has truly been invaluable in guiding my family through the IEP process and has helped me be a better advocate for my son. I can't say enough about this wonderful group of people at My Happy Teacher. They're the best!
Leigh Q.
Kremena D.
"My daughter was receiving some services at school, but she wasn’t making meaningful progress. After just a few months of working with Ms. Krook using the OG approach, her reading skills significantly improved. Ms. Krook quickly found the best way to reach my daughter—rotating different tasks so lessons are never boring, mixing in fun word games that make her laugh while building vocabulary, and using quick reading checks that let her see her progress. My daughter now feels proud and happy with what she can do! Ms. Krook is patient, responsive, and easy to communicate with. She has become not only my daughter’s tutor but also her friend, and I am so grateful for all of her support and help."
Questions Parents Ask Us All the Time
Is online tutoring effective?
Yes! Online tutoring can be extremely effective, especially with personalized, one-on-one instruction. 💜 Your child can learn from the comfort of their home, where they may feel more relaxed and confident without the pressure of a traditional classroom. Our sessions are also highly interactive. Tutors can share their screens, use engaging digital activities, and even give students control of the screen so they can actively participate in lessons. It’s not just sitting in front of a screen listening. Your child is reading, writing, practicing, playing learning games, and working directly with their tutor throughout the session.
How much does tutoring cost?
Every child is different, so we’ll help you choose the session length that best fits your child’s age, attention span, and learning needs. 💜 For students receiving reading or dyslexia tutoring, we recommend a minimum of two sessions per week because consistent practice is important for building skills and making meaningful progress. Sessions are available for 30, 45, or 60 minutes, and tutoring typically ranges from $120–$200 per week for two sessions, depending on the session length and the tutor’s training and experience. During your initial call, we’ll talk about your child’s needs and help you understand which option would be the best fit. There are no surprises. You’ll know the cost before getting started.
Will I need to sit with my child during online tutoring?
What if they have trouble paying attention? Usually, no! In fact, we want your child to build a relationship with their tutor and become more independent over time. 💜 For younger students, we may ask a parent to stay nearby for the first few sessions while they get comfortable with Zoom and learn the routine. After that, most parents are able to step away and let us take it from there. And if your child has trouble sitting still or paying attention, that’s okay. We work with kids like this every day! Our tutors know that learning doesn’t have to mean sitting perfectly still in front of a screen. Sessions are interactive and can include games, movement, hands-on activities, screen sharing, drawing, manipulatives, and plenty of opportunities for your child to participate. We also adjust lessons based on your child. Some students need frequent changes in activities. Others need movement breaks, shorter tasks, or a little extra encouragement to stay engaged. Your child doesn’t need to be “good at online learning” before they start with us. Part of our job is figuring out how your child learns best and creating a session that works for them.
How do you match my child with a tutor?
We don’t just match your child with the first tutor who has an opening. 💜 During your initial meeting, Kathy gets to know your child as a learner. She’ll ask about their strengths, struggles, personality, learning needs, previous tutoring experiences, and what has or hasn’t worked in the past. She’ll also consider: • The type of instruction your child needs, such as Wilson, Orton-Gillingham, or another structured literacy approach • Your child’s age, grade, and specific learning needs • The tutor’s training, certifications, and experience • Teaching and learning styles • Personality and connection • Your family’s scheduling needs With more than 30 years of experience working with students with learning differences, Kathy personally considers which tutor on our team is most likely to connect with your child and provide the instruction they need. Before tutoring begins, you’ll have a Meet & Greet with your tutor. This gives everyone a chance to get to know each other, ask questions, and start building that important connection. And sometimes, even when everything looks like a great match on paper, personalities just don’t click. That’s okay! We want your child to feel comfortable, supported, and excited to work with their tutor. If the fit doesn’t feel right, just let us know. We’ll work with you to find another tutor who may be a better match. 💜
Do you do your own assessments before starting instruction?
Yes. We always do our own assessment of your child’s skills because we want to see firsthand what they can do, where they’re getting stuck, and the types of errors they’re making. This helps us know exactly where to begin. But don’t worry. 💜 This usually doesn’t feel like a formal test. In fact, sometimes your child doesn’t even realize we’re assessing them! We try to make the activities interactive and comfortable while the tutor takes diagnostic notes behind the scenes. We’ll also carefully review any information you provide, such as evaluations, IEPs, 504 Plans, progress reports, or previous testing. Those documents give us valuable information, but we still want to work with your child ourselves. Seeing how they approach a word, where they hesitate, what errors they make, and which strategies they already use tells us a lot about what they need next. The first session is also about getting to know your child. We want them to feel comfortable with their tutor and leave thinking, “Hey, that wasn’t so bad!” 😊 And you won’t be left wondering what happened during the session. After every lesson, you’ll receive an email from your child’s tutor explaining what they worked on and how the lesson went. From there, we use what we’ve learned to begin instruction at the right starting point for your child and continue adjusting lessons as we learn more about them.
What do I need to do to get tutoring started?
Getting started is pretty simple, and you don’t need to have everything figured out before you contact us. 💜 The first step is to schedule a call with Kathy. You’ll talk about what you’re seeing at home and at school, what your child is struggling with, what support they’ve already received, and what you’re hoping tutoring can help with. If you have evaluations, an IEP, a 504 Plan, progress reports, or other school paperwork, you’re welcome to share them with us. But don’t worry if you don’t have any of those things. We can still get started. After your call, Kathy will personally choose a tutor she feels will be a good fit for your child’s learning needs, personality, and schedule. From there: 💜 We’ll introduce you to your tutor. 👋 You’ll schedule a Meet & Greet so everyone can get to know each other. 📅 You and your tutor will choose your regular weekly tutoring times. 📚 Then you’re ready to begin! You don’t need to know whether your child needs Wilson, Orton-Gillingham, or something else before calling us. That’s our job. Tell us what’s been going on with your child, and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
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