Hi, I'm Michelle, my students call me Ms. Mack.

This work chose me
as much as I chose it.

I believe every child deserves access to effective literacy instruction, and that reading, writing, and spelling are skills that can be taught to anyone when the approach is right. I also believe you can't separate the literacy piece from the whole child. Confidence, self-concept, and emotional wellbeing are part of the picture too.

My Story

Why I do this work.

I've been a literacy specialist for over 16 years, and I became one because I kept watching smart, capable students get labeled as "behind" when what was really happening was much simpler: they just hadn't been given the right kind of instruction yet. The kind that actually matches how their brain learns.

There's a particular student I think about often. Sharp, funny, full of ideas. Completely shut down the moment anything literacy-related landed on the table. Not because they were lazy, but because nobody had taught the skills directly and in the right order. When we finally did, everything changed.

I'm Orton-Gillingham certified, trained in ADHD and executive function coaching, and certified in child safeguarding. In my practice, the literacy piece and the social-emotional piece are inseparable. A student who is anxious, avoidant, or shut down needs support on both fronts, and that's exactly what I'm trained to provide. I've worked with students one-on-one for over a decade and a half, and I've also created curriculum and practitioner resources used by tutors and teachers across the country through Spark Literacy Innovations.

Everything I do is grounded in the same conviction: explicit, systematic instruction works. For every student. Pair that with real attention to how a student is feeling about themselves as a learner, and things start to move.

Credentials & Training

  • Orton-Gillingham Certified PractitionerCertified in multisensory, structured literacy instruction
  • ADHD & Executive Function CoachTrained to support students who need more than academics
  • Commit to Kids, Child Safeguarding CertifiedBecause the relationship between tutor and student matters
  • Published AuthorPractical Activities, Write This Way, and Just Read!
  • 16+ Years Private PracticeThousands of hours working 1:1 with students of all ages
Michelle McIntosh, literacy specialist
16+

years of
1:1 practice

What I Believe

How I show up.

01

Fidelity to the method

I believe in this work deeply. Every session is grounded in what the research says actually helps children learn to read, write, and spell.

02

A safe place to land

Families come to me tired and sometimes discouraged. I want every conversation to feel like a relief. I'll tell you honestly what I see, what I think will help, and what's realistic, and I'll do it with care and compassion.

03

The whole student

Reading and writing are skills. Confidence, attention, and sense of self are too. I pay attention to all of it.

Outside the lesson.

I live on the West Coast with my husband and our dog Sophie. My two sons are both professional musicians, so the soundtrack in our house swings wildly between jazz and heavy metal depending on who's home.

I also co-lead a monthly structured literacy practitioners meetup for tutors and resource teachers, and I co-create curriculum and practitioner resources at Spark Literacy Innovations. The work in the room and the work behind the scenes feed each other. I wouldn't want to do just one.

From a Parent

"Michelle is a phenomenal teacher. We are so grateful she took us on. My mom calls her a miracle worker."

Laurel T.

Want to see if we're a good fit?

A free 30-minute consult. We'll talk about your child, what they need, and whether The Literacy Practice is the right next step.

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Certified & affiliated with

OG Canada Certified ADHD Life Coach, CALC Connections in Mind

Mission & Values

I celebrate diversity and embrace inclusivity in all that I do. I believe that our differences make us stronger, and I'm committed to creating a welcoming space where everyone feels valued, heard, and respected, regardless of race, age, colour, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, migratory status, disability/abilities, and socioeconomic background. My mission is to serve and support people from all walks of life, one step at a time.

I want to respectfully acknowledge that I live and work on the ancestral, unceded territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.