Educator Biography & Philosophy
Elena holds an M.Ed. in Language and Literacy and has spent more than a decade building early reading foundations in multilingual classrooms across Milan and Seattle. She joined Nurtiva in 2019.
Her sessions pair sensory letter work with daily story circles, so children meet each sound through their hands, their voice, and a book they love before they ever meet it on a worksheet.
"A child who has fallen in love with stories will find their way to the page on their own."
How Elena Builds a Reading Culture
Elena starts with stories rather than letters. Children meet a sound through their hands and their voice long before it appears on a page, and every session ends with a book the group chose itself.
Daily story circles
Sensory letter work
Home languages welcomed
Vocabulary through play
Professional Credentials
Elena holds an M.Ed. in Language and Literacy from the University of Washington, foundational Orton-Gillingham training, and current paediatric CPR and first-aid certification renewed each year.
45+ training hrs / year
Termly reading screens
Safety refreshers
Phonics workshops
How Elena Keeps Families in the Loop
Weekly Reading Note
What your child listened to, retold, and reached for on their own.
Home Book Bags
A rotating title each week, chosen to match current interests.
Termly Language Review
Progress across listening, speaking, and early print awareness.
Bilingual Support
Practical guidance for families reading in more than one language.
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