About me

I'm Ari Chavez — a Perth-based English and literacy specialist, published writer, and PhD candidate in Education at Curtin University, where I hold a nationally competitive scholarship researching learning outcomes for students with diverse needs.

I have spent years developing structured, visual, and evidence-based approaches for neurodiverse learners — and what I have found, consistently, is that the strategies that work best for students who learn differently work well for all students. Explicit teaching, clear scaffolding, and well-sequenced instruction do not just level the playing field for students who struggle — they raise the standard for everyone.

As the mother of a neurodiverse teenager, I have lived experience of navigating the education system from the other side of the table — the assessments, the advocacy, the approaches that didn't work and the ones that finally did. This has made me a better educator. I understand the exhaustion of families who have tried everything, the frustration of students who have been misunderstood, and the particular relief when something finally works. That understanding is not incidental to my work — it is central to it.

Qualifications and Training

I hold a postgraduate degree in English from the University of Western Australia, and in 2025 was selected by competitive application for the Faber Academy's Writing a YA Novel program in partnership with Allen & Unwin.

I have specialist training from the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation in Sounds-Write, TalkforReading, and TalkforWriting, and provide Tier 3 literacy intervention using structured, evidence-based approaches — the same methods used by speech pathologists and specialist educators.

I hold a current Working With Children Check and National Police Clearance.

What I Do

English Tutoring: I work with upper primary and secondary students through to ATAR English and Literature, building skills, confidence, and independence — not just short-term results. I specialise in students who are disengaged, anxious about English, or who have not responded well to other approaches. Several of my current students have come to me after their families had been unable to find a tutor who could work successfully with them.

Literacy Intervention: I provide structured, evidence-based Tier 3 literacy intervention for students with significant difficulties in reading, spelling, or language processing — including those with dyslexia and diverse learning profiles. This is specialist work, distinct from general tutoring, and it is delivered with the same evidence base used by allied health professionals.

Professional Writing Services: With a background in journalism, corporate communications, and publishing — and as a published creative writer in both Australia and England — I offer high-level writing and editing services for individuals and organisations.

My Approach

I believe every student can learn and develop with the right support, delivered the right way. I work with students who are often described as challenging, disengaged, or resistant — and I have a strong track record of building trust with learners who have had difficult experiences with school or tutoring. My practice is informed by current research in literacy, neurodiversity, and diverse learning, and I am committed to staying at the leading edge of evidence-based instruction.

Visit the Services page to learn more, or email me to discuss your child's needs.