Empowering Young Minds Through Education
The Heart of Thrive Tutoring
Inspiration and Purpose
Dr. Maria Montessori
Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator who developed a child-centred approach to learning based on the belief that children learn best through independence, curiosity, and purposeful hands-on experiences.
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Jillian Kilpatrick, founder of Thrive Tutoring, helps children discover their strengths and develop a love of learning. Jill combines structured literacy with hands-on, nature-inspired experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence, and joy.
​Thrive Tutoring's learning environment is inspired by Dr Montessori's teachings. Montessori teaching is guided by the belief that children thrive when given independence, thoughtful materials, and the freedom to explore at their own pace. Activities are hands-on, purposeful, and designed to nurture confidence, concentration, and a love of learning.
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Literacy instruction is strengthened through the Orton-Gillingham Approach, an explicit, evidence-based, dyslexia-friendly method that provides structured support in phonics, decoding, spelling, and reading development. This approach creates a calm, supportive pathway for literacy where children build confidence, connect sounds to meaning, and experience success in ways that feel natural, encouraging, and empowering.
Together, these approaches nurture confidence, curiosity, and strong foundational skills in literacy.
Dr. Samuel Torrey Orton was a neurologist whose research helped explain why some children struggle to read and shaped early understanding of Dyslexia.
Anna Gillingham was an educator who transformed this research into a clear, structured approach to teaching reading, spelling, and phonics.
Learning in Action
Children thrive in environments where learning is intentional, responsive, and rooted in trust, allowing strengths to emerge, challenges to be supported, and growth to unfold with care.
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If this approach feels like the right fit for your child, scheduling an initial consultation is a gentle first step in exploring how individualized support can nurture their learning journey.
Our Story & Team
Hi, I’m so glad you’re here!
With over a decade of classroom experience, I understand the challenges students face. Thrive Tutoring helps your child bridge learning gaps, develop skills, and gain the confidence to succeed in and out of the classroom.
I began my teaching journey in 2011 with a degree in Physical Education and my first assignment in Northern Alberta. After discovering my passion for literacy, I transitioned to an Elementary classroom, where my love of teaching truly flourished. Inspired by Maria Montessori, I create learning spaces where children feel safe, supported, and excited to explore through hands-on experiences.
Returning to New Brunswick, I worked to become bilingual, achieving Advanced proficiency in French by 2020. In 2019, I completed the Yoga in Schools course, integrating yoga into social-emotional learning and supporting children with diverse needs, including Autism and ADHD.
In 2022, I began a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, focusing on the Science of Reading. I paused the program when I realized it wasn’t fully addressing the needs of the children I was teaching, but my commitment to literacy continued through private tutoring, reigniting my passion for personalized learning. Most recently, I completed training in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured multisensory method for teaching reading and writing.
All of these experiences have led to Thrive Tutoring, a place where your child can build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Thank you for trusting me to teach your children.
With love,
Jill
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Educator Spotlight
Yuliia Fomina, nurtures children’s growth through play, creativity, and hands-on learning. She brings expertise, kindness, and a love for helping every child feel confident and inspired.
Originally from Ukraine, Yuliia Fomina is a multilingual educator fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, English, and Polish. She has lived in Poland and has been residing in Canada for the past two years.
Yuliia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Therapy and Special Education. During her studies, she completed teaching practice in a children’s home, working closely with children with visual impairments, developmental challenges, and varying levels of autism. Through play-based and sensory activities, she developed a strong foundation in empathy, patience, and creative teaching approaches.
Passionate about early childhood education, Yuliia strives to create safe, inclusive, and nurturing environments where every child feels confident and supported. She believes in encouraging curiosity, fostering understanding, and helping children explore and discover the world around them.
Outside of her professional work, Yuliia enjoys baking, photography with her film camera, and spending time outdoors.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.
