The Navigators

Your child doesn’t need another teacher. They need someone who knows exactly where they are — and exactly where they’re going.

Most programs teach the content. A Navigator teaches the thinker.

Reframe

Let’s clear up what a Navigator is — by starting with what they’re not.

Not a teacher
A guide with a map

Teachers move the class forward. A Navigator moves your child — from exactly where they are.

Not a tutor
A longitudinal partner

Tutors fix tonight’s homework. A Navigator tracks your child’s specific gaps across 16 weeks.

Not an instructor
Someone who knows your child’s voice

Instructors deliver content. A Navigator knows when your child goes quiet — and why.

The Work

Four phases. One Navigator. Every session.

01
READ

Selects the day's text at precisely the right Lexile — above comfort, below frustration.

Lexile-calibrated text selection

02
THINK

Holds space for the student's own thinking. Does not fill the silence. Waits for the idea.

Socratic silence — not lecture

03
SPEAK

Draws out the student's position through Socratic dialogue. Then challenges it.

Spoken argument — defended, not performed

04
WRITE

Assesses the written response live against 6+1 Traits. Scores are specific. Feedback is precise.

6+1 Trait framework — named scores

Navigator and student in a live online session
The Relationship

The same Navigator. Every session. Sixteen weeks.

Matching: Navigators are matched to students — not assigned. Before the first session, DODO assesses your child's Lexile baseline, their 6+1 Trait writing profile, and their communication style. The match is intentional.

Longitudinal: Your child's Navigator carries their full history. Every Lexile score. Every session note. Every moment where a concept clicked or didn't. There is no starting over. There is no new face.

Gap tracking: A Navigator does not prepare a lesson plan. They prepare for your specific child — where they are this week, what the gap is, and which part of The Loop will close it.

The Hangar: Between sessions, The Hangar extends the relationship — Navigator-supported, student-driven. The work doesn't stop when the screen closes.

The Navigators

The person your child works with, every week.

Laura Mitchell — Navigator
Laura Mitchell

Background in composition and academic writing — taught at secondary and post-secondary level.

I'm most interested in the moment before the student writes — the thinking they haven't found words for yet.

Lexile Specialist6+1 Certified

Student, Grade 6 · Vancouver
Lexile 660 → 810 · 16 weeks

James Chen — Navigator
James Chen

Specialized in critical reading and argumentation — extensive work with multilingual learners.

The Loop is where the student discovers they already know how to think — they just needed structure to see it.

Lexile Specialist6+1 Certified

Student, Grade 8 · Toronto
Lexile 720 → 920 · 16 weeks

In Practice

What happens in a real session

Minute 0–5: Assessment

Navigator reviews last session's notes and The Hangar activity. They know where the student struggled, what clicked, and what needs reinforcement today.

Minute 5–20: Read & Think

Student reads a Lexile-calibrated text. Navigator asks one open question. Then waits. The silence is intentional — this is where thinking happens.

Minute 20–35: Speak & Challenge

Student articulates their position. Navigator listens, then challenges with a Socratic follow-up. The goal isn't agreement — it's precision.

Minute 35–50: Write & Score

Student writes their argument. Navigator scores live using 6+1 Traits — Ideas: 4/6, Organization: 5/6. Feedback is specific, not generic. The score names the gap.

Minute 50–60: Next Steps

Navigator assigns work in The Hangar — targeted to the gap identified today. Parent receives session notes with Lexile progress and specific next-session focus.

Evidence

What families say

We tried three tutors before DODO. Every time, it was the same: homework help, then back to square one next week. With her Navigator, my daughter finally has someone who remembers her — what she struggles with, what she's good at, where she needs to go next. It's the first time I've seen actual progress.

Parent, Vancouver
Student: Grade 7 · 16 weeks with Navigator Laura

The difference is specificity. Before DODO, teachers would say 'needs improvement in writing.' His Navigator told us exactly where the gap was — sentence structure, supporting evidence — and we watched those scores go up week by week. Numbers don't lie.

Parent, Toronto
Student: Grade 6 · 16 weeks with Navigator James

My son doesn't like talking in class. But with his Navigator, he talks. She knows when to wait, when to push, when to let him think. I've never seen him engage like this. It's not magic — it's the relationship.

Parent, Montreal
Student: Grade 5 · 16 weeks with Navigator Alicia

The Hangar was the surprise. Between sessions, my daughter's Navigator leaves her targeted work — not busywork. She actually does it because it's connected to what they talked about. The learning doesn't stop at 60 minutes.

Parent, Calgary
Student: Grade 8 · 16 weeks with Navigator Laura

Your child deserves a Navigator who knows exactly where they are — and exactly where they’re going.

Sixteen weeks. One Navigator. Measurable progress in reading, thinking, speaking, and writing.

Start Your Child’s Charter

No long-term commitment. See results in 16 weeks.