After more than a decade in Manitoba classrooms, Stonewall educator Nicole Griffiths is building something more personal.
Nicole Griffiths, owner and founder of Allways Learning MB — known to students as Ms. G — offers private and semi-private tutoring, homeschooling support and school readiness assessments for kindergarten to Grade 8 students from her office at 310 Wellness on Main in Stonewall
Operating out of 310 Wellness on Main, Griffiths has launched Allways Learning MB, a tutoring and educational support service designed to meet young learners exactly where they are.
Known to her students as Ms. G, Griffiths offers tutoring, homeschooling support and school readiness assessments for children from kindergarten through Grade 8. With about 30 students currently on her roster, she works one-on-one or in small groups, developing individualized lesson plans and providing families with ongoing updates and next steps for growth.
Her approach is rooted in years of classroom experience.
“I had been teaching in the classroom for over 10 years, often taking opportunities to switch and move grades so I could gain more experience with different curriculum,” she said. “I never wanted to teach just one grade and often partnered with other classrooms and grade levels because I always felt learning was fostered more naturally through collaboration between students and educators.”
Teaching kindergarten, she said, shaped her philosophy in particular.
“I would follow their lead through play and conversation and use the materials and opportunity of interest to teach some foundations like letters or numbers,” she said. “Teaching kindergarten really gave me an understanding of the importance of developing strong foundations in those early years but also how to catch and keep a five-year-old’s attention — never mind 26 of them.”
She understands how large class sizes, diverse student needs and post-pandemic learning gaps can affect early educational progress. Her tutoring model focuses on bridging both academic gaps and emotional barriers.
“I meet them where they are and help them grow from there.”
Griffiths stepped away from the public classroom in 2024 after the COVID-19 pandemic, after witnessing the strain placed on students, families and educators alike.
“I watched public services cry for help and be told there is nothing to give. I saw students and their families struggle to manage the day-to-day and even lose loved ones. I saw staff putting their own well-being on hold to care for others — I knew too many people wrapped up in a public system that couldn’t support them,” she said.
“I chose to take a pause from teaching and find my own balance again first before seeing what I wanted to do and, as I found my balance, the community found me.”
Through conversations in the community, she began hearing from families looking for additional educational support — and Allways Learning MB grew from there.
Each program begins with a free 30-minute in-person meeting to discuss goals and areas of focus. From there, Griffiths works with each family to design a learning plan tailored to the child’s needs and learning style.
She also provides school readiness assessments to help children prepare for transitions — whether starting school for the first time, moving to a new grade or adjusting to a new environment. These assessments focus on both academic and developmental skills, including fine and gross motor abilities, communication and social-emotional readiness.
Central to her philosophy is what she calls “the learning space” — the space between what you know and don’t know.
“It’s a space where you can attempt to gain knowledge and understanding, ask questions and maybe even learn something,” she said. “It’s a very cool place where amazing things happen but, unfortunately, it’s not comfortable there. It comes with big feelings and doubts and stress and failure and is often where kids get lost.”
Part of her work, she says, is helping children feel safe in that space. Sessions often include mindfulness practices, celebrating small successes or calming activities such as yoga or time outdoors — fitting for a space located within 310 Wellness on Main.
“These positive experiences build up in the memory and I see the difference it makes in a student’s confidence and ability to communicate.”
Looking ahead, Griffiths hopes to expand through mentorship opportunities and workshops for students, parents and educational professionals.
For more information about Allways Learning MB, including booking details, visit www.allwayslearningmb.ca or email allwayslearningMB@outlook.com.
