The parents I have come across all want their children to do as well as they can at school in order to give them choices of occupation when they leave higher education.
Over the years, I have watched the children I have taught grow in confidence and ability, not only in maths but in other subjects too. Once children learn how to succeed, they repeat the process. The most useful thing I teach them is how to learn. “Yes, you can” may be a bit of a cliché these days, but I have used it for years. Of course, there is not one unique way of learning. Children are different and do display preferences for one type of learning over another. Either way, once a skill is learned, it is essential it is practiced: that’s just how the brain works.
Our current education situation is far from ideal. Some schools offer really good online lessons and support while others just seem to send reams of paperwork for the children to complete – hopefully with their parent’s assistance – but not much actual teaching. I am here for you when you have a question.
It may only need a five-minute lesson, but it answers your immediate problem enabling you to get on with the rest of your work. In my experience, below A-level, very few lessons benefit from being an hour long. Much better to have short but focussed lessons of 15 to 30 mins, dealing with one or two areas where support is needed.
About Me
I was born in Leicester where I attended Wyggeston Boys Grammar. After RAF aircrew and three years at St Peter’s College of Education I obtained a Cert Ed in Music and Maths.
I’ve taken on many work placements, including:
- Taught at Heathfield High School (age 10 to 14) in Leicestershire
- Taught at Nailsea School in Somerset (age 11 – 18 Comprehensive)
- Worked as an instructor at ARAMCO (Saudi Arabia) in Industrial Training Centre as teacher of Maths and Science.
- Opened a franchise as Kumon Instructor in Maths and English.
- Moved on to franchise First Class Learning in Maths and English
After leaving the franchises, I coach people to all levels of Maths on a private basis.
Once the country became locked down and people had to stay at home, face to face teaching was replaced with teaching online using Zoom or FaceTime or WhatsApp.
I occasionally help out in schools if they have a specific task for me to do that I enjoy.
Over the years I have helped children from KS1 through to KS5, adults wanting to become teachers who don’t have GCSE in Maths, those doing MBA, or Army Entrance Exams, together with exams for entry to private school.