Advert description
Since graduating university, I have been teaching maths as tutor and teaching bushcraft skills as an outdoor instructor. The age range of students I work with are between the ages of 4 and 16. I have tutored in various forms - working at a Maths and English tuition centre, and private tutoring (online or at the student's home).
Through this ongoing experience, I have learnt that patience is key when it comes to teaching because not everyone understands a new concept/method first-time round and it's not about getting the information out as fast as possible, it's about polishing prior knowledge and new skills to further reinforce understanding.
My methods of teaching are tailored to the individual - this could be through visual learning (i.e. using images/graphs or physical objects), auditory learning (i.e. verbally giving a detailed explanation before showing the work), kinaesthetic learning (i.e. using movements to remember ideas) or all of the above.
I use methods that I know schools tend to use, especially when it can directly benefit them to answer SATs/11+/GCSE/A-Level exams questions, but I do also like to use my own techniques and slightly different approaches if I feel it would help with understanding a concept which seems to be hard to grasp. That being said, I understand that it can be discouraging when finding certain topics difficult, so I ensure to create a relaxed, motivating and fun atmosphere to aid in the pupil's confidence. Confidence is also built through trust and connection between myself and the pupil.
Prior to the lessons, I gather additional material and plan detailed lessons. Once the lesson is finished, I will always recommend some extra "homework" questions to attempt as a bit of extra practice in-between lessons. It's not a heavy amount of questions at all, just a handful of questions. I find this approach to be the most beneficial when the parent/guardian sends me a photo of these attempts (with full working out) a day before the lesson so I can pinpoint exactly where any errors may have occurred. Then at the start of the lesson, I will begin by going over any difficulties and answer any questions about the extra work.
I'm a kind and ambitious person who wants the best for the students I teach - their success in understanding concepts through my help brings me feeling of joy and gratification.