Blog
DYSLEXIA AND MATHEMATICS LEARNING
When a dyslexic learner is learning maths, it is often the language of maths – the reading – that is the problem. Dyslexia may lead to difficulties in recognising and sequencing numbers correctly, causing confusion with digits like 6 and 9, or 12 and 21. Dyslexic...
TO DECODE NONSENSE WORDS OR REAL WORDS – THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Children learning to read are taught nonsense words (also called alien words). This strategy is to teach decoding skills and to ensure they are not just guessing words. Seems reasonable! As the English language is so rich are we not missing an opportunity here to...
DYSCALCULIA AND STRATEGIES TO HELP YOUR LEARNERS
Helping students with dyscalculia involves targeted support and sometimes adapting your teaching methodology. Tailor your teaching to the student’s learning style and pace. Use hands-on activities. Incorporate visual aids like number-lines, charts and manipulatives to...
TEACHING READING
I have just started teaching a seven-year-old reading. She has a good background in understanding phonics and knows many sight words. Here I will outline the strategies I will use with her going forward. As common sight words do not usually sound as they are spelt,...
MATHS DIFFICULTY AND NEURODIVERSITY
Neurodiversity refers to the range of differences in the way the brain works. There are many reasons why students may find maths difficult. They may have a specific learning difficulty and the image above shows these. Dyslexia - is a common learning difficulty that...
THE ‘ANTI-MATHS’ CULTURE
I believe The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a relevant point when he says we have an ‘anti-maths’ culture. I don’t think the situation will improve merely by extending compulsory maths to the age of 18 years, on the contrary, the poor teens who have been...
11 +
The 11+ is a selective entrance exam. I have been asked to teach a child in preparation for the 11+ exam in September. As It is not something I teach regularly I thought it best to re familiarise myself with the requirements. The content varies between different areas...
Reflections on Tutoring over the 2020 -2021 Academic Year
This year, for the first time, I have been 100% online. I have been teaching maths and English Key Stage 3 and GCSE. Some parents were reluctant to try online lessons at first but thought it was the only way to keep their children on track, so agreed to give it...
Advantages of Online Tuition
Most people today use technology in their daily lives, in fact, it is hard not to use technology, as our world becomes increasingly smarter. Online tutors and online tutoring has been around for a very long time and is increasingly becoming more popular, however, many...
The grading system for GCSE
Key points about the new 9-1 grading system By 2019, all GCSE results will use the new system. The idea behind the new grading system is that it allows more differentiation as there is an extra grade to play with. A new grade 4 and above will be roughly the same as...