Anne

I am a retired teacher (aged 61), with wide experience in teaching Mathematics at all levels, especially Primary.

I understand how difficult it can be for some children to make sense of Maths, and how to make learning fun – a positive experience!
I offer a range of activities using "practical maths" materials, combined with praise and encouragement.

My husband and I moved to the Isle of Man in March, 2023, from Leominster, UK.
We live in Castletown, and I play trombone in Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band.

Tutoring Experience

I specialised in the Teaching of Maths on my BEd degree, and have have over 20 years’ experience teaching in the UK, mostly in primary schools, with a short time as a high school Maths teacher, and a spell as an Adult Numeracy tutor in prison education. When my son was small, I had a break from full-time teaching and started home tutoring instead, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I’m delighted to now have the chance to take it up again.

Tutoring Approach

If your child is struggling to make sense of Maths at school, or has low confidence, or lacks motivation, I can give them a “fresh start” and a new way to experience learning Maths.

I don’t want to present a child with more of the same things they may have been struggling with, so prefer not to use workbooks or photocopied worksheets.
Each child will create their own notebook, recording their work for themselves in writing and drawing. This is much more creative and fun, and makes their learning more memorable!

We will do a lot of “practical maths” – e.g. Unifix blocks, Dienes base 10 blocks, coins & notes, clockfaces, cutting & sticking, weighing & measuring – to give your child a “concrete” understanding of the ideas and concepts which are crucial to understanding Maths.
Many children learn Maths slowly, and there is often not time to do these activities in school.

I know how children learn Maths, why they sometimes get in a muddle, and what they need to master to get to the next stage. I encourage children to talk about and discuss the problem in front of them – not to be frightened of it – and build their confidence by praising every achievement, however small. It is wonderful to see a child finally “get” something which has previously mystified them.

I offer tuition based in my home, sitting at the dining table, with a range of equipment at hand (including the contents of the kitchen cupboards!). A parent or guardian is welcome to wait in the house for the duration of the lesson (in my study upstairs – the downstairs is open-plan and it could be off-putting to the child to be all in the same space!).