Laurie Rosalind

I am offering craft lessons rather than art. I teach crochet, an activity that is incredibly calming, not to mention satisfying, especially for youngsters who face a lot of stress with pressure at school and the challenges that come with living in the age of social media.

I am also offering a little-known craft called string art. String art involves sewing on card to create geometric designs. Just like crochet, it is a soothing activity. At the end of each string art session, you will have made a card or, if it's a longer session, a larger piece that you can be proud of.

I am a reflective person. I like to think I have good values. I was raised to get along with people. I am very creative: I write poetry and I have written for online magazines. I am passionate about finding new ways of parenting that centres the child's mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

I have a grown up daughter who is an artist, and I live in West London.

Tutoring Experience

I have been teaching post-qualification for thirty years. Prior to that, however, I was teaching on Saturdays between the ages of fifteen and eighteen. I have taught in mainstream settings in the UK, as well as running community projects: booster classes for Key Stage 1 and 2 and after school homework clubs. In addition to that, I opened my own supplementary school, which ran for fourteen years and in 2002, I began tutoring primary school children privately. My tuition business ran for twenty-one years, during which time, I graduated from teaching up to Year 6 to teaching GCSE English.

I worked as a learning mentor in a primary school for five years, supporting children to reach their full potential. In that time, I started running lunchtime and after school clubs, including German, singing, poetry appreciation, string art and drawing.

I have been teaching string art - sewing on card - since 2014. I run classes for adults and children. My work has included projects with local authorities in London. During the pandemic, I ran a week of online string art activities for children with disabilities which culminated in an online string art class.

I work with children aged five to 16, creating geometric patterns in the course of a three or five-hour class. I have worked internationally, taking string art to Sharjah, UAE, where I ran four days of workshops at the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival.

Tutoring Approach

Because I am teaching crafting, each session will be between 75 and 90 minutes long, rather than one hour. The aim is to have a finished product after each 'lesson'.

Building confidence is my priority when I meet a student for the first time. Putting them at ease is so important. I remember how it felt when I met a teacher for the first time, my fears around being judged, so I make sure all of my pupils know that I have the utmost respect for them.

I have taught many children who've lacked confidence in their academic ability, who think they're not smart, so I let them know that I believe in them and while there are areas they may struggle with, I will work with them to break concepts down to their simplest form, sometimes by using real life examples they can relate to.

I give pupils permission to tell me that they don't understand as many times as they need to: I am a very patient teacher. Again, I remember what it was like when adults lost patience with me, so I ensure children know I will explain something as much as they need me to. I also know when it's time to give them a break and move on to something else!

Praise is crucial for me, and I make sure students feel good about themselves, reminding them that the only person they're comparing themselves to is themselves.

I have always created a supportive learning environment, because children learn best when they feel supported.