Sophie

I am a qualified teacher with a diploma in Montessori Pedagogy. I have extensive experience as a tutor in Early Years and Primary Maths and English, as well as in French from primary to A-level. My Montessori experience combined with my experience in primary school has enabled me to learn many techniques suitable for all the different ways in which children learn.

Tutoring Experience

As a Primary tutor, I have helped students who have lacked confidence in English and Mathematics and, as such, have fallen behind expected levels for their age. Experience has shown me the importance of creating a positive environment for students of all ages, in which they are not afraid to make mistakes and can therefore thrive. With support, these students developed their skills, as reflected in feedback form teachers and on reports.

For Early Years, I have worked with families who are looking to develop their children's skills through play, creating activities that work on Phonics, early Maths and Handwriting skills.

In French, for children at primary level, who are taking their first steps into language learning, I use a wide range of resources such as story books, songs, and videos to maximise their engagement. I adapt this for older students by using authentic French resources, such as news podcasts and video clips, combined with exam-linked resources. I am not a native speaker, but I believe that this helps me empathise with my students. I understand where difficulties can lie and remember being in their situation. Of those older students who took exams during our sessions together, all of them increased their grades from their initial predicted level. One such student was able to go to his university of choice due to this improvement.

Tutoring Approach

I believe that building strong relationships is the key to good teaching – the more I know about my students, the more I can adapt the learning to suit their needs and interests. Tutoring sessions also allow for more in-depth exploration of topics that might not be possible in a busy classroom setting. This is a benefit of 1:1 tuition as students can apply their knowledge in different ways and to different contexts.

My classroom experience and interest in Special Education Needs have taught me strategies for ensuring the best possible outcomes for students with SEN. For example, I like to employ hands-on manipulative materials for Mathematics before moving onto written activities. This not only keeps motivation and engagement high, but also aids in understanding mathematical concepts. I am also currently studying a Masters in Psychology which has led me to further research and understand different needs, such as neurodiversity and social, emotional and mental health difficulties.