Susan

I am a bright, friendly person with a passion for my all my subjects. I am patient and able to adapt my teaching style to suit the learners needs. I have a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham. I studied accountancy as a post graduate and quantitative analysis. I worked as an accountant for 14 years before going into teaching. I started teaching numeracy and then A level Mathematics. Eventually I was teaching Mathematics A level and also Mathematics for Chemists. I returned full circle then to becoming a teacher of Chemistry and Mathematics

Tutoring Experience

Coronavirus updates *********
I have worked in education for 20 years teaching students from aged 6 to 46 years old.
I have taught in an independent school, a state school and 2 colleges, delivered high end revision courses throughout the country to private school pupils with the goal to achieve top grades. I have a track record in improving pupil confidence and success rates. Over the last 5 years my students have achieved SATS success , greater depth/on target, successfully achieved places at Grammar School, their University choice or Medical School,
GCSE grades of 8/9 or even 4 when they were failing, A -C grades in Chemistry and Mathematics Advanced level.

I am teaching Edexcel, OCR and OCR MEI in A level Mathematics. I have examined for OCR, in Chemistry. I also have a special interest in dyscalculia and have improved the outcomes for a pupil with this condition.
Due to the pandemic 2020 , my skills in this area have adapted and I am currently working online using either Skype or Zoom. This is working effectively as I can use a Graphics tablet that enables me to “write” on-screen and annotate any questions that the students need help with. In collaboration with Notepad and WhatsApp I can capture any homework that has been set.
Screen sharing options allow the lesson to remain interactive and work set is often using platforms such as Hegarty Maths or Mymaths.
This allows the student to continue their set tasks for school and I can work through the areas they are finding difficult and support their progress at this time.

Tutoring Approach

**updated due to pandemic**
I strive for excellence in all my tutoring but I like to ensure a good rapport with the tutee primarily. Student lead lessons but also given opportunity to be stretched. Lessons are designed to meet student needs and at the pace required by student. I like to ensure students have covered the specification prescribed by the examinations. I also like to make connections between topics to aid memory. Students are stretched without them really noticing because they are being taught in a relaxed manner. I recommend practice and follow up work after the session to support the work covered. I would then check this "homework" in order to ensure deep learning. I also encourage self checking and marking as a way of cultivating independence. I use a combination of teaching and learning methods: games and interactive computer based approach. I often incorporate the use on online resources and this means the preferred learning style of the individual is taken into account.
I am now offering specialist support for tutees who have SEN. This includes dyscalculia. I adopt different methods to aid the learner and it is based on games and puzzles which improve their long term success in Mathematics. The methods I use are those recommended by Ronit Bird an expert in the field of dyscalculia.
Use of graphics tablet, zoom or Skype as well as Notepad means all lessons are completed as a collaborative approach by supporting underlying understanding of a topic as well as mastery of questions.