Emma

Tutoring Experience

I have been in education for 26 years, working extensively in British state schools and gaining significant experience in both classroom teaching and leadership. For the past ten years, I have also worked as a tutor, balancing this role alongside my teaching responsibilities. Over the last two years, tutoring has become my primary focus, working with KS3 and GCSE students in a local school while also tutoring IB students both online and in person. My broad experience allows me to adapt to the needs of a diverse range of students, helping them achieve success through personalized support and targeted instruction.

Tutoring Approach

My approach begins by identifying the student's weaknesses within the curriculum, whether they need help with specific concepts or exam preparation. I often use structured activities, such as working through a Paper 1 or Paper 2 question, pulling apart the answer and annotating it together. This helps gauge the student's understanding and enables me to provide targeted feedback. I always request previous work to assess their current knowledge, and for new IB students, I place a strong emphasis on developing critical thinking skills. These sessions are discussion-based, encouraging a lot of talking and analysis to deepen their comprehension.

Engagement is central to my lessons, which I ensure through tightly structured sessions that balance instruction and active participation. I avoid talking for extended periods, instead prompting the student to speak while I type, encouraging them to think aloud and take ownership of their learning. I also use test papers to check their progress, ensuring they’re retaining and applying the material effectively. Depending on the student, I may set homework, particularly for younger students. For older students, I prefer using Google Docs for real-time collaboration, while interactive whiteboards often work better for younger learners to keep the sessions dynamic and engaging.