Maybe A Maths Tutor Could Be The Answer?
With the onset of the new year and the children back in the day-to-day life of the school, parents and teachers often heave a sigh of relief as it is the spring term that is generally seen as the one with the fewest distractions in the whole academic year. The autumn term (or the fall for those in the USA) is often characterised by Christmas theatrical productions and considerable work tends to be involved with rehearsals. The summer term usually involves one or more sports days and end of academic year ceremonies. It is understandable, therefore, that the spring term is met with optimism by teachers and parents. With such opportunity to make real progress, this is an ideal time to consider a maths tutor for your child if they appear to need extra support.
The spring term is an ideal time to commence extra lessons with a maths tutor because this will give enough time for your child to make progress. There will be time to boost their self confidence and give extra revision practice before the tests take place in May. End of Key Stage 1 and 2 Standard Assessment Tests take place in May and other year groups often have optional tests at this time of year. Having a maths tutor to support your child’s work in maths might be just what your child needs.
January is also a good time to start lessons with a maths tutor if your child is in year 5 and is having some difficulty with maths. This will give the maths tutor time to make accurate assessments and to see where any problems may lie and to find out what gaps there are in their mathematical understanding. This will give the maths tutor enough time to make a real difference to the level achieved at the end of Year 6.
Once you have found a maths tutor who you think will be suitable, you will need to discuss with them how they plan to tutor your child. You need to be careful in your choice of tutor. Whereas some tutors may be highly qualified in mathematics, they may not be the type of person who can relate to your child at the level of your child’s understanding. You need to find a maths tutor who is good at relating to children on different levels. They will adopt different strategies and practical teaching aids depending on the precise needs of your child.
One of the useful tools available to the maths tutor is interactive maths animation. Coupled with teaching methods that will be personally selected for your child’s ease and speed of learning the maths tutor will aim to produce a programme of study that will show clear measurable results. There are a wide range of enjoyable maths games that are designed to complement the National Curriculum. It stands to reason therefore that one of the most crucial tasks for your child’s maths tutor is to assess at the outset where they are in their learning and how this fits in with where they would be expected to be for their age.
The maths tutor should discuss with you how your child’s maths age compares with their actual age in each area. Using the results of the assessment the maths tutor may well produce a personalised tutoring programme designed to fit your child’s ability, needs and learning style rather than their age. The programme will give your child extra care and attention in weaker areas, plus constant encouragement and positive reinforcement in stronger ones, accelerating their pace of learning.
Throughout the period of your child’s work with their maths tutor, careful monitoring of progress will be carried out which enables the programme to be modified as and when required. Your thoughts about their continuing need for tutoring may well evolve when you see the positive benefit that maths tutoring can have on their progress and their confidence in their school work so deciding about their continuing need for maths tutoring may turn out to be more than just a one-off process.
Imogen Rampling has considerable experience of private lessons. Discover all you need to know about arranging private maths tuition and revision of maths for your child of primary school age. Arrange private maths tuition and find information on our special offers. Recommend new clients for further bonuses!
