Experienced & Enthusiastic Maths Tutor Offering Lessons from Primary to Higher Level In-Person or Online

Learn more about Rosie

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I’ve had an enthusiasm for maths since primary school. I was lucky enough to have a teacher who was a wonderful nerd and approached the topic with such joy it never felt intimidating to me. I took that passion with me to university and then in 2017, while studying to become a teacher, I started tutoring to gain more experience. I soon realised that I really liked being able to tailor lessons to individuals in ways that are just not possible in a classroom, and before I knew it this became my full-time job!

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I teach maths from primary level to Scottish Highers. I like talking through strategy, and encouraging my students to get more confident verbalising their thought processes and finding what methods click with them best.
  
  I do needle students a bit, asking “why” they’re choosing their approaches, which I don’t deny might get a little annoying! But I find if a student can get comfy answering that then, by the time they’re sitting an exam and don’t have me to check in with, they’ll spend far less time second guessing themselves. So it’s a small price to pay for such a confidence boost!

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Again, definitely my primary school teacher – he was so genuinely enthusiastic about maths, and witnessing that enthusiasm was so encouraging for me. I always make a point of bringing that same energy to my own lessons.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  I really do think you have to enjoy what you teach – students can absolutely sense when you’re not engaged and then they’ll check out too. You have to be patient, and ensure that students feel comfortable enough with you to be honest and tell you when they don’t understand. Having multiple approaches to the same material is also so helpful, and it’s something that often isn’t feasible in a classroom environment so is good to take advantage of in tutoring lessons.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  One instance that really helped me realise I’d constantly be learning in this field was during a school placement, observing a class run through factorising trinomials for the first time. It had been years since I was first taught that material, I knew it inside and out – or so I thought, until the teacher ran through a technique I’d never seen before which was far more efficient than the approach I’d always relied on!! Since then I’ve gone out of my way to learn as many different approaches as I can, so I can find the one that clicks best for each of my students.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or are still facing in your subject?

  As much as I enjoy the material in maths I eventually reached a point in university where I had to acknowledge I was absolutely terrible at studying. I had no idea how to do it properly, and at the first roadblock I’d become completely unmotivated. In turn, this meant that exams became increasingly daunting which caused a lot of unnecessary stress. It took longer than it should have for me to realise I should be asking for help, and that pushing through some short-term discomfort is absolutely beneficial in the long-term.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I’m an all-round nerd and really enjoy D&D and other RPGs – in-person students can attest that I have a shelf full of those books right by my shelves of maths textbooks! The fun polyhedral dice also feature in my probability lessons sometimes, if I want to make questions a little more challenging.
  
  Eventually I’d love to run an after-school or holiday programme for students who are interested in playing, as I think it’s a great way to blend maths with creative writing, along with encouraging teamwork and boosting confidence.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  I have been tutoring for almost a decade as of writing this and can confidently say that, in addition to loving my work, I am also very good at it. Families often keep me on to tutor younger siblings once the initial student has passed their exams. One family I have known for eight years now, which has been so lovely. I work hard to ensure my students excel, and when I can see that’s not happening I will always try to find the solution. Sometimes that’s taking a different approach; sometimes that’s talking out an underlying anxiety surrounding the topic; and sometimes – though thankfully rarely – that’s having to acknowledge that I am not the right fit. Ultimately, I will always endeavour to make the choices that are best for my students.