Clara James Tutoring

Back at the beginning of the summer I saw a post asking for ideas on how someone could support their son with reading and comprehension. This was a post I created as a consequence. How do you encourage your child to read?

clarajamestutoring.co.uk/how-can-i-support-my-child-with-reading-comprehension/

I just wanted to say a huge congratulations to everyone who got their GCSE results today. Enjoy the celebrations and well done 👏

Every year I work with some really amazing students from5 to 16 and sometimes older. This year has been no exception. I just wanted to say a huge good luck and fingers crossed to everyone who is getting their GCSE results tomorrow.
You have all worked so hard. Good luck x

One of my favourite games we use

Keeping students focused and motivated can be a difficult task.
That’s why at Clara James we use a wide range of resources that suit the student and follow their individual needs rather than the prescribed curriculum.

In fact, playing games with students has got me more work!

One of my favourite ways to teach Timetables is by playing noughts and crosses. It’s a game I can easily recommend to parents as well. It can also be easily adapted.

Draw a noughts & crosses grid on a piece of paper. 2 vertical lines crossed with 2 horizontal lines. In each section of the grid write a number. Pick the times table you want to practice. Then, like in the conventional game the goal is to get a line of 3 before your opponent does. The only difference in this game is before you can claim your square you need to multiply the number written there by your chosen times table.

Simple!
This game can be adapted to use with grammatical terminology, any other maths questions, spellings, the list goes on…

Adapted to the abilities of the child, it’s proved to be really popular with students aged 4 to 16. So much so, they often don’t want to stop playing it. It’s also a really quick time filler if you have a couple of minutes at the end of the lesson.

Do you play games with your students? Which game is always a hit?

Quick question:

If I was to offer a package where I would help you build your tutoring business on a 1:1 basis, is this something you would be interested in?

Please either leave a comment below or DM me to register your interest

I talk to so many parents who are worried about confusing their child if they explain it differently to how school explains it.

I try to tell them that often we need to hear a different explanation to understand it.

Many years ago, when I was doing my GCSE’s, I can remember a maths lesson where we were either solving or rearranging equations. The teacher explained it to the class then turned to me for an answer. I hadn’t got a clue. She explained it again in the same way and once again asked me for the answer. I was still none the wiser. What she had said made no sense the first time around and repeating herself hadn’t made any more sense the second time around.

This time when I hadn’t been able to answer she just rolled her eyes and moved on.
I felt stupid. As a child you feel as if everyone else knows the answer and I was the only one who didn’t. I couldn’t have felt less confident, as if I didn’t belong any less if I had tried.

That evening, I went home and spoke to dad about what had happened. He wasn’t a teacher. He was an accountant, but he sat me down and explained it by stating we had a set of scales. We are starting with this in this side and that in that. Our goal is to move everything apart from this across to the other side, but it has to stay balanced so if we add something to this side, we have to do the same to the other side and vice versa.

This made perfect sense. I got it. He explained it once but differently and it seemed like such a logical process. After that algebra and rearranging/ solving equations became one of my favourite aspects of maths.

The reason why? My dad explained it differently.

So, never be afraid of explaining something differently, often that’s what our child needs. Someone to approach it from a different angle.

This summer I have had 3 of the students I used to work with, helping me to create resources for future students to use. They have been fantastic. Abigail has just created this one for me, Matthew is creating "how to" sheets for various aspects of maths revision, Aditi is working on English Lit. Thank you all for all the amazing resources you have created so far, I really appreciate the effort you have been putting into it

How long does it take for you to find all 10? Some are quite obvious but I think others are quite well hidden!

I'm putting together the resources for this month's bundle and thought this might be a bit of fun. When you find all 10 why not gives us a like and share it with your friends!
Good luck x

These are 2 incredible ladies. I interviewed several and it was a hard decision but I am 100% sure I can recommend them both with confidence. Welcome to you both!

We’ve hired!
So pleased to announce that Clara James Tutoring has welcomed two amazing new tutors to the team, Belladonna and Pirun.

Belladonna will tutor maths and English to secondary school students to the end of GCSE

Pirun Sri is a qualified maths teacher and will also support secondary school children to the end of their GCSE's.

They are two truly amazing women.
Welcome to the team!

Don't know if this is helpful to anyone who is looking to support their (primary) children with their maths or English this summer x

New fraction resources for August bundle of the Clara James Approach
Enjoying making the new resources for this month's bundle. The resources will be based around the jungle with activities looking at fractions, times tables, writing a poem, extending language and much, much more! To find out more, click on the link below. I look forward to seeing you there

https://clarajamesapproach.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1080348

New fraction resources for August bundle of the Clara James Approach
Enjoying making the new resources for this month's bundle. The resources will be based around the jungle with activities looking at fractions, times tables, writing a poem, extending language and much, much more! To find out more, click on the link below. I look forward to seeing you there

https://clarajamesapproach.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1080348

School's out for summer!
For some September brings a whole new start. I hope you enjoy every second of it.
Is there anything you would like help with extra understanding over the summer months? x

Love this idea x

Feeling hot, hot, HOT 🥵 Teachers I know that you are trying to get your children to concentrate through their last few lessons of the school year in this heat, as am I… ☀️ So before you put back your classroom drawers after their end of the year clear out, fill them with water 💦 and place them underneath the children’s desks to create your very own school 'spa day' 😂 Children’s feet 👣 have lots of particularly sensitive pulse points that give their bodies an instant cool down when dipped in water 💦… 6 year olds willingly working at their desks, plus some very clean drawers to finish the week. What’s not to love ❤️😂

If you're looking for help with comprehension, this might help? https://clarajamestutoring.co.uk/how-can-i-support-my-child-with-reading-comprehension/

I recently saw a Facebook post asking for help with reading and comprehension.

Her son’s school had said that he needed to make more of an effort with reading and it was her responsibility over the summer holidays to help him. Did anyone have any ideas on how she could do this?

Since the business was started, we’ve being playing a game I call the dotty board game. On a piece of paper draw 18 dots. These need to be divided into 3 different colours. So, for example, there might be 6 red dots, 6 yellow dots and 6 blue dots.

Couldn't agree more!

We're doing it again!

Last year we ran an 8 week program to support those doing the 11+ in September, The goal of the program is to compliment the past papers that can be downloaded for free online.
As you work through these papers you will probably find areas your child is less confident with.
Our program is designed to fill in the gaps.
Each week there will be a new set of resources uploaded including a set of vocabulary word games to compliment the knowledge required.
In addition there is a Facebook group for you to join to ask questions.
There will also be weekly zoom call where you can ask me any questions you like associated with the 11+.

Once again this will be free to anyone we already tutor through Clara James.
Otherwise, it will be just £27.

If you have any questions, or you want to join us, DM me and I will get back to you just as soon as I can.

Have a great weekend x

What makes Clara James Tutoring different to other tutoring businesses?

The other day I was asked what it was that made us stand out amongst other tutors. I think it goes back to when I started out in education. Working with early years children and then children with different learning styles, taught me that children had to be engaged. They had to feel confident and a variety of resources needed to be used.

The logic behind that is presented in this video, but further more, one of the key questions we always ask ourselves is: "If I was looking for a tutor for my own child, what would I expect?"

Every person who gets in touch is someone we can help. Not just someone who can help us make more money. We try to see every person as an individual and adapt each lesson accordingly.

If you have questions about how we do things, if you're looking to become a tutor. If you want a tutor, get in touch and we will always do our best to help

[email protected]

What makes Clara James Tutoring different to other tutoring businesses? The other day I was asked what it was that made us stand out amongst other tutors. I think it goes back to when I started out in education. Working with earl...

If you're looking for a tutor there are probably no end of questions that you have. Here are 7 that we are most commonly asked:

1. What do you charge?
2. Where will the lessons take place?
3. What is their experience?
4. How would they structure the lessons?
5. Are you tied into a contract?
6. Is there an upfront fee?
7. Do you do an initial assessment?

To find out how we would answer them click on the link in the comments. Any questions, we are here to help

Hi, if anyone knows anyone who is thinking of becoming a tutor, please could you pass this on for me. Thank you x

Join me for a free webinar on how to start a tutoring business on Friday 17th June 9am 💫
Learn behind the scenes on how to build a successful tutoring business.

Learn my marketing techniques I have used that have had the biggest impact but hasn't cost anything more that time.
Understand what is needed to get your tutoring off to a good start.

Sign up here https://bit.ly/3O3jnER Link is in the BIO.

I look forward to seeing you soon 🎉

Thank you for all the amazing presents I have been given over the past few days. It means so much x

How many words can you find in our Jubilee word search?
If you're stuck why not download the original to give you a helping hand.
Have a fantastic Jubilee weekend!

Is this something that could be of interest to you or someone you know?

Once again, we're needing to hire!

Are you the sort of person who likes variety, creativity, independence? The sort of person who wants to support others and make a difference to their education, helping them to gain confidence in their maths and English?
If yes, keep reading.
We are looking for amazing people to work with us in supporting children gain confidence and knowledge in these subjects.
You must be able/willing to travel in and around both the Thame and Aylesbury areas. This is the ideal opportunity for a teaching assistant or a parent who enjoyed supporting their own children during lockdown.
You can fix your own hours (though they will be predominately on an evening and weekend) and days that you work.
We have worked hard over the past 10 years to build a fantastic reputation, and if you want to help us grow that reputation send me a copy of your CV with an email explaining why you think you would be a good fit for Clara James Tutoring.
The right person will receive £18/hour for supporting online lessons and £22 when you travel to someone’s home.
So, if you want to support children from 5-16 years with their maths and English and join the amazing team of tutors at Clara James, get in touch now:
[email protected]

From everyone at Clara James Tutoring, good luck to all those starting their GCSE's today!

Thank you Nicole for the lovely flowers x

Let me know how you get on! Enjoy

Happy Easter from everyone here at Clara James Tutoring

We’re recruiting!

Are you the sort of person who likes variety, creativity, independence? The sort of person who wants to support others and make a difference to their education, helping them to gain confidence in their maths and English?

If yes, keep reading.

We are looking for amazing people to work with us in supporting children gain confidence and knowledge in these subjects.

You must be able/willing to travel in and around the Aylesbury area. This is the ideal opportunity for a teaching assistant or a parent who enjoyed supporting their own children during lockdown.

You can fix your own hours (though they will be predominately on an evening and weekend) and days that you work.

We have worked hard over the past 10 years to build a fantastic reputation, and if you want to help us grow that reputation send me a copy of your CV with an email explaining why you think you would be a good fit for Clara James Tutoring.

The right person will receive £18/hour for supporting online lessons and £22 when you travel to someone’s home.

So, if you want to support children from 5-16 years with their maths and English and join the amazing team of tutors at Clara James, get in touch now:

[email protected]