My Maths Mentor

16/01/2024

I now live in the UK and offer in-person and online Maths tutoring for all ages.

07/08/2019

Do you or your child feel anxious just thinking about exams? And not just any exams. Maths! Eek! It doesn't have to be that way. Come join us on our exam activation experiences and activate confidence, calmness and competence!

13/07/2018

Developing competence and confidence       The main distinction between tutoring and mentoring is the approach taken. Mentoring is multi dimensional and involves more than the academic part of a person the way tutoring does – it concerns a young person’s life. A tutor assists someone with lea...

27/08/2017

Love this post! It also captures the heart of what I want my students to "get".

“Why do smart people enjoy saying that they are bad at math?” laments Petra Bonfert-Taylor, a professor of engineering at Dartmouth College. “Few people would consider proudly announcing that they are bad at writing or reading.” After seeing one too many examples of adults “passing on [mathematical anxiety] like a virus,” Bonfert-Taylor has an important message for math-phobic parents and educators: “We are passing on from generation to generation the phobia for mathematics... as a result, too many of us have lost the ability to examine a real-world problem, translate it into numbers, solve the problem and interpret the solution.”

Many people will recognize what Bonfert-Taylor calls “damaging myths” that adults perpetuate when they call themselves bad at math: “math is inherently hard, only geniuses understand it, we never liked math in the first place and nobody needs math anyway.” And while well-meaning adults may think they’re encouraging kids by sharing their own math fears, research has shown the opposite -- "Anxiety over mathematics has been recognized as a grade killer." Research has found that the problem is particularly significant for girls, who “are especially affected when a teacher publicly announces math hatred before she picks up the chalk,” Bonfert-Taylor asserts.

“Working on mathematical skills is not unlike practicing a sport,” Bonfert-Taylor maintains. “Neither can be learned by watching others perform the activity and both require encouragement and effort... You do not need an innate mathematical ability in order to solve mathematical problems. Rather, what is required is perseverance, a willingness to take risks and feeling safe to make mistakes.” The proof appears in other nations: the more a culture appreciates math skills (and the trial and error necessary to build them), the “better” at math the students there will be. So the next time you’re sitting down to talk math with a Mighty Girl in your life, Bonfert-Taylor urges you to “try to have fun and give reassurance that perseverance will yield results. Numbers are always simple, clean and beautiful -- and nothing to be afraid of.”

To read Petra Bonfert-Taylor’s article about math attitudes in The Washington Post, visit http://wapo.st/1Tt9fUD

Kids can develop an appreciation of the playful side of math from an early age! For toys and games to encourage your Mighty Girl's love of math at every age, check out our blog post, “Add It Up! Top 30 Math Toys for Mighty Girls,” at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12180

A few of our favorite math-themed games include the "Super Sorting Pie" for ages 3 to 7 (http://www.amightygirl.com/super-sorting-pie), Shelby's Snack Shack for ages 4 to 7 (http://www.amightygirl.com/shelby-s-snack-shack), and Prime Climb for ages 10 and up (http://www.amightygirl.com/prime-climb)

There are also several fun girl-empowering picture books with a math theme, check out “Zero” for ages 3 to 8 (http://www.amightygirl.com/zero), "One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale" for ages 4 to 9 (http://www.amightygirl.com/one-grain-of-rice), "The Math Curse" for ages 6 to 10 (http://www.amightygirl.com/the-math-curse), and "Infinity and Me" for ages 5 to 8 (http://www.amightygirl.com/infinity-and-me)

15/05/2017

Exam Activation Experiences coming up!

Exams can be a stressful time for students and parents. Throughout the term, sections are taught in fairly neat little packages, which seem manageable. Then bham! All the sections are thrown into an exam, questions are worded differently, and there is the added stress of the exam environment and pressure to perform. I taught a student a few years ago, who put it very aptly. She said, “Ma’am, it is like in school we are taught to make rice, then in exams we are expected to make biryani.” A very comical remark, but it holds a lot of truth. This is how many students feel. But it does not have to be that way. Let me show you/your child(ren) how to make biryani. Maths biryani that is  All the ingredients that go into successfully preparing for, tackling and succeeding in a Maths exam.

I will be hosting two Exam Activation Experiences, where I will present tools to activate confidence, exam-answering techniques, and understanding of some problem sections. These activation experiences will accommodate both juniors and seniors. Here are the details:

Dates:
Saturday 27 May 2017 (Paper 1)
Saturday 3 June 2017 (Paper2)

Times (for both Saturdays):
8:00 to 12:30 (seniors – Grades 10 to 12)
8:00 to 11:00 (juniors – Grades 8 and 9)

Cost:
1 Saturday – R475
2 Saturdays – R875
If you want me to mark the mock exam that will be done during the activation experience, and give detailed written feedback, then that will be an extra R100 per Saturday. However, if you book and pay by this Saturday 20 May, I will mark and give feedback for free.

Venue:
My home in Randpark Ridge (address will be sent out once booking is confirmed)

Closing date for bookings:
A lot of time and effort goes into preparing for an activation experience. It really is a day with a difference, and I like to spoil the students a bit too. So I need to know who will be there by the following dates:
Tuesday 23 May 2017 for Paper 1
Tuesday 30 May 2017 for Paper 2

Book via email to me [email protected].
Let me know:
• The name, contact number and email address of the person who I should send an invoice to
• The student’s name
• The student’s grade
• The school that the student attends
• Which Saturdays the student would like to attend, as well as if you would like me to mark the mock papers (remember the marking special if booking and payment is done by Saturday 20 May)

Spaces are limited, so book soon. I will send you an invoice as soon as I receive your booking via email. Your spot will be confirmed on payment. Please email me proof of payment.

Take a look at the programme to see how both Saturdays will be run for the junior and seniors…

Programme for the Seniors’ Exam Activation Experiences:

8:00 to 09:00 – Approaching a Maths exam (juniors and seniors)
In this session, I will reveal some secrets and tips on how to prepare for and approach a Maths exam. I will show you how exams are structured, and how to stay calm, interpret questions, keep your marker happy, and score as many marks as possible even if you can’t do all the questions.

09:00 to 11:00 – Seniors mock exam
Students in Grades 10 to 12 will write a two-hour grade-appropriate exam in a simulated exam environment.

11:00 to 12:30 – Seniors Q & A and discussion
Over some yummy snacks, we will discuss some of the problem questions that came up. Students will receive memos for the exams so that they can check their answers. I will facilitate discussions between students, as discussion is a very powerful learning tool. At the end of the sessions, I will keep the exams of those students who pre-booked to get them marked. By the end of the week I will email those exams back with detailed comments outlining errors, exam answering suggestions, etc.

Programme for the Juniors’ Exam Activation Experiences:

8:00 to 09:00 – Approaching a Maths exam (juniors and seniors)
In this session, I will reveal some secrets and tips on how to prepare for and approach a Maths exam. I will show you how exams are structured, and how to stay calm, interpret questions, keep your marker happy, and score as many marks as possible even if you can’t do all the questions.

09:00 to 10:00 – Juniors mock exam
Students in Grades 8 and 9 will write a one-hour grade-appropriate exam in a simulated exam environment.

10:00 to 11:00 – Juniors Q & A and discussion
Over some yummy snacks, we will discuss some of the problem questions that came up. Students will receive memos for the exams so that they can check their answers. I will facilitate discussions between students, as discussion is a very powerful learning tool. At the end of the sessions, I will keep the exams of those students who pre-booked to get them marked. By the end of the week I will email those exams back with detailed comments outlining errors, exam answering suggestions, etc.

Juniors end at 11:00, but are welcome to hang around if waiting for an older sibling to finish at 12:30.

I hope to see you/your child(ren) there. Please contact me if you have any questions or queries.

Yours in Maths,
Tammy

14/03/2017

I just saw this posted on someone's page. Love it! But you don't need to put your grades up for adoption. Let My Maths Mentor show you how to raise them 😉

14/03/2017

Happy Pi Day everyone 😊

18/02/2017

09/02/2017

Are you in Matric and feel overwhelmed by all the Grade 11 work that you need to remember? Do you aim for 50s, 60s, or 70s, but keep missing the mark?

Then Firm Foundations for Matric Maths with Activation Experience is for you! The Activation Experience is usually valued at R550 but for a short time only I will be giving this away for free with the purchase of the Firm Foundations for Matric Maths course.

The first Activation Experience will be on 18 February, so register online now.

http://www.mymathsmentor.co.za/course/firm-foundations-for-matric-maths-with-activation-experience/

03/02/2017

My Maths Mentor has a new home! I have moved house and have an awesome new space to create online courses and tutor. I will also be hosting workshops. Matrics, the first one is for you...this month! Details up very soon on my website www.mymathsmentor.co.za.

This course will enable you to understand the key concepts needed to make a successful transition from primary to high school Maths

01/01/2017