GALE tutoring, primary maths tutor

28/08/2026

When maths has a purpose, it can feel very different.

This week, the dominoes came out, but there was plenty of maths happening too!

Each move brought another calculation to solve, with children encouraged to use their written methods rather than rushing to work everything out in their heads.

Games like this give us lots of opportunities to practise skills, spot mistakes, talk through strategies and build confidence, without pages and pages of questions.

At GALE Tutoring, I want children to understand their maths, not just get the answer. 💙

📍 Primary maths tutoring in Moira
✨ 1:1 and small-group sessions

25/08/2026

And we're back! 📚

The summer seems to have flown by and a new school year is beginning.

I'm looking forward to welcoming children back to GALE Tutoring this week — catching up, settling back into routines and finding out what they'd like to achieve this year.

For me, the beginning of a new school year isn't about immediately racing ahead. It's about reconnecting, rebuilding confidence and starting from where each child is now.

Here's to lots of learning, laughter and those lovely "I can do it!" moments this year.

11/07/2026

Love this image as a writing prompt. I thought the goat was selling ice cream.

07/07/2026

What a great game to consolidate times tables. So much fun.

02/06/2026

This week, our work on The Three Little Pigs didn’t start with a pencil and paper.

It started with building.

Using blocks, natural materials and small world play, we recreated the story, discussed the characters and explored the different houses the pigs might build.

As we played, we talked about:
🏠 settings and characters
🏠 story sequence
🏠 problems and solutions
🏠 descriptive language
🏠 ideas for our own versions of the story

For many children, writing becomes much easier when they have first had the opportunity to experience, discuss and act out their ideas.

The play isn’t separate from the learning – it’s often where the learning begins.

By the time we came to write, there was already a story in our minds.

Sometimes the best writing starts with a pile of straw, a few blocks and a lot of imagination.

13/05/2026

When Learning Starts with a Cardboard Box
For some children, sitting at a table and completing worksheets can feel overwhelming.

But give them a project linked to their interests and something begins to shift.

A cardboard castle can become an opportunity to:
• measure and estimate
• solve problems
• develop writing ideas
• build vocabulary
• practise fine motor skills
• spark imagination

Most importantly, it creates engagement.

When children feel interested and successful, confidence starts to grow and learning can follow.

This is the approach I use when supporting children through EOTAS and other personalised learning programmes.

By starting with a child’s interests and adapting learning to meet their needs, education can become something they are willing to re-engage with.

Amanda
GALE Tutoring

24/04/2026

23/04/2026

What a great way to consolidate week one of learning about animals and then set up week two with inspiration and context for writing.

It is a joy being able to not only follow a child's interest, but also to be able to give them first hand experiences.