Teachers' articles, thoughts and opinions

  While the term ‘prokaryote’ may not be all that familiar, everyone will have heard of the most common examples – bacteria. Often referred to as microbes as a nod to their microscopic size, these creatures, while tiny, pack an outsized punch. And they’re everywhere. The name prokaryote means ‘without a nucleus’, meaning they lack the distinguishing feature of the more complex cells that make up organisms like you and me (‘eukaryotes’). Des...

Understanding Linear Functions What Are Linear Functions? Linear functions are a fundamental part of algebra that describe relationships between two variables. These relationships are called linear because, when graphed, they form a straight line. In essence, linear functions showcase how one quantity changes concerning another. Key Components of a Linear Function Before we dive into graphing linear functions, it's essential to understand their...

As a maths tutor, I´m often asked by my students what text books they should use at A-Level maths or university level maths. There are many that can be of benefit, but below I´ve listed my top ten choices. "Advanced Mathematics for AQA" by Stephen Lee and Roger Porkess: This book covers A-Level Mathematics in a rigorous and comprehensive way, making it suitable for university-level students who want to revisit core concepts. "Further Mathem...

Teaching chemistry can be an exciting and rewarding profession, especially for those who enjoy scientific experimentation and discovery. In this article, we'll explore the many facets of becoming a chemistry tutor, from the academic requirements to the skills needed, the advantages and challenges, and everything you need to know about this exciting career field! What makes a chemistry tutor? A tutor who offers chemistry classes is much more th...

Are you or your child looking to master the language of Molière? Do you want to enrich your personal life, prepare for a French exam such as GCSE, or simply discover the richness of French culture? It's a great project and to get off to a good start there's nothing better than a good frame of mind! 1. The right frame of mind Before embarking on your linguistic adventure, it's essential to adopt an open and curious mindset. You'll be exploring Fr...

As a maths and science tutor for KS1 and KS2, I often have parents asking how they can help their child prepare for their SAT exams. First of all be aware of all the subjects that will be assessed in the KS1 assessment. The key subjects are Maths and English. The curriculum is normally covered over a two year period from Year 1 to Year 2. This is the process I would recommend. 1. Identify all topics in each year group for Maths and English...

As a private tutor for statistics, I have found that distribution and probability are topics that can cause a lot of confusion amongst students. Below are a number of example questions with solutions to help you in understanding probability.  Question 1 Three coins are in a box. One is a two-headed coin, another is a two-tailed coin and the third is a fair coin. One of the coins is selected and flipped at random, heads come up. What is the...

I have just finished my A-Levels, having completed the 2023 set of examinations, which have made headlines due to the return of 'pre-covid grading'. I was happy to achieve an A* grade in Economics and I believe this may not have been possible without certain key pieces of information to use both in preparation, and during the exams themselves. I have also been able to view my papers, which I hope has given me extra insight regarding the exam ser...

Physics and maths tutors can help you not only improve your grades, but also have more fun in class. There are different types of maths tutoring, including private and online. The main purpose of this tutoring is to clarify questions from maths lessons in school and to prepare you in the best possible way for the next maths lessons. Private face-to-face tutoring and online tutoring each have their own advantages and disadvantages. These will be...

I am a mathematics teacher and taught some study skills when teaching night classes of people who had failed maths GCSE, perhaps several times. These students need to change how they studied. I recall one student who had failed five times, yet she passed when I taught her better ways to revise. I will now discuss one of my suggestions called Random Numbers.   Random Numbers: Basically, we complete one exercise problem from each chapter of ...

If you are still struggling with finding quality resources for learning English, or any other language, then these tips will help you out. In this article you´ll find some resources you can use alongside your language lessons, especially English lessons, for helping improve your language skills. 1. If you are looking for a simple, but interesting way to improve your English with common every day topics then BBC Learning English is just what you...

Writing can sometimes be a daunting task. You're sitting there, staring at a blank page, desperately trying to think of something revolutionary to put down, and make yourself feel like the next Orwell or Rowling. But it's hard sometimes. Fear not though, as an experienced English tutor, I have gathered some tips that will help you become better at writing stories.  About me I am an 18 year old. I am addicted to writing short stories with s...

Personal statements are more often than not required when completing an application for college, university and for job roles. As a careers advisor, a personal statement is, in my opinion, is the most important section of any application. It can make all the difference in separating you from other applicants. The personal statement also tells the employer or admissions team who you are as a person. This is your opportunuty to let them know what ...

Whether you're worried about clamming up in a GCSE English Language paper or trying to build a portfolio for your Creative Writing undergrad, this is every writer's guide to keeping the inspiration brimming at the surface. As an English tutor and writer, I have compiled four great tips to beat writer's block when you're writing poetry. 1. Free writing This is one to practice outside of exam conditions. But, once you've got the hang of it, y...