Andrea Sainz Bear

I have been tutoring Mathematics and Physics for around 10 years in Spain, working with students from the age of 10 up to 19 (first-year university level).

Since moving to the UK, I have also gained university teaching experience. I teach Mathematics supervisions to first-year Computer Science students, give coding demonstrations for undergraduate Physics students and co-supervise Master's theses on the MPhil in Data Intensive Science.

I genuinely enjoy teaching and, for me, the most important thing is finding the right approach for each student. I adapt my lessons to their age, level and individual needs, while also trying to get to know them as a person and understand what motivates them to learn. I find that students tend to make much better progress when they feel that the subject connects with their own interests and when they understand why they are learning something, rather than simply memorising procedures.

With younger students, I particularly enjoy using games, puzzles and challenges to introduce mathematical ideas in a fun and engaging way. With older students, I often start with a short "warm-up" involving mental arithmetic, logic questions or puzzles. We then move on to the main topic for the lesson, alternating more challenging exercises with shorter activities depending on the student's concentration, energy and mood that day.

I also place a lot of emphasis on helping students connect the different concepts they learn at school. In my experience, understanding how ideas fit together is what allows students to build knowledge confidently and become more independent learners.

FIRST SESSION (Free)

I like to offer a first 30-minute session with both the student and their parents. This gives us a chance to get to know each other, discuss the student's goals and establish clear expectations for the lessons.

I also like to understand what parents are looking for from the tutoring, for example, whether they would like me to set homework, provide a short update after each session or focus primarily on supporting the student's schoolwork and confidence.

My aim is to create a relaxed but purposeful environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes and gradually becoming more confident in their own ability.