Benjamin Hibbitt

I am very eager to help others with developing their mathematical ability and helping those that have difficulty with the topic find ways to relate.

I have spent the last 3 years working in schools all around south London, both employed and voluntary. I have helped the students through my positions as a teacher, Teaching assistant and supervisor, as well as volunteering to help students with maths after school.

When I teach my students I understand that there is a wide range of abilities and interest the students have for maths and the pace and style needs to adapt to them. When I teach the students I like to give an example of the material then pose the student a similar question while my example is still up so they can work step by step. Frequent praise for correct steps, or even if they get the wrong method so long as they use good maths I will encourage the attempt, followed by the correction.

It is important to teach the correct terminology, but ensure the correct image in the students mind. As such when possible I will show the visual of the example and try to have the student describe the method in their own words. I will then repeat the explanation using their words and connect them to the correct terms.

For those that have difficulty with staying still for extended periods of time I encourage asking for and giving movement breaks, or when possible answering some of the questions while standing or moving about.

Of course some of these methods will need to be adapted or outright change depending on the student. As such I will ask for the opinions of the parents, any previous teachers and tutors opinions on previous methods successful or otherwise.