Max Manning

I use the student's homework as a basis, helping them to gain a secure understanding of what they are currently learning. This is because learning something properly the first time you come across it makes it vastly easier to revise later on, meaning the student can focus on revision and not re-learning the topic.

Beyond homework, I will always ask the student what they feel they need to improve on, and that is the next focus. Some students will know exactly what they need to work on, and focusing on these topics makes the time use far more efficient, as they are not wasting time going over what they are already confident in. However, many students don't know what needs improvement, and this is completely understandable. Equally, those students who think that they know what work they need to do might be unaware that they have over areas that need attention too, which is a risk of revising alone. To help this, I give students a variety of questions from across the syllabus, working through alongside them to find weak spots and areas of confusion. This is especially useful with exam-style questions, as understanding how to tackle a question in that format is a skill that often isn't covered effectively enough in a school environment, however it is essential to achieving the highest possible grade the student is capable of.

My lessons focus on problem solving and encouraging the student to solve the questions they are faced with, while I guide them through when they need help, or give them alternative strategies for completing the exercise. It's an equal dynamic, as we work together to reach solutions.