My Books are Open for September!

📚 My Books are Open for September! 📚

Exciting news! I’m now taking bookings for September for my tutoring services, and I’d love to help your child achieve their full potential this school year. 🌟

Why choose tutoring? Here’s how it benefits both parents and children:

👩‍🏫 For Parents:

  • Peace of mind knowing your child is getting the personalized support they need.
  • Flexible scheduling that works around your busy life.
  • Regular updates on your child’s progress and areas of growth.

👧 For Children:

  • Boosts confidence and encourages a love of learning.
  • Provides one-on-one attention to focus on specific challenges and strengths.
  • Builds strong foundational skills that last a lifetime.

Let’s work together to make this school year the best one yet! Reach out today to book your spot before they fill up. 📅✨

Fill out the form below to book and if you have any questions, email me at tom@tomsandersontutoring.com or call me on 07731 662675

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Thank you for your response. ✨

I’m a professional tutor, and I can’t be bothered today

I am so tired today. It’s muggy outside, and overcast. My mood is a bit down. Today’s just not a great day, and we all have days like this. Yeah, it sucks. Sometimes you want to get a lockdown on your day, and yet somehow the universe seems to conspire against you, whether it’s the weather, your energy levels, or external influences like people, business needs, or whatever.

It is perfectly reasonable for an adult to say to their friends, family, or colleagues that they’re having a bit of a down day, where things just aren’t going their way, where they just don’t have it. Sometimes you’re just done. This is perfectly okay, and we often tell the person to take a break, have a breather, get a cup of tea or coffee, you know, to relax. Yet when the children we teach say they’re not having a great day, we often try to force them into doing all the work and doing the same amount of work they would do if they were having a good day. So why are we harsher on our children than we are on the adults in our lives?

There seems to be this expectation in education that every single session must be hyper-optimized, that every single session must be at 150%, or otherwise, our children aren’t learning. But if I run my car at 150 miles an hour every single day for eight hours a day, I will be replacing parts within a week. Formula 1 cars are a perfect analogy. They’re pushed to the limit, and as a result, their parts are replaced often. We can’t run our cars at 150 miles an hour all the time, and we can’t expect our students to be working at 150% all the time either.

So, this post is your sign to look after yourself and slow down just a little bit. Whether you’re a fellow educator currently in the summer holiday, working at 100% again, or a parent taking a day off—write it off. That’s what I’m going to do after writing this blog post: replying to a couple of emails, and then I am done for the day. Today’s just not my day, and that’s perfectly fine because tomorrow will come around, and tomorrow might just be my day.

Tutoring Isn’t Just for Kids – It’s for Adults Too!

Many people take functional skills qualifications as adults. Some are offered them by their college, others may use them to help support their pre-university studies, and some may use functional skills to support future employment options.

Whatever your reason, studying can be overwhelming, particularly on top of your other commitments, and you might need some extra support. Look no further! Whether you’re looking to brush up on your functional skills or aiming to master new concepts, I offer comprehensive tutoring for all levels of Maths and English.

What I Offer:

  • Personalized Support: Tailored lessons to fit your studies
  • Convenient Timeslots: Flexible scheduling to accommodate your busy life.
  • Affordable Rates: Quality education that won’t break the bank.

Why Choose Me?

  • Expert guidance just an email away.
  • Experienced tutor dedicated to your success.
  • Encouraging and supportive learning environment.

Take the next step towards achieving your goals. Contact me today to find out more and to book your first session! email: tom@tomsandersontutoring.com or fill out the quick form below and I’ll be in touch!

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Understanding the 11+ Exam in England: Key Details and Preparation

The 11+ exam in England is an entrance examination used by grammar schools and some independent schools to select students for admission. Here are the key details about the 11+ exam:

Purpose

  • Selection for Grammar Schools: The primary purpose of the 11+ exam is to determine which students are academically suited to attend grammar schools.
  • Entrance to Independent Schools: Some independent schools also use the 11+ as part of their admission process.

Age Group

  • Target Age: The exam is typically taken by children in their final year of primary school, usually aged 10 or 11.

Structure

The structure of the 11+ exam can vary depending on the region and the specific schools, but generally, it includes the following components:

  1. Verbal Reasoning: Tests the ability to understand and reason using concepts framed in words. It includes sections on vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.
  2. Non-Verbal Reasoning: Assesses the ability to understand and analyze visual information and solve problems using visual reasoning. It includes patterns, sequences, and spatial awareness tasks.
  3. Mathematics: Evaluates numerical and problem-solving skills. Questions cover topics in arithmetic, geometry, and basic algebra.
  4. English: Measures reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. It often includes a writing task.

Administration

  • Regions: The exam is administered in various counties and boroughs in England, including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Birmingham, among others.
  • Dates: The exam is typically held at the beginning of the final year of primary school (Year 6), around September.
  • Providers: The test papers can be provided by different organizations, such as GL Assessment, CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring), and individual local authorities.

Preparation

  • Tutoring: Many students receive tutoring to prepare for the 11+ exam, which can be through private tutors, tuition centers, or online resources.
  • Practice Papers: There are numerous practice papers and past exam papers available for students to practice.
  • Study Guides: Various books and study guides are available that cover the syllabus and offer tips and strategies for the exam.

Scoring and Results

  • Standardization: Scores are standardized to account for age differences among candidates. This means younger candidates are adjusted to ensure fairness.
  • Cut-Off Scores: Each grammar school sets its own cut-off score for admission. These scores can vary year to year based on the performance of the cohort and the number of places available.
  • Results: Results are typically sent out a few weeks after the exam, and parents can then apply to grammar schools based on the scores achieved.

Controversies and Debates

  • Fairness and Access: There are ongoing debates about the fairness of the 11+ exam, particularly regarding whether it disadvantages students from lower-income families who may not afford extensive tutoring.
  • Impact on Children: Concerns are raised about the pressure and stress the exam places on young children.
  • Educational Segregation: Critics argue that the 11+ exam contributes to educational segregation by creating a divide between those who attend grammar schools and those who do not.

Recent Developments

  • Some regions have reviewed and adjusted their selection processes to make them more inclusive and less dependent on coaching.
  • There have been calls for the abolition of the 11+ exam in favor of a more comprehensive school system.

Tom Sanderson Tutoring Newsletter – #1

Hi everyone,

We made it – we’ve reached the end of summer, and a new school year is on the horizon. I, for one, am very excited. I have a bunch of new resources to try out, and we are coming off the back of my most successful year ever.

But let me explain the purpose of this email. This is my newsletter for Tom Sanderson Tutoring. The idea for this newsletter came from one of my clients, Melissa, and I thought it was an amazing idea. I had been contemplating creating one for a while.

The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you updated on what I am doing and to give me a chance to share really interesting information and things that I find fascinating. When appropriate, I will also use this newsletter to highlight the achievements of my students.

My goal is to provide one update a month while I get used to this. I may also consider turning this into a podcast, but that’s a question for another time.

New website

I’ve been meaning to do this for ages, I’m slowly redesign my website, I’m going for the black theme that I think looks really cool. Black has always been in fashion, and I can’t live without dark mode on any of my apps.

Fun Fact in Maths:

Did you know that 0 is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals? Roman numerals use I, V, X, L, C, D, and M to represent numbers, but there’s no symbol for zero. The concept of zero as a number was introduced much later in the history of mathematics, revolutionizing how we count and calculate.

There is no zero in Roman numerals. Who invented zero, and when? | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk

The Absence Of The Concept Of Zero in Roman Numerals System

Roman numerals

I’m having a whale of a time

Did you know that Wednesday, September 30th, is International Whale Shark Day?

If you have any questions, feedback, or if you’d like to schedule tutoring sessions for the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

All the best,

Tom

Why Tutoring is a Great Investment in Your Child’s Education

If you’re a parent, you want the best for your child. One of the most important investments you can make in your child’s future is in their education. While schools can provide a solid foundation, many children need extra help to reach their full potential. That’s where tutoring comes in. In this post, we’ll explore why tutoring is a great investment in your child’s education.

Tutoring can provide personalized attention to your child’s needs:

One of the biggest benefits of tutoring is that it provides your child with personalized attention that is tailored to their individual needs. Unlike in a classroom setting, where the teacher has to divide their attention among many students, a tutor can focus solely on your child. This allows the tutor to identify areas where your child may be struggling and provide targeted support to help them improve.

In addition, a tutor can work at your child’s pace. If your child needs extra time to understand a concept, a tutor can slow down and provide more detailed explanations until your child has grasped the material. Alternatively, if your child is already familiar with a topic, a tutor can move on to more advanced concepts, keeping your child engaged and challenged.

Tutoring can improve academic performance:

Another key benefit of tutoring is that it can improve your child’s academic performance. With personalized attention and targeted support, a tutor can help your child build the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their academic work. This can lead to higher grades, improved test scores, and increased confidence in their abilities.

Tutoring can help your child develop good study habits:

Good study habits are key to academic success, but they can be difficult to develop on your own. A tutor can help your child develop good study habits by providing guidance on things like time management, note-taking, and test-taking strategies. By teaching your child these skills, a tutor can help them become more efficient and effective learners, which can have a positive impact on their academic performance.

Tutoring can provide a safe and supportive learning environment:

For some children, the classroom can be a stressful or overwhelming environment. Tutoring can provide a safe and supportive learning environment where your child can feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and learning at their own pace. This can be especially beneficial for children who may be struggling with anxiety, attention issues, or other challenges that can make learning in a traditional classroom setting difficult.

Tutoring can be flexible and convenient:

Tutoring can be a flexible and convenient option for busy families. Many tutors offer online sessions, which means your child can receive support from the comfort of your own home. In addition, tutors often offer flexible scheduling options, which can be helpful if your child has a busy schedule or other commitments.

Tutoring can be affordable:

While the cost of tutoring can vary depending on the tutor and the services offered, many tutors offer affordable options. Some sessions can start at £15 which is the same price as Netflix. In addition, some schools or local organizations may offer free or low-cost tutoring programs, so it’s worth checking to see what resources are available in your area. (psst, I’m launching group sessions that are evening cheaper, shoot me an email at info@tomsandersontutoring if you want in)

Investing in your child’s education is one of the most important things you can do for their future. Tutoring provides individual attention, confidence building, academic improvement, support for learning challenges, flexibility and affordability that can help your child reach their full potential. If you’re considering tutoring for your child, speak to me today to learn more about how I can help your child succeed.

Cat and Maths

See what I did with the title there.

I wanted to share with you all a resource that really helped one of my students to consolidate their learning. The site is called Karate Cats Maths and I assigned it as homework to this student.

This kind of homework was much more effective than a traditional worksheet or PDF because the challenge was at just about the right level for her and who doesn’t love cats?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zjkphbk/articles/zf4sscw

The student was much more motivated to play this game (for obvious reasons) and was really able to solidify the knowledge she had learned from our tutoring session.

2020 Summer Sessions

While the idea of private tutoring is attractive to many parents, the cost is often not. 

Did you know that Sessions from some of the best tutors that start in the region of £40-60? This high price can put tutoring out of reach for many parents.

To combat this, I have come up with the concept of group tutoring. In these sessions, your child and four others will be put into a group.

This should mean that your child won’t be caught off guard when they are introduced to these concepts in the school year, and this will also give them a head start on his classmates.

This is a great chance to learn and meet new friends.

There will be six sessions in total, and we will cover the following topics:

Charts and graphs

In this session, we will include data collection and how to present it. We will look at the different charts that one can use, and where, how and why we use them.

Geometry

In this session, will look at angle rules, interior and exterior angles and also how to identify and describe rotations and translations of triangles and quadrilaterals

Measurement 

In this session, we will be paying attention to the area and volume of triangles and parallelogram. We will also be looking at how to find the length and perimeter of 2D shapes

Converting metric to imperial units

In this session, we will be looking at how we convert metric to imperial units, where we use each one and what unit would suit what situation. This is a useful life skill to have.

Ratio and proportion

In this session, we will look at putting ratios in their simplest form and finding a ratio from a given proportion.

Introduction to algebra

In this final session, we will look at algebra, and I will show how it is not as scary as some children may fear.

Each session will cost £10 per child and last for one hour. This brings the six sessions to a total of £60, however, if you choose to book all the sessions in one go, you will only have to £50. That means you get one session for free. 

I will trailing these over the summer holiday and will continue to run them into the school year should they prove successful.

The sessions will take place over Zoom with dates confirmed when all are on board

If you would like to register your interest, email me at tom@tomsandersontutoring.com