The Clara James Approach to learning

I was talking about reading the other day with a mum. Very often the challenge isn’t just in finding something that they are willing to read, but in the actual act of reading itself. 

A lot of children struggle with reading. Especially reading out loud. All enjoyment goes out of the story as all you can think about is the effort of what is to come. Sounding our words, recognising letters, remembering what the story was about, keeping your place in the text. And people regard this as fun, how!!

Since the beginning of tutoring, we’ve used the ‘dotty board game’. We have a page of A4 paper and around the edge/ across the middle we have 6 yellow dots, 6 blue dots, 6 green dots. You can be green, I’ll be yellow.

You roll the dice and that determines how far you can move. You can go in any direction, but you can’t change direction halfway through a go. If your counter lands on a green, you will need to read a sentence, paragraph, page, or whatever we deem to be appropriate. If anyone lands on a yellow, I’ll have to read. 

If someone lands on a blue, they roll the dice again and there is a selection of forfeits which are determined by the number on the dice: 

1)      have another go

2)      go forward 3 spaces

3)      go back 6 spaces

4)      miss a turn

5)      other person reads

6)      you need to read again

My idea when I cam up with this was to take the onus off one person having to put in all the effort as I knew as a child how I used to hate reading out. In my head, no problem. As soon as I started reading out loud, I became a bumbling buffoon. I also felt that if you never knew when your turn was coming it would mean in you had less of an opportunity to sit there in dread because you would also become too caught up in the game.

We’ve adapted the game and use it for answering other questions as well, but this was the original purpose. You may decide to change the dots for images of each player, or if you are a particular fan of dogs have a different breed instead of different colours. If you’re following the football, you may choose different teams which are playing.

Have a great week and speak soon,

(if you are interested in finding out more about the membership group, you will find the details here: The Clara James Approach)

When I started Clara James Tutoring back in 2012, my background was education not business and I was incredibly susceptible to mistakes and being led on a wild goose chase... 

So, from trying to keep the business quiet to nearly being scammed out of over £13k these are 3 things I did when I started tutoring. I hope by speaking frankly and honestly you will not judge but instead stop and think and not make the same mistakes as I did when you get started or look to grow your business.

There's a few things that I'm opinionated on and the importance of making learning fun and relevant comes very high up on that list.

When I started studying supporting different learning styles over 25 years ago, one of the things I learned was the importance of creating multiple memories so that it is easier to recall the information when it is needed. Although it was obvious, it wasn't something I had ever given much thought to.

But I also firmly believe that the way we learn is unique to each of us as individuals. We all come to the table with difference life experiences, understandings, opinions. I look at my brother and I, we are both so, so different. I look at my 3 children, again they are so different to each other. If in a small sample of 5 everyone is different, how can we expect a class of 30 or more to learn the same way. We need to adapt and address the needs of everyone, not just the majority, or the majority of the class the year before.

I will stop rambling now, but I hope if you listen to this podcast it gives you something to think about.

"you're not as clever as your brother", "I don't think you have what it takes to work in a school", "who are you to teach me?!"

Confidence is not a strong point of mind, I have this huge sense of inadequacy. But when a friend suggested I start tutoring I didn't have the confidence to keep putting her off, so in the end I agreed. That was back in 2012 and the company has grown so much since then. (My confidence hasn't but that's work in progress). If you lack confidence and you're considering becoming a tutor, maybe this will give you the hope that you needed that maybe you could do it too.

I was asked the other day about supporting a 10 year old with comprehension. My initial response was to brain dump everything then use that as a guide to pull it all together..

However, here is my actual advice. I hope it helps. 

(I created this podcast as a recording of the monthly zoom call within the Clara James Approach. Each month, you can ask a question based around supporting your primary school aged child with their maths or English and we will do our best to help.)

I hope you find this helpful. If you would like to learn more about the group, click here: The Clara James Approach

Not everyone has a printer...
So, we have introduced a premium level to the Clara James Approach so that we can send you a printed copy of the resources each month with a few other extra bonuses.
You would also have access to a 1-to-1 monthly call if you wanted it and the leadership board so that your efforts and progress can be publicly acknowledged (again if wanted).
We have endeavoured to keep the price as low as possible, so anyone that joins us now would have the price locked in at £9.97/month with the ability to leave at any stage.
Interested listen in or find out more at: The Clara James Approach Premium Membership

#primaryschoolsupportandresources
#mathsresources
#Englishresources
#creativelearning

I think many of us have a fear of maths which we then unintentionally pass on to our children.
However, there are things we can do which will help avoid that fear. A big part of that is to make it creative, fun, quality time that you can share together, yet on other occasions find the opportunity to incorporate it into everyday life through things like baking.
I hope this video proves helpful and inspires you

https://theclarajamesapproach.co.uk/c...

#parenting
#maths
#primaryeducation
#homeeducation

In this episode, we dive into revision strategies for English, tackling both general revision tips and specific advice for English subjects. Whether you’re just starting your revision journey or looking for ways to boost your effectiveness, this episode offers practical tips to help you get the most out of your study time.

Revision Techniques:
We start by discussing how to make revision more engaging and effective. Using multiple colours can stimulate your brain and make your notes more visually appealing, helping with memory retention. We also talk about the importance of planning—knowing exactly what you’ll do during your study sessions to avoid wasting time. Small, manageable goals can prevent burnout, and early preparation can keep stress at bay.

Comfort and Environment:
Next, we explore the idea that you don’t always have to revise at a desk. Finding a comfortable space and setting up your environment with everything you need (pens, water, books, etc.) can help you stay focused. Whether you prefer silence or background music, the key is creating an atmosphere that works for you.

Reading and Analysis:
We stress the importance of reading anything and everything. Daily reading can improve your writing, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills. Beyond reading, practising analysis is essential for English exams. Whether you’re watching a TV show or reading the news, pay attention to why certain words or techniques are used. Why did the journalist choose that headline? How does it shape the reader's view?

Variety of Resources:
We also talk about using a variety of resources to support your revision. YouTube videos, mind maps, and past papers are all great tools, and we explore how using a range of methods can help make revision less monotonous. Additionally, post-it notes can be a surprisingly effective tool—stick them around the house in places you frequently visit to embed information in your subconscious.

Creative Revision Methods:
For students revising literature, we share a unique visual method for remembering quotes—drawing images to represent key quotes. For example, one student used illustrations to memorise quotes from *Macbeth*, which helped solidify them in his memory. Walking and talking about the material can also be a helpful revision technique.

Structuring Responses:
We wrap up by focusing on how to structure responses for English Literature exams. Instead of just stating "point, evidence, analysis," we suggest using multiple pieces of evidence for each point to ease the pressure of having to write deep analysis for every small detail. This approach helps to prevent repetition and keeps your essay balanced and well-structured.

Subtle Use of Quotes:
Finally, we recommend being subtle with your quotes. Instead of announcing them with phrases like "as stated in the text," try to weave quotes naturally into your writing, just as you would subtly drop information into a conversation.

If you’re struggling with sentence openers or need more specific guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out! I’ve prepared sentence openers for questions 2 and 3 of the English Language Paper 1, here's the link to access them: Free Download: Sentence openers for GCSE English Language Paper 1 (clarajamestutoring.co.uk)

Claire is amazing, with 10 years of experience under her belt there's not a huge amount she doesn't seem to know and she's also happy to share her knowledge which I am truly thankful for.

In this episode she share some of her insights into preparing for and sitting the English Language paper.

I hope you find it helpful

#EnglishLanguage #GCSEEnglish
#GCSErevision
#Homeeducation
#AQAEnglishLanguage
#ClaraJamesTutoring
#ClaireHarwood

A few weeks ago, I was working with a lad, he’s brilliant, he’s just finished his GCSEs. We had just a couple of minutes left of the lesson, so we decided on a game of times-tables-noughts-and-crosses.

I pulled up the grid and asked what he’d like to multiply by. He answered 11.

Considering he was doing the higher paper I agreed but thought I’d ‘be clever’ and make the numbers in the grid double digits to make it harder.

But he was still answering them within a flash.

I asked if he was using a calculator and his mum, whom I hadn’t realised was also there, said he was just using a trick that he had learned.

This was eye-opening to me, so I thought I’d share it with you too:

Multiplying single digits by 11 is simple.

The digit you are multiplying by 11 is written down twice instead of once:

11x3 = 33

11x8 =88

And this apparently is how you multiply 11 by a double digit easily:

Simply add the 2 numbers you are multiplying by 11 together:

12x11

(1+2 = 3) and slide the answer (3) between the number you were multiplying 11 by: 132

16x11

1+6 =7

Split the 16 and put 7 in the middle

16x11 =176

Another example:

32x11

3+2=5

Split the 32 and place the 5 in the middle:

352