The Qualified Tutor Podcast

The Qualified Tutor Podcast

By Julia Silver BA, QTS, NPQHEducation
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The Qualified Tutor Podcast episodes

  • ADHD and ASD – Growth, Understanding, and Empowerment

    In this special episode of QT Conversations, we dive into the intricacies of neurodiversity, focusing on ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).


    Through heartfelt stories and expert insights, we explore topics ranging from the journey to diagnosis and overcoming overwhelm to the power of embracing imperfections and empowering young voices.


    Listen as our community of educators shares personal experiences, thought-provoking ideas, and practical strategies for fostering growth and understanding.

    54 min
  • Redefining Success as a Tutor: Embracing Humanity, Resilience, and Connection

    In this transformative episode, we dive into the heart of what it means to live authentically and thrive—not through perfection, but through humanity, resilience, and connection. Join us as we explore thought-provoking conversations, personal reflections, and actionable insights across a range of powerful topics:

    • The Productivity Trap: Challenging the relentless pressure to achieve and redefining what it means to have a “successful day.”
    • Embracing Failure: Discovering the strength in imperfection and the beauty of resilience through metaphors like kintsugi.
    • Transforming Tutoring Standards: How meaningful conversations are revolutionizing education and creating space for deep, personalized learning.
    • Finding Balance: Balancing the demands of learning, work, and self-care in a world that often glorifies overachievement.
    • Designing Harmony: Crafting spaces inspired by family stories, and how physical environments shape emotional well-being.
    • Navigating Neurodiversity: A tutor’s perspective on supporting neurodiverse learners and creating safe, inclusive spaces for growth.
    • Optimizing Young Minds: Exploring what “safe” means in education and how we can nurture students’ mental and emotional well-being.
    • Through each of these conversations, we’ll reflect on how humanity—our imperfections, vulnerabilities, and connections—can guide us toward a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or lifelong learner, this episode offers insights and inspiration to redefine success on your own terms.

      🎙️ Tune in to join the journey!

      54 min
    • Meaningful partnerships between teachers and tutors

      In this exciting episode of QT Conversations, we dive into a groundbreaking approach to building meaningful partnerships between teachers and tutors.

      Listen in as some of the most committed tutors in the profession share their insights, experiences, and strategies for working collaboratively with educators to support students more effectively.

      Whether you're a tutor, teacher, or educator at heart, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways that could reshape your approach to student success.

      Don’t miss out—this episode is truly one of our best yet!

      56 min
    • Navigating the Global Classroom: The Business of International Tutoring

      In this episode, The Business of International Tutoring, we bring you an engaging panel discussion on the unique challenges and best practices in international tutoring. Experts and practitioners share personal stories and insights on navigating cultural expectations, balancing student needs with parental pressures, and leveraging technology in education.

      🎓 Highlights include:

      • Julia’s journey through parental engagement, the role of AI and EdTech, and their impact on her child’s education.
      • A deep dive into cultural dynamics with Rosanna and Karina, who shed light on how societal expectations influence tutoring approaches, especially in Asian cultures.
      • Strategies for building student confidence, tailoring education to unique learning styles, and addressing the mental health impact of social media on young learners.
      • Mohsin’s take on how cultural motivations shape educational goals and the importance of recognising individual strengths and talents.
      • From actionable strategies to thought-provoking debates on global tutoring norms, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about education.

        Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of how tutors can harmonise the needs of students and parents in diverse international contexts!

        48 min
      • How to navigate international nuances as tutors

        This session discussed such important elements of discussing international tutoring, where our members joined us as panellists and we discussed:

        • Navigating cultural differences
        • Gender identity
        • Attitudes to neurodivergence
        • Explored assumptions with different cultures (and how this affects us and how we show up)
        • Thank you to all of our members who join us each week in these spaces to discuss such important topics about how we continue to provide tutoring in a safe, supportive and engaging way.

          52 min
        • Online Tutoring and Cultural Literacy

          In this enlightening episode of QT Conversations, we gathered to discuss the intricacies of international tutoring and cultural literacy with a focus on how tutors can navigate and thrive in a global tutoring landscape. Together with fellow tutors, we explored a range of themes, each crucial to supporting international students and enriching the tutoring experience for both students and educators.

          Key discussion points included:

          • Navigating Practicalities: We covered essential logistics like managing different time zones, currencies, and navigating global curriculums like IB, TEFL, and national standards to meet students' varied educational needs.

          • Cultural Expectations: Tutors shared insights on understanding and respecting cultural expectations placed on students by their families, as well as adapting communication and engagement strategies to build stronger relationships with students and parents.

          • Flexibility & Financial Benefits: Working with international students allows for more flexible scheduling, such as daytime tutoring across time zones, ultimately increasing the opportunity for tutors to work more hours and diversify income streams.

          • Group Dynamics Across Borders: We discussed how group tutoring dynamics vary when students are located in different parts of the world, as well as techniques for managing diverse perspectives within the group setting.

          • Lifestyle & Life Stages: International tutoring opens doors to lifestyle flexibility, from remote work opportunities to adapting to new stages of life, allowing tutors to develop unique connections with students across cultures and locations.

          • Ultimately, we highlighted the value of “going where the student is” — recognizing and addressing both educational poverty and wealth globally. Our goal is to make learning accessible by meeting students where they are, supporting their growth in ways that honor both their needs and ours as tutors. This session underscored our shared commitment to creating inclusive, culturally literate tutoring experiences worldwide.

            31 min
          • Educating Online: What the research says and what this looks like in your tutoring practice

            In this session, we open up the floor with our tutors to have a comprehensive exploration of effective online tutoring strategies grounded in research.

            In this episode, we delve into key topics such as the importance of evidence-informed practice, technology integration, and fostering student trust and autonomy in learning.

            Insights from notable educational texts were shared, including works by Daisy Christodoulo and Doug Lemov, while Dr. Fiona Aubrey-Smith's concept of 'dissolving the screen' was highlighted as a vital approach to online teaching.

            We also discuss student-centred learning, encouraging tutors to consider their pedagogical intentions and the use of technology to enhance engagement. We finished by reflecting on our own experiences and concluded with actionable takeaways, prompting them to evaluate their practices in research-informed tutoring.

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            Qualified Tutor was born out of a need for community, connection and collaboration opportunities for tutors by Julia Silver. This has flourished into a way for tutors globally to connect with their peers, access professional development, and grow their own tutoring businesses no matter the stage they are at in their tutoring.

            Find out more about how you can become a QT Member, ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

            59 min
          • Celebrating Impact: Recognising Progress as Tutors

            In this episode we are discussing "Celebrating Impact Recognising Progress" as tutors. In this Professional Development and Reflection session, we aim to foster a culture of reflection and collective growth among tutors by focusing on the theme of celebrating student impact.

            We open up the floor for discussions between tutors on the significance of positive feedback in tracking student progress, enhancing communication with parents, and interpreting academic grades in a meaningful way.

            During this session, we share the importance of celebrating students' successes and using positive reinforcement to build trust and engagement, illustrated through a success story involving a previously disengaged student.

            Additionally, resources such as Matt Parker's "Humble Pie" and White Rose Maths materials were explored to support effective teaching practices.

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            Qualified Tutor was born out of a need for community, connection and collaboration opportunities for tutors by Julia Silver. This has flourished into a way for tutors globally to connect with their peers, access professional development, and grow their own tutoring businesses no matter the stage they are at in their tutoring.

            Find out more about how you can become a QT Member, ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

            42 min
          • Tutor Book Club: What Works?

            Join us as we open up the book "What Works" by Lee Elliot Major and Steve Higgins.

            In our panel of tutors, we discuss what we can learn from this incredible book, and why you should add it to your bookshelf!


            The QT Conversations Book Club meeting focused on the book "What Works? Research and Evidence for Successful Teaching" by Lee Elliot Major and Steve Higgins, with an introduction by Julia Silver highlighting the authors’ credentials and impact on education and social mobility. The discussion covered six key dimensions of pedagogy, including understanding student perspectives and fostering a positive classroom climate, and debunked common teaching myths such as the validity of learning styles. Emphasis was placed on effective feedback as a critical educational intervention, with participants reflecting on best practices like using inclusive language and specific targeting in feedback. Action items emerged for enhancing feedback methods and promoting self-reflection among students, alongside a recommendation for all members to watch the informative "Austin's Butterfly" video.

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            Qualified Tutor was born out of a need for community, connection and collaboration opportunities for tutors by Julia Silver. This has flourished into a way for tutors globally to connect with their peers, access professional development, and grow their own tutoring businesses no matter the stage they are at in their tutoring.

            Find out more about how you can become a QT Member, ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

            59 min
          • Making Research Relevant: Understanding and applying educational research in tutoring practice

            We are back after our summer break, and we are starting with a truly wonderful topic!

            In this live session, we discuss the essential topic for tutors about how to understand and apply educational research in our tutoring practice.


            This session is facilitated by Julia Silver, and attended by our QT Members to bring a panel-like discussion between peers and experts in our tutoring community.


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            Qualified Tutor was born out of a need for community, connection and collaboration opportunities for tutors by Julia Silver. This has flourished into a way for tutors globally to connect with their peers, access professional development, and grow their own tutoring businesses no matter the stage they are at in their tutoring.

            Find out more about how you can become a QT Member, ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

            51 min

          About The Qualified Tutor Podcast

          From the publisher's feed

          The Qualified Tutor Podcast brings QT Conversations to you wherever you are. Honest, practical discussions with tutors and education leaders about the ideas, challenges and relationships shaping our…

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