Professional Maths Teacher offering GCSE and A Level maths tuition online - individually tailored lessons.

Learn more about Lynn

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  Maths has always been my favourite subject. I like that there is only one correct answer and that you need to use the clues in the question to solve each problem.
  
  I have a university degree in maths and a Masters in Computer Science.
  
  I have always loved teaching and I used to try to teach my little sister as a child. When I had children of my own, I started teaching maths in school and also tutoring privately.
  
  I have been tutoring now for 16 years and have taught maths at 5 different schools. I was a maths teacher at my last school for 10 years before stopping to focus solely on tutoring. Tutoring one-to-one is where I feel I can make the most difference to a student’s education. I can make so much more progress teaching one-to-one and it is very satisfying for both myself and the student.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Maths is brilliant, because it is very logical, you solve questions in particular steps and there is always a correct answer (unlike essay-based subjects). I particularly enjoy algebra and pure mathematics.
  
  I want the best outcomes for each of my students and like to ask them about their methods of learning and revising and guide them with that. I also like to stretch my students and give them challenging problems to solve and discuss.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Apart from being naturally logical, my primary school teacher helped start my love of maths and teaching; she explained things well and always encouraged us. That is what I aim to do for my students.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  As a tutor, you need to be able to explain complicated problems clearly and in an easy-to-understand way. You need to allow the student time to think through questions and help them with parts they don’t understand. You need to be able to give simplified examples of parts they are having difficulty with and you need to be able to listen to your students.
  
  I feel that as a tutor I should try to understand how each individual student thinks about a problem and find out why they are getting certain questions wrong. Sometimes they have the wrong idea about something and you can correct these misunderstandings.
  
  I think it is important to support my students to do their best in school and try their hardest with their homework. They need to give themselves plenty of time to revise for tests and exams. I always encourage my students to start revising early and become more organised and prepared. Getting the best grades you can at school at each level will set you up for life.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  At school, when teaching the whole class, it is difficult to give each person enough attention to discover what they don’t understand. Teaching one to one, I can tailor the lessons specifically for each student and we can make progress much more quickly. It gives the students a lot of confidence and I love it when they start to understand a topic properly.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  To pass exams in maths, you need to write things down. Certain methods need to be used and set out in a particular way on the exam paper. This is something that some of my students struggle with. Being good at maths and learning how to pass the exams are not always the same thing.
  
  I am an examiner for maths and I have an in-depth knowledge of the papers set by various exam boards. I find it interesting to see how different students approach the questions and see where they tend to lose marks. I try to make sure that my own students don’t make the same mistakes.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I really love seeing how each student approaches a problem. Everyone’s brain works in a slightly different way. If you can understand how the student thinks, then you can teach in that way for that particular student. Some students need repetition; others need to see a question only once.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  I take pride in giving a great lesson every single time. I always start on time and I always make sure that I am well prepared for each lesson. I have lots of questions ready for each student and I do a lot of exam technique work with my students. If a student needs help with homework or doesn’t understand what they did in school, we can go through that. Every lesson is individually planned to suit each student’s needs and help them to progress.
  
  I try to explain each problem in a clear and easy to understand way and if a student still doesn’t understand, I will explain in a different way or start with some easier examples.
  
  Superprof is a great place to find qualified and experienced teachers like myself who can help students to improve.