Cheltenham Tutors
Cheltenham Tutors

Sun, Mar 22, 2020

Teaching 101

So you have got children at home? And you want to do some ‘teaching’? Can’t be too hard, right?

And of course it is not too hard. You’re no doubt be great at it. But it does help to have a few pointers on route to direct you to resources, ideas, tips and insights that are useful.

So let’s start with the simplest stuff: what makes a good teacher? Short answer: You! Teaching is communication and as long as you are willing to try to share and communicate then you’ll be half way there. You’ll have your own style of communication and that is normal. Stick to it. Don’t try to be a teacher that you are not. If you’re calm and relaxed, keep that. If you’re buzzing with energy and always on the go, that would be fun! And if you’re straight down the line and black and white, well – that works just fine too.

And so, if you’re confident to teach in your own style and way, what sort of stuff should you teach? How can you know what you’re children have been doing at school and continue it? Again, the simplest answer is, ask them! They’ll know what they’ve been doing: what topic, what maths, what kind of reading. There are loads of resources you’ll be able to find on the internet to help you key into these things, so you won’t run out of resources. If you want to be really on it, you can even find the national curriculum objectives online and start to try to include these in what you think about doing. However, do not stress about trying to cover them. They are only helpful if they help you. If they don’t, then leave them.

Of course, all these resources and more will be available on this website. We aim to provide ideas, resources, insights and top tips so that you can confidently continue some education while at home. And of course, we’re here to supplement where you want us to!

Finally, and here is a big question to get your teeth into in a single paragraph, how should you teach? How long should your sessions be? What should you do? Should you do it all sat down or use the outside where possible? There are of course no absolutes or right answers to give to each question. It will depend on you, your communication style, your children’s personalities, and of course the weather! A simple hint would be to mix it up from time to time. Maybe aim to be a chunk of stuff sat down together (some reading, simple maths, research on a topic) and then break it up with some outdoor play, outdoor learning (exploring what you can find outside) and indoor creativity (art, singing, dance). As much as anything else, making sure that you enjoy it and are happy is paramount.

Please note that this content and all content published on our website is not legal advice. It is intended for general information purposes only. You should not act in reliance on any content published on our website. If you want legal advice, please consult your legal advisor.