Smaragda

I am a qualified physics and mathematics teacher (in KS3, KS4 and KS5) with a PGCE in Science: Physics with Mathematics, Institute of Education, UCL, and a PhD in Theoretical Physics.

A recent Enhanced DBS certificate is available upon request.

Tutoring Experience

I have worked as a tutor for over 6 years and I have tutored KS3, KS4, and KS5 students in mathematics, further/additional mathematics and physics.

I am familiar with and have very good experience of the exam boards Pearson Edexcel, Edexcel IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE, AQA and OCR.

All my tutees have achieved their target grades or grades above the predicted ones, up to 3 grades above.

Tutoring Approach

I am passionate about physics and mathematics, I enjoy teaching, and I have a genuinely positive attitude towards one's aspirations and wishes.

I put an emphasis on a deep understanding of each concept, theory, method, and observation, as well as acquiring and mastering technical skills. I am thorough in teaching, and besides explaining everything clearly I also provide and walk with the student through the necessary material – usually in the form of slides, interactive questions and quizzes, simulations, notes, problems and past papers / exam practice papers – for a solid understanding through assimilation of the ideas as well as practice. Problem-solving methods are discussed and explained, not only as to how a problem is solved, but also why it’s solved that way: this helps the student understand the maths and science behind the problem better, as well as develop their critical and analytical abilities that will help them tackle any other problem in maths and science as well as in life in general.

I encourage questioning, not hesitating to raise unclear points, individuality in thinking and working, having an inquisitive and creative mind, and being good friends and generosity with working time. My particular planning and delivery of the tutorials depend on the individual student’s current motivation, needs, and knowledge, as well as the particular content of the topic that is taught. I also often discuss with the student ways to learn as well as study. True learning and understanding has a multifaceted nature.

I believe that everyone has the potential to reach their aims, and I always do my utmost so that this will happen for each one of my students.

For online lessons, I use an interactive platform which allows the student to write on and answer questions on the online pages (and use them the same way that I do), and which copies the whole session on a pdf file that I email to the student after each lesson.

• For online lessons, I use an interactive platform which allows the student to write and answer questions on the online pages (the same way that I do), and which copies the whole session on a pdf file that I email to the student after each session.

******* Much reduced fees for more than one hour per week and even more so for groups of students. *******

Additional feedback to the one below:

"Thank you so much for teaching me this year; you have been a tremendous help and I can't thank you enough for giving me the confidence and wisdom to excel in Maths + Physics."

"Just to let you know I got my GCSE results today and was delighted as I got an 8 in maths. This was really down to your excellent tutoring and support."

"We’d like to thank you for your help & support over the last year with ___ she has gained confidence & clarity & really enjoys the sessions."

"You are an amazing tutor and it really made me feel more confident."

"Just wanted to let you know that ___ got a Grade 7 in maths - she is over the moon!!"

"Thank you very much for your help and support over the last months. I have really found it useful and I have loved the lessons - I really have learnt a lot."

"Just wanted to thank you for helping me achieve the 7 in Maths that I got today.
I'm really pleased and very grateful for your help - I don't think I would have achieved a 7 without it."

"Just wanted to let you know I got a 5!! Thank you so much for all your help through the lead up to the exams."

"Excellent tutor, very organised and clear."

"Very friendly, enthusiastic and reliable."

"Smaragda assessed my daughter on GCSE maths and Physics. She was very welcoming, engaging and kind and helps my daughter to understand the work."

"Excellent teacher, my daughter is at ease with Smaragda. Early days but she likes her methods of teaching and is very professional which my daughter appreciates. Smara works from a whiteboard which gives her enough time to take notes. All in all very happy with how tutoring is going."

"Smaragda is an excellent tutor, I can highly recommend her."