Information About Marie - Claremont tutor

Personal Description:

Hi, I am Marie. I am a qualified Life Sciences (or Biology as they called it back in the day) teacher with many years of teaching experience in South African schools. I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Smart EdTech and am gradually becoming a specialist in distance learning. I have even built a web-app to help learners prepare for their Life Sciences exams!

I recently moved to Northern Spain as my husband is Spanish. I speak almost fluent Spanish and have a good level of Catalan. I am also fluent in Afrikaans, not that that has been very useful in Spain.

I hold two undergraduate degrees: a BSc in Genetics and Human Physiology from the University of Cape Town and a BSc in Digital Development from the Dublin Institute of Technology. I hold a PGCE in Life Sciences and Mathematics from the University of Cape Town. As I already mentioned, I am completing a Masters degree in Smart EdTech, which combines my two passions… education and technology!

Tutoring Experience:

I am a qualified Life Sciences (Biology) teacher with 8 years of Life Sciences teaching experience. I taught at an international school in Thailand in my first year of teaching. I taught at a private school in Cape Town for five years and worked as the Head of the Life Sciences department for three years. I then spent two years as the Head of the Life Sciences department at a school in Johannesburg. I have always been respected for my solid understanding of the curriculum and assessment requirements and was appointed to moderate portfolios at a Regional and National level. I have extensive knowledge of the curriculum requirements for both the SA National curriculum (CAPS) and the IEB curriculum.

I enjoy teaching online and believe tha**Contact Detail Removed**arning can be just as effective as onsi**Contact Detail Removed**arning. To support my teaching, I have developed a web-app that allows learners to methodically work through and revise their Life Sciences content. The app is designed for both the SA national curriculum (CAPS) and the IEB curriculum.

Though I can teach Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry and have taught them at high school level, I am passionate about Life Sciences and choose to devote myself to this incredible subject. I have prepared at least 400 Matric learners for the Life Sciences exams during my years of teaching.

During my career, I have taught children with ADD, ADHD, autism (mostly Asperger syndrome) and severe visual impairments and have found ways to make learning accessible for each child, regardless of the barriers.

Tutoring Approach:

Tutoring is an excellent opportunity to give a child the special attention they deserve. I believe that every child loves learning but that it needs to happen at their pace and in their way. I also believe in learning through all the senses and don't be surprised if you are expected to arrive in class with play dough or pipe cleaners.

Play is important and so are rules. My approach is firm. If you are asked to prepare something for the next session, I expect it to be done. Similarly, if I make a commitment to the learner, I will deliver. I see teaching and learning as a two-way interaction with both parties being accountable.

Life Sciences is a very content-heavy subject and requires a wide range of skills to be developed. It is a demanding subject. I believe that the learning path needs to be carefully scaffolded to ensure that the learner takes the next step at the right time and that no gaps are left in the wake.

Lastly, I need to know the child I am teaching and they need to know me. A few minutes of each lesson will probably be spent catching up on the events of the week and some general chit-chat. A good relationship between the teacher and the learner is essential.