The Clara James Approach to learning
When it comes to learning we are all individuals.
The past 20+ years have taught me that no matter our learning style if the child is engaged and relaxed they are more likely to learn.
If we just keep giving them the same resources, varied over and over again, all we are doing is giving them one place in their brains to find the information. However, by giving them a variety of resources we can make it more interesting, more relevant, and help them to create multiple memories so that when they need to recall the information, they have more places they can go to in order to find it.
If we can boost their confidence as well as their knowledge we will make their life and ours easier.
For 20 years now I've been fascinated by different learning styles: ASD, Dyslexia, ADHD. The purpose of this podcast is to share my findings with you, so that maybe what I've learned will be of help to you too.
The Clara James Approach to learning
We don't just share best practice. We create it together: Building the Clara James Franchise
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I've been thinking a lot recently about how ideas travel.
In many organisations, someone at the top has a great idea.
That idea gets passed down through layers of management.
By the time it reaches the people actually doing the work every day, it often looks very different from what was originally intended.
Not because anyone did anything wrong.
Simply because every time information passes from one person to another, a little context is lost.
I don't want to build Clara James like that.
I don't want a franchise where I sit in an office deciding what every tutor should do, creating resources in isolation and assuming they'll work for every child.
Because that would contradict everything I believe about education.
If every child is different...
Then every tutor will also bring different experiences, strengths and ideas.
One tutor might discover a brilliant way of explaining fractions.
Another might create an incredible spelling game.
Someone else might find the perfect way to support a child with exam anxiety.
Why would we keep those ideas to ourselves?
The franchise I'm building isn't about saying, "Here's the manual. Off you go."
It's about building a community of tutors who learn from one another.
Who celebrate successes together.
Who bring challenges to the table.
Who ask questions without fear of judgement.
Who create resources together.
Who constantly improve what we do because every tutor sees something the rest of us haven't yet noticed.
The goal isn't to have one person with all the answers.
The goal is to build a team that keeps discovering better ones.
Because when we combine our ideas, experiences and creativity, every child benefits.
And ultimately, that's why we're here.
Not to create the perfect tutoring system.
But to become better at seeing, understanding and supporting the unique child sitting in front of us.