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Information About Graham:

Personal Description:

My name is Graham.
I am currently working for a company called 'Redbox' who specialise in the design of power supplies for the avionics in aircraft. I am married with three wonderful children (11,9,5) and my wife is currently studying for a degree in child development with the Open University.
My hobbies include flying a large radio controlled petrol helicopter and restoring a 1967 landrover lightweight series II.
we have three cats and two rats for pets.

Teaching Experience:

I am not a qualified teacher but I have over twenty years experience in the electronics industry in which time I have spent numerous hours passing on my knowledge to others.
I have recently completed part 1 of a training program tied to the PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education), where I spent several weeks at a highly respected grammar school helping out in the maths class room.
I have also spent over 20 weeks in several other schools in and around my local area to get a taste of what it would be like to be a teacher.
I can supply references from several Headmasters and Teachers who found my attitude to the education system quite refreshing!

I ran an electronics company for over fifteen years during which time I have tutored many trainees in the black art of digital and analogue electronics.
I have helped a schoolgirl pass her GCSE mathematics exam with a grade A pass, her teacher predicted she would get a C or a D and felt she was a lost cause, thank goodness she came to me in time. I am very proud of her (references are available if requested).

Tutoring Approach:

If you are a parent with a bright and gifted child who appears to be falling behind with their academic studies I can really help you.
Being smart is only a small part of the hill climb ! It is mostly about positive thinking and confidence building, I have a great sense of humour and connect with people in a fundamental way which allows me to impart my knowledge to the student by acknowledging my own struggles with the education system.My approach is quite simple.

I start by going through the homework with the student, when they reach a part they are stuck on or simply struggles with the logic, (these areas of difficulty are usually caused by either a lack of confidence or lack of understanding of algebra) and can be easily remedied.

Lack of confidence is tackled by allowing the student to think out loud, I offer a very relaxed environment where students are encouraged to voice their thoughts and ideas, every one has a unique learning curve, there is NO SUCH THING as a silly question, all inquisitive questions are answered and proved by the student one way or the other with my help, this is achieved by starting with the facts we know are true and go on to discover the answer using standard mathematical methods of algebra.

Lack of Algebraic skill is tackled by systematic and repetitive use of the algebraic tools leading to a confidence boost in the student.

like riding a bike you need to learn balance/starting off and stopping which can not be learnt from a black board but has to learnt by practical experience (including falling over).
Once these basic skills are well practised, it is then time to learn the tricks such as wheelies, stoppies and jumps.

All of the mathematics that I use have a 'real' use in the 'real' world and I also explain where they originated.
from Laplace transforms (electronic circuits) to quadratics (path of a ball in the air) I can explain and demonstrate the reason why the student is learning what they are.

I limit the time spent with the student to one hour or there abouts (depending how the session is going), for some reason any more time spent is not as productive.

Qualifications:

• Degree (2:1 Hons) in electronic engineering and I am a professional member of the IET
• I have also almost completed a maths degree with the open university
• I have recently sat a GCSE Maths course and the exam to gain an insight into how the subject is taught.
• I have completed part 1 of a PGCE course

Further Information:

Availability:	Weekends
Types of Tutoring:	Travels to you / From their home
References Supplied?	Yes
Current DBS/CRB Check?	Yes