Parents like to see their kids do well at school and it is disheartening if the yearly end of term report consistently say “Has the ability, and could easily do better”. That usually means that young Tom is being a bit lazy or is struggling with the work. It’s a scenario lots of parents have to deal with, and sometimes the answer is to find a part time tutor who can inspire. Maths is not a particularly exciting subject in its early stages. However it can get interesting when the time comes to work out the fuel load of your Boeing 777 on its way to Hong Kong. But by then the chance to become a commercial pilot may have gone, because your child need ed the extra tutoring.
Inspirational Tutors
There are good teachers around who are inspirational and would make the most tedious of subjects sound fun, so it is worth asking in the school if any one knows such a tutor. The teaching world is quite small so the chances are there will be someone who knows someone. This is where ‘word of mouth’ comes in because for sure this teacher will not be putting an advert in the local classifieds. Too good for that!
Having found a good maths tutor, the trick is to get young Tom to accept that he needs to step up a bit and get going with some serious work. The threat ploy never works, but the promise of a bright future and the fun life at the university might appeal. The chance to get to the good Uni is the real attraction because everyone has heard great things about the social life in this place. So, Tom has the idea that if he plays ball and does what the folks say, there will be some good times ahead.
There is the distant thought that maybe the job with British Airways might be easier if a good maths degree is achieved, but what’s more appealing at the moment are the all nighter’s and the party scene. Looking at life in five years time is something 17 year olds just don’t do, and who can blame them? Somewhere there is a balance which will make the maths tuition interesting and not a total bore, as well as providing the incentive to get on and do the work. Intelligence is often not the problem but its more one of attitude and the need for some inspiration. Wherever that may come from.
