Experienced, qualified, empathetic, education support professional in Qld. specializing in literacy and supporting students with a range of neurodiverse conditions including ASD, ADHD, and Dyslexia.

Find out more about Vicki

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  It began when my grandson started school 7 years ago. I started helping in the classroom to be close to him, but when the teacher asked if I'd help for longer I found it so rewarding seeing the results of helping children understand concepts they were finding difficult. She urged me to do a Cert in Education Support (which I did) and found I had a natural teaching ability and was able to have many breakthroughs with children with ASD and other learning disabilities. So now I find that many children I tutor do have learning challenges although I also tutor neuro typical children as well. I find it a most rewarding vocation especially when my students have those ah ha moments when they "get it".

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I believe that lack of confidence often underpins learning results. So in my first lesson I find out how my student "feels" about their learning. Often they express they feel "dumb and stupid". I find this so sad so I take them through a process of showing them how we learn and work on their confidence. I encourage them to feel totally comfortable with making mistakes which always gets their attention. I explain this is how we learn and shows me what we need to concentrate on. My style is bespoke and the lessons are guided by their specific issues, not a generic one size fits all method. I also provide a progress report so if parents need to show teachers or other professionals they have something to show them. Most of my students seem to be primary school students who need a lot of help with literacy and numeracy, so these are the main subjects I teach. I do help high school students with literacy and getting organised with all their assessments and show them easy ways of managing their work. I don't consider myself skilled in high school maths and is not a favourite topic. I am always upfront with parents on that which they appreciate. I do have a student with ASD that loves geography and history so I include that in her lessons. I believe from experience and my results I have a natural ability to make my students feel comfortable and children who have come to me who would hardly speak to me have opened up and got fully engaged in their lessons. What my students do enjoy is playing a game at the end of the lesson. I have some great educational games they love and its great the way they are motivated to learn to have fun at the end of the lesson.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  No not really. In fact, it was the fact that I didn;t have this that I wanted to be different. Self esteem is tighly wrapped up in low grades so I know building this up first will help them engage more and feel open to learning. I read once at a school I worked at "be the teacher you needed when you were a child." That has stuck with me ever since.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Being able to connect with the student. Let them know you are on their side and not another "teacher". I think you need to understand their frustrations and able to find the way they learn and then encourage them. It goes without saying having experience in the classroom helps a lot as you get an insight on what happens and how learning is done in a classroom as its quite different one on one.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I was always known as the class clown in my primary years. Looking back I think it was because I didn't learn in the way the system worked. Back then there was only one way of learning and if you didn't "get it" it was too back and you had the label of "you could do better." Had I had someone to show me other ways to learn I think I would have received better grades. I spent the next 23 years believing I wasn't smart. It was only when my cousin encouraged me to go back to school and do grades 11, and 12 that I realised I was quite smart. I topped the school in Economics and Legal Studies, topped the class in Modern History and got a sound in English. I received several awards and a scholarship to University where I studied Psychology. I had a GPA of 6 and was invited to join the Honour Society and received an Academic award. I realised that what happens in the formative years can have a huge influence on a student's life. I keep that in mind when I tutor.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or are still facing in your subject?

  I think it's mainly the changes in methods that are hard to keep up with at times. It's why I do some p/t work in the classroom so I can keep up with the way and the information that is taught. Maths can be tricky as even the younger grades are doing rather advanced maths from my day.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I definitely love teaching and seeing children have breakthroughs and hearing parents tell me their results in tests. My greatest passion is to teach early Australian history, family history and genealogy to an adult audience. I am currently finishing off my TAE40016 in Training and Assessing so I can have more credibility with an adult audience.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions)?

  I think its my ability to connect with students and encourage them to be the best they can be. I take an interest in them and work on making them feel comfortable. I was told once I had a soft and calming voice which is ideal for ASD students. My reviews speak for themselves too and that seems to be a recurring theme.