Aurélie Sciamma

What makes a great tutor?

I enjoy supporting students to help them reach their potential as it is extremely rewarding to see children’s confidence grow in the process. During my time working as a specialist learning support teacher, I provided support to pupils, including those with specific learning difficulties, in a child- centred manner, to empower each child to access the curriculum and be their best self.

What are you trying to encourage and cultivate in your students?

As a bilingual teacher (I am a native French speaker) and having trained in speech and language support strategies, I have a strong awareness of the importance of language and communication. I find helping children develop their own systems for tackling complex tasks extremely rewarding. This is the essence of mathematics: the more you delve into this subject, you realise it is about logic and problem-solving rather than just solving sums.

Apart from teaching, what are your own extra-curricular interests?

When I am not teaching, I enjoy dancing and exercising, reading fiction books and watching movies. I love knitting and sewing and I am a huge fan of musicals. I have also recently become a volunteer for Age UK and Alzheimer’s Society, supporting people living with dementia.

What makes Commons Education tutors different?

For Commons Education member tutors, children are at the centre of everything we do. Their unique interests, personalities and learning styles are matched with those of the tutors so that they get the teacher who is best suited to them. This approach allows me to meet my new students and their parents with confidence, as I know that we have been carefully paired. I am proud of being part of Commons Education because I deeply care about supporting children to become confident, thriving individuals who can take on any challenge they choose.

Who or what inspires you?

My grandfather, who was also a maths teacher, was the source of my love for maths and logic from a very early age, and he inspired me to become a teacher myself. My grandmother was very active and very curious, always learning new skills, up to date with the digital world at 97 years old. She loved life and has been a very strong inspirational figure in my adult life, pushing me to try on new things and believing in myself.