The Clara James Approach to learning

Every day someone else makes the decision to start tutoring. Some will be excellent, others will still be learning. But with so many people promoting themselves as a tutor, how can you be the one that stands out as different? Is the answer better resources, more qualifications, a new expensive marketing strategy? Often the answer is no, what they actually need to do is to focus on their story.   “...

This is by no means meant as being derogatory towards getting the support a child needs to help them cope in the education system in life in general. Instead, it is meant as a reminder that behind every label is a child and it is important that we work with the needs of the individual rather than what we perceive them to need because of the label they have. As humans we are all unique individuals...

14 years ago, I went to the home of the first person I ever worked with. It was probably one of the most terrifying events I have encountered through work. I’ve told the story many times about the first lesson I ever went to. I was told go to the crossroads, turn left, keep going and the cottage was right at the end of the lane. Simple. I followed the directions and pulled up outside this large ho...

The honest answer is yes , but it isn’t always easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, commitment, and hard work.  There are often adverts popping up on social media explaining how you can tutor from anywhere in the world and make thousands of pounds in the process, but to be honest I would treat promises like these with caution. My story, my experience, is very different. What does...

Recently a few people have asked about how to solve equations with an x on both sides. When I did my GCSEs many, many years ago dad suggested that I imagined a set of scales. Whatever I did to one side, I had to ensure I did to the other side as well to make sure the scales stayed balanced. These are very much like solving normal equations except there may be an extra step or two. Imagine we are g...

I love tutoring, it has completely changed my life. Not just financially, but also the confidence I have in myself and my abilities. I’m still not an outwardly confident person but I am no longer the timid, quiet person I was before. Through tutoring I have met some incredible people: children, their parents, other tutors, other professionals.  Would I change the decision to become a tutor? No. Ho...

Why do some children love reading whilst others detest it. Generally speaking, it’s rarely just about not liking books, there’s usually a deeper reason and the word “Hate” can be a cover for feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed, or bored especially in a day and age when information and entertainment is so readily available at pace. The step into ks3 feels like such a leap. It is suddenly, not just wha...

Are you looking to support your child with their times tables in a fun yet effective manner? Listen on. In this podcast we will look at how we learn. How by using a variety of resources we are helping our children to create multiple memories in their minds making it easier to recall the information when it is needed.  We will then explore tips for learning each of the times tables before finally l...

Prior to tonight's workshop I recorded myself as a trial run. In this video we talk about  1. Use Colour and Creativity Use at least 5 colours when revising — it engages more neural pathways and helps you remember. Colourful notes are more inviting to revisit than plain black-and-white ones. Visual memory tricks like drawing symbols or cartoons to represent quotes (e.g., for English Literatur...

In this Podcast we explore what I have learned over the years about supporting children with their learning. Learning is unique to each one of us. Yet, there are some principles which we can use to support any child’s education that will prove beneficial. If we give our children something to do to help them learn something, we help them to create a memory. For a younger child this might be flash c...

In this podcast we will look at how you can support your home educated child without it becoming a cause of overwhelm for the whole family. Making the decision to support your child’s education at home is a huge decision but at the same time you know in your heart-of-hearts that it is the right decision, especially when your child isn’t fitting into the mainstream educational system for whatever r...

I have just put the handwriting bundle live inside the membership group, but I thought I'd share the video with you as there might be some suggestions in there that you would find helpful when working with your own child. Things like playing noughts and crosses but using letters instead of the traditional symbols, completing mazes or dot-to-dots. Creating wordsearches for someone else to solv...

One of the comments I think I hear more than any other is that of parents concern that if they explain something differently to how the teacher has explained it, it will just confuse their child further. But I think we all need someone in our lives who will explain things differently, in a way that makes sense to us rather than just the generic masses. I hope this short podcast offers the reassura...

I think these two things have been the most powerful things I have done to grow Clara James Tutoring. Neither of them cost anything but will take how you think about your business and those that you work with to a whole new level. What are they? Firstly, think about every lesson you do as if it was your own child, or the person you care most deeply about in the world. What would you offer them? Wh...

One of the most common fears I have heard from parents over the past 13+ years, is that if they explain something differently to how their child has learned it at school it will confuse them. But actually, sometimes a different explanation.  Not because the teacher is wrong, but because we all have different life experiences and understanding we will all perceive things and understand things diffe...

If you are mulling over the idea of becoming a tutor you might be trying to decide which is the best route to go down: self-employed, franchise, employed? In this article I will try to explain the pros and cons of each approach from what I have learned and experienced since I started Clara James Tutoring, started employing tutors to work with me and preparing the business to offer as a franchise....

Welcome back to The Clara James Approach Podcast —I’m Dawn, your host. In today’s episode, we’ll explore how parents who don’t feel like confident readers themselves can still create a supportive, fun, and effective reading environment at home. Whether it’s anxiety, neurodiversity, or a lack of confidence holding you back, there’s plenty you can do to help your child flourish. Key Topics Covered:...

Starting out as a tutor can feel overwhelming — should you work with younger children, teenagers, or exam students? Do you stick to your favourite subject, or go where the demand is? In this video, Dawn shares her own journey of starting with primary-aged children, only to discover her passion (and strength) in supporting GCSE students. We’ll explore: ✅ Why specialising can help you stand out and...

Struggling to get your child confident with their times tables? In this video, I share fun, practical, and stress-free ways to help them remember their multiplication facts. From games and songs to real-life practice, these ideas will make times tables learning easier and more enjoyable for both you and your child. Whether they’re just starting out or need a confidence boost, you’ll discover tips...

In today’s world, we’re lucky to have a wealth of free educational resources at our fingertips. A quick Google search or a scroll through Pinterest can reveal thousands of activities, printables, and ideas. So, on the surface, it seems like the answer to this question should be yes. But is it really that simple? If you’ve chosen to home educate your child, it’s likely a decision you’ve made with g...

Is your child struggling with low confidence in their learning? You’re not alone and there are gentle, effective ways to help them rebuild self-belief. In this video, Dawn from Clara James Tutoring shares calming, heart-led strategies to help children who’ve lost their academic confidence. From starting with strengths to turning learning into play, you’ll discover how to create a safe, supportive...

In this episode, I dive into a common but loaded question: “Is tutoring easy money?”   I will try to be honest yet warmth, and with over a decade of lived experience, I will unpack the hidden hours, emotional investment, and behind-the-scenes prep that go far beyond the lesson itself.  From myths like “if you can teach, you can tutor” to moments of deep reward and quiet frustration, this is a must...

In this episode, we talk about what to look for in a tutor when your child doesn’t learn in the traditional way. Whether your child has a formal diagnosis or you simply know that school hasn’t worked for them, this is for you. We'll cover how tutoring can be adapted to support children with learning differences, how to recognise flexibility in a tutor's approach, and why emotional safety...

The short answer? No — you don’t need to be a qualified teacher to make a real difference as a tutor. At Clara James Tutoring, we believe what matters most is your passion, your ability to explain things clearly, and your desire to support children who learn a little differently. In this blog, we break down what really counts when starting your tutoring journey — and how you can get started with c...

I love the 9x table because there are so many hints to help you to solve the questions. Things like when you hold your hands out in front of you, put the finger related to the number you are multiplying by down, and your answer is there in front of you, or by writing it down you can check your answers as they all line up and go up by 1, down by 1 each time. Or the quick check that you can do: 7x9...