How is the Clara James Approach any different to any other platform for educational resources?

What makes the Clara James Approach different from other resources?

CJA FAQs
November 12, 2024•3 min read

What makes the Clara James Approach different from other resources?

What would the best platform in the world look like? It would have  a place for parents to ask questions, it would have explanations on how to do things, it would have resources that would engage my child. I hope that is what we have give you here

I think the best way to explain this is to explain the background behind the approach. I hated school. I was quiet, nerdy, and appalling at sport. I lacked confidence and small talk still is something I’m not good at (though I can chatter all day to you about the best ways to support your child’s learning) but I loved to read. I loved to learn. My dad was an amazing role model and had the patience of a saint when it came to explaining things in a way that made sense to me. He would sit and spend as long as it took to make sure I understood something. My mum was more creative and would spend hours decorating cakes, knitting, sewing, introducing me to the world of arts and crafts.

Somewhere in the middle this all seeped into my brain.

For 20+ years I have been fascinated about how we can support children with their learning, the importance of making it fun and creating different neuropathways (memories) to make it easier to recall the information when it is needed.

In 2012 a friend suggested that I have a go at tutoring. My degree was focused on education, I had many varied years working in different educational settings, and she thought it would be something that I would enjoy. It took her a while to convince me of this, but in the end, I agreed to give it a go. I agree, she was right. I did enjoy it, specially creating resources, using my imagination, thinking about what different individuals enjoyed and how I could help them. I could incorporate the influence of both of my parents and my love of learning.

But I also recognise that tutoring for whatever reason isn’t right for every family. Sometimes something else is different. So based on what I had learned through tutoring, I created the Clara James Approach. A place where parents could access resources to support their children at home. A place where they could ask for help from their peers or from me. A place where hopefully we could create confidence and a love of learning. A place where maths and English no longer seemed unobtainable.

The approach hasn’t been created by a teacher, or an academic, or someone with profits and a business plan in mind. It has been created from my own unique thoughts, and experiences. I have help now in making the graphics and resources look professional rather than like it has been put together by a 5-year-old, but I know these resources, this approach to learning works because it is what the tutoring business is based upon and since 2012 that has gone from strength to strength.

My goal is to offer you the best possible support. My goal is to work with you to help your child build the confidence and knowledge that they need so that the foundations are firmly in place, and they can go on and enjoy the subjects through life.

The aim is to be different in part through the individual love and care that goes into each and every aspect of the approach. The resources all revolve around ideas I have had over the years and ideas given to me by the children I have worked with. Often, they themselves are the very best are explaining what they need; what they enjoy.

As a thank you for reading this far, please feel free to download our free Top Trumps times tables game by clicking HERE

And if you’re still interested, you can learn more about the Clara James Approach HERE

 

support for parentshome educatorshome learningengaging resources for learningcreative learningparentingprimary education
For the past 20+ years I have been a firm believer that learning should be an enjoyable experience. I appreciate that traditionally education has revolved around worksheets, textbooks, listening to teachers. But a grounding in early years and working with children who had a variety of learning styles from I learned that it is an individual activity that is personal to all of us. We don’t all learn in the same way. Our influences, our experiences, our capabilities all influence how we retain information. But through it all, I believe that if we can make it enjoyable and engaging, they will want to participate. With participation comes practice which in turn boosts skill and confidence. With an increase in skill and confidence comes a willingness to have a go. This in turn leads to more practice which leads to a positive spiral of success. The moral, we need to make learning fun, engaging, use a range of techniques.

Dawn Strachan

For the past 20+ years I have been a firm believer that learning should be an enjoyable experience. I appreciate that traditionally education has revolved around worksheets, textbooks, listening to teachers. But a grounding in early years and working with children who had a variety of learning styles from I learned that it is an individual activity that is personal to all of us. We don’t all learn in the same way. Our influences, our experiences, our capabilities all influence how we retain information. But through it all, I believe that if we can make it enjoyable and engaging, they will want to participate. With participation comes practice which in turn boosts skill and confidence. With an increase in skill and confidence comes a willingness to have a go. This in turn leads to more practice which leads to a positive spiral of success. The moral, we need to make learning fun, engaging, use a range of techniques.

Back to Blog