In life, there will be things that may make you feel apprehensive or even scare you. In terms of learning, it could be something that you don't understand in your maths, English or science lessons, or even the subject as a whole. The important thing to remember is that it's OK to feel like this :)
There could be many reasons behind this fear; you may be confused with a certain part for example, but you shouldn't be afraid that you don’t understand something in a particular subject. You may just need it to be explained in a different way - you can understand anything if it is explained in a way that works for you :)
Many people go through anxiety and stress. What’s the cause? Fear. If you don’t understand something, don’t be embarrassed; ask questions, help yourself to understand it better, do some research or extra work. You may not realise it but there will be others who will feel exactly the same as you do. According to recent research, maths anxiety is one of the highest; in fact, ‘more than a third of 15 to 24 year-olds feel anxious when shown a maths problem’.
We recently wrote a post all about mental health and ways that you can start to overcome what you're dealing with; it’s so important to talk to others, even though it’s something that a lot of us are afraid to discuss, so remember that you are not alone and it’s OK not to be OK.
Speak out!
A common reason why people don’t speak out is because they are afraid to ‘look foolish’ or ask a 'silly question'. This is something that we want to get rid of! There is always a way round understanding subjects, it's just about figuring out what works for you. Finding it hard to understand something should not stop you from further learning. It is best to address the issue and deal with the problem at hand, so that you can continue to grasp new things and gain more knowledge.
How we can help
Here at INICIO, we focus on areas that our tutees struggle with. As the saying goes, "Patience is a virtue" and it really is! Being patient will enable you to see results in the long run.
We get to know our students and find out what works for them; we have more time with them compared to a classroom setting where things are taught at a much faster pace and not at the pace of each individual. We want our students to be comfortable and at ease - no question is a stupid question. This is something that people really are most afraid of. We work closely with them and make sure that they understand what they need to do, encouraging them to ask questions so that we can hone in on exactly what they are finding challenging.
We boost confidence and aim to motivate those who may struggle, helping them to conquer their subject fears and excel in school. How do we do this? We offer one-to-one support in our sessions and write feedback regularly, which is sent straight to parents so that you are kept up-to-date with what we're covering and how your child is progressing. Regular assessments also enable us to keep track and identify any areas that may need that little bit of extra TLC!
Look after yourselves, persevere and let us know if you need us :)