Mostly general
Few practical details.
FREE PRACTICAL GUIDE
Finding the Right Maths Support
A Practical Question Guide
Five questions to help you filter the options and choose with evidence.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Choose what is relevant.
These questions come from moments I pay attention to in my own Maths Investigation Rooms. Select the questions that best match the situations you want to explore. After each answer, circle the number of stars that best reflects the practical detail you heard. Use the notes to record what mattered to you or what you still want to ask.
THE STAR GUIDE
Circle what the answer gave you.
The stars reflect each answer, not the value of the person giving it.
Some practical detail
You can picture part of what they do.
Clear details
Ask. Listen. Notice what is concrete.
01
Restlessness + freeze
The shut-down
When a participant gets fidgety, sighs or just stares at the page in silence, which approaches have proved useful for bringing them back into the learning?
Circle the number of stars that best reflects the answer:☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
02
Only YES or NO
The YES–NO loop
When a participant answers only YES, NO or stays silent, which questions or prompts have proved useful for moving them out of the YES–NO loop?
Circle the number of stars that best reflects the answer:☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
03
Understanding still unclear
The missing connection
When a participant still looks unsure after an explanation, which alternative ways of checking understanding have proved useful without repeating the same explanation?
Circle the number of stars that best reflects the answer:☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
04
Recurring memory blanks
The memory wipe
Which techniques have proved useful when a participant repeatedly forgets steps or ideas they appeared to understand in previous sessions?
Circle the number of stars that best reflects the answer:☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
05
Making errors productive
The golden mistake
When a participant makes a mistake, how can that mistake be used to strengthen understanding and identify what to check next time?
Circle the number of stars that best reflects the answer:☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
AFTER THE CONVERSATION
Your evidence check.
After the conversation, note:Questions askedEvidence notedSomething I still need to ask
KEEP IT TO HAND
Take the questions into the conversation.
The complete guide is arranged on one printable page.
Download the free PDFAbout this guide
This guide was created to support parents and participants making a personal decision about Maths support. Its five questions come from moments I pay attention to in my own Maths Investigation Rooms.
I am sharing them as one practical lens for noticing detail in a conversation and recording what matters to you. The stars are a reflection aid for each answer, not a rating or certification of a person.
This guide supports personal decision-making and cannot guarantee a particular learning outcome.
Created by Iulia Iuliana from two perspectives: as a maths tutor and as a mother choosing support for her own children.
You are welcome to ask these questions of me too. Contact Iulia or explore Maths Investigation Rooms.
© 2026 Iulia Iuliana. May be shared complete and unaltered with attribution. Not for resale or modification without permission.