Dr Claire - MathsPositive

18/06/2026

Free Zoom maths tomorrow at 12:30pm (UK timezone) 🌻

Sign up via the new student registration link in my Linktree (in bio) by 10pm tonight and I'll add you automatically.

Or tell me in the comments 😊✨

17/06/2026

Why did it take me years to call myself "Dr Claire"?

I've had a PhD in Psychology for years now, but I've never really used the title.

I've wondered if it would make me seem less approachable, or whether "Dr Claire" really fits someone who loves cuddly toys, gets really excited playing maths games and believes learning should feel relaxed, flexible and fun.

But after much overthinking (of course), I've finally updated my page name to Dr Claire - MathsPositive.

The title is just part of the story. What matters most to me is using my background in psychology, and a decade of experience supporting learners, to create maths spaces that are neuro-affirming, flexible, and help young people build confidence in a way that works for them.

Same me. Same mission. Just finally owning a bit more of my experience 😊

The funny thing is, everyone else seems to love the new name. I'm the only one who's been hesitant!

Has anyone else found it easier to recognise other people's achievements than their own? Or struggled to see themselves the way others seem to see them?

17/06/2026

Summer maths is back! 🌞🌈

Bookings are now open for my online Neuro-affirming Summer Maths groups.

Whether your child wants to build confidence, practise skills, play maths games, or prepare for GCSEs, there's a group to suit them.

Earlybird pricing is available until 28 June.

🌻 Limited spaces available.

Comment below or send me a message for further details 😊

14/06/2026

Interested in natural history, home education, or making qualifications accessible to all learners?

Share your insight with Sparking STEM to help shape the new Natural History GCSE 😊🙌🏻

The new Natural History GCSE looks fantastic but I'm concerned that the current proposal means it will be impossible for home educators to access.

I've joined the Insight Panel of educators to help shape the final stages and want to offer constructive alternatives that will make this qualification open to home educators, as well as those in schools and colleges.

Please help me to represent you by completing the survey I've put together (link in comments). I've included a summary of the situation and links to the relevant information so you can find out more about it, as well as a link to the public consultation so you can add your voice individually if you would like to.

The survey itself can be quickly completed (depending how much information you wish to add), and is anonymous.

🙏Please share!
It would be so very wrong for this fantastic educational opportunity to be inaccessible to young people who are not in mainstream education.
Thank you.

14/06/2026

My new friend Cyril is here to remind you that adults (including professionals) are absolutely allowed to have cuddly toys, sensory supports and comfort items 🌈

As someone who works with anxious and neurodivergent learners, I spend a lot of time encouraging young people to figure out what helps them feel comfortable and regulated.

And as adults, we deserve that too.

So what's one thing you can't do without?

Pets? Favourite mugs? Noise-cancelling headphones? Snuggly clothes?

Life can be stressful enough already. Let's keep surrounding ourselves with the things that help us feel calmer, happier and more like ourselves 😊🌻

13/06/2026

A lovely surprise this week - a wonderful family donated £20 towards my free maths classes on Ko-fi ☕🙌🏻

I promised I'd dedicate coffees to supporters, so this ridiculously fancy caramel mocha protein cloud frappuccino is officially today's "thank you" coffee ☕🎉

Every donation helps me keep running free sessions and offering low-cost support.

And really, knowing that these classes are helping families means just as much to me as the donations.

Thank you for being part of this little maths community 🌈

P.S. I fully intend to use this as an excuse to try increasingly ridiculous coffee flavours 😅☕

12/06/2026

What does this painting look like to you? Wrong answers encouraged! 😆

Today involved a fascinating discussion about AI in education, some brilliant conversations with other educators, and... this 🎨😂

I always tell learners that they don't have to get things right first time. Trying, experimenting and learning as you go is all part of the process.

Then I picked up a paintbrush and remembered how that feels!

I don't think I'll be giving up maths any time soon, but I did enjoy creating something completely different.

Have you tried anything new lately? 🌈

Fab event hosted by Carrie Ann Booth and Syd Femtino, and great to catch up with Sarah Jane there, and others! 🌻

12/06/2026

Unpopular maths opinion:

Getting the "correct" answer isn't the most important part of maths.

Answers matter, of course!

But if a learner gets an answer wrong and can explain their thinking, spot their mistake and learn from it, I think that's far more valuable than getting it right by guessing or copying a method they don't really understand.

Maths isn't just about answers. It's about reasoning, problem-solving, and making sense of things.

Sometimes getting things wrong can feel scary at first, but making mistakes is an important part of learning.

So, if you had to choose:

✅ Always getting the answer right

or

💡 Understanding why you got it wrong

Which would you pick?

(Spoiler: in an ideal world, we'd definitely want both!)