Bamboo Learn: Because Mainstream Schools Aren’t Cutting It.
Look, it's time for us to be real, even more real than my Bamboo Balance post, schools are struggling. So many children are slipping through the cracks, and no one seems to have the time, resources or the patience to meet them where they are to take them where they need to be. This is where Bamboo Learn comes into action. It exists because I have seen first hand through my teaching career how many children are let down by the 'one size fits all' system. I have seen teachers go out of their way to find methods that work for their students and then I have seen the opposite, mostly through no fault of their own but through a lack of resources and funding and it is only getting worse.
I work with children starting at age 5 all the way through to 18, each for their own reasons but for one reason or the the other, they simply aren't getting what they need in mainstream education. Maybe they are neurodivergent and misunderstood by their teachers and peers when the reality is they are drowning in a system that doesn't understand them. Maybe they are being told that they are "lazy" when really, all they need a different way of learning. Maybe they are home schooled but require more structure to their routine, maybe they are bright but suffer from anxiety which means they end up struggling to keep up with the pressures of school life. Whatever the reason is, I see them and I make sure they are seen and heard.
What Makes Bamboo Learn Different?
Bamboo Learn is not about drilling facts to churn out those grades for data drops. It is all about making education work to fit the needs of children rather than children working to fit the needs of education. Here is what I do:
✔ Learning That Actually Makes Sense: every child learns differently so I adapt to their differences. Whether it's one to one, small groups, visuals, tangible learning, breaking things down into smaller chunks with a mixture of visuals and hands on, whatever is needed to understand a process, it doesn't matter to me, all that matters if the child is finding joy in their education again and they are retaining what has been learned. Time taken to learn is not a concept in my program.
✔ No More "Try Harder": some kids are not struggling because they are not trying; they are struggling because no one is teaching them in a way that actually makes sense to them. I aim to fix that.
✔ Life Skills Matter Too: isn't that the point of receiving an education? I mean, what is the point of education if okay yes, you get an A in Chemistry but you are not able to manage your time, regulate your emotions or communicate with others what you need? Academics does not always lend a hand in actual life skills. I like to keep things as real as possible alongside academics.
✔ Support That Feels Like Support: learning should not feel like a constant battle. My aim is to create an environment where my students feel safe, seen and capable of making progress no matter their starting point.
✔ Bespoke Learning Plans: each of my students starts their Bamboo Learn journey with a baseline assessment. I take the time to gauge their current level, learn more about their learning style, their strengths (these are extremely important to know) and of course their challenges. I then use my findings alongside the views and voices of the child and parent to create personalised learning plans.
What About the Parents?
I can't forget parents now can I? They are the ones chasing answers, in constant back and forth with schools whether it's via email, phone calls or in person. Emails, meetings, voicemails pile up and for what? These go nowhere most of the time, many parents are lying awake in their beds wondering if they are doing enough and maybe it is as the system makes them feel - they are the ones letting their children down. I see you too. You're not failing your child, you are fighting against a system for the person you brought into the world. I personally have been there. Which is why, my parents no longer fight alone, I am in it with them.
What Progress May Look Like?
Progress does not always need to be fireworks. Sometimes, it's a quiet moment with a smile on their face or the child says "oh I get it now" "that's actually kind of fun". A child who avoids anything maths related, may pick up a resource ready to use because they understand what it's for. Progress can look like self belief slowly creeping its way back into their lives. Imagine a kid who hated learning is now starting to trust themselves again. These are the wins that are celebrated at Bamboo, yes we celebrate grades but grades were not the end result. So every single step in the right direction is like a party here at Bamboo.
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