Returning to the classroom as a student reminded me what it feels like to learn and changed the way I teach. Struggling with complex maths and experiencing the challenges my students face helped me rediscover patience, empathy, and the importance of guiding learners through each step. Here is what becoming a student again taught me about inspiring and supporting every learner.

Walk into any primary classroom and you will see the signs. A child sits frozen over a blank page. Another rushes through answers simply to finish as quickly as possible. Someone calls out, “Miss, can I go and sharpen my pencil?” On the surface it looks like avoidance, but it often points to something deeper. It is maths anxiety. It affects confident learners as much as those who struggle and it quietly shapes how children see themselves as mathematicians. The impact is significant. Anxiety interrupts working memory, increases fear and reduces curiosity. Awesomenicity was created to change this. It brings confidence, joy and calm back into primary maths through playful inquiry, visual learning and strong teacher support. Every child deserves to feel good about maths and every teacher deserves the tools to help make that happen.

Teaching has evolved dramatically since the first schools in Mesopotamia, where students spent hours carving cuneiform into clay tablets. Today, technology offers educators powerful new tools to make classrooms more inclusive. For international teachers working with diverse student populations, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a game changer, from creating personalised learning plans to detecting early signs of disengagement. This blog explores six practical ways AI can help teachers build classrooms where every student can thrive.

In this post, guest author Grace Marquez discusses linking the curriculum to environmental issues through a project at Newton College in Lima, Peru.