What made you become a teacher?
I was very good at maths at school and I'm also a patient person, so teaching came very naturally to me. And of course I really love maths! Teaching is a very rewarding career because of the long term opportunities and confidence it brings students. It opens so many doors. I believe all humans are natural problem solvers.

What's the nicest thing a student has ever said to you or done for you?
One of my students told me that she hated maths, and now maths is her favourite subject because of me!

What is the best advice you've ever received about teaching or your advice to new teachers?
The advice I would give to new teachers would be to encourage a growth mindset in their students. Often students believe they will never be good at maths. I believe any student can learn anything with a growth mindset, perseverance and good teaching. I think making the connection between maths and real life is important whether it's in nature, science or even art! Some schools are using maths to create art which is wonderful.

What do you like about Skwirk?
I really like the way maths is taught in a fun, engaging and creative way. There are so many real world applications and when students see the connection between life and maths, they become more engaged. It also provides teachers with excellent resource material in the one place with instant reports on their student's performance.

What is your favourite education-related quote?
Nelson Mandela "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".

What made you become a teacher?
I worked as a personal assistant in law for six years and I wanted to change career and do something more creative that was relevant to my degree. I liked teenagers and wanted to be able to teach my subject in detail and so did some work experience in secondary schools to see if it appealed to me.

What's the nicest thing a student has ever said to you or done for you?
In a card when I was leaving my school to move to Australia, one of my 15 year olds wrote: "You have given me my confidence in English. It is no longer my worst subject thanks to you". I was very touched!

What do you like about Skwirk?
I like being creative, writing about different topics and looking for the exact right example to use to demonstrate a point.

What made you become a teacher?
I originally worked at a zoo and discovered I loved showing people the wonders of the natural world. Kids have an innate sense of joy and curiosity about the world and I love being able to use my often quirky sense of humour to get kids engaged in learning. It's all just an excuse to not grow up really.

Where / what did you study at university?
I have a degree in Conservation Biology from Deakin University and a degree in Education from RMIT University.

What is the best advice you've ever received about teaching or your advice to new teachers?
If you are passionate about what you are teaching, the kids will be excited to learn.

What do you like about Skwirk?
Every single part of the curriculum is covered. When it comes to writing those reports and you've realised you haven't had time to cover a section, head on over to Skwirk and bam! topic covered. You can even assess the students knowledge of that section using the Prove Its. All in one package!

What is your favourite education-related quote?
Education isn't about filling a bucket, it's about lighting a fire.

What made you become a teacher?
I struggled at school and learning new things did not come easy to me. I had some really inspirational teachers who fostered a love of learning in me and taught me new ways to learn. They encouraged me to keep trying because my hard work would pay off. They were right. I also wanted to teach others and instill in them this belief. There is nothing more precious as a teacher than watching a child gain confidence in themselves and realise their potential.

The nicest thing a student has ever said to you was...?
They hated coming to school and learning until they were placed in my class. They grew to appreciate that school can actually be fun and that their abilities extended much further than they ever believed.

Where / what did you study at university?
I studied primary education at the University of Technology. I also studied for a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies which enabled me to travel to Italy and study and live there for one year.

What do you like about Skwirk?
As a teacher it is really important to cater for a wide variety of learning styles and abilities. Skwirk is the ideal platform for teaching children through multi-sensory games and activities that engage and motivate them. Students are able to work at their own pace and ability.

Your favourite education quote is...
Confucius said:
'I hear and I forget'
'I see and I remember'
'I do and I understand'

What made you become a teacher?.........
I'm a big believer that all children should have the right to an education. My career has been focused on engaging students through the use of digital media and making learning accessible for as many children as possible.

What's the nicest thing a student has ever said to you or done for you?
Told me that the resources I worked on helped them make sense of a difficult subject. Job done!

What is the best advice you've ever received about teaching or your advice to new teachers?
Embrace digital education to engage students as new technologies will be a significant part of your students' future.

What do you like about Skwirk?
It is a one stop shop for engaging resources to support learning across all core curriculum subjects.

What is your favourite education-related quote?
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. (Albert Einstein).