Maths Without Fear: The Power of Individually Tailored Home School Programs
Rethinking Mathematics: From Fear to Mastery
At Coach House, we take a different approach to Mathematics — one that prioritises confidence, clarity and genuine understanding.
Why? Because the vast majority of children who “fail” in Maths don’t fail due to a lack of intelligence. They fail because they’re confused, anxious, rushed and left behind.
This insight isn’t ours alone. It’s been championed by thinkers like John Mighton, founder of JUMP Math in Canada, and Eddie Woo, Australia’s own mathematics superstar and founder of WooTube. Their work has greatly influenced the way we teach Maths — and more importantly, the way we think about Maths.
The Problem with Maths in Schools
In schools, Maths is often taught:
Too quickly
Too abstractly
Without solid foundations
Without any personal connection or context
Without time for mastery before moving on
If a child doesn’t “get it” the first time, they’re swept along to the next concept anyway. The cumulative effect is predictable: gaps in understanding, falling confidence, and the belief that they’re “just not a Maths person.”
Sound familiar?
Coach House’s Solution: Slow Down, Break It Down
We take children right back to the foundational level — often starting at a Year 3 standard — regardless of age or grade. Why? Because this is the stage where Maths transitions from concrete to abstract. It’s the point where:
Whole numbers become fractions and decimals
Counting objects becomes mental arithmetic
Physical blocks become symbols on paper
And if a child hasn’t been properly prepared for that shift, they fall into confusion. By revisiting this stage using structured, scaffolded discovery, we help students rebuild their understanding — and their confidence.
What John Mighton Taught Us
John Mighton, a former playwright turned mathematician, believed that:
“Most children don’t struggle because they lack ability. They struggle because they’ve been poorly taught.”
His program, JUMP Math, is based on:
Micro-steps that build one idea at a time
Constant opportunities for success
Careful pacing to avoid cognitive overload
Structured discovery, where students are led logically through a concept with clear guidance
This approach gives students the powerful feeling of “I can do this” — and that is the real foundation of mathematical success.
Eddie Woo: Maths is the Sense You Didn’t Know You Had
Eddie Woo, with his infectious enthusiasm and visual storytelling, reminds us that Maths is not dry or dull — it’s beautiful.
He describes Mathematics as:
“… the sense you never knew you had — and once it’s activated, it changes how you see the world.”
At Coach House, we believe the same. When children understand Maths, they begin to see patterns everywhere — in music, art, nature, architecture and daily life.
Addressing the Four Real Barriers to Maths Success
Across Mighton, Woo, and our own experiences at Coach House, we’ve identified four key reasons why children fall behind in Maths:
Low Self-Confidence - they believe they’re not a “Maths person” — often based on nothing more than one or two bad classroom experiences.
Poor Teaching Methods - abstract concepts are introduced too soon, or steps are skipped. Working memory becomes overloaded, and students give up.
Curriculum Gaps - concepts from earlier years were never mastered, but students are expected to build upon them anyway.
Lack of Real-World Context - students don’t understand why they’re learning certain skills, or how they apply to the world around them.
How Coach House Rebuilds Confidence in Maths
Our approach focuses on:
Returning to a point of mastery and building from there
Concrete to abstract learning progression
Clear, consistent methodology that reduces overwhelm
One success at a time — worksheets where every task feels achievable
Recognition of effort, not just correctness
A Language Analogy
We often tell children: Maths is just like learning a new language. If you stood in the middle of Tokyo, unable to understand Japanese, would you think you were unintelligent? Of course not. You’d simply accept the fact that you haven’t yet been taught the language.
Maths is no different.
What Happens When You Go Back to Go Forward?
The results are incredible. We’ve had students go back to a Year 3 level in Maths, only to leap ahead to Year 6 the following year — because the missing links were filled and they began to understand how numbers work at a deep level. Another student who sticks in my mind is a Year 9 girl who would cry every time she was asked to open her Maths book. Within a year, she had powered through the Year 3 and Year 6 courses and by the end of that year was running her own business and doing all of her own bookkeeping, including accounts, ledger and Business Activity Statement (BAS) reporting.
That’s not magic. That’s the power of a personally tailored program customised specifically to each child’s unique needs.
In Summary
Coach House’s Maths philosophy:
Maths should never be rushed.
Concepts should always be scaffolded.
Success should be frequent and visible.
Fear should be removed from the process.
Workbooks must be write-in, with scaffolding and graphic organisers so kids know where to write, not just what to write.
… And every child should believe: I can do this.
We build mathematical confidence one step at a time — and it’s not unusual for children who once cried over Maths to later say it’s their favourite subject.
Want to learn more about how we can build your child a customised Maths programs?
Book a call with our team — we’d love to help your child rediscover the joy of working with numbers.
