From Tears to Triumph: Emily’s 6-month Transformation
Earlier this year, I was reminded just how much learning struggles can ripple through an entire family.
When Emily came to me at the end of last year, maths felt like an unsolvable puzzle. English was also a challenge, and instructions often left her baffled.
She held it together at school, but after the bell rang, the frustration came flooding out. Tears, tantrums, and exhaustion were a regular part of the evening.
Her mum, deeply supportive, tried her best to help. But their communication had reached breaking point. Mum’s teaching didn’t click for Emily, and Emily couldn’t make sense of Mum’s explanations. Evenings were tense, and it felt like a no-win situation.
Through the Mastery for Maths Programme, we started by identifying the concepts Emily was missing. We rebuilt them step-by-step, often using practical, hands-on activities (yes, even in the kitchen) so she could see exactly how the maths worked and explain it in her own words.
As she once told me:
“I know all this maths stuff… I just didn’t know how it all fit together.”
Six months later:
Emily’s transformation has been remarkable. In just six months, she has passed all her work so far, including internal exams and assessments. She has successfully met her numeracy requirements and even earned her Learner’s Licence. She now works independently, meets deadlines without being chased, and the school sends home positive updates instead of messages about missing work.
At home, the change is just as profound. Evenings are now peaceful. Assignments get done without conflict. Emily is calmer, more confident, and far better at sequencing and managing tasks.
Her family is proud beyond words and Mum sums it up simply:
“It is the best money I have ever invested.”
If your child is struggling to keep up, there’s always a way forward. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh approach and the right tools to help everything click.
Emily’s journey is a powerful reminder that the signs of learning struggles are not always obvious. For months, she kept a lot of her frustration under wraps during the school day, only for it to pour out when she got home. From the outside, it might have looked like she was coping, but beneath the surface she was overwhelmed and close to giving up.
That is the thing. Many children become experts at hiding their struggles, even from the people who love them most.
