How Online Math Tuition Works — A Walkthrough for Parents

A live online Math lesson gives your child a teacher they can speak with while the working develops on screen. At DeepThink, our tutors teach on Zoom through screen sharing and on-screen writing, or a digital whiteboard. Homework and extra practice happen separately on the DeepThink platform between classes.

Our Mathematics classes last 1.5 hours each week and are capped at 4 students, grouped by learning pace. The teacher reviews each student's practice before class and uses their judgement to decide which explanations, examples and questions will help. The lesson does not follow a fixed minute-by-minute sequence.

Getting ready for the first lesson

Check that your child can read the on-screen working, hear the teacher and speak clearly through the microphone. Put the device on a stable surface with space for writing materials. Test the setup from the seat your child will use; a screen that looks readable close up may be harder to follow while writing.

Students keep their webcams on so our tutors can see and speak with them. Position the camera to show the child's face comfortably. A younger child may need help joining and checking sound before the lesson begins. Ask our team about your available device before buying equipment; the right setup depends on how the child will see the teaching and contribute.

Agree where unrelated messages, games and devices will go during class. This is a practical arrangement to discuss with the child, rather than proof that every distraction can be eliminated.

How the teacher explains and checks understanding

The teacher can share their screen and write on screen, or use Zoom's whiteboard or another digital whiteboard. Both let students follow a calculation or diagram as it is explained. A shared whiteboard also allows students to contribute writing on screen.

For example, a lesson on percentages might compare the original price with a discounted price. A teacher could ask which amount represents 100%, show how that choice changes the calculation, then give a related question. Hearing a student explain the starting quantity tells the teacher more than seeing a correct final number alone.

That is an illustration of a teaching exchange, not a promise that every class uses that example or tool. The teacher chooses the work for the topic and students, responds to their questions and gives further explanation where needed. Screen sharing and a whiteboard are alternatives; neither needs to occupy a fixed share of the lesson.

The webcam keeps visual contact available. Understanding still needs to be checked through questions and working. Our webcam guide explains the difference between seeing the student and seeing how they solve a problem.

What happens between classes

Teachers assign homework, and the platform adds practice questions it judges suitable for the student alongside that work. Mathematics practice includes marking, worked solutions and spaced review. The purpose is to give the child another opportunity to apply a method and to make difficulties available for the teacher to review.

The practice platform is used outside class. It is not the Zoom classroom, and the teacher's review does not mean they watch every answer as it is entered. If your child cannot understand a solution, encourage them to keep the question and bring the uncertain step to the next lesson.

A useful question is specific: “I understand why this is 100%, but I don't know how to find the original amount.” That gives the teacher a starting point for the explanation.

How parents can follow progress

Parents can view practice progress by logging in to the student's account. There is no separate parent account at present. Look at the work with your child: what they attempted, which methods they can now explain, and which questions still need help.

One day's score will not explain everything. A harder question, unfamiliar wording or tired evening can change performance. Compare related work over time and ask the teacher about a repeated difficulty. Our weekly revision guide can help you give practice a manageable place in the week.

What if your child misses a lesson?

Tell the tutor before the scheduled class start time. Under DeepThink's registration terms, a recording for an absence is guaranteed only when that advance notice is given. Notice at or after the start time does not carry that guarantee. A missed lesson is not refunded unless DeepThink cancels it; course withdrawal has separate notice and refund provisions.

Live teaching and a recording serve different purposes. In class, the child can ask for clarification and the teacher can respond. A recording can help a student revisit teaching after an absence, but cannot answer a new question as it arises.

What to look for in a trial class

Watch whether your child can follow the written explanation, ask about an unclear step and attempt a question at a suitable pace. Ask what practice is assigned afterwards and how to raise a question between lessons. Discuss any sound, screen or participation difficulty before deciding whether the arrangement fits.

One trial cannot establish long-term improvement. It can show whether the teaching is understandable and whether your child can take part. Our online Mathematics tuition page sets out the programme; contact us to discuss a class that suits your child's level and pace.