Karen M.

Hello there! I'm Dorothy Jean Acedo, and I'm a dedicated and enthusiastic math teacher. I absolutely love helping students discover that math isn't just about numbers—it's a world of puzzles and possibilities! My mission is to make our lessons feel less like a chore and more like a fun challenge. We'll use games, real-life examples, and collaborative activities to make even the trickiest topics click. When I'm not teaching, I love to get out into nature for a hike or take photos, which reminds me that the world is full of beautiful patterns, just like math. I'm a licensed professional teacher and TEFL-certified educator with a degree in Secondary Education, Major in Mathematics. With over seven years of experience in the classroom, I've developed a strong foundation in teaching strategies that make learning accessible and fun for every student. I’m an expert at creating a supportive environment where you can build your confidence and truly excel.

I have over 10 years of experience in Education, learning, and development, teaching in both Primary and Secondary Schools. I specialise in teaching 11+, Social Sciences and prepping for national exams. I love helping students bridge the gap between what they currently know and what they need to know, by building confidence and resilience in their subject knowledge and approach to learning, especially in areas which they find particularly daunting. Engagement in learning is key. All lessons must be interactive to encourage learning and development. I encourage engagement through quizzes, questions, games, opinions, matching & sorting activities and use of mixed media. I adapt to different learning styles by meeting children where they are at, finding out what they currently know and using that information as a foundation to make learning accessible for them. I use assessments to track progress and plug gaps in their knowledge. My passion is to create successful learners who are able to achieve and exceed the goals they set for themselves. At A-Level, I studied Sociology (Grade A), Psychology (Grade B) and ICT (Grade C) at Southwark College. I then completed my BSc in Sociology and Criminology at City University, achieving a 2:1. I also have a PGCE in Upper Primary which I completed at Goldsmiths College. Additionally, I have a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Learning and Development.

My career journey started from a very young age, where I was writing poetry, stories, taught Mathematics, repaired bicycles, phones and computers, and played multiple instruments. I have the ability to learn and master anything from Novice to Advanced through planning, disciple and consistency. I have nine experience in teaching Mathematics and English to different age groups and also created my teaching material to enhance learning and understanding. I have been coding in Python and Javascript, and have intermediate understanding on C, C++, C#, Java and PHP. I have created projects that help solve any problem that I experienced in a working environment, and these projects reduce the amount of work and time because they are accurate and reliable. I do motivational talks about life, technology, arts and Mathematics, and 90 percent of the students that I have worked with have managed to improve their academics and work ethic. I have been requested by schools to come and assist with complex Mathematical concepts after they saw my incredible work with people., and I don't just work for a salary, but I work to learn, teach, improvise and solve any problem to create a healthy succesful working environment. In all my years of working, I have been solving problems and creating better solutions, combining ideas and working as a wise team to ensure that quality results are obtained. In the previous years, I was teaching the piano, guitars and vocals on my spare time, to help children escape depression, violence and drugs. I love working with people, learning from them and teaching them, and I believe that working with people is creating a system that is beneficial. I enrolled to study a Bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of the Free State until 2019. I was majoring in Mathematics and Life Sciences because I was passionate about teaching Mathematics. With the minimum income that I was getting, I bought musical instruments, teaching equipment and devices. In 2020, I was employed at a school to teach Mathematics until 2023 December. Between 2020 and 2023, I was learning numerous skills, Mathematics, computer hardware, different musical instruments and got exposed to programming. I was running a successful tutoring program, internet café and music program. I got a job at ATNS in Aviation where I am currently working as an Aeronautical Information Management Officer. I developed the passion for coding, fascinated by its way of granting one the ability to program anything, that could solve time and problems. In 2023, I was using JavaScript to code automated Mathematics tests, I used it to study, and create projects that solved any problem that I encountered. I am currently learning JavaScript and Python. I am currently enrolled with the University of the People for BSc in Computer Science. I had a problem with learning how to code because it was different from Mathematics and theoretical work, it challenged me to learn and apply code to solve problems. I am eager to learn and have drafted well detailed plan about my future in I.T. Before I enrolled at the University, I prepared myself by getting books and studying from multiple sources.

I’m a Physics MSci graduate from UCL with a strong background in Maths, Physics, Computer Science, and broader sciences. I teach students from beginner to advanced levels, always adapting lessons to each learner’s pace and goals. My style is clear, supportive, and results-focused: I break down difficult topics into simple steps, build confidence, and help students improve both grades and real understanding. Whether you need help with exam prep, homework, problem-solving, or long-term academic growth, I provide structured, engaging lessons tailored to your needs. I completed an integrated Master’s degree (MSci) in Physics at University College London (UCL), where I built strong expertise across Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, and data-driven problem solving. During my degree, I studied areas such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, advanced mathematical methods, computational physics, high-performance computing, and machine learning applications in science. My final-year MSci research project focused on quantum computing and AI for scientific data analysis, where I applied quantum autoencoders to anomaly detection problems inspired by high-energy physics datasets. This involved advanced Python programming, model evaluation, data analysis, and scientific reporting. In addition to university-level training, I have years of hands-on experience supporting students in Maths and Science topics, translating complex concepts into clear, structured explanations. My academic path combines rigorous theory, practical computation, and strong communication skills, which allows me to teach effectively across levels—from foundational school content to advanced pre-university material in Maths, Physics, Computer Science, and related sciences.