Can you relate to Karen's story

Hi, I'm Karen Wilding

I am so excited to welcome to the world of EYMaths 3-7!

Let's get to know each other better with my 'Maths Failure to Maths Consultant' life-changing story...   

Life learning Maths at school was full of epic failure, daily humiliation and literally shaking with fear. Add in regular tears, as my dad tried - again with good intentions- to tell me 'the proper way' to do it (which was invariably not what my teacher had said) and I learned to hate Maths.

I failed my Maths exams at 16 (twice) and somehow limped into teaching, where I hid for many years teaching younger children (confident that there I knew I wouldn't have to do any 'hard Maths').

However, 12 years into my teaching career, I was asked to move to Year 4 (8-9 year olds) and I was utterly terrified. Surely some of them/most of them would be SO much better at Maths than me and I was expected to teach them!

I'd been found out. And I had nowhere to hide. 

My supportive headteacher, sensing my panic no doubt, booked me on some local training and there my life changed forever; I was offered the opportunity to change my mindset about Maths and challenge the idea that I couldn't be good at it.

Something was shared that day made me realise, for the first time in my life, that the problem wasn't me or Maths; it was simply the way I'd been taught.

That one thought took me on the path I am now and it has been the most incredible journey.

If you're ready to embark on a similar path, then you're in the right place.

I'm now a published author of Maths books, International conference speaker and business owner of my highly successful Maths Consultancy for nearly 17 years. I work with educators across the planet and the impact of what we do genuinely changes lives.

Want to Hear More?

I began to believe that I could learn Maths given the right opportunities. I realised that when Maths was brought to life and shown as a meaningful subject that helped my children make sense of the world around them then a need for symbols made sense (just like when we write a word to record something's name: the word is just a representation of the real thing). I began to see my children achieving results I never believed possible, and, as a consequence, was asked to join the local authority as become a Maths consultant.

Who would have believed it? (Not me!)

Finally, in 2009, I decided to go it alone and started my first business as an independent Maths consultant, training teachers and advising school leaders all over the world, from the Early Years through Primary and into Secondary education.

I LOVED it (AND I was really good at it!)

But, then...

Covid-19 took my 11-year-old business away overnight.

Not being able to pay the mortgage, and potentially losing our home in a world pandemic, turned out to be a fairly effective motivator and where you find me now, director of EYMaths, an online training company for educators of 3-5 year olds was born.

My current chapter? Evolving 'EYMaths 3-5' into 'EYMaths 3-7'!

The current transition for Early Years (3-5) to Primary (5+) is not as it needs to be. Both children and teachers suffer as a result and my focus is now on extending my support for to those who teach 3-7 year olds worldwide.

In the past four years - and achieved almost almost exclusively online - I have helped tens of thousands of educators feel successful, passionate and confident about their Maths teaching resulting in the transformation of hundreds of thousands of children's lives.

So, the question is, are ready to start this journey with me?

There's room for EVERYONE 

Photo: BSME conference, Dubai as a key note speaker alongside Greg Botrill 'Can I Go and Play Now/Drawing Club) and Ruth Swailes (International Early Years Consultant).