Excellent
17 Reviews on
BrainySpinach uses interactive and engaging teaching methods including his own Roblox Maths games to help students Master Maths, no matter how scared they are of it.
I understand the challenges faced by parents of children who struggle in traditional school settings—whether that be because they’re Neurodivergent, shy, or simply learn differently.
Our approach is designed to help every child find their voice and their confidence, turning learning into an exciting adventure.
Jon grew up loving Maths the moment he could understand counting, and his love only grew thanks to amazing teachers like Mrs. Newns, who he beat at the ‘doubles game’ in Year 3. Maths made sense of the chaotic world around him, often having him lost in thought for hours.
However, his fathers harsh criticism at even the slightest mistake would dampen his enthusiasm. He was a natural at Maths, but his Dad’s negativity was an unsolvable problem.
Jon’s friendship with an autistic boy that lived across the road from him defined a large part of his childhood. For many years, Jon could recall every Spongebob episode, and he learned valuable skills in supporting autistic children in a quickly growing online world.
One fateful parent’s evening, Mr. Gregory told Jon he’d make an excellent teacher because of his kindness and patience. He decided that should probably be his career then, instead of joining the military.
Evolving into adult Jon now, he decided to take another passion of his to university – Geography! The plan was to teach in secondary schools after graduating.
Jon went into his PGCE year ready to show the youth of today the glories of Geography, only to run headlong into a mountain of paperwork, assignments, and rigid expectations (he once got scolded by his mentor for not wearing his suit when a pigeon had decided to poop on it earlier in the day). For now, Jon gave up on his dreams of teaching, and decided to jump into recruitment.
After a few successful years in recruitment, Jon faced a big health scare with his first major blood clot- a not-so-subtle hint to change his career before it changed him.
Jon began working as a 1:1 SEND Teaching Assistant in primary schools, and quickly discovered his knack for engaging children, especially those with autism and ADHD who had previously shown little interest in learning. Building a rapport with them was easy when bringing his passion for gaming into their education.
Many of Jon’s students struggled with Maths, usually because of bad experiences with the subject in the past. Maths Anxiety was rearing its ugly head wherever he looked, and he became determined to make the subject a fun and rewarding experience for his students.
Around the same time, Jon reconnected with Anna, a childhood friend, which quickly blossomed into a loving relationship.
Jon noticed many of his students loved playing on Roblox, and they’d often suggest he try it out, and even try making a Roblox game! What began as a way to relate to his students, making one little game to try out, soon turned into a major project. Jon’s new goal: turning “I hate Maths” into “I love this game!”
Jon created his first full-fledged Math ‘Obby’ game on Roblox – an engaging obstacle course where students solved Maths problems as they played. The game was a massive hit with his students, boosting their skills and confidence, and marking a key milestone in his mission to transform Maths education.
In the same year, Jon also started hosting Roblox livestreams and Maths classes where students could play the games he designed with Jon and their peers in real time. Adding to the joy of the year, Jon got engaged to Anna!
Jon’s innovative Maths classes continued to help 100s of students across the UK, and he began work on a new and improved version of his game, promising even more interactive and fun features to help students master Maths.
Jon and Anna also welcomed a French bulldog puppy named Neo into their family! Jon’s new challenge: balancing puppy playtime with Maths game development.
Jon and Anna celebrated their marriage, adding a beautiful chapter to their shared journey. Jon + Anna = forever <3!
A certified SEND educator with a lifelong love for education, Jon finds nothing more rewarding than creating a fun teaching environment in which his students can excel at learning – and enjoy it too!
The core of the BrainySpinach Maths team, its absolute star, emotional support, mascot and beloved family member: ‘Baby Neo’!
Excited to try out one of my classes? Use code BSM100 at checkout to enjoy a free class on me! (or two 😄)
