Hi, I'm Maria! I'm an educational therapist and academic coach based in Berlin. I moved here from San Francisco, having lived in Edinburgh and Nicosia.

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After a BSc in Computer Science (University of Cyprus) and an MSc in Neuroscience (University of Edinburgh), I spent years researching how the brain forms long-term memories and bringing science into schools. Using strategies like retrieval practice, I showed children how they learn best, and they grew academically and in confidence, motivation, and self-efficacy. This drew me to teaching.

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I earned my PGCE and iQTS from the University of Derby, with a focus on adaptive teaching principles, and have since taught one-on-one and in Berlin's international schools. I also designed and taught small-group sessions for learners with dyslexia, dyscalculia, selective mutism, and ADHD, and for gifted children.

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My educational philosophy is grounded in educational and neuroscientific research. As a neuroscientist, I connect new learning to what a child already knows, because that is where knowledge forms faster and stronger. Curiosity and trust matter just as much, so I design materials around each learner's interests and needs. I spark curiosity through Bruner's discovery learning, build perseverance with Hattie's Visible Learning, and nurture motivation from within through gamification and Dix's relational approach to behavior.

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Areas of Expertise: ‍

• Adaptive Teaching

• Executive Functioning

• Exam Preparation (incl. IGCSE, Math Olympiad & Kangaroo)

• IB, British & Common Core Curricula

• Primary (All Subjects)

• Secondary Math, English, Computer Science & STEM

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I'm Cypriot and Bulgarian. I speak native-level English and Greek.