Nervous About Teaching Maths? Why the Live Life of Fred Online Classes Might Be Exactly What You Need

By Angela Collins

 


Starting October 2025, I’ll be running live, online Life of Fred maths classes for younger homeschoolers. Whether your child is just starting out or you've hit a few wobbly spots, these classes are gentle, story-based, and genuinely effective.

If you're feeling unsure about teaching maths at home—or maybe you've started already and it's just not going the way you hoped—then I want to share something that could completely change the tone and direction of your maths journey.

🎥 Watch the video where I explain how the classes work, who they’re for, and how to know if your child is ready.

What Makes Life of Fred Different?

If you're not familiar with Life of Fred, it's a unique maths programme told through the eyes of a five-year-old maths professor named Fred. It's not your usual drill-heavy, memorise-and-repeat workbook. It’s story-based, engaging, and full of subtle yet powerful maths teaching. Each chapter is a quirky story that weaves in maths concepts and just enough practice to make it stick—without killing the joy of learning.

I've used this with my own children, and out of all the homeschooling resources we’ve tried—unit studies, textbooks, worksheets—this is the only curriculum I’ve consistently stuck with. It’s the one that’s lasted through all our seasons of homeschooling because it just works! 

Who Is It For?

These live classes are ideal if:

  • You're feeling nervous about maths.

  • Your child loves stories but not worksheets.

  • You're ready to build a solid foundation without pressure that encourages critial thinking.

To join the October classes, your child should:

  • Be able to count to 20.

  • Know basic addition and subtraction from 0 to 10.

  • Be able to sit and listen to about three pages of story at a time.

If you're not sure your child is quite ready yet, I can recommend this numeracy kit that can help…

The “I Love Mathematics” Kit

I love mathematics kit

If your child isn’t quite there yet, this I Love Mathematics Kit is an excellent way to get them ready in the next few months. It starts very concrete and gently moves to more abstract maths ideas.

What’s inside:

  • Counters and number cards.

  • Hands-on matching numbers and operations.

  • Wipeable addition/subtraction board.

  • Storage bag for all the parts.

This kit helps children build real number sense rather than just memorising answers. It’s ideal for getting a strong start or for catching up if things haven’t quite clicked yet.

The kit is R195 and I'm offering an optional one-on-one support session with me to help you feel confident using it. You can select “My child is not ready yet” on the Life of Fred form and I’ll send the details.

I Love Mathematics Kit by AllMaths

What to Expect from the Live Classes

  • Two sessions a week (Monday and Thursday mornings).

  • Time between sessions to process and practice, if needed.

  • One book per term from the Life of Fred Elementary series.

  • Access to a free premium maths app for extra optional daily practice.

By the end of the series, your child will be confident and ready to transition to the intermediate phase—without having rushed through the foundations.

Yes, there’s practice...but all of it is hidden inside clever storytelling, gentle repetition, and an approach that trains children to think, rather than just complete worksheets.

Why I Trust Life of Fred

When I first started, I also wondered, “Is this enough?” But over time I saw it was enough. It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t pressure. It lets the child grow into the maths in a very natural way.

Dr. Stanley Schmidt, the author, recommends spreading the first 10 books over three to four years. No rush. No pressure. And by the time your child is developmentally ready for the next stage, they’ll be ready. Readiness is very important with Maths learning and children who need a slower pace will excel with this programme. It does not mean that they will be behind - on the contrary, they will be on grade level, if not advanced but having had a much less stressful experience along the way PLUS gained the ability to apply what they've learned. 



Ready to Join or Want to Learn More?

There’s limited space for the October Life of Fred Live Classes, so do get in touch to book your spot.

📌 Visit Book Life of Fred Classes
📌 Or just reply/comment “Life of Fred” and I’ll send you the link and full details.

If you’re still unsure, or want to chat through whether this is the right fit, I’m always to assist.


You can watch the full video where I chat through all of this in more detail, including the Life of Fred approach, how the live classes work, and how to prepare your child if they’re not quite ready yet. 

Let’s make maths gentle, effective, and even joyful again. And let’s do it together.



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