I wish you all the best in what comes next.
I have loved teaching you,
and I hope I've inspired you
as much as you've inspired me.
"Lions do not concern themselves
with the opinions of sheep."
Five years of these moments. The hands going up. The wrong answers that became right ones. The "oh wait, I get it now". I'll miss this very, very much.
Six pathways for the summer. Pick yours, work through the checklist, and copy the AI tutor prompt — paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and you'll have a tutor that already knows where you're going and what you need to learn.
Pick a pathway. Or flip for it.
Moving from the American system into a British school. The big shifts: SATs-style grammar terms, ratios and percentages earlier, and split sciences.
Joining an IB school for MYP 1 (Year 7 equivalent). Concept-driven, inquiry-based, ATL skills, Global Contexts. The system shifts as much as the content does.
Same system, new school. Common Core math and ELA, NGSS science. Ratio & proportion, longer essays, lab-based science — be ready, not ahead.
The final year before IGCSEs begin. This summer is the moment to get fluent in algebra, lock in scientific method, and start writing analytical essays.
IGCSE begins. Two years of work that ends in real external exams. Hit the ground running with the foundations every Year 10 teacher expects.
The IB Middle Years Programme is concept-driven, inquiry-based and uses ATL skills. Whether you're moving in or moving out, here's how to bridge the gap.
The UK curriculum moves faster on some things and slower on others. By Year 6 you're expected to know grammar terms American schools don't teach (fronted adverbials, modal verbs, subordinate clauses), do long division and percentages confidently, and sit national tests (SATs). In Year 7 you start secondary school — sciences split into Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and you'll use letters in algebra from week one.
Best for clear video explanations. Free, no account needed to watch.
Full free textbooks with practice. Flexi is their built-in AI tutor.
Built for the British curriculum. Short, flash-card style.
Paste it as your first message. The AI will know what you're studying and how to teach you.
I'm a student moving from the American curriculum (Grade 5/6) into the British curriculum (Year 6/7). I have around 6 weeks of summer to bridge the gap before school starts. The British system is ahead on a few things and uses different terminology, so I need help with: MATHS — long division, fractions arithmetic, percentages of amounts, ratio and proportion, BIDMAS, negative numbers, area/perimeter of basic shapes, intro to algebra using letters. ENGLISH — UK grammar terms (fronted adverbials, modal verbs, subordinate clauses, determiners), formal punctuation (semicolons, colons), and how to write in a formal register. SCIENCE — basics of biology (classification, evolution), chemistry (states of matter, mixtures), and physics (circuits, forces). I want to be confident with "fair test" structure: variables, prediction, method, results. Please be my tutor. Each session: 1. Ask which topic I want to work on. 2. Explain it at Year 6/7 level with one short example. 3. Give me 3 practice questions, one at a time, and check my work. 4. Tell me what to review tomorrow. Start by asking me which subject I want to begin with and how confident I feel (1–5) in each area listed above.
The IB Middle Years Programme starts at MYP 1 — roughly Year 7 / Grade 7 equivalent. Coming from any primary school, the biggest shift isn't the content. It's the how. You'll be asked to inquire, reflect, and write about why something matters, not just what it is. This summer is about both: solid subject foundations and the habits that make MYP students thrive.
Strong on the "why". Good fit for MYP inquiry style.
FlexBook depth + adaptive practice. Flexi is the built-in AI tutor.
Bite-sized explainers when a topic isn't clicking. Free, no account needed.
The AI will know you're entering MYP and will mix subject prep with IB habits.
I'm a student starting MYP 1 (IB Middle Years Programme) this September after finishing Grade 5/6. The IB system is concept-driven, inquiry-based, and graded on four criteria per subject, so I need to prep both subject content AND IB habits. CONTENT — Maths: fluency with fractions/decimals/percentages, finding percentages of amounts, ratio & proportion, BIDMAS, area & perimeter, coordinates, intro to algebra (letters for unknowns). English: write a clear 5-paragraph essay, identify literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification), cite evidence with quotation marks. Sciences: "fair test" structure (variables, prediction, method, results), basic cell parts, states of matter, forces, simple circuits. IB HABITS — quiz me on the 10 attributes of the IB Learner Profile until I can list them. Help me practice the 5 ATL skill clusters (Thinking, Communication, Social, Self-management, Research) with real-world examples. Teach me what "command terms" are (analyse, evaluate, describe, justify) and how each one expects a different kind of answer. Each session: 1. Ask which subject and topic. 2. Diagnose with one short question. 3. Teach the gap with one worked example. 4. Give me 3 practice problems and mark them honestly. 5. End with a reflection prompt — what surprised me, what's still fuzzy. Start by asking which subject I want first and how confident I feel (1–5) in each topic above. Be encouraging but honest — IB rewards thinking, not bluffing.
Same system, new school. Most American schools follow Common Core for math and ELA, and NGSS for science, but expectations vary by district. The jump from 5th → 6th (or 6th → 7th) brings real new content: ratio and proportion, intro to negative numbers, longer essays with cited evidence, and more independent lab work. Aim to walk in ready, not ahead.
Aligned to Common Core. Watch the videos, do the practice, get instant feedback.
Full textbooks broken into chapters with practice. Flexi is the built-in AI tutor.
Not US-aligned, but unbeatable for "explain this idea simply." Use when stuck.
Tell it which grade you're entering (6th or 7th) and it'll calibrate the depth.
I'm a student moving into 6th or 7th grade in an American school in September. Most US schools follow Common Core for math and ELA and NGSS for science. Help me get ready over the summer. MATH — multi-digit multiplication and long division, fractions arithmetic, decimals (all four operations + word problems), percentages and conversions between fractions/decimals/percentages, ratio & proportion word problems (this is the BIG 6th grade topic), PEMDAS, coordinate plane in all four quadrants, intro to negative numbers, mean/median/mode/range. ELA — write a 5-paragraph essay independently, cite evidence using quotation marks and page numbers, identify theme/plot/character/setting/point of view, spot common literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration), and build a 30-word academic vocabulary list. SCIENCE — the scientific method (hypothesis, variables, procedure, data, conclusion), how to write a lab report, animal vs plant cell parts, water cycle, carbon cycle, intro to Newton's laws, states of matter, basics of Earth's structure. Please be my tutor: 1. Ask which subject and topic. 2. Diagnose with one quick question to see where I'm at. 3. Teach with one worked example. 4. Give me 3 practice problems and mark them honestly. 5. End with one tip for tomorrow's session. Start by asking which subject I want first, whether I'm entering 6th or 7th grade, and my confidence (1–5) in each topic. Be encouraging but honest — I want to walk in ready, not embarrassed.
Year 9 is the runway. IGCSEs start the year after, so this summer is where you turn shaky algebra into automatic algebra, learn to write a real analytical paragraph, and stop being scared of equations in science. Get this summer right and Year 10 feels easy. Get it wrong and you spend Year 10 catching up.
Strongest for maths and science explanations. Free.
Algebra and life science FlexBooks are the gold standard.
KS3 covers everything Year 9 expects. Practice in 5-min bursts.
The AI will know what level you're working at and what's coming next year.
I'm going into Year 9 of the British curriculum this September. Next year I start IGCSEs, so this summer I need to get really solid on the foundations. MATHS — I need to be fluent in: simplifying/expanding/factorising algebra, solving linear and simultaneous equations, straight-line graphs (y = mx + c), Pythagoras' theorem, right-angle trigonometry (sin/cos/tan), index laws, standard form, basic probability, and finding mean/median/mode/range. ENGLISH — I need to write good PEEL paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link), analyse the *effect* of language techniques (not just name them), and feel comfortable with at least one Shakespeare play. SCIENCE — Biology: cell structure, respiration & photosynthesis equations. Chemistry: atoms, the periodic table, balancing equations. Physics: speed-distance-time, Newton's three laws, energy stores and transfers. Please be my tutor. Each session: 1. Ask me which subject and topic. 2. Diagnose with one quick question to see where I'm at. 3. Teach the bit I'm weakest on, with one worked example. 4. Give me 3 practice questions and mark them. 5. Tell me one thing to review before next session. Start by asking which subject I want to begin with and how confident I am (1–5) in each topic above. Be encouraging but honest — I'd rather you tell me I'm wrong than let me drift into Year 10 thinking I'm fine.
IGCSE begins in September. Two years of work, then real external exams that universities and Sixth Forms will see. The single biggest predictor of a good IGCSE grade is how solid your Year 9 foundations are when you walk in. This summer, lock them in.
Wycombe runs Pearson Edexcel International GCSE. The single most underrated revision tool is to look at a real past paper before you start studying — you see the style of question, the command words, and the way mark schemes reward (or punish) specific phrasings. Print one, try it cold, then revise the gaps it exposes.
💡 The play: grab the most recent Maths A paper, try it cold, mark yourself honestly, then use Save My Exams or PMT for the worked solutions on anything you missed. One paper a week from now till September and you walk into Year 10 already winning.
Best US-curriculum equivalents to IGCSE topics.
Algebra & sciences as full textbooks — work through chapters one at a time.
Look for your exact board (Cambridge / Edexcel) when you sign up.
Replace [Cambridge / Edexcel] with your actual exam board when you know it.
I'm starting IGCSE Year 10 in September. My exam board is [Cambridge / Edexcel — replace with yours]. I need to be solid on the Year 9 foundations BEFORE September so I can hit Year 10 running. Help me revise: MATHS — rearranging formulas, solving quadratics by factorising, solving inequalities, sketching quadratic/cubic/reciprocal curves, SOH CAH TOA both ways, basic circle theorems, vectors in column form, cumulative frequency and box plots, surds, fractional and negative indices. ENGLISH — write a strong 4-paragraph PEEL essay in 45 minutes, analyse unseen poetry, do descriptive writing that shows rather than tells. I'll tell you which IGCSE set text my school uses. SCIENCES — Biology: cells, enzymes, circulation, DNA, genetics. Chemistry: ionic/covalent/metallic bonding, moles, rates of reaction, equilibrium. Physics: Newton's laws, momentum, V = IR, waves. Please be my tutor: 1. Each session, ask which subject and topic. 2. Give me one exam-style question first to diagnose where I am. 3. Teach the gap I show with one worked example. 4. Give me 3 more questions of rising difficulty. 5. End with one piece of advice for the next session. Start by asking which subject I want first, my confidence (1–5) in each topic above, and whether I'm aiming for Foundation/Core (grades 1–5) or Higher/Extended (grades 4–9). Be honest with me — Year 10 doesn't reward bluffing.
The IB Middle Years Programme is different. It's concept-driven instead of content-driven — you'll be asked "why" and "so what" before "what". It uses Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, Global Contexts, and grades on four criteria per subject. Coming from a traditional curriculum or going back to one, the shift can feel disorientating until you know the language.
Strong on the "why" — fits the MYP inquiry style.
Use FlexBooks to fill subject gaps when you move into a content-heavy curriculum.
If you're heading into a UK system after MYP, this is the fastest bridge.
Two versions — pick the one that matches you and delete the other.
[IF JOINING MYP] I'm joining the IB Middle Years Programme this September. The MYP is concept-driven and uses inquiry, ATL skills, Global Contexts, and four assessment criteria per subject. Help me: 1. Internalise the IB Learner Profile (the 10 attributes) — quiz me until I can list them all from memory. 2. Practice the 5 ATL skill clusters (Thinking, Communication, Social, Self-management, Research) with a real-world example for each. 3. Walk me through the 6 Global Contexts with one statement-of-inquiry example per context. 4. Teach me to interpret command terms (analyse, evaluate, justify, describe) and how they map to MYP assessment criteria A, B, C, D. 5. Help me write reflective learning-journal entries — give me a prompt and feedback on what I write. Ask me which subject I'll be strongest in so we can ground the examples there. --- [IF LEAVING MYP, going into a traditional / IGCSE / AP / A-Level system] I'm leaving the IB MYP and entering a more content-driven, exam-based system. MYP rewarded reflection and process; my new curriculum rewards retrieval and timed answers. Help me: 1. Drill subject vocabulary — give me flashcards and quiz me until I'm fluent. 2. Practice timed essay questions (45 min, no prep) and grade me on a real mark scheme. 3. Build a 6-week study plan that switches my study habits from "process" to "retrieval". 4. Run past paper questions on demand and give me model answers afterwards. 5. Spot where my MYP training is hurting me — e.g. too much reflection where the mark scheme wants definitions. Start by asking which subjects I'm taking, what curriculum I'm moving into (IGCSE, A-Level, AP, national exam), and whether I have any past papers I can share.
Whatever curriculum you walk into, whatever room you sit in next year — remember this. The work you put in this summer is invisible to everyone but you. That's the point. The student who shows up in September already fluent isn't lucky. They were quietly relentless when no one was watching.
Be that student.
Tall and slow, or short and frequent — pick your kind of progress.
I built an AI version of myself on Flint K-12 — trained on how I teach, the way I explain things, and a lot of how I'd answer if you put your hand up in class. He's not perfect. But he's me-shaped. And he doesn't sleep.
Stuck on a question? Need a concept explained one more time? Lost your notes the night before a test? Open AI Mr. Dex. He'll work through it with you the same way I would — patient, a little sarcastic, and never, ever just hand you the answer.
Talk to AI Mr. DexUnderneath, it's all just ones and zeros. Click to flip a bit.
Five years of pick-ups, conversos, showtimes, and late-night emails about half-finished projects. None of what your children achieved was possible without you behind them.
If you'd like to grab a coffee, talk shop, or sound out an idea — I'd love that. I'm officially unemployed for the next year and will mostly be on a beach drinking coconuts. But the phone's on.
Click to wave. Every third high-five he hops.
I'm a serial entrepreneur and a polymath of the self-taught kind. I've been in Thailand for years and am currently working through the Thai citizenship process — anyone who's tried it will tell you it's a journey.
By training I'm a STEM teacher: physics, chemistry, biology, maths. By temperament I pick up a new discipline roughly every 18 months. So far that's included laser cutting · 3D printing · web design & development · product design · smart-home automation · investment & real-estate · AI tooling for hospitality and education.
These days I split my time between a 1950s heritage shophouse in Yaowarat that we restored room by room, a poker-timer SaaS that quietly runs home games around the world, a smart-lock platform for short-term rentals, and a science-simulation platform for the next generation of curious kids. None of it would be possible without a very patient partner and an outrageous amount of black coffee.
The through-line: I like problems that sit halfway between fix something practical and build something beautiful. Fourteen years of teaching taught me that the best ideas come from people paying very close attention. I'm taking that into whatever's next.
A few things currently on the bench. Hover for the name, tap to jump to the details below.
Tip in acid or base. Watch the colour shift.
If any of these are interesting — as a customer, an investor, a collaborator, or just out of curiosity — the door is open.
A bench full of tiny experiments, big questions.
A free platform of interactive science simulations. Drop a student in, watch them play, watch them learn. Built for classrooms, students at home, and any teacher who's tired of saying "just imagine the apparatus".
Visit sparkbench.app Live · HospitalityA heritage shophouse in the heart of Yaowarat.
House of Moonlight — a six-room boutique stay in Bangkok's Chinatown. Original 1950s shophouse, lovingly restored, with a curated guest guide that turns first-timers into locals. Multi-channel: Airbnb, Vrbo, direct booking.
Visit baansaengjan.com Live · Experience designWhat if a guest guide actually felt like a story?
Twelve interactive features baked into a single page — time-aware atmosphere, a calligraphy companion, lantern lottery, Yaowarat Bingo, mood-based itinerary recommender, and an AI keyword chat. The kind of thing every boutique stay should have.
See the guide Live · IoTSmart locks, less drama.
A keyless-access platform for short-term rentals, co-living, and offices. Issue time-bound codes, audit who came and went, kill keys you'll never see again. The lock you wish your last Airbnb had.
Visit lockgo.cloud Limited availabilityA few slots, for students I can really help.
Maths and sciences from Year 6 through IGCSE, MYP, and A-Level. Online or in person, in or near Bangkok. Structured curriculum, weekly progress notes for parents, and the patience that fourteen years in a classroom tends to build.
Get in touch→ dex.d@dexstem.com
It'll land in my inbox within a minute. I'll reply when the coconuts allow.
Engineering · Design Thinking · Technology
A High School STEM Design Challenge where students designed mobility aids — assistive devices for people who live with mobility impairments. Each team started with a real user in mind and worked back from there.
The point wasn't to build something flashy. It was to build something useful: imagine for a real person, prototype, test it, refine. The thing the textbook calls iteration and real engineers call Tuesday.
Tap pump to build pressure. Hit launch when you're ready. Then tell me how far you sent it.
The all-time longest rocket launches from anyone who's ever read this page.
One last gift before I disappear into the coconuts. Stay with me.
Pick any number between 1 and 10.
Don't tell me. Just hold it in your head.
Multiply your number by 2.
Now add 8.
Divide by 2.
Now subtract the number you started with.
Got your final answer? Hold it in your head.
Concentrate.
Tuning in to your frequency…
Your final answer is…
Was I right?
One real coconut from the cart down the road = 50 ฿. Any amount welcome — I'll think of you on the beach.
PromptPay · scan with any Thai banking app
Recipient: Alan Thomas George Dexter · Krungthai
ขอบคุณนะครับ — Mr. Dex
I lost my touch for one round in ten years. Or you fibbed. Either way — want another shot?
Or if you want to tip me anyway for the effort: