Before starting my own tutoring journey I had the opportunity to observe an experienced tutor during a session with a Year 3 student. This was incredibly valuable, as I am about to begin tutoring a Year 2 student, a similar age group where attention spans and overall motivation can be challenging to manage.

During the observation, I noticed how important it was to structure the session with small breaks in between content, with the tutor using short games and activities as both a break and as a reward for completing work. This strategy kept the student motivated, giving her a clear incentive to stay focused throughout the session. It also broke up the learning into smaller, more manageable sections, which is especially important for younger learners who may struggle to concentrate for long periods. After seeing how effective this was, I plan to use a similar strategy in my own sessions to keep my student focused and enthusiastic.

The tutor has also created a strong relationship with the student, which made the session flow more smoothly and allowed for greater participation. She maintained a friendly, joking rapport that made the student feel comfortable to ask questions and express herself without fear of making mistakes, demonstrating how creating a relaxed and supportive environment and building trust is critical for learning to happen, especially with younger students.

Observing this tutoring session gave me a much clearer understanding of what an effective and engaging lesson looks like. It made me feel more confident and better prepared for my own first session, providing me with practical strategies I can apply to create a positive and motivating learning experience for my student.

Evelyn Efstathakis