Today I observed Raphael’s lesson with his Year 8 maths student, and it was an excellent session to watch. Raphael incorporated a range of teaching methods and techniques to ensure the lesson was both productive and supportive. He began with light, casual conversation, which helped to establish rapport and create a calm, relaxed learning environment. This immediately put the student at ease and set a positive tone for the session. From there, Raphael quickly and efficiently assessed what the student needed to focus on, demonstrating strong subject knowledge and an awareness of the student’s current understanding.

The lesson centred on algebraic expressions, with particular emphasis on converting worded problems into numerical expressions using variables. Raphael carefully broke down each question, modelling the thought process required to translate written information into algebra. He ensured that the student understood not just the method, but the reasoning behind each step. When the student appeared unsure or lacking confidence, Raphael offered genuine encouragement and reassurance, which clearly helped to build the student’s self-belief and willingness to attempt more challenging problems.

One of Raphael’s key strengths was his ability to adapt in the moment. He was highly attuned to the student’s level of understanding, recognising when to increase the level of challenge and when to pause and consolidate learning. This flexibility ensured that the student remained stretched but not overwhelmed. Raphael also consistently encouraged the student to take initiative and attempt answers independently, even when it was clear that this felt daunting. This approach fostered resilience and promoted active engagement.

After clearly explaining the key concepts and working through examples together, Raphael set a series of practice questions. The repetition allowed the student to reinforce the method and build fluency, helping the process become more automatic. Overall, this was a highly effective lesson, and I gained valuable insight into Raphael’s thoughtful and adaptive teaching approach.

Jenna Freed