Today I had the opportunity to observe Annaliese tutoring a Year 11 Mathematics student on the topic of linear equations. Throughout the lesson, she showed such a clear understanding of the content and had a structured approach that helped the student build their understanding and confidence.

At the beginning of the session, Annaliese started by casually chatting about the students week, how they have found the weeks content. They then reviewed the topics they have previously been through to ensure the student had a strong foundation before going into more complex problems. She clearly explained variables, gradients, intercepts, forms of linear equations etc. Her explanations were super easy to follow!!

Annaliese was her able to break down challenging questions into smaller, manageable steps. Rather than simply providing answers, she encouraged the student to think about the process required to solve each problem. She asked guiding questions and prompted the student to explain their reasoning.

Throughout the lesson, Annaliese regularly checked for understanding and adapted her explanations when necessary. When the student encountered difficulties, she used alternative examples and diagrams to clarify concepts. This ensured the student remained engaged and continued to make progress.

The learning environment was so supportive and encouraging. Annaliese consistently reinforced the student’s successes while treating mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. Her positive feedback helped build the student’s confidence and willingness to attempt more challenging questions independently. She finished off the lesson by working through past paper questions which I could tell the student found really helpful.

Overall, the lesson was highly effective. Annaliese used excellent communication skills to create an engaging and productive learning experience. Her ability to scaffold learning, encourage independent thinking and adapt to the student’s needs enabled the student to develop a stronger understanding of linear equations and greater confidence in their mathematical abilities.

Shyla Gloster