As parents, it is only natural to be worried about their engagement both inside and outside of tutoring lessons. Many students will be very engaged and enthusiastic in their sessions until it is time to go home and listen to their parents to do their tutoring work or school homework and they are resistant.

One effective strategy to overcome this is to establish a consistent weekly routine that is easy for both students and parents to follow. I recommend a visible weekly schedule where both tutoring work and regular work can have allocated time slots; such as having a weekly chart on the fridge. By doing this, children can track their responsibilities while simultaneously developing a sense of structure and accountability. The key here is to make the routine clear, predictable and a natural part of the household environment, but also including any other regular events such as sporting games and family events that are intertwined with the child’s academic commitments.

This approach helps to maintain the flow of enthusiasm inside the sessions to the follow-through required for doing the work set at home, as the child will understand when it is time to focus on each task. In doing so, it makes it easier for both parents and children to stay on the same page and erases any possible mix-ups of when work is to be done.

Having a dedicated routine helps children to develop a sense of independence and maturity by not having to be told when to do their homework. When they can visibly see their tasks clearly labelled in front of them, it provides a structure and routine to follow. It also helps parents to stay involved in the process and to keep track of the work their child is doing so they can highlight to their tutor where they may need extra help without appearing as overbearing to their children.

At the end of the day, a clear and consistent weekly routine can help to create a sense of accountability and independence that ensures students stay engaged and on track with their academic responsibilities without feeling frustrated or less-inclined to disagree with parent’s constant homework reminders.

Sarah Constantinidis

I remember when I was doing my HSC and what it was like before entering an exam. Sometimes it was exciting!! An opportunity to show off your knowledge and preparation on a subject you’re passionate about, and get that good mark. A lot of the time though it’s stressful. Like all of your worth is determined on that one test. Like the whole weight of the world rests on your shoulders. This was especially so for subjects I struggled with, like English for instance.

It’s easy to let this feeling overwhelm you. Overcome you, even. It’s easy to let this feeling mess you up. That’s why it’s important to know how to manage stress, especially right before an exam. There’s many things you can do (that I know have helped me) to ensure you can battle this stress head on and come out of the exam feeling like you’ve done well – or, at least, the best you could have done. Here are my top three:

1. Ensuring a good nights sleep and decent breakfast on the morning of.

Your brain is like a muscle – this is a pretty common analogy, but this doesn’t make it any less true. Your brain is constantly in use, and NEEDS rest from all the things that happened the day before. A good nights sleep and a decent breakfast the day before/day of ensures that your brain is feeling fresh and calm. A good breakfast will only help this further. Your brain needs nutrients and energy and will perform better with a decent breakfast.

It’s said that prevention is the best cure, and this is very much a preventative measure for stress relief – it is something that you can only do as a step to prepare for the stress of exams. Making this a habit is vital.

2. Go for a walk

This method is so good because you can do it basically anywhere, anytime. All it requires is putting down your phone (maybe having some calm music on if that helps), going for a short stroll, and taking some deep breaths. It pays off to clear the mind, and deep breathing is an amazing strategy for this. Doing this in nature is doubly as beneficial (majority of HSC exams are early in the morning – take advantage of this and go for a walk, take in the fresh air and morning sun, admire the jacarandas and chirping birds etc).

3. Talk to a mate

Sometimes it gets really hard to calm down. Maybe it’s 15 minutes before your exam and you’re cramming notes last second. One thing you could do, is you could take some deep breaths, and ask a good mate for help. They’ll always be there for you, and words of encouragement can go a long way.

Zac Markovina

I had the opportunity to reflect on my experience so far as a tutor at First Education. With the influx of new tutors joining us recently, it has inspired me to write this reflective piece about one resource that I have found invaluable throughout my tutoring journey, twinkl.

As someone who tutors many primary students, I have found this tool to be of immense support due to its wide library of teaching resources, ranging from worksheets to entire lesson plans. It has allowed me to find multiple ready-made resources to incorporate into my lessons, saving time and effort while also being equally engaging for students.

Additionally, being able to change and modify worksheets already available on the website has allowed me to easily adapt whatever resource needed to fit each of my student’s focus areas and learning goals. This unique level of accessibility and personalisation has been extremely useful and time efficient.

Finally, their resources have specifically stood out to me as they always encourage elements of critical thinking. With a wide range of topics (science, art, maths, literacy and more) students are invited to interact in unique ways that ignite a sense of curiosity and motivation.

Overall, I have found this learning tool to be effective, fun and easy to use. I recommend any tutor who has not already had a look at this resource to check it out 🙂

Katerina Vrahnos

Exam time for students can become incredibly stressful, and often this extra stress doesn’t help with the progression of their studying or mental well-being. This is especially true for year 12s and the high stakes associated with a lot of their exams. So I thought I’d share some things that I found helpful in high school to prepare for my exams, which could be helpful for tutoring students as well.

The first one was creating an exam timetable. This means using a calendar and not only adding in your exams, but also allocating time to study for certain subjects to ensure you cover everything. A really great online calendar I found was Notion because it sets out your weeks really clearly, and allows you to add to-do lists under each event. A calendar can help mental stress greatly as students can see when their exams are, as well as the steps and study sessions they should be taking in order to be prepared. This way no exams or assignments can be forgotten and will jump out the week before it’s due.

To-do lists are another great way of studying and reducing overwhelm. To-do lists, whether by subject or by topic can help break down the studying of large pieces of content and allow more effective progress. It is a lot easier to check off 15 minutes of practice questions over finishing an entire chapter. The feeling of checking off tasks is also incredibly satisfying and creates a motivation to complete tasks.

Another way to reduce stress around exams is finding effective ways to study. I found that active recall was a very effective study method across all my subjects. Further, I found that practice exams and exam-style questions were incredibly effective for maths and chemistry. Practice body paragraphs and 5 minute essay plans were also really helpful for English. It is important to find study techniques that work to help students reassure themselves they have prepared effectively. I hope this was helpful!

Isabella Mackay

In the fast paced world of tutoring, it’s easy to assume that the more a tutor speaks, the more effective the session will be. After all, the role of a tutor is to explain concepts, offer feedback and answer questions. However, there’s a surprisingly powerful strategy that’s often overlooked. Giving student’s the time and space to think and not filling every moment with words, can be one of the most impactful tools in a tutor’s toolkit.

In tutoring, we’re often focused on providing immediate solutions, particularly when a student struggles with a problem. Sometimes, the best way to help a student is not to give them the answer straight away. When we remain silent, we encourage students to process the information themselves, which leads to deeper learning. This pause gives them the opportunity to problem solve, make connections and internalise the concepts at their own pace.

There’s a key difference between helping and solving. Helping is about guiding the student towards the answer, while solving is about doing the work for them. If a tutor rushes to fill the silence with instructions, there’s a risk of robbing the student of the opportunity to develop independent critical thinking skills. When we allow silence, we’re teaching them to become more self reliant and to trust their own thought process.

Silence also creates a reflective space for students to express any confusion or thoughts they might be hesitant to voice. Sometimes, students don’t know how to ask the right questions and the quiet moment gives them the space to clarify their thoughts and find the words they need. This unspoken moment can lead to powerful breakthroughs where a student makes a realisation on their own.

Of course, silence doesn’t mean complete inaction. It’s about striking a balance between speaking and giving the student time to engage with the material. When used thoughtfully, silence can enhance a student’s confidence and self awareness, making the learning experience feel more empowering rather than dependent on the tutor’s input.

So next time you’re in a tutoring session, try embracing the silence. Give your student the space to think, reflect and explore the material at their own pace. You may be surprised by the results and it’s often in those quiet moments that true learning happens.

Isabella Naumovski

Today I had the amazing opportunity to observe Sienna! Sienna’s tutoring session with her junior high school student was structured yet engaging, striking a balance between academic rigour and interactive learning. She displayed a high level of patience and adaptability, ensuring that the student remained both focused and comfortable throughout the session.

At the start, Sienna asked the student to explain her current understanding of the topic, using open-ended questions to assess any gaps in knowledge. Today’s session focused on algebraic expressions, and rather than immediately providing solutions, Sienna encouraged the student to think critically. When the student hesitated on a problem involving simplifying expressions, Sienna guided her with step-by-step prompts, such as, “What happens when we combine like terms?” and “Can you see any patterns here?” This approach allowed the student to actively engage with the material rather than passively receiving answers.

Midway through the session, they played a game of Uno as a short break. Sienna used this time to build rapport, chatting casually while still maintaining a structured session. She seamlessly transitioned back into the lesson by integrating elements of problem-solving into their conversation. This helped reinforce mathematical thinking in a relaxed setting.

As the session progressed, Sienna continually checked for understanding, rephrasing explanations when needed and prompting the student to verbalize her reasoning. By the end, the student demonstrated improved confidence in approaching algebraic problems. Sienna concluded by summarising key takeaways and setting a small practice task for the next session. Her patient and inquiry-based teaching style fostered a supportive learning environment, ensuring that the student left feeling both challenged and encouraged.

Sophie McGrath

When we think about tutoring, the first thing that usually comes to mind is a structured, serious session focused on mastering content. While this approach is necessary for academic success, one often overlooked element that can make a huge difference is humour. It may sound unconventional, but humour in tutoring can be a powerful tool that enhances learning, eases anxiety and even fosters a deeper connection between tutor and student.

Humour has the ability to disarm. Student’s often come to tutoring feeling stressed or frustrated with the material they’re struggling to understand. The pressure to perform can create a barrier to effective learning. When a tutor incorporates humour, it breaks that tension and creates an environment where the student feels more relaxed and open to new ideas. A well time joke or light hearted comment can quickly change the tone of a session, transforming it from a chore to a more enjoyable experience.

Moreover, humour can make complex or boring topics more engaging. For example, when tutoring a student in mathematics, a tutor might use playful metaphors or create funny scenarios that tie into the concepts being taught. It could be something as simple as comparing the process of solving equations to “chasing down a runaway train”. These random comparisons make the material more relatable and memorable, which helps students retain the information longer.

Humour also fosters connection. In a one on one tutoring environment, the relationship between tutor and student is key. By sharing a laugh, the tutor shows a more personal side, which can help the student feel more comfortable and less intimidated. A strong rapport encourages students to open up, ask questions and make mistakes without fear of judgement, all of which are crucial for effective learning.

Ultimately, while humour shouldn’t overshadow the seriousness of the learning material being taught, but serve as a bridge between the student’s current state of stress and their potential for learning. By infusing tutoring sessions with a bit of fun, we remind our students that learning doesn’t have to be a daunting process, but it can be a journey full of curiosity, creativity and even laughter.

Isabella Naumovski

Today, I had the chance to observe one of my fellow tutors as she conducted a session on percentage increase and decrease with her student. It was incredibly impressive to see how she navigated the lesson with clarity and patience, creating an environment where the student felt confident and engaged.

Her teaching style was both methodical and supportive. She broke down the concept of percentage increase and decrease into simple, manageable steps, ensuring the student understood the logic behind each calculation. Rather than rushing through the material, she took the time to explain each part of the process thoroughly, helping the student build a strong understanding of the topic.

She also, used real-world examples, such as calculating discounts and price increases, to make the lesson relatable. This approach helped the student see how the concepts applied to everyday situations, making the math feel much more practical and relevant. Her ability to connect abstract concepts to real-life scenarios helped maintain the student’s focus and interest throughout the session.

She was also incredibly attentive to the student’s needs, adjusting her approach whenever the student seemed uncertain. Whenever the student struggled with a particular problem, she took the time to explain it from a different angle, reinforcing the concept until the student gained full confidence. Her positive reinforcement and encouragement kept the student motivated and engaged, making sure they never felt discouraged.

The session was a wonderful example of effective tutoring—patient, thorough, and encouraging. By the end, the student demonstrated a much deeper understanding of percentage increase and decrease, and the tutor’s approach was a true model of effective teaching.

Tira Rustom

This afternoon, I had the chance to sit in on Demetria’s session with Harper, a Year 10 student working on maths. They started by going over some tricky homework questions from last week, where Harper had to sketch linear expressions. Demetria got Harper to explain his thinking first, helping him spot where he went wrong on his own. This approach really seemed to help, as Harper was able to correct some of his errors without too much guidance.

After clearing up the homework, they moved on to revising gradients and the idea of rise over run. Demetria made sure Harper understood why the gradient formula works rather than just memorising it. They spent some times looking at negative vs positive gradients, and what that actually looks like on a graph. She used simple, clear examples and had Harper talk through how he would find the gradient of different lines. When he got stuck, she asked guiding questions to help him connect the numbers to what was happening on the graph. Once he had a better grasp of gradients, they moved on to graphing full linear equations. Demetria had Harper try a few on his own, reminding him to double-check key points before sketching the line. Instead of jumping in when he hesitated, she gave him time to think and only stepped in with hints when needed. As the session went on, Harper started working through problems more quickly and with greater confidence.

In the second half of the session, they shifted focus to rates and how to interpret them from graphs. Demetria explained how rates relate to gradient, helping Harper see the connection between the two topics. She used real-world examples, and worked through a few problems where Harper had to read and compare rates from different lines. By the end, Harper was much more comfortable identifying rates from graphs and understanding what they represented.

To wrap up, Demetria had Harper go back to one of the homework questions he had struggled with at the start of the session. This time, he was able to solve it correctly without help, which showed how much progress he had made. They also discussed a few strategies to help him stay organised and avoid small mistakes when working under time pressure.

Overall, it was a really productive session. I feel like Harper left with a much stronger understanding of gradients, graphing, and rates, and I picked up some great strategies from Demetria that I can use in my own sessions. Thanks

Eric Mihas

Sustainability is becoming an essential part of education, and tutoring presents a unique opportunity to instill these values in students. Whether teaching math, science or English, tutors can incorporate sustainability principles to help students understand real-world applications of their subjects. For example, math tutors can use environmental data to teach statistics, while science tutors can discuss renewable energy, climate change, and ecological conservation. Even English tutors can introduce sustainability-themed readings and discussions to raise awareness. By integrating these topics into lessons, tutors not only enhance academic learning but also foster critical thinking about global challenges.

Beyond subject matter, tutors can model sustainable practices by using digital resources instead of printed materials, encouraging energy-efficient study habits, and discussing the importance of responsible consumption. They can also guide students in sustainable research practices, such as evaluating credible environmental sources and considering ethical implications in their work. More than just teaching facts, sustainability in tutoring is about shaping responsible, informed individuals who can apply their knowledge to create positive change. By making sustainability a natural part of education, tutors help students see its relevance in their daily lives and future careers, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable world.

Emily Mackay