I recently observed Joel working with one of his students and was struck by how thoughtfully she ran the lesson. From the outset, he was very confident and knowledgeable about topic areas from the get-go. He also planned, making sure his student would leave with learning opportunities and areas to work on for the week ahead, while leaving confidently knowing the previous content they had completed during the session.

Joel’s explanations were also very clear and concise. He used everyday language, defined new terms as they came up, and regularly paused to confirm that the student was following along and learning along the way, as he took a hands-off approach, which is a perfect approach for tutors to take from my own learning. Rather than correcting errors straight away, he posed guiding questions that helped to see the source of a mistake. When working through problems, he modelled his own reasoning step by step, letting the student watch his thought process unfold as well as imitate his process with their own working later on.

His time management was equally impressive. He moved the lesson forward at a steady pace, spending just enough time on topics of need as well as practising what they were learning during the session.

Overall, Joel demonstrated a well-balanced blend of preparation and clarity, and an approach that kept the student engaged. This made the session both efficient and encouraging, letting the student walk away benefiting from the session that had just finished with new knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the content covered.

Lucas Sinnott