Today I observed Isabella working with her Year 11 student, April, on trigonometry involving right angled triangles and bearings. The lesson was highly engaging and demonstrated Isabella’s strong ability to explain complex mathematical concepts in a clear and structured way.

One of the most effective aspects of the session was Isabella’s use of diagrams and visual explanations. She carefully drew triangles and bearings on the board, labelling angles and sides clearly so April could visualise the relationships within each question. This made the problems feel far less overwhelming and helped connect the formulas to the diagrams in a meaningful way.

Isabella also did an excellent job reinforcing the importance of working methodically through each question. Rather than rushing to an answer, she encouraged April to identify the known information first, determine which trigonometric ratio was needed, and then solve step by step. This structured approach helped April stay organised and reduced mistakes.

Another standout feature of the lesson was Isabella’s questioning style. Instead of simply telling April what to do, she regularly asked guiding questions to encourage independent thinking. Questions such as “Which side are we solving for?” and “What does the bearing tell us here?” prompted April to think critically and apply her understanding rather than rely on memorisation alone.

When April was unsure, Isabella remained patient and calmly re explained concepts using simpler examples before returning to the original question. This created a very supportive learning environment where April felt comfortable asking questions and working through challenges.

Overall, Isabella delivered a very strong lesson. Her clear explanations, strong use of visuals, and ability to guide independent thinking helped April build confidence and understanding in trigonometry and bearings. I will definitely apply some of these teaching strategies in my own tutoring sessions.

Demetria Koutavas