Hey guys, today I had the opportunity to watch Corey’s session.
From the outset, Corey worked to create a welcoming environment; his warm attitude was infectious. This simple, conscious effort to maintain a positive demeanour reminded me how important it is to give each student our utmost energy and attention. It was clear in this session how receptive students are to an enthusiastic approach; despite the young age of Corey’s student, he remained engaged, asking relevant questions and effectively engaging with the math content. The rapport between Corey and his student was palpable; not only was energy sustained, but there was active listening exhibited by both parties.
A notable moment during the session was when the student was tasked with a question that was beyond his expected understanding. Rather than dismissing the clear frustration the student was experiencing, Corey acknowledged the unreasonable nature of the question, validating the experience of his student. This approach was inspiring as the student returned from his frustration to engage with the content. It was lovely to see Corey recognise the challenge yet still explain how to complete the question in the future; seeing him consider the student’s experience while extending their understanding truly encapsulates the strength and value of a good tutoring experience.
Further, the modularised approach Corey took in explaining multi-stepped questions was very effective. He drew from examples of intuition to guide the student through the process. When the student was tasked with converting units, Corey showed how to approach the question in clear stages. When recalling how many centimetres in a metre, Corey called on the student’s knowledge of their height and their consequent understanding of a metre. This method of linking mathematical concepts to concrete, everyday examples was a powerful reminder of how effective it can be to ground abstract ideas in familiar contexts. By doing so, Corey not only made the conversion process more accessible but also demonstrated how mathematics is intrinsically connected to the physical world around us.
Great work!
Thea Macarthur-Lassen
