I observed Joe tutor a Year 6 maths student today in algebra. The session began with him asking about the student about his week, spending 5 minutes to talk to him on a more personal level before launching straight into work. I think this approach really works especially with younger students because it establishes a more comfortable environment and shows them you’re interested in not only what happens inside the classroom but outside it too.

What also really stood out to me was how Joe handled mistakes. When the student incorrectly moved a number, he made sure that the student realised their mistake and then gave them similar questions like that to test their understanding until they didnt make that mistake again. He made sure the student didnt feel embarrassed which is attributed to his friendly demeanor and approach. By the end of the session, the student was clearly more confident and comfortable with algebra. He made sure to build up the students confidence and made sure the student believed he was capable of doing any algebra question thrown at him.

Overall, Joe made sure that the student was confident in himself and that translated into the student’s work and ability.

Annaliese Lakis