Highschool learning adapts towards how students utilise both short-term memory (STM) and Long-term memory (LTM). Both systems of the brain work differently, but support each other and play important roles in helping students understand new content, complete class tasks, and perform well in assessments.

Short-term memory acts like the brain’s “holding space.” It stores small amounts of information for a short period of time, often just a few seconds. Highschool students use STM constantly: remembering the steps of a math equation while working it out, keeping track of instructions the teacher gives at the beginning of an activity, or holding onto ideas while forming a paragraph in an English essay. Because STM has limited capacity, students can easily become overwhelmed if too much information is given at once. For tutors, this shows the importance of explaining concepts in small, clear stages and checking for understanding before moving forward.

Long-term memory is where knowledge is stored more permanently. This includes facts, definitions, processes, formulas, and even personal experiences. When a student remembers how to solve equations from last term or can recall quotes from a novel during an exam, they are drawing on LTM. Effective learning involves transferring information from STM into LTM through repetition, meaningful practice, and active engagement. Strategies such as spaced revision, practice quizzes, and using examples from students’ everyday lives help strengthen these long-term memory pathways.

The connection between STM and LTM becomes especially important as students move into senior years. When core knowledge, like times tables, essay structures, or scientific terms, is firmly stored in LTM, students do not need to use valuable STM space to recall it. This allows them to focus on higher-level thinking, such as analysing texts, solving multi-step problems, and applying knowledge in new contexts.

Overall, STM helps students process information in the moment, while LTM gives them the foundation to build a deeper understanding. For highschool learners, strengthening both systems supports confidence, improves academic performance, and makes learning more efficient and enjoyable.

Tiana Tzoukas

Recently, I began working with a kindergarten student, my first kindergarten student, and it has presented itself with yet another learning opportunity for myself as a tutor (one of the perks of this job – constantly learning!). Whilst this student is well behaved, eager to learn, and always giving their best, working with someone as young as five years old, teaching them the very basics and setting out the foundations of their education journey, has taught me that my tutoring approach must change too.

With older students, it’s quite easy to engage in simple, small conversations to gauge their strengths and weaknesses and understand their interests. This makes tutoring them slightly easier as building rapport and targeting areas of weakness happens much earlier on. For kindergarteners however, this is a slightly slower process. As they are so young, it is more challenging to have those constructive conversations and requires patience and collaboration with parents/carers to understand areas to focus on and how to best engage the student. Further, the way the session is structured and conducted must also change. Kindergarteners are only small but super keen! The way we speak, use resources, and provide reinforcements must be carefully considered to not overwhelm the student but rather foster their curiosity and build their confidence, something which is very important so early on.

For me, I have found that speaking in a slightly higher voice, with lots of dynamic, and words of encouragement has helped my student feel comfortable and confident answering questions. Additionally, asking leading questions is something my student responds well to. By not instantly providing answers and rather providing prompts or strategies to work something out seems to excite the student as it is now in their hands to try and explore different ways to understand a topic. I have also found checking in with parents more often than usual and mimicking the topics/approaches taken in school builds consistency and familiarity for my students as well.

Overall, working with this new student has been so rewarding and heartwarming. It has allowed me to understand how to work with young children and connect with them to help make learning an enjoyable experience. As a tutor, it is incredibly special knowing I am able to be a part of a young student’s journey so early on, helping them to understand that learning is a gift and something that is exciting!

Andrea Nouris

Every tutor has met students that are really passionate about their favourite subject or who love to share information or sometimes even try to teach a topic themselves in their own way. When these students genuinely love a topic, they become powerful in a way where learning becomes natural, effort becomes enjoyment and their confidence boosts. As tutors, our job is to inspire our students in order for them to excel, thrive and most importantly love a subject. When they feel ownership over a topic, they begin to enjoy the session, process information faster and eventually take risks at attempting more advanced questions and exploring. Their passion begins to fuel confidence and their enthusiasm turns into academic achievements.

Razan Rustom

Today I observed a year 11/12 standard maths session. They successfully went over various questions and Misha carefully explained any questions and mistakes that were made. As it was the end of term, there was not much content that needed to be covered so they spent the majority of the session reviewing content from throughout the term. Misha did a good job connecting with the student and asking questions about how they were going outside of maths, which helps create a strong tutor-student relationship that assists in building confidence in the student. They managed to be productive throughout the entire session and finished the session off with playing a game which keeps the student motivated and enjoy tutoring sessions.

Maddie Manins

Empowerment sits at the heart of effective tutoring. While tutoring is often framed around improving grades, mastering content, or preparing for assessments, its deeper purpose is to cultivate confidence, independence, and a belief in one’s own potential. When students feel empowered, they don’t just perform better academically, they begin to view themselves differently. They shift from “I can’t do this” to “I can figure this out,” and that mindset lasts far beyond any single subject or exam.

Specifically as the years get older and the work gets harder, tutoring as a means of empowerment matters more than ever. True empowerment starts with creating a safe, judgement-free learning environment. Many students arrive at tutoring convinced they’re “bad at English” or “not a maths person.” Empowering tutors gently rewrite these internal psychological narratives by highlighting strengths, breaking tasks into achievable steps, and celebrating incremental progress. Every small win becomes evidence that improvement is not only possible but already happening. Over time, students internalise these successes as part of their identity.

Another key aspect of empowerment is giving students ownership over their learning. Instead of simply providing answers, tutors can ask questions, guide thinking, and encourage curiosity. This approach teaches students how to problem-solve, how to reflect on mistakes, and how to persist through academic challenges. When students begin to recognise their own agency in learning, they become active participants rather than passive recipients of information.

Empowerment also stems from representation, showing students that their voices, ideas, and perspectives matter. Whether it’s supporting creative expression, validating personal interpretations, or encouraging students to trust their instincts, tutors can help students feel seen and heard. This builds not only academic confidence but personal confidence, too.
Ultimately, tutoring is most powerful when it empowers students to believe in themselves long after the session ends.

Jessica Ciappara

We’ve all been there — staring at an exam question that feels more like a riddle than a clear prompt. Wordy or tricky exam questions are designed to test more than just content knowledge; they challenge your reading comprehension, critical thinking, and ability to apply what you’ve learned in unfamiliar ways. But with the right strategies, you can break them down and respond with confidence.

1. Read the question carefully — twice.
It’s easy to miss key details when you skim. Always read the question slowly, then read it again to spot hidden cues, command words (like explain, justify, or compare), and constraints (like “using only data from the table above”).

2. Highlight or underline keywords.
Pull out the most important words or phrases. What exactly is the question asking you to do? Are there multiple parts? Is it referring to a graph, scenario, or formula? This helps keep your answer focused.

3. Rephrase the question in your own words.
Before answering, try putting the question into simpler language. This ensures you understand it and helps reduce anxiety caused by complicated wording.

4. Plan your response.
Don’t just start writing. Take 20–30 seconds to jot down key points or steps, especially for extended responses. A quick outline can save time and help keep your answer structured and relevant.

5. Don’t overthink it.
Sometimes tricky questions seem difficult because they look different — but they’re still testing familiar concepts. Trust your preparation and focus on applying what you know logically.

Finally, practice is key. The more past papers and unfamiliar question styles you expose yourself to, the more comfortable you’ll become with handling complex wording under pressure.

julian podgornik

Homework is a great tutoring tool to encourage students to take ownership of their learning and further develop their problem-solving and independent study skills.

It’s important for homework to be adjusted to the individual student, specifically in terms of the amount, difficulty level and type of task. For younger students, I find it best to balance questions—with most being content we worked on together that needs consolidating—whilst including a few harder questions to test their independence when learning. This builds confidence whilst also fostering a sense of self-responsibility. By working independently at home, students are able to practise applying strategies on their own and reflect on what they understand well versus what needs revisiting. This also ensures the student remains engaged in their learning throughout the week, even when away from their lessons.

Homework also plays an important role during tutoring sessions, where it provides the opportunity for students to receive feedback, and for the tutor to fill in any gaps in knowledge that may have been missed. This then allows the session to remain focused on the student’s needs and goals while ensuring that new content is introduced at an appropriate pace. Further, it helps the student recognise their own growth over time, reinforcing a positive learning mindset. Additionally, homework provides a great communication tool for parents and tutor to connect through, as it offers a clear snapshot of what the student has been practising and how they are progressing. It allows the student’s parents to remain informed and involved in their child’s learning. This also allows for transparency between student, tutor and family, whilst contributing to a consistent learning environment both during sessions and at home.

Overall, when used thoughtfully, homework supports consistent progress, strengthens communication, and empowers students to take an active role in their learning. By tailoring tasks to each student and integrating them meaningfully into sessions, homework becomes a valuable tool that enhances both confidence and long-term academic development.

Annabelle Molloy

As tutors, we often focus on curriculum content—math skills, reading comprehension, exam techniques—but one of the most powerful things we can teach is confidence. When a student believes they can succeed, their learning accelerates. Confidence isn’t something students either “have” or “don’t have”; it’s a skill that can be built with the right support, structure, and mindset.

The first step is creating an environment where mistakes are seen as part of learning, not something to be afraid of. Many students arrive at tutoring feeling anxious or embarrassed about what they don’t know. By normalising mistakes and showing them how each error gives us information, we shift the focus from perfection to progress. This mindset is especially effective in subjects like Maths, where multi-step processes can feel overwhelming without reassurance.

Another key strategy is teaching students how to break down complex tasks. Whether it’s a long-response English question or a multi-step algebraic equation, students gain confidence when they understand how to tackle problems in stages. Modelling your thinking aloud is a simple but powerful tool—students benefit enormously from hearing expert reasoning. They learn not just what to do, but how to think.

Consistent routines also help build confidence. Starting each session with a quick warm-up, reviewing previous concepts, or setting a small learning goal can help students feel in control. When progress is visible—through corrected work, improved test scores, or simply a smoother approach to solving problems—students begin to trust their abilities.

Finally, celebrate the wins, big or small. Confidence grows when achievements are acknowledged. A student who once struggled with basic fraction operations may beam with pride after solving a word problem independently. These moments matter; they reinforce effort and remind students that they are capable learners.

Tutoring is more than academic support—it’s guidance, encouragement, and the steady reminder that growth is always possible. When we help students believe in themselves, everything else becomes easier. And often, that confidence becomes the most valuable lesson they carry with them long after tutoring ends.

Carmen Yuen

Consistency is one of the most powerful drivers of academic growth and at First Education, homework plays a crucial role in building that steady progress. While tutoring sessions provide targeted instruction, guided practice and real-time feedback, it is the work students complete between sessions that truly solidifies their learning. Homework acts as the bridge between what is learned in the centre and how confidently a student can apply those skills independently.

Regular, well-structured homework tasks help students develop discipline and routines; two qualities that support long-term academic success. When students work on small, achievable tasks across the week, they engage with content more frequently, rather than relying solely on short bursts of learning during sessions. This repetition strengthens memory, deepens understanding and promotes the level of skill needed to move ahead in school with confidence.

In a tutoring environment, homework does not exist merely for the sake of it. It is purposeful, targeted and personalised. Tutors design tasks that reinforce each student’s goals, whether that is building foundational skills, improving reading fluency or tackling complex problem-solving in numeracy. Because the workload is tailored, students are more likely to stay motivated and less likely to feel overwhelmed. The consistency this creates leads to steady improvement that both students and families can clearly see.

Homework also strengthens communication between tutors, students and parents. Completed tasks provide valuable insight into how well students are grasping concepts outside of the session. Tutors can then adjust following lessons, celebrate progress or step in with additional support if needed. Over time, this ongoing cycle of practice and feedback builds a strong learning rhythm. Ultimately, homework supports the development of confident, independent learners. At First Education, it is not just an extra task; it is a strategic tool for achieving consistency, building capability and helping students realise their full potential.

Kaelyn Tan

It’s crucial to keep students focused on the topic they are studying so that they can stay engaged and motivated in their learning. Students can often get distracted and can shift their focus from the topic they are studying to another topic. It’s crucial that tutors are able to shift their focus back onto the task they are working on. There are many strategies they can use to address the students attention, motivation and engagement in the content they are studying.

One on one tutoring allows, tutors to tailor their teaching approach to their student’s needs and learning style. For example, if there is a student who is a visual learner, tutors can use mind maps, pictures and videos to help their student understand the content they are studying.

Tutors have to overcome the challenge of helping their students who struggle with attention, feel overwhelmed by the material, or have low motivation to do their work and to stay on task. Effective tutors use a combination of structure, interaction, and encouragement to keep students engaged and on task.

A strategy tutors can use to maintain their students focus is at the start of each session, set clear expectations of what they want the student to accomplish in the hour. When students know the specific tasks they need to complete and the time frame they need to complete them can help the student to stay on track and get less distracted as they are motivated to finish the task.

Tutors can also break each session into smaller sections with different types of activities for the student to complete. With smaller tasks to complete it allows the student to sustain their attention. Bu doing different types of activities ca also help the student to stay focused as they are using different parts of their brain to complete the different tasks.

For some students, the tutor can use a small brain break to help their student take a targeted break so that they can remain focused for the rest of the session.

Overall, tutors can use different structures to keep their students focused on the task.

Ashley Cohen