Recently I’ve started tutoring primary school kids, and it’s actually been more challenging than anything I’ve done with older students. I went into it thinking it would be easier because the content is “simple,” but I learned pretty quickly that the real challenge isn’t the work — it’s how you teach it.

With senior students, you can explain something once and they usually meet you halfway. With younger kids, everything has to be broken down into really small steps, and you constantly have to make sure they’re still focused, still understanding, and not drifting off into their own little world. I’ve had to slow down my whole teaching style and rethink the way I explain even the most basic concepts.

But honestly, it’s been good for me. Teaching little kids forces you to go back to the foundation of learning — things we normally take for granted, like sounding out words or understanding place value. You realise how important these basics are and how much confidence comes from mastering them early.

The best part has been seeing how excited they get over small wins. When a student finally reads a tricky word or nails something they’ve been struggling with, they light up in a way that reminds me why I like tutoring in the first place.

So even though it’s been a big learning experience for me, it’s also been rewarding in a different way. Teaching primary kids is definitely its own challenge, but it’s made me a more patient and adaptable tutor.

Ellie Mceachern