First Education

Studying ancient history is more than just learning about dusty relics and long-dead kings, it’s about understanding the very foundations of our modern world. Why did societies develop the way they did? Where do our laws, languages, and philosophies come from? The answers are rooted in the ancient past. By exploring the triumphs and failures of civilizations like Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, we gain a crucial perspective on our own time.

These ancient cultures were pioneers, creating the first cities, inventing writing, and wrestling with timeless questions of governance and justice. Their stories offer powerful lessons, showing us models of innovation and warning us against the pitfalls of hubris and conflict. Understanding their context helps us make sense of today’s complex geopolitical landscapes and cultural interactions.

Furthermore, studying ancient history hones our critical thinking skills. It teaches us to piece together narratives from fragmented evidence like pottery shards, inscriptions, ruins and to question the biases of historical sources. This ability to analyse information and construct a reasoned argument is an invaluable skill. In essence, looking back at the ancient world allows us to see ourselves and our present more clearly.

Nabil Harrar

One of the most underrated study strategies is teaching someone else what you have just learned.
When you explain a concept to another person, or even an object!!, you’re forced to organise your thoughts clearly, use your own words and consequently identify any gaps in understanding. It’s one thing to agree to understanding the content but being able to explain why or how a topic works is another. If you are able to turn to another person and break it down so that they themselves understand, that’s when you can truly believe that you yourself understand.
Even I use this technique as a tutor with my students. After working through a problem together. I will turn to my student and ask them to teach it back to me. At first, they are sometimes confused but they start to understand how much it helps in consolidating knowledge as they need to dig deep into all topics of the content to explain. Often, if they stumble, I can clearly see what knowledge gap I need to address. I can then provide certain questions which will address this gap and hopefully build their confidence as their learning is reinforced.
This technique can be used even without a tutor or friend. You could look at yourself in the mirror and try to explain it to yourself. You could try explain it to a pet or even a stuffed animal. If you really want to see what level of understanding you are at, you can record yourself explaining and see where you stumbled and quickly address this gap in knowledge by going back through notes or the textbook.
This method is great for changing passive learning to active, really ensuring that students are understanding all aspects of the content.

Lily Powell

With HSC exams only a few weeks away, these holidays provide the perfect opportunity for final revision. Here are my best tips for HSC study so you can stay productive, organised and well-rested.

1. List all the study tasks you want to complete by the end of this 2 week break, rank them from highest priority to lowest priority, and use this to create a study timetable/calendar. By having each day’s work already organised in advance, you can feel confident knowing that if you stick to this plan, you’ll complete all your necessary study.

2. To avoid burnout, make sure you incorporate an effective study technique. This could be using the Pomodoro method where you study for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break, repeating this pattern until you’re ready to take a longer break. Or you could use a study app like Forest to set a study timer and grow your very own virtual tree! Whatever study technique you choose, make sure it’s one that you’ll stick to consistently so you can maintain motivation whilst also taking breaks.

3. Complete HSC past papers to feel confident on exam day! Also, trial papers are still helpful to complete to ensure you’ve attempted as many questions as possible.

4. Make sure to prioritise a good sleep schedule. Studying all day and pulling all-nighters will not be effective as you will be too exhausted to retain any information. Sleeping well will help you undertake high quality study and rest your mind!

5. Find a hobby to do in study breaks that you enjoy. Whether this is exercising, reading or watching your favourite TV show, it helps you relax and motivates you to study well and rest!

Wishing all Year 12 students the best of luck with their HSC exams!

Kristina McLean

In tutoring sessions, one of the most valuable learning tools is a student’s past mistakes. Instead of brushing over them quickly, I make it a point to go back and review where the error happened and why.

Many students see mistakes as something negative, but I try to show them that mistakes are actually opportunities. If we only focus on the questions they got right, we miss the chance to fix the misunderstandings that could come up again in exams.

When a student makes an error, I guide them through the problem step by step and ask questions like, “Where do you think it went wrong?” or “What could we try differently?” This way, they learn how to spot and correct their own mistakes instead of waiting for someone else to tell them.

I also keep a record of common errors. Over time, students start to notice patterns in their mistakes, whether it is misreading the question, forgetting units, or skipping a step in working out. Recognising these patterns helps them avoid repeating them.

Reviewing mistakes takes a little extra time, but it leads to long-term improvement. By turning errors into lessons, students become more resilient and confident in their maths skills.

James Valiozis

Tutoring can make a real difference in your HSC year, but only if you approach it with the right mindset. Just showing up isn’t enough to see results. The key is to treat each session as an opportunity to actively move forward in your learning, not just go over content passively with someone watching.

A great way to start is by coming prepared. Even spending 5 to 10 minutes before your session reviewing your schoolwork or pinpointing areas you’re struggling with can lead to a much more focused and productive lesson. Whether it’s a confusing concept from class, feedback from an assessment, or a question you couldn’t quite crack, bringing something specific helps guide the session and makes sure your tutor knows exactly where to help.

Honesty is just as important. If there’s something you don’t understand then say so. There’s no benefit in pretending to keep up. In fact, being upfront about your confusion is one of the smartest things you can do. Your tutor’s job is to help you make sense of difficult topics, but they can only do that if they know where you’re stuck. Asking questions isn’t a weakness, it’s actually one of the best ways to learn.

During your session, try to stay actively involved rather than just listening. Passive learning can feel comfortable, but it rarely leads to long-term improvement. Instead, use tutoring time to practice: write responses, solve problems, or answer questions under time pressure. Think of each session as a training session, not just a review. That’s how you build real skills and confidence.

Finally, consistency is everything. A tutor can guide, support, and motivate you but they can’t do the work for you. Real improvement happens in the time between sessions. Stick to the study goals you set, follow up on your weak areas, and take ownership of your learning. The more effort you put in outside of tutoring, the more progress you’ll see over time.

Final Thoughts

The HSC isn’t a quick sprint : it’s a marathon. A great tutor is like a coach, but the training and effort still have to come from you. Show up prepared, stay engaged, and commit to the process. That’s where the real growth happens and that’s how you’ll get the most out of every session.

Natasya Ross

Today I observed Tynan’s Year 10 Maths session.

Today, the session focused on solving quadratic equations and learning how to write quadratic equations in standard form. Tynan encouraged the student to take the lead by working through the problems independently, which helped build confidence and problem-solving skills. While the student was working, Tynan provided guidance where necessary, offering prompts and clarifying any misconceptions without giving away the full solution. This approach allowed the student to actively engage with the material and develop their own strategies for tackling quadratic problems. Once the student completed the questions, Tynan and his student reviewed the solutions together in detail. During this review, Tynan highlighted the key steps, reinforced important concepts, and corrected any errors, ensuring that the student fully understood the process. This balance of independent practice followed by guided feedback helped strengthen the student’s understanding of quadratics and supported their overall learning progress.

Overall a great session to observe.

Alexander Nikitopoulos

7 tips for you to keep in mind a month out from Paper 1

The countdown is on with just one month until the HSC exams begin. Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. But the good news is : there’s still time to make a difference. These next few weeks are about working smarter, not harder. Here are 7 tips to help you stay focused, organised and confident.

1. Create a Realistic Study Plan
– break the remaining weeks into manageable blocks
– prioritise weak subjects/topics
– schedule breaks to avoid burn out

2. Focus on Past Papers !!!
– practice HSC-style questions under timed conditions
– Learn how to interpret NESA verbs such as “analyse”, “evaluate,” etc.
– Identify patterns in what gets asked

3. Revise Smart, Not Hard
– use active recall, e.g, flashcards, self – quizzing (you can do these with a friend to spice it up!)
– teach concepts to someone else (it’s one thing to know something and another to teach it)
– do more than just re-read notes!

4. Use the syllabus as a checklist
– go through each dot point and make sure u can explain it.
-link your study to what the exam will actually test

5. Look after yourself
– sleep matters more than late night cramming
– exercise helps with the stress and memory
– do not skip meals (your brain needs fuel)

6. Limit Distractions
– use apps or settings to block social media while studying
– create a clutter-free study space
– set small goals and reward yourself

7. Stay Motivated
– visualise your goals after the HSC
– use affirmations or motivational quotes
– remember : one month of focus = long term results

Final Thoughts
The next month is all about momentum. You don’t need to know every single thing about everything, you just need to keep showing up. Stay focused, stay calm, and remember : your effort will carry you through to the finish line.
You got this!

Natasya Ross

Today, I had the great opportunity to observe David!

During the session, I observed David teaching a student the topic of index laws in mathematics. His approach was structured and systematic, beginning with the definition of indices. He explained that an index, or power, is a concise way of representing repeated multiplication. To establish this foundation, he provided straightforward examples. Once the basic idea was clarified, David introduced the laws of indices in a progressive sequence. The first rule he addressed was the multiplication of powers with the same base and reinforced this with numerical examples. Importantly, he did not present the rules as abstract statements alone, but linked them to concrete calculations to ensure comprehension.

David then moved to the law of division, expressed as he highlighted how this arises from cancelling common factors in numerator and denominator, which made the result intuitive rather than arbitrary. This progression helped to reduce the common misconception that negative indices lead to negative numbers. Throughout the lesson, David’s teaching was characterised by clarity and encouragement. He frequently prompted the student to attempt problems independently, intervening only with guiding questions when difficulties arose. This fostered active engagement and reinforced the student’s understanding.

Overall, the session demonstrated effective mathematics teaching practice. The emphasis on logical reasoning, step-by-step explanation, and student participation created a clear and supportive learning environment. By connecting each rule of indices to underlying mathematical principles, David ensured that the student developed both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding

Maria Kargas

In my time as a tutor here at First Education, I have learnt about the importance of establishing a good tutor-student relationship. With an increased sense of trust and comfort created through a positive tutor-student relationship comes better understanding, better grades and an enhanced sense of confidence. Once the student feels comfortable telling you what is really needed, this can ensure accuracy and productivity in study and in focusing on what is needed. In my sessions, my students and I talk about what bothers them outside of school, what they find exciting, and personal goals they have. This establishes a better sense of trust and understanding but is also the foundation of learning. Students come to the lessons excited and motivated to learn. Empathy and being able to read the students’ emotions are enhanced with this positive relationship, gauging the students’ feelings towards topics, questions and even how they are feeling for that lesson. This will dictate the pace at which we move throughout the lesson, whether it is fast or slow, with more time spent on questions that bring about stress. Feedback is also more likely to be accepted with a positive relationship with encouragement that allows them to feel seen and heard. As the quote says, “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. A great tutor, without a doubt, brings knowledge, but also patience, encouragement, and genuine connection. That’s what makes tutoring not just effective, but transformative.

Marina Nouris

Hey everyone, I had the great opportunity to observe Riva’s session! She did a great job going through practice HSC exam papers and any questions her student brought in. They broke down each question and all the key terms, so her student understood the topic he needed to apply and what the specific question was asking for. They also went through the CambridgeGo textbook, as there were a range of different types of questions, that cater for a range of different difficulties. The questions ranged from easy to hard and there were also some extension questions. It was great to see how familiar her student was with the content.

They specifically looked at time difference questions. Where the student had different time zones he had to calculate or different airplane trips, and he had to work out the time the flight landed in the departure time zone.

Riva did a great job explaining the time zone concept as her student got confused and stumped resolving these types of questions. They also worked on trigonometry and angles.

They looked at the different difficulties of questions to see the students ability to interpret and solve each question. This helped to work out where the student is, with his understanding of the content.

Riva did a great job allowing her student to work through each question independently. When her student got stuck she would then help him. They worked through each question carefully and Riva encouraged her student to detail each part of his working out.

It was great to see how friendly they were and how comfortable her student was with her. They had a great relationship and they got along really well.

Riva then gave her student a HSC exam paper to do for him homework. This is great exam prep for the upcoming HSC.

Overall, Riva did a great job helping her student. It was a great session. Keep it up!

Ashley Cohen