First Education

During a recent tutoring session, Isabella was working with a Year 8 student on indices. She began by going through some examples on the board with him, explaining the key rules and working through problems together. This helped set the foundation for the student to understand how indices work and apply them in different mathematical contexts.

After ensuring he had grasped the basic concepts, Isabella provided him with worksheets to complete independently. As he worked through the problems, she remained available to assist whenever he encountered difficulties. She would step in to clarify any confusion, offering explanations and guiding him through tricky questions without directly giving him the answers.

The student showed good engagement throughout the session, attempting the questions on his own while occasionally checking in with Isabella when he was unsure. By the end of the session, he had worked through several problems with increasing confidence, demonstrating a better understanding of indices.

The session was a good example of balancing direct teaching with independent practice, allowing the student to develop problem-solving skills while still having support when needed.

Joseph Taouk

Creative writing is often seen as one of the easier aspects of school, especially in younger years. However, there is great benefit to investing in the development of creative writing skills before later high school years.

One of the most significant benefits of creative writing is its ability to foster imagination and creativity. This helps students build a broader perspective on life, fostering problem-solving abilities. These are particularly useful when tackling questions in other subjects, such as economics or biology, which the student may not have the exact answer to. They can use their ability to think outside the box and use their wider scope of societal knowledge to formulate a good answer.

In addition to creativity, writing also plays a vital role in improving language skills. By practicing grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary usage, students improve their overall writing proficiency. These skills are invaluable for essays and reports, which are fundamental across most subjects the student will take. Strong skills in creative writing also help students gain confidence in their ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.

Having strong creative writing skills that are built from a young age is also crucial when it comes time for a student to take their HSC. In the compulsory English Standard or Advanced subjects, questions that require a creative response can, and often are, asked. Having a foundational confidence in this area allows a student to excel. Furthermore, if a student has worked on creative writing skills for several years, it will deflate the pressure to quickly expand these skills. Unfortunately, for many students it is often the case that their creative writing skills are neglected until close to the HSC, and this leads to large amounts of stress, pressure, and less time to improve these skills.

As tutors, we have the responsibility to treat the development of creative writing skills as just as important as the development of other skills in primary and early high school education, in order to build the foundational confidence that underpins many other positive outcomes.

Ceara Kearnes

Tutoring is so much more than typical ROTE learning and revisiting the same classroom textbook definitions and material, rather, it is about engaging students the right way so that it makes the content stick. This can be achieved through a vast array of techniques and games that really sparks new ways of thinking and visualising the concepts, but largely is part of the type of teaching called active learning. New teaching methods arise all the time, yet standard teachers in a room of 30 students become very limited in the way they can teach and often revisit standard memorisation and the intense repetition of it right before exams time after time. The flaw with this method, albeit good short-term for marks means that students often fail to gain proper understanding and be able to apply their learning to the world around them. Active learning strategies such as being asked to teach the content the way they’ve learnt it to someone else for example being the tutor, or asking open ended questions to slowly guide the students answer and explain how they got there, allow students to retain knowledge by engaging the content in a more fun and less standardised way. I find these techniques particularly help with teaching mathematics as teaching derivatives for example seem empty handed, but when you phrase a question differently such as making the variables context relevant to the students passions. For example if a student is super into space and rocketry, you could shape the variables into how rocket fuel is consumed over time as well as how the decrease in mass would affect airtime. Now each concept can be related to a larger and more interesting purpose where suddenly the student can find the respective maximums and minimums to ultimately solve real world challenges and problems of creating the most efficient solution. Ultimately, how knowledge gets taught from one person to another has huge implications on the amount of knowledge actually being retained, where in more smaller settings, these techniques can be better put in practice.

starsky

Navigating big school changes can be pretty daunting, whether it’s stepping up from primary to secondary school or gearing up for university. That’s where tutoring can be a real game-changer, making these transitions a lot smoother and less scary.

Think about the jump from primary to high school, it’s a big deal. You’re moving from a smaller, familiar environment where everyone knows your name to a larger school with different teachers for each subject and way more students. It can feel overwhelming. But having a tutor during this time can help ease that anxiety. Tutors can prep you on what to expect academically, help you brush up on subjects you might feel shaky in, and even teach you how to manage a more complex schedule.

Then there’s the transition to university, which is another level of change entirely. You’re not just dealing with tougher classes, but also a whole new level of independence. This can include managing your time without parents nudging you to do your homework. A tutor can be incredibly helpful here too. They can help you develop strong study habits, guide you through tougher course material, and even offer tips on how to balance schoolwork with your newfound freedom.

Plus, tutors are great for keeping the stress levels down. They give you a space to ask all the small and big questions without feeling embarrassed. And when you feel prepared academically, it’s easier to handle the other new stuff like making friends and finding your way around a new campus.

So whether it’s moving up to high school or heading off to college, having a tutor by your side can make all the difference. It’s not just about keeping your grades up, it’s about building confidence and making sure you’re ready to tackle these new adventures.

Eireyna Papinyan

Keeping students engaged in tutoring sessions can be challenging at times, but it is also one of the most rewarding aspects of tutoring. Over time, I’ve found that engagement is not just about making lessons fun and entertaining– it is about creating an environment where students feel motivated, curious and confident in their learning.

One of the most effective strategies I have used is personalised learning. Every student has different interests and strengths, and targeting these can make a big difference in a students learning and understanding. For example, if a student enjoys using the whiteboard or when things relate to them, incorporating examples that use the whiteboard to draw math problems out can help them see the relevance of what they are learning. In English lessons, letting students choose writing topics that connect to their passions fosters greater enthusiasm and investment in their work.

Another key engagement strategy is active learning. Rather than simply explaining concepts, I encourage students discover answers through discussion, questioning and problem solving. Techniques like think about it first, have a go and ask me if you don’t know how to do it, helps them take ownership of their learning. I’ve also found that hands on activities can help keep students more engaged than passive learning like note taking.

Building confidence in our students is also essential. Many students disengage because they fear failure. I make a point of celebrating small successes and reinforcing effort, not just correct answers. A simple, “that is great how you approached that question”, “proud you could do that on your own” can boost a student’s confidence and willingness to keep trying.

Finally variety is key. Changing up session formats can help maintain students interest. Sometimes, even as simple as standing up to brainstorm ideas on a whiteboard can energise a session. Engagement is not just about having fun with students; it is about helping them find meaning in their learning. By making sessions relevant, interactive and confidence building we can create an environment where students stay focused, participate actively and enjoy the learning process.

Annie Bulkeley

Tutoring is often seen as the process of explaining concepts to a student, however, it is clear that true learning happens not when answers are stated, but questions are asked. Simply relaying information to a student can feel lecture-esuqe and will prevent the student from engaging criticially with the content. However, a well placed question can unlock a student’s ability to make connections, and actually comprehend the information.

In tutoring, Socratic questioning is invaluable. Instead of asking, “Do you understand?” – which often yields a half-hearted, hesitant “yes,” it is clear a more effective approach is, “how would you explain this concept to someone.” This questioning shifts students from simple passive reception to active articulation, revealing gaps in their understanding and reinforcing knowledge through engagement.

Guiding students through problem-solving is far more beneficial than simply providing solutions. Asking, “what information do you have?” or “what would be my the next step?” encourages students to practice logical reasoning and pattern recognition. These strategies help students internalise methods, able to apply it to foreign scenarios and real world applications.

Beyond content, effective questioning makes the student feel more confident. Most students hesitate to speak up, fearing mistakes, being embarassed by stating the wrong answer. By normalising inquiry and reflection, like “what do you think the author was trying to achieve?” or something along the lines of “why do you think this step is necessary?” – students gain the comfortability to be wrong, and see it as an opportunity, not a weakness.

Thus, the notion of questioning invites us to consider that great tutoring isn’t just about teaching; tutors are only with students for a few hours a week, thus, it’s about empowering students to think and explore independently. Because, the real success of a tutor isn’t measured by how much they explain, but by how much their students learns.

Oliver Fletcher

As a tutor, I see many students push themselves to the limit, believing that constant studying equals success. But the truth is, without good well-being, good grades are much harder to achieve. Burnout—feeling exhausted, unmotivated, and overwhelmed—can seriously affect both academic performance and mental health. That’s why I always remind my students that balance is key.

It may feel like long, uninterrupted study sessions are the best way to get ahead, but research shows otherwise. Short, frequent breaks improve focus and memory retention. Techniques like the Pomodoro Method (25 minutes of study followed by a 5-minute break) can keep your brain fresh and engaged. Giving yourself permission to pause and reset is not a sign of laziness – it’s a strategic way to sustain productivity. A tired brain is far less effective than a well-rested one. Pulling all-nighters or sacrificing sleep for extra study time may seem productive, but it actually makes learning harder. A well-rested brain processes and retains information far better than an exhausted one. Sleep is when our brains consolidate new knowledge, so skipping rest can undo hours of effort. Likewise, eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly all contribute to better focus, energy levels, and overall academic performance. Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your studies.

Grades are important, but they don’t define you. Pushing yourself to perfection at the expense of your well-being can lead to stress, anxiety, and even a decline in performance. A healthier mindset is to focus on consistent progress rather than flawless results. If you tie your self-worth to grades alone, setbacks will feel crushing. But if you see them as opportunities to grow, challenges become stepping stones rather than roadblocks.
Mistakes are not failures – they are part of learning. Some of the most successful people in the world failed many times before they succeeded. Instead of seeing mistakes as a weakness, use them as a guide to improvement. Every difficult problem, every incorrect answer, and every frustrating moment is shaping you into a stronger learner.

Success isn’t about grinding until exhaustion – it’s about working smarter, taking care of yourself, and embracing the learning process. True achievement comes when you balance hard work with self-care, knowing that growth takes time.

Carmen Yuen