First Education

Mind maps are an excellent tool for teaching because they enhance understanding and improve memory retention. By visually organizing information, mind maps allow students to see the connections between concepts, making complex ideas easier to grasp. This approach enables learners to break down large topics into smaller, manageable parts, helping them to understand the relationships and hierarchies within the subject matter.

One of the key benefits of mind maps is their ability to promote active learning. Instead of passively absorbing information, students can engage in the process by creating their own mind maps. This active involvement strengthens cognitive processing and leads to better retention of information. As students visually represent ideas and link them together, they reinforce their understanding and are more likely to recall the information later.

Additionally, mind maps encourage creativity and critical thinking. By allowing students to explore ideas in non-linear ways, they are free to approach problems from different angles. This flexibility helps students develop problem solving skills and think outside the box.

Olivia

I had the chance to observe a fellow tutor, Marina, and her Year 8 student, Rachel, in an English session. This session, Marina began by checking in with her student and looking ahead with her about preparing for the upcoming NAPLAN exams for Year 9. For preparation, Marina had tasked Rachel with a narrative writing task using a visual stimulus as a prompt for her homework. Marina went through Rachel’s narrative piece and discussed the feedback with her. She was really encouraging and motivating in her feedback, highlighting her student’s areas of strength, being her creative ideas and approach to the stimulus. Marina was also very detailed in her feedback about areas to enhance/correct being spelling, sentence structure, and word choices, working through the narrative sentence by sentence. For example, Marina highlighted that her student had great descriptive language however at times the writing was a little wordy and it in turn weakened her writing. Her student seemed to find this very helpful and quickly took on the feedback by re-reading her own work and making corrections.

Once feedback had been given, Marina then challenged Rachel with trying to adapt her already-written story to a new stimulus. This was with the intent of helping Rachel apply stimulus’ more efficiently and creatively, as if it was an exam scenario. Marina did this by reminding Rachel of their collection of techniques and creative writing knowledge compiled from over the term. She allowed Rachel some time to work on this task alone whilst she prepared some more feedback but checked in often. They then discussed Rachel’s ideas for the task and Marina provided feedback on how to be more conceptual rather than obvious when responding to a stimulus through creative techniques such as the structure of the story itself and using motifs.
Overall, I enjoyed observing Marina and was really inspired by her motivating and thorough approach to tutoring her student! I also liked Marina’s approach of allowing the student to work individually for periods and then discussing together the work that had been done.

Andrea Nouris

I had the opportunity to observe Pamela during one of her tutoring sessions, where she worked with her student on general English skills. The session was thoughtfully structured, focusing on three key areas: a spelling test, sentence structure, and word definitions.

Pamela began the session with a spelling test, encouraging the student to write each word carefully while emphasizing the importance of understanding common spelling patterns. She provided immediate feedback, which helped the student identify recurring mistakes and learn correct spellings.

The session then transitioned into a focus on sentence structure. Pamela introduced simple sentences and gradually increased complexity. She explained concepts such as subject-verb agreement and the proper use of punctuation. She made the student incorporate words from the spelling test in his sentences to introduce him to some new vocabulary

The final part of the session involved defining words, a practice that combined comprehension with vocabulary building. Pamela encouraged the student to use a dictionary and thesaurus, teaching them how to find meanings independently.

This observation reminded me of the value of foundational skills in education. Focusing on spelling, grammar, and vocabulary not only builds confidence but also equips students with essential tools for lifelong learning. Pamela’s session reaffirmed that effective tutoring is as much about fostering a love for learning as it is about teaching the content.

Joseph Taouk

Daniel was an exceptional tutor to his primary school student, consistently providing clear and effective guidance during their math sessions, particularly with multiplication. From the very first lesson, he created an environment where the student felt comfortable asking questions and making mistakes, which is crucial for building confidence in math. Daniel used a variety of techniques to help the student grasp multiplication concepts, always tailoring his approach to the student’s learning style. One of his strengths was making the process engaging by using real-life examples and interactive activities that kept the student interested.

For multiplication, Daniel didn’t just focus on rote memorization of times tables but also introduced clever tricks that made it easier for his student to recall and apply the facts. For instance, he taught them the “doubling and halving” method, where they could break down larger problems into smaller, more manageable ones. If the student needed to multiply a number by 8, for example, Daniel would have them first multiply it by 4 and then double that result, making the calculation faster and less intimidating. He also introduced visual aids, like multiplication grids, to help the student see patterns and relationships between numbers, making abstract concepts more concrete.

Daniel’s patience and enthusiasm were key in ensuring his student’s success. He celebrated small victories, which motivated the student to continue practicing, and was quick to offer praise when they grasped a new concept. Through his thoughtful and encouraging teaching, Daniel not only helped the student improve their multiplication skills but also fostered a genuine love for learning and a greater sense of confidence in their own abilities.

Elise Petritsis

One of the biggest myths about maths is that you either “get it” or you don’t. Many students see maths as an innate talent, something only a few people are born with. But the truth is, maths is a skill – just like playing an instrument or learning a sport – that gets better consistent practice.

In tutoring sessions, I often emphasise to my students that making mistakes is part of the process. Some students fear getting the wrong answer, but in reality, mistakes are valuable learning tools. When students work through problems, identify where they went wrong, and try again, they’re strengthening their understanding. It’s this trial-and-error approach that turns maths from something intimidating into something achievable.

A great way to build this habit is through “little and often” practice. Spending even 15-20 minutes a day on maths can make a world of difference. It’s not about cramming for hours before a test – it’s about showing up consistently and letting concepts settle over time.

One example I often share with my students is learning multiplication tables. At first, the numbers seems random, but with daily practice, patterns start to emerge. The same principle applies to algebra, geometry, or any other topic. Small, regular efforts build confidence and understanding until even the trickiest problems feel manageable.

For tutors, the key is finding ways to make practice engaging. Using real-world examples, puzzles, or games helps students enjoy the process of learning. Maths doesn’t have to feel like a chore – it can be a puzzle to solve, a challenge to tackle, or even a game to win.

In the end, consistency is where real progress happens. With regular practice, students not only improve their maths skills but also develop a growth mindset: the belief that they can get better with effort. As a tutor, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a student go from “I can’t do this” to “I’ve got this!”

Pasquale Simone Mendoza

Hey everyone, I had another last minute cancellation and had the chance to observe Seb tutor his Year 12 Maths Extension student.

Seb was explaining and introducing the concept of vectors, providing definitions of identities and showcasing the use of vectors in shapes such as parallelograms. Using this, Seb was able to showcase how the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other, a fundamental aspect of vectors.
Seb was also able to explain the importance of midpoints in such parallelograms, and how they can be used to solve various forms of vector questions and expand critical thinking

Seb always allowed the students to ask questions on this difficult topic, who was able to gradually understand the concept of vectors gradually as Seb explained various concepts step by step. Seb also encouraged his student to debate his reasoning and question why such mathematical process occurred in this manner, allowing the student to further understand various concepts surrounding vectors. This included explaining complex formulas, as well as various terms and new symbols that are used in vectors.

Seb was able to expand this and show how to use vectors in other forms of Maths, continuously implementing midpoints and other forms of vectors into other forms of questions such as triangle. Seb encouraged his student to challenge himself and answer such questions, before correcting and building upon any errors and confusions the student had made. This allowed the student to critically think and further understand various concepts of vectors.

Overall, Seb was able to effectively provide quality explanations consistently to his students when introducing a new topic, and was able to challenge his student in solving such complex questions. I will look to implement his forms of tutoring into my work when with high school students, to provide effective and engaging tutoring.

Daniel Rulli

While maths is such an important aspect of everyday life, I’ve seen a familiar pattern in many students, and that is they lack basic mathematical fundamentals. This issue tends to carry on as maths progresses in difficulty, as students fail to understand the basics of more complex questions. This is a key reason why I believe tutoring is an essential aspect of a students learning, as they are able to specifically tune in and teach these fundamentals.

Although maths is often seen as a challenging subject, its importance stretches far beyond the classroom. In fact, math is a foundational skill that we use daily, whether we realize it or not. From budgeting our finances to navigating the digital world, math touches nearly every aspect of our lives.

Maths is crucial in every day life and furthering your education in many fields of tertiary study. It enhances our skills to critically think and to solve complex problems that seem “outside the box”. This allows for us to develop our own thoughts and patterns in solving everyday life issues and enhances our ability to think overall. Additionally, math fosters logical thinking and critical reasoning. It teaches us how to break down large problems into manageable parts, how to think analytically, and how to approach challenges in a structured way.

Math also forms the backbone of many career fields. Engineers, architects, doctors, and data scientists, among others, rely on advanced mathematical concepts to perform their jobs effectively. Without a solid understanding of math, these professions wouldn’t be possible, as math helps us understand and solve complex problems that shape our modern world. The importance of maths in a wide area of fields has been increasingly showcased, with many jobs requiring a certain level of mathematical understanding

In conclusion, math is not just a subject to be learned in school; it’s a tool for understanding the world around us and solving the problems we encounter. Whether in personal finance, career development, or everyday tasks, math equips us with the skills needed to navigate life confidently.

Daniel Rulli

I had the opportunity to observe a Year 4 student as they worked on core mathematical concepts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and long division.

The student began the session with addition and subtraction problems. These exercises served as a warm-up, reinforcing their mental arithmetic skills and ensuring they were comfortable with basic operations.

They then transitioned to multiplication, where the focus was on two-digit numbers. The student displayed a strong understanding of their times tables, which laid a solid foundation for tackling more complex problems.

The most challenging part of the session was long division. The multi-step nature of long division can be overwhelming for students at this stage. Initially, the student struggled to keep track of the process: dividing, multiplying, subtracting, and bringing down the next digit. To simplify things, the tutor broke the problem into clear, manageable steps and used repetitive practice to reinforce the method. By the end of the session, the student successfully completed a problem on their own, a rewarding moment for both the tutor and the student.

This session emphasized the importance of patience, clear explanations, and practice in teaching mathematics. Foundational math skills are critical for students, and building confidence early ensures they are well-prepared for more advanced topics in the future. Every small breakthrough matters and serves as a stepping stone for greater achievements.

Joseph Taouk

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a powerful tool for students, offering new ways to enhance learning, streamline study sessions, and improve academic performance. From generating practice questions to summarising large chunks of information, AI can make study time more efficient. However, relying too heavily on AI can hinder deep learning and critical thinking. To strike the right balance, students need to use AI as an assistant—not a replacement for their own effort and understanding.

One effective way to use AI is for generating personalised practice questions and quizzes. Apps like Quizlet and AI-powered flashcard tools can create revision activities tailored to specific subjects. This allows students to focus on areas where they need the most help. Unlike traditional revision guides, AI tools can adapt the difficulty level based on student performance, making each session more productive. However, students should avoid simply memorising the answers. Instead, they should actively engage with the questions, explain the reasoning behind each answer, and reflect on mistakes.

Another valuable use of AI is summarising notes or large texts. Tools like AI-powered summarisation apps or browser extensions can condense lengthy articles, textbooks, or lecture notes into more digestible key points. This saves time, but students must be cautious. Instead of accepting summaries at face value, they should cross-check key details and add their own annotations. Summarisation is most effective when used as a starting point, not the final version of notes.

Finally, students can use AI for concept explanations and guided problem-solving. Platforms like Khan Academy and AI-powered chat assistants can break down complex concepts. While this guidance is helpful, students should resist the temptation to have the AI “do the work” for them. They should actively follow along, take notes, and attempt the problem independently before seeking help.

By using AI as a support tool, not a crutch, students can streamline study sessions while still building independence and critical thinking. The key is to stay actively engaged, question the outputs, and prioritise learning over convenience. When used wisely, AI becomes a valuable study companion—not a shortcut to success.

Freddie Le Vay

Burnout is a common challenge for students managing a busy study schedule, especially during high-pressure assessment periods. It occurs when mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion sets in, often caused by long periods of intense work without sufficient rest or balance. While hard work is essential for academic success, pushing too hard without breaks can lead to a decline in motivation, productivity, and overall wellbeing. The good news is that burnout is preventable if students adopt simple, sustainable habits that equally prioritise academic progress and mental health.

One of the most effective ways to prevent burnout is to create a balanced study schedule. Rather than cramming for hours on end, students should use the “Pomodoro Technique” or similar time management methods. This involves working in short, focused bursts (like 25- or 50-minute intervals) with regular 5-10 minute breaks. These breaks give the brain a chance to reset, reducing cognitive fatigue. Longer breaks should also be incorporated throughout the week to allow for relaxation, hobbies, and social activities, all of which help maintain mental wellbeing.

Another critical factor in preventing burnout is setting realistic goals. Students often overwhelm themselves with excessive to-do lists or unattainable expectations. Instead, they should break large tasks into smaller, manageable milestones. Achieving smaller goals provides a sense of accomplishment, which can keep motivation high. It’s also crucial to recognise the value of rest and sleep. Many students sacrifice sleep to “get more done,” but this is counterproductive. A well-rested brain processes information more effectively, leading to better performance in exams and assignments.

Lastly, students should be encouraged to seek support when needed. Talking to teachers, tutors, or family members can provide emotional relief and practical strategies for managing workload. If feelings of burnout persist, speaking with a school counsellor or mental health professional is wise. By balancing study with rest, setting achievable goals, and asking for help, students can stay on track while protecting their wellbeing. Beating burnout isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter, listening to your body, and making self-care a priority.

Freddie Le Vay