Hi Guys,
I thought I would write about what I have observed in the past and what I have tried to adopt into my tutoring that works best when it comes to tutoring students in Mathematics at all levels.

1 Assessing A Students Current Understanding of Topics/concepts.
When tutoring a new student I think it is extremely important and beneficial to asses the student’s current Maths level and understanding on certain topics before starting on a new topic or concept.I have found that one of the best was to do this is through mini quizzes or textbook chapter reviews where you start by asking the student to solve a few problems on their own, and observe their thought process. This allows me to pinpoint areas of strength and weakness for that topic where I cab then plan out what weakness we will target in each future session going forward to consolidate students understanding of that topic.

2 Use Visual Aids and Real-World Examples
Math becomes more relatable when students can visualise concepts or see real life applications. I like to try and use graphs, diagrams, real-world examples or even physical objects to demonstrate concepts. This is especially useful to the younger students who struggle with the more basic topics like fractions and percentages where I can get up number lines, use images, pizza fraction colouring in worksheets etc.

3. Encourage Active Participation
Instead of simply explaining how to solve a problem, I encourage students to work through it with me. I ask them to explain their reasoning as they solve the problem. This active participation reinforces learning and helps them identify where they go wrong in questions and learn the correct way to approach and solve a question. I think its extremely beneficial to use guiding questions to lead them toward the correct solution rather than giving it away

In summary, these tips and tricks are what works best for me when it comes to tutoring Maths to students of all ages and hope they provide valuable insights to other tutors.

Bianca Douroudis

Today I was able to write down some reflections on the importance of tutors in a child’s education. I really enjoyed reflecting and analysing our role in their development.

From my experience, I have seen the essential and often transformative role tutors can play in a student’s educational journey. More than just academic guides, they are mentors, cheerleaders, and inspiration sources and individuals to consult in difficult times and are therefore capable of shaping not only the intellectual growth of a student but their overall confidence and passion for learning.

At its core, tutoring offers something that traditional classrooms often struggle to provide: individualized attention. In an environment where a teacher’s focus is divided among dozens of students, personalized support can fall by the wayside. This is where tutors step in to bridge the gap. Our ability to see issues a student is facing and able to tailoring lessons to a particular style and pace can lead to major clarity and empowerment, fostering a profound sense of achievement.

The role of a tutor is not only for academic assistance, though, especially at first education, an individual is able to cultivate a safe space for curiosity to flourish. A tutor inspires a student by showing them that their questions matter and that mistakes are simply stepping stones toward growth. When a student feels heard and supported, their mindset shifts. They begin to view challenges not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities for growth.

My time at first education has shown me the power tutors can have in assisting the confidence, self-belief and growth of individuals. This not only is so lovely to witness but is an important step in ensuring a student is able to feel capable, curious and passionate into the future.

Katherine Petsoglou

Providing constructive feedback is a foundational part of effective teaching, and how it’s delivered can make a profound difference on a students’ learning journey. Positive and constructive criticism encompasses a form of feedback that highlights strengths while addressing areas for improvement. Ultimately, it is essential for helping students grow both academically and personally.

Research consistently shows that positive criticism boosts motivation and encourages a growth mindset, especially among younger students. According to the Australian Psychological Society, feedback that emphasises progress and effort rather than purely results helps students develop resilience and persistence in their studies. When students receive feedback that recognises what they’re doing well and gently redirects where they need to improve, they’re more likely to engage with challenging tasks. As a result, they view educational activities as opportunities for growth rather than threats to their self-worth.

Positive criticism also helps build strong student-tutor relationships. When tutors create a supportive environment, students feel more comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and experimenting with new ideas. This confidence not only strengthens their grasp of the material but also fosters a sense of belonging and commitment to their education. By acknowledging each student’s unique strengths, tutors can guide them towards achievable, personalised goals, which is particularly valuable in diverse classrooms.

For tutors, balancing praise and constructive suggestions can enhance students’ critical thinking. Instead of just pointing out errors, tutors can frame criticism with open-ended questions that prompt students to reflect, such as, “How might you approach this differently?” or “What could make this solution even stronger?” This approach helps students develop problem-solving skills and reinforces the notion that feedback is a tool for development, not judgment.

To summarise, incorporating positive criticism into everyday teaching can make a transformative impact. It fosters not only academic growth but also the confidence and resilience that students will carry forward into future challenges, both in and beyond the classroom.

Emily Mackay

The Year 12 Standard English Module C – The Craft of Writing is a key component in the English literature. It gives students the chance to express their creativity while also incorporating texts into their writing. It provides students with a way to emphasise the development of their writing skills as they have the chance to practice imaginative writing, persuasive writing, and a new writing skill – discursive writing. A discursive writing piece I find to be the most interesting as it gives students a way to present multiple perspectives of a topic in their writing. This is best supported with literature and real-life examples. Some great discursive topics include the impact of social media on the younger generations, the advantages and disadvantages of online schooling, and many more. Furthermore, discursive writing gives students the chance to demonstrate their ability to think critically and engage with complex issues.

Tamiah Mahoney

Hey everyone! I had the pleasure of observing Sam’s session with his Year 10 Maths student, Ned. They worked on content related to the student’s upcoming exam including calculating the composite volume of cones, pyramids and cylinders, surface area, conversions between units such as megaliters, kiloliters, and precision/error.

Sam began by going through complex textbook questions and breaking them into manageable steps where he was able to guide Ned through the calculations to solve each question. When a question required rounding to the nearest cubic meter, Sam asked Ned to walk him through his approach first, letting him give it a go on his own before then providing feedback and highlighting areas where he could improve his response. Further, Sam encouraged Ned to break down each step when answering questions to maximize his marks by showing him that he could earn points through clear working out.

Sam was consistently encouraging of Ned’s efforts to reinforce his confidence in answering questions. He used a variety of resources including the whiteboard, textbook examples and Ned’s workbook from class to expose the student to a variety of different questions ranging in difficulty. Throughout the session, Sam encouraged the student to answer questions on the main whiteboard as this provided a space for active learning where the student could see his problem-solving process in action.

Sam also tackled tricky word problems by getting the student to visualise the scenarios presented in each question making abstract concepts more tangible. When Ned asked questions Sam answered them efficiently by ensuring that each response built on Ned’s understanding of the topic. They completed several questions together on the whiteboard, with Sam guiding Ned step-by-step to reinforce each concept.

Towards the end of the session, Sam shifted his approach by encouraging Ned to take the lead by walking him through each question rather than solving it directly. This method allowed Ned to articulate his thought process and identify each step required to reach a solution enabling a deeper understanding. By allowing Ned to take the “driver’s seat”, Sam ensured that he left the session feeling more confident and prepared for his exam.
Overall, it was a well-structured and engaging session. Great work, Sam! 😊

Charlotta Mackay

Hey everyone! I had the pleasure of observing Cameron’s session with his Year 8 Maths student, Kellan from 4-5 pm. They worked on frequency histograms and frequency polygons which were key topics for his upcoming assessment. Cameron made great use of the resources available, printing various materials, including a detailed booklet from the textbook and practice questions to ensure Kellan had everything he needed to understand these concepts.

Cameron started with a review of frequency distribution tables showing Kelan how to organize raw data into clear, structured tables which helped lay a solid foundation for creating histograms and polygons. This groundwork was essential for understanding how data is grouped and visualized which set up the session well for diving into more complex topics. As they moved on, Cameron introduced the concepts of mean, median, and mode, explaining how each measure provides a different way of interpreting the data.

When Kelan asked questions Cameron answered them extensively allowing him to answer first using prompts like, “How would you find the median in this set?” and “If we add another data point, how does the mean change?” These questions encouraged Kelan to think about each step and apply his knowledge first before being provided with the answer. Cameron also utilized the whiteboard to create visual examples guiding Kelan through calculations and showing how frequency polygons are drawn from the data in frequency tables. He also used this to show the connection between each data point and the overall shape of the graph. He patiently explained each question until Kelan felt comfortable with the material and explained reasons for why there was a spread in certain sets of data. Overall, it was a fantastic session to observe! Great work, Cameron! 😊

Charlotta Mackay

Today I had the opportunity to observe Grace! She was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly supportive and intuitive in her approach. The student, Colby, was very quiet, often hesitant to speak up, yet Grace’s warm demeanour and approach to tutoring created a safe space for him to engage.
From the moment they began, it was clear that Grace was Colby’s regular tutor, knowing and committed to meeting Jake where he was. She started by asking open-ended questions about what he found challenging, giving him the chance to express his thoughts without pressure. Grace’s patience and calming tone shone through as she listened attentively, encouraging him to speak more and consistently providing him with affirmations to make sure he felt best supported.
What struck me most was how she simplified complex concepts into relatable, bite-sized pieces. For example, they covering Shakespeare together and she consistently broke down themes and techniques able to explain them simply and clearly, getting him to best understand the content they were covering. She was able to explain the context of Shakespeare on a broader level, combine their ideas to make him really understand its content. As the session progressed, Grace was also able to adjust her tutoring style for each type of question. By making sure Jake had his own time to brainstorm and write down his ideas, she covered different material in different ways to engage him without feeling pushed too much.
This was an incredible lesson to watch. Different students definitely have their nuisance’s and it can be difficult to engage with a student who is quite quiet and, especially in an English lesson, getting them to feel comfortable with sharing ideas. Grace’s supportive and adaptable teaching style was a beautiful reminder of the impact a compassionate tutor can have on a student’s learning.

Katherine Petsoglou

Today I had the opportunity to observe Joseph tutor his Year 8 Math student.

Joseph immediately noticed his student’s anxiety surrounding his upcoming yearly Math exam so he began by talking his student through each topic which his student then began to remember methods and content he had learned previously. By breaking the notification down and briefly explaining each topic by using examples from his school textbook, this alleviated the initial stress his student was experiencing. Joseph then tested his students knowledge on different topics to see what he knew prior to beginning revision questions. This ensured that optimal time was spent on areas that presented difficulty. Joseph helped his student organise and condense his notes through illustrations and summary points, providing him with an alternative study technique to what he had previously done. As students may find revision challenging when there is an overwhelming amount of content, this strategy effectively ensured that the student had a clear understanding of topics. Additionally, Joseph allowed his student to explain his thought process and provide reasoning for his answers, ensuring meaningful engagement throughout the lesson. Overall, I admired Joseph’s patience and reassurance that allowed for the lesson to run smoothly while creating a comfortable environment for his student.

Great job!! :))

Marina Nouris

As Term 4 begins, many Year 11 students are transitioning into Year 12 and facing the reality of HSC preparation. With the weight of exams ahead, some students might feel a mix of motivation and intimidation. A common challenge at this stage is procrastination—putting off tasks until the last minute due to overwhelm, lack of direction, or even the misconception that there’s “plenty of time” to study later. For tutors working with new HSC students, the focus on breaking procrastination habits early is crucial for setting them up for a productive year.

One of the most effective strategies to combat procrastination is goal setting. Setting clear, attainable goals for each subject gives students a direction and a sense of purpose. Encourage students to break down large tasks into manageable steps. For instance, instead of “study for the English exam,” a more focused goal could be “outline three themes from Module B text and gather quotes.” This approach allows students to celebrate small wins and stay motivated.

Accountability is another powerful tool in the tutoring arsenal. Regularly check in with students on their progress to keep them on track. Discussing what they accomplished each week reinforces responsibility and highlights their achievements, even if they’re small steps. Tutors can help students build a simple study plan, aiming for consistency rather than cramming. This habit of steady, planned study also helps reduce stress and build confidence as the HSC year progresses.

Lastly, teaching time management techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique, where students study in short, focused intervals with breaks in between, can help make study sessions feel less daunting. It breaks the cycle of lengthy, unstructured study time that often leads to distraction and procrastination. Even practicing time-limited exercises, like answering past HSC questions in set timeframes, can gradually build students’ focus and pacing.

By addressing procrastination head-on with structured strategies, tutors can help HSC students build effective study habits. Establishing these early can transform their approach to Year 12, making the HSC journey feel achievable and even empowering.

Freddie Le Vay

Today, I decided to observe Briana tutor her Year 8 student (Ava) in Visual Arts.

Briana appeared to be assisting her student with a reflection for her visual arts ceramics project. Briana worked closely with her student to help her plan out and write an effective reflection. Working alongside her on her personal computer, Briana was great at prompting thought in her student, rather than solely telling her exactly what to write. This is a very important trait that tutors must possess as it ensures that students are completing their own work and that they are understanding exactly what they are doing.

Observing Briana and the way in which she tutors, it is clear that she possesses leadership traits. By being assertive and implementing positive reinforcement, her student easily followed her highly methodical and structured way of teaching. Briana is a very direct communicator, having used both verbal and non-verbal cues, to ensure that her student was attentive and understood what was being taught to her. Following up on my previous statement about Briana’s methodical nature, an example of this was seen at the start of the lesson. Before writing the reflection Briana asked her student about the different stages of creating her ceramics project, in which Briana drafted the phases – planning, crafting, detailing, & painting. This was an effective brainstorm as it allowed her to guide her student in the process of writing the reflection.

By working together and thoroughly planning what would be said in the reflection, Briana’s student had confidence when it came to hand writing the reflection in her visual arts book. This is particularly due to the open-ended questions that Briana frequently asked, such as “What inspired your design?”. In this way, Briana ensured that her student understood that the key to writing a reflection is rooted in personal insights.

Overall, this was an enjoyable lesson to observe. It is clear that Briana is a highly capable tutor who inspires her students.

James Petrakis