First Education

Allot of students ask me for help with discussing homework plans, and devising strategies to learn and work through homework effectively. There is so much expectation and stress about how to work better and quicker and smarter, and I think that this is a very contemporary issue. It began with self help books coming around the turn of the 20th century, and this has in turn become books about habits, business success and motivation, which has further dissolved into corporate productivity, goal setting, and most recently – the ‘hustle’. I think these hyper-prodctive ideals have really began to saturate education and learning. People feel so pressured to perform better, some do not perform at all. So when someone comes up to me to discuss these homework strategies, yes it is very important to do well and try to maximise your time, however, it is more important to start doing homework in the first place, no matter how “inefficiently”. Many students are thinking too far ahead and already feeling left behind, that is why it is so important to positively reinforce their learning every step of the way – it is so easy to feel lazy and unproductive. As much as I don’t like to admit it, ‘most improved’ and ‘participation’ awards have their place – and are necessary even more so today then every before. So next time you feel anxious for not studying effectively enough, ask yourself, where is it coming form?
But remember – you should DEFINITELY be doing some homework right now.

Luca Smith

Every child learns differently, and it’s perfectly normal for students to struggle in certain subjects at some point in their education. Whether it’s math, reading, or science, a parent’s support can make a huge difference in helping a child build confidence and overcome challenges. A few ways parents can offer meaningful support when their child is having a tough time in school.

Starting with understanding rather than frustration. When a child struggles, they often feel embarrassed or defeated. Instead of focusing on grades, ask questions like, “What part of this is confusing?” or “How can I help you feel more comfortable with this topic?” Showing empathy and patience helps your child feel safe enough to express what they’re struggling with.

Create a positive learning environment at home. Set aside a quiet, distraction-free space for studying, and stick to a consistent routine. Short and focused study sessions are more effective than long and stressful ones. Encouraging breaks, movement, and rewards to keep motivation up is another great way to help.

Collaboration with teachers is also key. Teachers can offer insights into your child’s learning style, suggest extra resources, or recommend tutoring if needed. Open communication ensures that everyone is working toward the same goal, your child’s growth and confidence.

Finally, celebrate small victories. Improvement takes time, and recognising progress, no matter the size, can boost your child’s confidence and motivation. Remind them that struggling doesn’t mean failure; it’s part of the learning process.

With patience, encouragement, and the right support, students can turn struggles into strengths and learn how to learn. When parents focus on effort and perseverance rather than perfection, children learn that effort is the only way to succeed and that struggling is the best indicator that what you’re learning is worth it.

Olivia Moustakis

I was able to observe a 2-hour long high school student session which covered the subjects of Business and Maths.

The first thing I observed was how the tutor chose to separate the session to ensure that the student stayed consistently interested throughout the session. The first tactic was to split the session into two smaller 1-hour sessions, one which covered maths and the other, business. The tutor did this by utilising one of the mini games the centre has to offer, Spot It. This allowed the student to reset their concentration by taking a brain break and switching over to a different topic.

As I did not do Business within my high school years, it was interesting to see what the subject entailed and how tutoring can assist with this understanding. During my observation, I saw the student working through a past paper and worked alongside the tutor to better their understanding. One of the ways the student did this, was by cross-checking what their teacher had told them with the tutor’s understanding, which helped solidify their understanding and confidence in the topic. This was something I do not come across often, with my students mainly relying on my insights rather than their teachers, revealing that I should be consistently asking my students about what their teacher said and make sure their understanding is consolidated.

During the maths session, the tutor used a variety of teaching methods to best convey the information to the student. This involved using the whiteboard, verbal communication and working out on paper to ensure that the student understand the topic they were working on. This is a method I carry throughout my tutoring sessions, and it was beneficial to see another tutor use this and see the student being highly receptive, which consolidated my confidence in utilising this multi-method approach.

This demonstrates how a multi-method and multi-perspective approach to tutoring is highly beneficial, and can help keep students engaged for a more prolonged time period.

Edie Dennis

Observation of Daniella with Charlie, Yr 4 student.

Daniella began asking Charlie what he had to work on during the week. Charlie mentined he had to complete a 1 minute speech on “The Annunciation” in Christianity.

They began by researching the topic together, and Daniella dictated the beginning of the story to Charlie, testing his spelling, grammar and vocabulary on the way as he constructed the piece of writing.

Charlie had alot of energy, and was distracted easily. Daniella did an amazing job of ensuring Charlie stayed on track, while keeping a positive atmosphere.

Charlie practiced reading and reciting the speech from memory while Daniella timed him, both suggesting edits and adjustments to make. Daniella was excellent at both guiding Charlie with the changes he should make, while also allowing him to make decisions on his own. She showed a great balance at affirming Charlies thoughts and word choices, and also adding words and phrases to strengthen Charlies vocabulary.

Halfway through the lesson, Daniella pivoted to doing some Maths tutoring. Charlie was vehemently opposed to Maths, exclaiming it was his least favourable subject.

They focused on simplifying fractions by applying concepts of factorisation and division. Again, Charlie was very easily distracted, and Daniella did a great job keeping him on task.

Overall, Daniella showed great patience, compassion and persistence at ensuring Charlie had a productive and positive experience with tutoring this evening. As I do not tutor primary school students often, I learnt a lot from this observation, and will employ some of her strategies in my own tutoring sessions.

Sebastian Zois

No two students learn in exactly the same way. Some students are visual learners meaning they thrive when they can see concepts through diagrams, colour-coded notes, or videos. Others are auditory learners, who grasp ideas best through repetition, and discussion. And some are kinesthetic learners, who need to move, touch, or physically interact with materials to fully understand what they’re learning such as using blocks when counting.

Learning also goes beyond these learning types and personalisation is also important for specific behaviours. A quiet student might need gentle encouragement and time to open up, while a more energetic learner may benefit from fast-paced tasks. Because of this, no two tutoring sessions should look exactly the same. Tutors must learn to adapt their teaching styles to fit the student they are teaching. Tutoring isn’t just about teaching content, it is about teaching the student, which some people can forget when they think about how ‘easy’ tutoring can be.

Lily Powell

Boy Oh Boy, how thankful I am for the Snacks. Whether it’s a handful of GrainWaves, a few mini pretzels, or something sweet like Smarties or M&Ms (my personal favourite), snacks play a surprisingly powerful role in keeping my students and I motivated, connected, and performing at our best.

Snacks aren’t just about satisfying hunger; they’re little boosts of joy and energy throughout the day. For staff who are constantly on the talking and chattering, a packet of chips between classes or a cool cup of water can make all the difference. These quick bites keep our minds sharp, our bodies fuelled, and our moods lifted; especially during those long and busy afternoons when energy starts to dip.

And it’s not just the adults who benefit! For our students, especially the younger ones, snack time is an important part of the session. It gives them a chance to pause, reset, and recharge before diving back into learning. A quick snack can turn a tired moment into a fresh start; and sometimes, a little treat is the perfect motivation for focus, effort, and kindness in the classroom.

Beyond the practical benefits, snacks bring people together. The snack table often becomes a little hub of connection, a place to share a laugh, grab a treat, and take a well-deserved break.

We’re so appreciative of the staff at First Education who make sure snacks are always available. Their thoughtfulness adds warmth, energy, and care to our sessions; keeping both staff and students smiling, one Smartie at a time!

Lewin Fairbairn

I had the opportunity to observe Emilia tutor her year 5 student in English. Specifically, they were working on poetry and poetic devices.

Firstly, Emilia is an excellent communicator and delivers information in an appropriate way that is tailored to her specific students. Given that her student is in year 5, a thorough and clear explanation of poetic devices is necessary. She would ask her student questions such as, “Can you brainstorm some poetic devices”, and would make good use of the whiteboard behind her. Emilia would use the whiteboard to allow her student to follow a clear and logical order when note taking in their workbook.

Secondly, Emilia is great at encouraging active recall and critical thinking by asking questions. It is important that as tutors we refrain from consistently giving our students direct answers as this does not allow them to develop their active recall. Emilia was very effective at asking her student questions in order to ignite thought, and when he would answer correctly she would provide appropriate validation, such as “well done” or “great job that’s correct”. This creates a powerful loop, whereby students actively chase this positive reinforcement and become determined to answer questions correctly.

Further, one of the unique ways that Emilia taught her student was by testing him. She would ask him questions about different poetic devices, such as metaphors and personification, and ask him to describe their meaning, purpose, and provide examples of each. It was great to observe that her student was genuinely engaged for the entirety of the lesson, which is a great reflection of Emilia’s tutoring capacity and ability to remain engaging via asking questions and encouraging active recall.

Overall, this was a great lesson to observe and I commend Emilia for her diligence and determination to instil discipline and confidence within her students.

Well Done Emilia.

James Petrakis

Math anxiety is something that many students of mine have struggled with when they first start tutoring. But there are a number of very effective strategies to overcome this anxiety and help students succeed in their math exams!

First, let’s dive into what math anxiety actually is. Unlike a student that just dislikes math, a student with math anxiety will often display clear signs such as panic attacks before math tests and significant self-doubt when attempting math questions. This produces a level of fear around math, severely impacting a student’s mindset and mental health. Some of the reasons why students develop math anxiety revolve around negative early experiences with math. This could range from poor teaching which means that the student never felt confident with math concepts, parental pressure with grades or a bad test that constantly weighs on the student’s mind into the future. The very flawed idea that someone is or is not a ‘math person’ further reinforces students’ negative connotations with math.

For tutors, the most important strategy to help students overcome math anxiety is to normalise mistakes. By letting students know that there is nothing wrong with making errors and that they do not have to apologise for asking questions, this will help promote a growth mindset and show them that mistakes help them learn. Also, make sure to work through many exam questions in your lessons so that students do not feel overwhelmed when approaching math exams. Before exams, remind students to practice breathing or mindfulness techniques, and to go in with a positive outlook. When results are received, ensure that the student’s progress is celebrated and remind them that they are indeed great at math!

For parents, make sure that when discussing math with your child that there is no negativity or pressure. Encourage them and show that you are supporting their progress and persistence, rather than a perfect score!

Kristina McLean

Every child learns differently, and when tutoring primary school students with diverse developmental needs, flexibility and understanding are key. Effective tutoring is not about using one fixed method that would fit for all students, it is about meeting each child where they are and helping them grow from there.

Children with developmental differences may face challenges in areas like communication, attention or social interaction. For example, a student with ADHD might need shorter and more engaging tasks with regular breaks, while a child with autism may benefit from clear structure, visual supports and predictable routines. Recognising these individual needs allows tutors to adjust their teaching style so that every child can participate and succeed within tutoring sessions.

Building a strong relationship is just as important as the tutoring lesson itself. Trust creates a safe learning space where students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Tutors should use positive reinforcement, patience, and clear feedback to encourage effort and progress. Small victories in the tutoring lesson such as reading a page independently or solving a tricky maths problem should be celebrated by us as tutors to boost confidence and motivation among students.

Communication with parents also plays a vital role. Sharing strategies and progress helps create consistency across home, school and tutoring sessions. For instance, if a teacher uses visual schedules in their class at school, the tutor can mirror this system to strengthen the student’s sense of routine and familiarity.

Finally, tutoring children with different developmental needs requires empathy and creativity. Adapting tutoring sessions through games, visuals or using technology can make learning more accessible and enjoyable. Success looks different for every child, but with the right approach, all students can develop essential skills, confidence and a love for learning that extends beyond the session.

Annie Bulkeley

Education should be an experience that builds curiosity for all students. True learning occurs when the mind is engaged, and inspired to connect ideas, not when it is forced to perform memorizing tasks. The human brain is wired to seek patterns and derive satisfaction from understanding. Yet quite often, our public education system prioritises standardisation over stimulation, often reducing learning to a mechanical process rather than an enjoyable exploration of self and interest.

When learning is enjoyable it can strengthen intrinsic motivation, which in turn sustains long-term intellectual growth. Many recent peer reviewed studies have found that students who find meaning and pleasure in their studies are more likely to pursue knowledge independently and apply their understanding creatively. Enjoyment does not always imply unproductiveness or laziness, can effectively increase engagement when applied correctly in education. A well-designed educational environment that is rich in relevance and discovery enhances the student’s natural curiosity and intelligence.

Societies that foster joy in learning cultivate citizens capable of innovation and more reasoned judgment. They produce thinkers and inventors rather than followers. This is the attitude that tutors and teachers alike should employ when approaching students, in order to improv every students attitude and the world overall.

Katie Waller