First Education

Writing literary analysis can feel daunting, but at its core it’s about joining a conversation with a text, asking why an author writes a certain way, and how meaning emerges. To polish your analysis, focus on three key areas: clarity, depth, and structure.

1. Start with a focused thesis.
A polished analysis is driven by an argument, not just observations. Instead of saying “Shakespeare uses imagery,” ask: Why does he use this imagery? What does it reveal about power, identity, or desire? Your thesis should make a claim that could be debated, giving your essay purpose and direction.

2. Close reading matters.
Evidence is everything. Select short, significant quotations and unpack them. Don’t just paraphrase—analyse diction, form, and symbolism, and link these choices to larger ideas. For example, explaining how Virginia Woolf’s fragmented syntax mirrors Clarissa’s fractured identity is far stronger than simply pointing out the fragmentation.

3. Balance theory with your own voice.
Engage with critical perspectives, but don’t let them overshadow your insights. Literary theory—feminism, psychoanalysis, postmodernism, can deepen analysis, but polished writing shows you steering the argument, weaving critics in as support.

4. Organise with flow.
Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that builds on your thesis. Think of paragraphs as steps in an argument, each one should extend, complicate, or challenge what came before. Transitions like “Similarly,” “However,” or “This suggests” keep your analysis cohesive.

5. Revise for precision.
Polish comes in editing. Eliminate vague words (“thing,” “shows”) and replace them with precise verbs (“constructs,” “undermines,” “foregrounds”). Read your work aloud to spot clunky phrasing.

Allegra Pezzullo

When people imagine how tutoring sessions go, they picture constant explanations, encouragements, and hints. What I have learned during my time tutoring is that methods like that are not always the most successful in ensuring the best education for my students. A far less obvious strategy which can be very effective for the larger majority of my students is silence. Calculated pauses throughout the session can create better learning environments, where the student learns not to depend on the tutor, but to attempt questions themselves and not constantly jump to the tutor for answers. Silence teaches the children that they have to try stuff themselves in order to progress. They have to show their capabilities without the hand-holding and guidance (which can mostly be the easy way out). Students normally expect instant help from their tutors the moment they have even the slightest misunderstanding of the question. While this can be due to their dependence on the tutor, it can build bad habits, unintentionally training students to rely too much on external guidance or an easy fix/solution. As tutors, by resisting the urge to jump in and help, and instead sit there and let the students try again and figure it out themselves, we give our students the opportunity get used to not always knowing. This helps them build problem solving and memory skills (as well as other skills) which can help them finish their work themselves, not always relying on others to help. This method also portrays a level of trust, like by sitting there in silence, a tutor has confidence that the student knows what they are doing and are very capable of doing it themselves. This simple act of trust can give the students the confidence that they need to properly attempt and complete the question. Of course, using this method is not always effective, and the tutor must properly judge when they are able to be silent, otherwise the student will not make any progress, as they really do not understand how to make any progress on the problem at hand. Silence is an important tool it allows the student to reflect and learn, gaining confidence in the process, but it must be used correctly.

Lishai Rubinstein

One of the most underrated contributors to academic success isn’t intelligence or talent — it’s routine. Establishing a consistent routine helps students manage time effectively, reduce stress, and stay on track with their goals.

Routine brings structure to the chaos of school life. Between classes, assignments, extracurriculars, and exams, students often feel overwhelmed. But a well-planned routine breaks the day into manageable blocks, giving time for study, rest, and personal activities. This not only prevents last-minute cramming but also promotes better retention and understanding of material.

Consistent sleep and study habits are particularly powerful. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day supports memory consolidation and mental focus. Likewise, studying at the same time and in the same environment builds a mental association with learning, making it easier to get started and stay concentrated.

From a tutor’s perspective, routine also enhances the effectiveness of lessons. Students who attend sessions regularly — at the same time each week — are more likely to come prepared, retain information, and progress steadily. Irregular study habits, on the other hand, often lead to gaps in understanding and lack of confidence.

Of course, routines should be flexible enough to accommodate life’s surprises, but having a consistent framework is key. I often encourage my students to create weekly study plans, incorporating tutoring, revision, and downtime. It helps them take ownership of their learning while maintaining balance.

Ultimately, success isn’t about working harder — it’s about working smarter. And nothing makes smart work more sustainable than a good routine.

Julian Podgornik

Today I observed a math session where the tutor went over different textbook questions with the student. The tutor first went over a question and its working out, explaining each step and checking in with the student to see if he understood. After laying out an example on the board, the student then attempted similar questions on his own. During this, the tutor was actively checking over his work and working out, ensuring he was on the right track and guiding him if he wasn’t. The tutor also guided the student on what technique he should use for each question, which encouraged the student to work out the question himself but also with the support of the tutor. When the student needed help with a question, the tutor slowly explained the question, working together with the student. This ensures that the student is putting in the effort and understanding the work but also allows the tutor to guide the student. After the student attempted the question, the tutor checked over his work and working out to ensure he was understanding the question fully but also doing it properly.

The tutor was able to work through the question with the student by breaking down the elements of the question and what information has been given. Once this was broken down, the tutor then continued the working out on the whiteboard, subbing in the appropriate numbers into the formula. They showed how to work out the question in two ways, substitution and elimination, which allowed the student to decide which method was easier for them and worked for them. The student copying the working out afterwards, allowed the student to lock in their understanding and also gain an example of how to set up their working out. The tutor would also ask extended questions about the example question, to ensure that the student fully understood the question and concepts. From all these techniques used in a session, it allows encouraged student growth under the guide of a tutor.

Cynthia Lam

Bedtime stories are often thought of as a way to relax children before sleep, but they can also be powerful tools for learning. Reading together at night is not only a comforting routine, it is an opportunity to strengthen vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.

When parents read aloud, children hear how words are pronounced and learn the rhythm of language. This exposure builds phonemic awareness, which is the foundation of strong reading skills. For younger children, simply hearing new words in context expands their vocabulary and helps them connect spoken language to meaning. For older children, listening to more complex stories introduces them to sentence structures and ideas they may not encounter in their own reading.

Bedtime stories also improve comprehension. Asking simple questions during or after the story encourages children to think actively about what they have read. Questions like “Why do you think the character made that choice?” or “What do you think will happen next?” prompt prediction, inference and reasoning skills. These are the same skills tested in school reading tasks and NAPLAN.

Another benefit is that stories provide a safe space to discuss values, emotions and problem-solving. Children can explore big ideas through characters and scenarios, building empathy and perspective in the process. A story about courage or friendship may lead to conversations that help them navigate their own experiences at school and with peers.

Most importantly, bedtime reading creates positive associations with books. When children see reading as enjoyable rather than a chore, they are more likely to pick up books independently and develop lifelong literacy habits. By making storytime a consistent part of the evening routine, parents can give their children the gift of learning in a calm and nurturing way.

Freddie Le Vay

Hey everyone, today I had the wonderful opportunity to observe Sienna’s primary school English session.

Sienna started the session checking her students homework from last week. They then did some work on preparing her student for her upcoming spelling test. They went through a range of sight words.

They then spent the rest of the tutorial, working on creative writing. Sienna started by going through the structure of a story, she explained how there needs to be an introduction, climax and resolution. They then started to create a detailed plan of the story. They started by going through the setting, then the plot and lastly the characters.

They also went through how to make the story more engaging and detailed, by adding more imagery and metaphors to the story. Sienna made sure to remind her student to show what was happening in the story rather than telling the story.

Sienna gave her student the mini whiteboard to write her spelling words on and to write her story. The student also started to draw the characters and the setting, so she could visualize the story she was writing about.

When Sienna’s student got distracted, Sienna did a good job, getting her student to focus and get back on track.

Sienna did a great job allowing her student to independently write the story. Once the student had finished writing a section of the story, Sienna would then read through it, to give some feedback. They also edited the grammar, punctuation and spelling.

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

Overall, Sienna did a great job helping her student. It was a great session and such a pleasure to observe. Keep it up!

Ashley Cohen

When introducing students to allegory, I like to begin by broadening their sense of what the term means. Too often, students imagine allegory as something obvious and fixed, like Animal Farm representing the Russian Revolution. While that’s a useful starting point, it risks narrowing their thinking. Instead, I encourage them to see that every text, to some extent, operates allegorically because it never functions purely on the literal level. Literature always reaches beyond itself—characters, settings, and actions inevitably gesture toward larger ideas, values, or tensions within the human experience.

This approach helps students understand that allegory is not only about identifying symbols but also about recognising patterns of meaning. For example, a father–son conversation in a memoir can be read literally as dialogue, but it can also be seen allegorically as a representation of how memory and trauma are transmitted across generations. In this sense, allegory is a way of accessing deeper truths through figurative storytelling.

Teaching this perspective is vital for essay writing. Students often struggle when they think analysis means just describing what happens. By framing texts as allegorical, we shift them towards interpretation. They learn to ask: What does this event stand for? What larger idea is being suggested? This allows them to build more sophisticated arguments, because they are no longer confined to surface-level description but are instead engaging with the text’s broader implications.

Ultimately, viewing literature through the lens of allegory empowers students. It shows them that texts are not closed objects but open systems of meaning. Every analysis then becomes an act of uncovering how narrative details embody wider truths, enabling students to craft arguments that are both analytical and original.

Thea Macarthur-Lassen

Not every child falls in love with reading right away, and that’s completely normal. Some kids take a little longer to find the right book or the right moment to realise that reading can be fun, not just something they do for school.
For reluctant readers, the key is often about shifting the focus from “you have to read” to “you get to read something you enjoy.” When reading feels like a choice, not a chore, children are more likely to engage.

One of the most effective ways parents can help is by creating a relaxed, low-pressure environment around reading. Let children pick what they want to read, whether it’s a graphic novel, joke book, sports magazine, or even a recipe. It all counts. The goal is to get them turning pages, not to stick to a specific type of book.

Incorporating reading into fun routines can also make a difference. Bedtime stories, weekend library visits, or even reading together on the couch can help children associate reading with positive, enjoyable experiences. Some kids also benefit from audiobooks paired with a print copy, helping them follow along without feeling overwhelmed.
Most importantly, celebrate small wins. Even reading for five minutes is progress. Encouragement and patience go a long way, especially when praise focuses on effort rather than achievement.

Reading regularly outside of school is one of the most powerful ways children can build essential skills that support their overall learning. It helps expand their vocabulary, improves their understanding of sentence structure and grammar, and strengthens their ability to express ideas clearly, both in writing and speaking. The more they read, the more words they’re exposed to, which naturally boosts their language development and confidence. Reading also improves concentration, critical thinking, and comprehension skills, which carry over into every subject at school. Beyond academics, it encourages curiosity, empathy, and creativity in turn helping children become thoughtful, capable learners for life.

Natasya Ross

When we think about tutoring, we usually think about cognitive skills like: problem-solving, memorisation and critical thinking. But beneath all of that is something less visible and far more powerful, which is emotion.

Learning is deeply emotional. Students bring their fears, frustrations, self-doubt, pride, boredom and excitement into every session, whether they say it out loud or not. As tutors, we’re not just working with brains, we’re working with feelings.

A student who “zones out” during a session might not be lazy, they might be overwhelmed. One who rushes through their work might not be careless, they might be anxious and that “I don’t care” attitude? often is a shield for “I’m scared to fail”.

Good tutors learn to read between the lines. We adjust not just to academic needs but to emotional states. A well timed joke, a pause to breathe or a simple “I get why this feels hard” can shift the entire mood of a session. When students feel safe and supported, their brains actually work better. Neuroscience backs this up, as emotional safety is a prerequisite for cognitive performance.

That’s why emotional literacy should be a core skill for every tutor. We don’t need to be therapists, but we do need to be human. We should listen actively, validate feelings and build trust. Because no amount of content knowledge matters if a student has emotionally checked out.

When students feel seen, that’s when learning clicks. That’s when questions get asked and when growth truly begins, not just in marks but in mindset.

Tutoring isn’t just academic support. It’s emotional scaffolding and when we show up with empathy as well as expertise We’re not just teaching subjects, we’re building the foundational layers of confidence and self-belief.

Isabella Naumovski

Mix Learning With Fun:
One of the easiest ways to capture your students’ attention is to turn lessons into games. Especially for the little kids with shorter attention spans, it can often be a lot of content to consume, and the best way to do this is to play a game mid way so that they have something to look forward to. This could be in the form of a mini quiz, flashcards or a short game of uno can go a long way. For me, I download worksheets on my ipad for them to complete as work, so when they start getting distracted, I let them draw a little picture, or play around on the ipad for a couple of minutes and it always helps them to get back on track as they have had some fun.

Break Down Information:
It can be quite difficult to digest a high volume of content in just one hour, so by breaking the content into smaller chunks, with visuals such as diagrams, colour notes or infographics. This will stimulate their brains and keep them engaged in the lesson, as well as enable them to retain information more effectively through colour coordination and active listening.

Real World Examples:
At times it can be quite easy for your student to lose sight of why they are learning certain topics. By being prepared and showing them the areas in which the work can be applied to real life examples, it will help them make connections to the topic, which will make it more understandable.

Positive Reinforcement:
Finally… Just like everything in life, a little bit of encouragement goes a very long way, which is why you MUST celebrate all achievements, even if they are small. This can be through positive reinforcement, giving them rewards such as a sweet treat or a little toy will help them feel successful, motivating them to do a better job.

Angelina Livolsi