First Education

As we begin Term 4, a lot of students start to have their final exam blocks upcoming, and I can definitely sense the mix of pressure and panic that comes with it. It has led me to reflect on how our tutoring sessions change in the lead-up to exams, as the focus shifts from learning new concepts to refining confidence, strategy, and timing. Over time, I’ve learned that successful exam preparation isn’t just about doing as many practice papers as possible. It’s about being deliberate with how students approach them. I always encourage students to review why they got something wrong, rather than just redoing questions until they get them right. When they understand the reasoning behind their mistakes, they’re far less likely to repeat them under exam stress.

Another strategy that really helps is building a routine. I find that setting up small, focused study goals, for example “revise two topics this week” or “complete one timed section”, makes the process feel more achievable. It also helps students visualise their progress, which boosts their confidence. Often, we break questions down into levels of difficulty, starting with the easy ones to build momentum before tackling the harder ones. This approach mirrors the structure of most exams and helps students manage their time and energy on the day.
Often, the most overlooked part of exam prep is the student’s mindset. I find that it is important to remind students that feeling nervous is normal. However, it is also important to keep the anxiety in check. A lot of the time, most of the panic can be eased with preparation. When they’ve practised enough, reviewed their weaknesses, and built strategies that work for them, the fear begins to fade.

Katreen Diab

Today, I had the opportunity to reflect on how my tutoring approach has evolved this year and the strategies that have shaped my practice at First Education.
Over time, I’ve come to understand that one of the most valuable aspects of tutoring is creating a positive and supportive learning environment. Building a strong, trusting relationship with each student helps them feel comfortable and engaged, which in turn encourages them to enjoy and connect more deeply with their learning. The environment at First Education also plays a big part in this — the centre provides excellent resources and a calm, welcoming space that allows students to focus and thrive. A key part of my tutoring approach involves recognising when to guide a student closely and when to step back and let them take the lead. I’ve learned that this balance fosters independence and confidence, especially when students face challenges or make mistakes. In moments of difficulty, I find it effective to slow down, revisit foundational concepts, and rebuild understanding from the ground up — helping the student regain confidence in their abilities.
Overall, working with a diverse range of students has taught me how to adapt to different learning styles and personalities. Each session provides new insight into how students learn best, and I’ve really valued the opportunity to support their growth while continuing to develop my own skills as a tutor.

Annabelle Molloy

Behind every lesson plan, every practice question, and every homework activity lies the fundamental relationship a student has with their tutor. It’s this connection that often determines not just how much a student learns, but how they feel about learning itself. Tutoring sets up a student for more than just schoolwork but teaches transferable skills applicable to everyday life.

Tutoring for students can often seem daunting and, at times, very vulnerable, but with the right tutor and a supportive team relationship, tutoring can be reframed in the student’s mind. When students feel understood and supported, they’re more willing to take risks, ask questions, and admit when they don’t understand something, making it most effective. They stop fearing mistakes and start seeing them as stepping stones toward growth. Tutoring isn’t just about explaining concepts or improving marks; it’s about creating an environment where students feel capable and valued.

​​For tutors, these relationships are equally transformative. Each session is an opportunity to inspire, guide, and witness the power of encouragement and teaching firsthand. Watching a student develop from uncertainty to confidence is one of the most rewarding aspects of the role. When trust and understanding form the foundation, students don’t just learn, they grow, gaining the confidence to tackle challenges both in and beyond tutoring sessions.

Jessica Ciappara

During study-intensive periods, such as prelim exams or HSC exams, students typically feel that the best thing to do is to study as much as they can, keeping their head down and powering through. While this may work for some students, the idea of “more hours studying = better results” isn’t necessarily true. The brain works like a muscle, needing rest to perform at its best. This is where brain breaks play a role.

Brain breaks are short, intentional pauses that let the mind “recharge”. These breaks aren’t necessarily long or complicated, and could be as simple as going for a walk, stretching, or a quick game of Uno with your tutor! In a tutoring session, when students take these short pauses, energy and focus tend to increase. These breaks also allow for any stressful or negative emotions to ease before moving on, growing confidence. Additionally, information is more easily stored in long-term memory rather than short-term memory (helping with information retention for exams!) when taking brain breaks.

Brain breaks are based on real science. Human brains have limits on how long concentration lasts. This differs between individuals, but once that limit is hit, attention fades and information retention drops. By taking a few minutes to step away, the human brain is able to consolidate what it has learnt, meaning it can be ready to take in more information.

The key is that brain breaks aren’t wasting time, but more so using time smarter. The length of study to break can change and adapt over time as interest and knowledge grow, but the “break” component is always beneficial when used wisely. For younger learners, this break might be standing up and moving around, while for older students, it could be taking a minute for some mindfulness or a quick chat.

Essentially, these pauses aid students to learn better and teaches them balance between study and rest, helping them in both their work and managing stressful emotions.

Tiana Tzoukas

One of the most effective ways to learn something deeply is to teach it. This might sound surprising, but research consistently shows that explaining information to someone else strengthens understanding and long-term memory. When students take on the role of the teacher, they move from passively absorbing facts to actively processing and applying them.

Teaching requires organisation of thought. To explain a topic clearly, students must identify the main ideas, link them together and fill in any gaps in their understanding. This process forces them to think critically about what they know and what they do not. In doing so, they naturally strengthen recall and comprehension. For example, when a student explains a maths concept like fractions to a sibling or parent, they must use their own words, which helps to internalise the logic behind the method rather than memorising steps.

This approach works across all subjects. In English, summarising a text for someone else helps students identify key themes and arguments. In science, explaining an experiment or formula reinforces cause-and-effect thinking. Even in history, teaching events to a friend encourages connections between time periods and ideas, which improves essay writing later on.

Parents and tutors can encourage this by asking students to “teach back” what they’ve learned. It doesn’t need to be formal. A quick explanation of a concept after homework, or a mini presentation on a favourite topic, can turn review time into active learning.

When students teach, they gain confidence in their own abilities and develop communication skills that extend beyond the classroom. Most importantly, they discover that true understanding means being able to explain something clearly. By learning through teaching, students don’t just remember more—they think more deeply and learn more effectively.

Freddie Le Vay

How Maths Boosts a Child’s Learning Journey

Maths isn’t just about numbers; it’s a powerful tool that shapes young minds. From improved problem-solving skills to enhanced critical thinking, maths plays a crucial role in a child’s overall development.

One of the primary ways maths aids learning is through problem-solving. Maths teaches children to approach challenges logically, break them down into manageable steps, and find effective solutions. These skills aren’t just for the classroom; they’re essential for navigating everyday life. Whether it’s figuring out how to share toys fairly or planning a route to school, problem-solving is a lifelong asset.

Moreover, maths cultivates critical thinking. When children engage with mathematical concepts, they learn to analyse information, identify patterns, and make informed decisions. This ability to think critically extends beyond maths, influencing how they evaluate arguments, assess evidence, and form opinions in various subjects.

Furthermore, maths enhances creativity. While it may seem counterintuitive, maths encourages children to think outside the box and explore different approaches. By experimenting with numbers, shapes, and patterns, they develop their imagination and learn to express themselves in unique ways.

Saoirse Early

Losing a friend at work can feel surprisingly heavy. The workplace isn’t just a professional environment. It’s also a social environment where we spend much of our daily lives. When a colleague who was also a close friend leaves, the absence can leave a noticeable emotional gap that affects both morale and productivity.

Work friendships often provide a sense of support and shared understanding that makes challenges easier to handle. Having someone who “gets it” can turn stressful and long days into manageable ones, offering laughter, perspective, and solidarity. When that person is gone, the day-to-day rhythm changes. Work feel quieter, less engaging, and the motivation to come in every day can fall. For many, it can even lead to feelings of loneliness or disengagement from the workplace community.

From a psychological perspective, this kind of loss is a form of social grief. It disrupts routines and removes a key source of emotional connection. Tutors might withdraw temporarily or feel less invested in their team’s dynamics. Managers and coworkers often underestimate this impact but acknowledging it openly can help; whether through casual check-ins, small social gestures, or redistributing collaborative roles to rebuild connection.

At the same time, losing a work friend can also prompt reflection and growth. It may encourage you to expand your social circle, or strengthen other relationships. While the immediate impact can be difficult, over time, it can foster resilience and adaptability, valuable skills in any workplace. Ultimately, losing a friend at work reminds us that professional life is deeply human: relationships shape not just how we work, but how we feel while doing it.

Lewin Fairbairn

One on one tutoring offers an opportunity to turn primary school English learning into an engaging and imaginative experience. By introducing further creativity into sessions, tutors can help to motivate reluctant readers into enthusiastic writers and storytellers.

Story telling with a twist is a powerful tool to utilise. This can be done by simply changing voices to represent different characters which adds drama and delight. Thus, creating a more immersive experience for the student allowing them to be more engaged. This technique not only boosts the student’s comprehension skills but also their confidence whilst reading.

Themed reading activities make sessions feel more exciting. Choose a theme that aligns with the student’s personal interests, for example, a sport or a hobby. By reading about a topic of interest it allows the student to feel more inclined to complete the activity. Additionally, reading activities could be gamified through the implementation of a points system for each chapter of a book the student reads.

Spelling activities can help to motivate students during lessons. Simple activities involving the whiteboard such as hangman or writing a word incorrect so the student can correct it adds a fun twist to typical spelling activities. This engaging technique can assist in develop spelling skills in an engaging way.

By adding creativity into tutoring, English starts to become more than just a subject and more of a time for primary school students to express their imagination. By utilising these techniques, tutors can help students to enjoy the subject more as well as help improve literacy skills.

Sophia McLean

Hey everyone, so recently I’ve been assigning homework a little differently than I have in the past and it’s been working really well!!

Previously, I would print out textbook pages for my students and just tell them to note down the questions they needed to do. So, they would take an unmarked worksheet with them home and just scribble down somewhere in their books the questions that I expected them to complete, and we’d go from there.

It wasn’t a bad plan (it could be argued, the default way!!) but I’ve switched things up in a subtle way recently, and it’s actually made more of a difference than I had expected in both completion rate and motivation!!

Now, when I print off a sheet or two for homework (this is for maths, by the way), I take a green marker and circle the questions that I want my students to complete. This sets up little objectives, so that they also have something to cross out when they finish each question, helping them feel more accomplished.

I also take a red marker and cross out all of the questions on the worksheet that I don’t want them to complete. This works really well because they get to appreciate how much more homework there could have been, compared to the relative amount they actually had to do.

The more rewarding we can make the homework process feel, the more homework gets done, the better our students get at the material, and the happier everyone is overall!! Takes an extra five seconds and is literally all upside.

Something for you guys to try! Ciao 😀

Thomas Koutavas

High school can be overwhelming, with exams, assignments, and extracurricular activities always on students’ minds. As tutors, we can help by guiding students to optimise their study space. A personalised study environment can significantly improve focus, motivation, and productivity. Here are five ways tutors can support students in creating the ideal study space:

1. Lighting: Encourage students to set up their study space near a window for natural light. If that’s not possible, recommend soft, warm lighting instead of harsh overhead lights.
Why it helps: Proper lighting reduces eye strain, keeps students alert, and improves focus. It can also enhance mood by connecting them with the outside world.

2. Personal Touches: Suggest students add items that motivate them, such as a favourite photo, a plant, or a motivational quote.
Why it helps: Personalising a study space makes it feel more welcoming, boosting motivation and creating a positive atmosphere for studying.

3. Noise Control: Some students focus better with music, while others need silence. Help them find what works best.
Why it helps: The right noise level can help students maintain focus. Noise-cancelling headphones or a study playlist can block out distractions and improve concentration.

4. Comfort: Make sure students’ study spaces are physically comfortable, ensure their chair supports good posture, and their desk is at the right height.
Why it helps: Comfort reduces physical discomfort and helps students stay focused without the distraction of back pain or fatigue.

5. Clutter-Free Zone: Encourage students to keep only essential items on their desk and store everything else away.
Why it helps: A clean, organised space reduces stress, promotes clarity, and helps students focus on their work.

By helping students create a study space that fits their needs, we can make studying more effective, enjoyable, and less stressful.

Vicki Synesios