When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, make a list
When you’re stressed out and you know it, and you really want to show it, When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, make a list. Did you catch the ‘If you’re happy and you know it’ children’s song reference there? When I was going though a tough time earlier this year, a...
What to do about maths anxiety
Many students suffer from maths anxiety. The Australian Council for Educational Research estimates that around 20% of students are ‘highly maths anxious’. Signs of a high level of maths anxiety include avoiding the subject, inhibited memory for mathematical concepts,...
Senior School Transitions
For a student transitioning from Year 10 to Year 11 or from Year 11 to Year 12, their journey through senior school feels both exciting and intimidating. Exciting because they have more opportunities for leadership, wider subject selections, and are closer to the end...
Down the Rabbit Hole
What exactly is curiosity? What do we mean when we say that curiosity is an attribute of successful learners? ‘Curiosity’ is a trait similar to inquisitiveness: it encompasses a desire to question, investigate, and explore how things work and why things are the way...
Online Maths Games: The Results Add Up
Gamification of learning is the idea of applying game principles (e.g. scoring points, competing with others, leader boards) to education to increase interest and engagement in learning. Physical (non-digital) games are routinely used by teachers, especially in...
What is the real purpose of tutoring?
During school holidays, and especially after the tumultuous term we’ve just had, no one would argue that our students need a rest. Time away from school brings with it the question of whether they should take a break from their studies, and if so, when school and...
Inspiring the Unmotivated Student
Many students go through stages where it appears they are wholly disinterested in school. They might say, “School’s boring,” and without elaborating further, parents feel powerless to help. Closer observation or speaking to their teachers might reveal underlying...
NAPLAN: To prepare or not to prepare…
NAPLAN is not the be-all and end-all of a student’s learning career, but it does provide a helpful indication of those areas in which they require some extra attention. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) who facilitate NAPLAN do not...
Found! A Remedy for the Literacy Crisis…
“Don’t worry about spelling and grammar. The future will be digital!”According to Prof. Pamela Snow, 1 in 7 fifteen-year-olds do not meet OECD reading standards. The OECD is an international organisation focused on facilitating a global economy. Part of this includes...
School’s Out, Reports are In
It’s the end of another busy school year and our students are settling into a well-deserved break. But beneath all the excitement of summer holidays lurks the bi-annual report card anxiety. As parents and carers, we might look forward to seeing where our children have...
Children’s Writing, Creativity and Exam performance
We receive lots of inquiries about students and their problems with writing. The connection between the tech age and writing is apt in this instance. We have great tools to enhance children's learning, however while these tools are a standard in classrooms, how much...
Nepean Tutoring: Delivering Results
More than a tutoring business, Nepean Tutoring is a team of passionate educators with heart. We strive to provide the best individualised support for students regardless of age or ability level. Our tutoring team includes past and present teachers, disability support...
Sleep to live and learn
Why good sleep is essential for health, wellbeing and even academic success. It’s already more than half way through term one, and the heat is on for students in years 11 and 12. Assessments pile up, test times loom and the realities of senior years stress start to...
Help Your Child Improve Their School Marks and Confidence: Adopt a Growth Mindset
A ‘growth mindset’ is the belief that abilities are developed over time, and any skill or area of knowledge can be developed with hard work and perseverance. A term coined by educational psychologist Dr Carol Dweck, growth mindset contrasts to the much more common...
Help Me Help My Child to Read!
3 Essential Things to Know When Teaching Your Child to Read Reading is an essential early skill that underpins so much future learning. But what can you do if reading really isn’t as easy as ‘a b c’ for your child? How can you help get them back on track with reading,...