A sudden rise in coronavirus infections has been identified in several areas in Victoria since the easing of restrictions last month. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews warned that a statewide lockdown could be an option if the outbreaks are not contained properly.

As of June 30, there are 10 Melbourne postcodes that are deemed hotspots by the government and will remain under quarantine until the end of July. So, residents under the restricted postcodes will not be able to leave their homes except for essential purposes.

This unexpected outbreak will affect students, parents, and schools in Victoria because some health protocols must be enforced to avoid further infections, and strict protection of students will mean implementing the new normal in school premises like social distancing and wearing of masks.

Response from the government
The government is fast to respond by spending up to $45 million on extra cleaning activities and sterilising of schools, which includes frequently touched surfaces. Schools are also advised to implement staggered drop-off systems, which is necessary to reduce the number of people congregating at the school gate.

Teachers and other staff are also required to use personal protective equipment like masks to lower the chances of transmission. Also, students are not allowed to drink from water fountains, and there will be no school assemblies, excursions, and camps.
 
Response from the Victorian residents
Victorian residents and businesses have adapted the new normal, and they are willing to follow health protocols to protect their families and the community. This means social distancing will be implemented in various businesses, and residents will minimise their activities outside of their houses, like avoiding non-essential outings in the community.
 
What if you’re in a hotspot?
If you’re in a hotspot and you and/or a family member are not feeling well, it is essential that you call a health professional to get the needed treatment and support. However, if you don’t have any of the symptoms of Covid-19, you should always protect yourself by doing the following:

• Washing your hands often with water and soap for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching either your nose, eyes, and mouth, especially with unwashed hands
• Staying at home and avoid crowded areas
• Coughing or sneezing into your sleeve and not your hands
• Following guidelines set by authorities in your area

Impact on schooling for the remainder of the year
Although schools in Victoria are not officially closed, the recent events have already changed the way schools operate. In fact, they are now more vigilant in implementing health protocols as well as regular cleaning of essential facilities. Teachers, students, and parents must also adjust to the new normal, which is currently in effect in various countries around the world.

Schools might also leverage technology more during this pandemic, so teachers will communicate and collect lessons and assignments using websites, emails, cloud storage, and videoconferencing software. Students will also form study groups online to tackle their homework and other school activities.

So, will schools lockdown again in Victoria?

It all depends on our current situation and the actions of the government to contain the outbreaks in several hotspots, and limit the spread of transmission. So let's all do our part to try and limit interactions and infections so that schools and businesses, including in home tuition, can continue to function as normally as possibe.

Many students are asking if they should start studying for VCE exams even if it is several months away. They would also like to know how they should be studying and the preparations they should do to pass the exams successfully.

Most students would consider studying one to two months before the exams, but that is not enough since it will overload them with various lessons and content along with practice exams that they need to conduct to better prepare them for the actual one.

Usually, students cram before a major exam, but research shows that this is not as effective as studying over many sessions, because this will result in better long-term retention. That is why if you haven’t started yet, you better start now!

However, this doesn’t mean you should be smashing thirty practice exams per week? Obviously not since that would be absurd. What you should be doing is to start preparing gradually for your VCE exams, and here are some of the things you can do to get ahead of the pack.

• Make sure your notes are top-notch

It is essential to refine your notebook and gradually adding essential content for reference during exams. These will include algorithms, notes, formulas, examples, explanations, and calculator instructions.

In addition, you need to make sure that your notes are ordered logically. Whether it is typed or handwritten, you can save more time if you label specific topics, and this is more beneficial for maths subject since your notebook is your primary reference.

• Do several practice exams per week but don’t overdo it

It is wise to conduct several short practice sessions that are distributed over several days in a week because this enables long-term storage. In fact, one full-length practice test was proven more effective than conducting several full-length practice sessions within one week.

For maximum effect, experts recommend that you do one full-length practice test five to six days before the final VCE exam.

• Get in the habit of practising questions as soon as you learn new skills

To better understand when and how to apply each new skill you’ve learned or concepts you have mastered, we recommend that you try practising questions in context and out of order. This will provide you the means to properly tackle difficult questions on your exams since it may be similar to the ones you’ve already been practising.

• Start timing yourself

The more you time yourself, the better you handle stress and pressure during the actual exams. Also, you don’t need to worry if you’ve done poorly a few times because you can always repeat it and do better the next succeeding practice exams.

The main objective of this activity is to know where you are lacking and what you need to work on in order to speed up your time and become successful with your exam.

• Practice past exam questions

Another simple tip to better prepare you for the exams is to practice past exam questions. In fact, this is as close to the real thing as you can get, and it will tremendously improve your chances of success. Usually, examiners will re-use or re-word questions, so practising past questions will give you a significant advantage.

Overall, the more you are prepared, the better you’ll do in your actual exams. If you’re looking for VCE maths tutoring in the Waverley area, contact us today!

For students and parents, the holidays are a time to have a break and enjoy the great outdoors, but in reality, many students will still need to complete their homework. That is why we put together several steps for tacking holiday homework, so it becomes manageable for the whole family.

There are varying opinions when it comes to holiday homework, but it can actually benefit your child in more ways than one. In fact, teachers feel that it is the best time for students to complete their project-based work.

Your child will also develop time management skills in the process since they will need to properly budget their time and bring balance to schoolwork and fun time.

As parents, you can help your child prepare for their homework by following some of these suggestions:

• Do it early in the holidays

Just because it’s called a holiday homework doesn’t mean your child should start one month before the break ends. It would help if you encouraged them to start early and schedule their time well. It is recommended that they devote at least 1-2 hours per day for their homework so that they can accomplish their work in no time. Don’t allow them to procrastinate since this can lead to poor output, and their project will suffer in the long run, especially if they are cramming.

• Create a schedule

With a little organisation and discipline, your child can get all of their homework done on time or before the holiday ends. Therefore, you must help them develop a plan that will break down their tasks into smaller and manageable parts.

• Set goals

Let your child set their goals like setting a timeframe on when they should finish their homework. They must also decide how much time they need to complete their work and how many hours they must devote each day.

• Let them highlight questions they don’t understand

If they encounter some questions or instructions on their project that they don’t understand, it’s best to highlight these questions so you can help them tackle it one at a time or convey these questions to their tutor if they have one. For sure, a qualified tutor will be able to support them, so they can fully understand what needs to be done.

• Let them study with their friends

Group study can have numerous advantages, especially when done right. Therefore, you should let your child study with their friends, and they will be able to stay on track. They will also acquire an accountability partner who will stay with them until they complete their project.

• Take regular breaks

For your child to complete their project, they must devote at least 1-2 hours per day, and they must take regular breaks during this period. This will ensure that they don’t burn out or lose interest in what they are doing.

• Reward them for their efforts

Completing homework during a holiday break is not an easy task to do since you need to overcome several distractions. That is why when your child does complete his or her project, it’s just right to reward them and make sure that it is something that they really like. This will encourage them to do better next time and be more responsible in managing their time.

Overall, parents have an important role in their child’s education, and they have the responsibility to steer them in the right direction. This means helping them develop good study habits and cultivate a positive attitude towards school and the tasks they need to accomplish. If you think your child might need tuition for maths in Glen Waverley, give us a call today!

No country in the world is prepared or has foreseen the consequences of the worldwide pandemic. In fact, no measures were taken to ensure the safety and continuous operation of schools and universities. School closures have been declared in various countries since early March 2020. Although schools have resumed in Victoria and several parts of Australia, since the 9th of June.  

Online tutoring is now a vital tool to our education system and there are various factors that’s been driving the online education industry, including the increasing number of online courses and open universities from top universities around the world. But with the school closures due to the spread of the coronavirus, online education is now the leading platform to use and is supported by the government.

That is why both parents and schools are now adopting these changes and are now choosing home-based education and online tutoring for all students.

Benefits of online tuition 
The most significant benefit of online tuition is that it makes learning fun for students, and tutors can also gain valuable info through online assignments. In fact, they can use artificial intelligence (AI) to gather data from apps used by their students, and this will help them determine the most efficient way of customising their lesson plans.

The tutor will know what their student is writing on the screen, especially if they are using Android tablets or iPads. This, in turn, will provide the tutor with insights into your child’s learning patterns and behaviour during their assignments.

Another great feature of online tutoring is its capability to provide students with video tutorials that can help them tackle challenging assignments. This will ensure that your child will have a step-by-step guide or insight on various concepts that they are studying.

Most importantly, if your child is unable to make their tutoring session, it is easy to reschedule the day or time of tutoring. However, this is not possible with brick-and-mortar options, since they are not that flexible when it comes to changing schedules.

Home-based tutoring is now back
We understand that online tuition is not for everybody since home-based tutoring is now back in various parts of Australia, and this option works best for some families. In fact, some students will also require a more hands-on approach than others, and they prefer a more traditional set up than on a computer or tablet device.

Since most of the restrictions that authorities have implemented during the lockdown are now being eased up, you can now choose in-home tuition for your child. In fact, tutors are now available for both online and in-home tuition in various locations around Melbourne.

Overall, whichever option you choose, you need to make sure that you only hire the best tutoring service provider like Maths Tutors Melbourne for your child. They can provide you with certified maths tutors in Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, South Yarra and most other areas throughout Melbourne. They all have a thorough knowledge and understanding of all maths topics within the Victorian Curriculum and Victorian Certificate of Education.

Many students can master various skills and concepts in other subjects but struggle with problem-solving in Math. This is a common complaint among students since Math is a very abstract subject, and they usually learn something if they can relate it to real life. So, when they encounter more advanced and challenging topics in math, they find themselves needing to work harder to understand these difficult concepts fully.

Also, unlike other subjects, there is no room for error in math and students quickly become frustrated when they find themselves confused with the current problem they are solving. They feel that they will get an error, or they will not be able to find the right solution to the problem, and this can be a stressful experience for them.

Math is also a cumulative subject, which means your child needs to know the basics first before they can move to new and advanced topics. If they fall behind in one area or concept, they will find it hard to understand and solve more advanced math problems.

The importance of teaching in context and giving practical examples
For most students, problem-solving can be difficult and sometimes tedious. That is why a math teacher must encourage students to be patient and persistent. They must also provide them with a more structured method that they can easily follow. Teachers must be able to articulate their problem-solving methods to their students, so they can see the connections and adequately apply them on their own problems.

Teachers must also be able to show their students how to use these problem-solving skills in real-life situations (e.g., using mole fraction in their other subjects like chemistry). They also need to help their students understand the problem and define their goal. Once they can answer the questions “what” and “why,” it will be much easier to find the answer to “how.”

Overloaded Curriculum and Time Constraints
As the demands of school and life increase, learning math becomes more jam-packed, and students become overwhelmed by the pace and content of many lessons. They often feel they are not given the support and time they need to complete and understand specific topics, especially develop problem-solving techniques.

Although teachers try their best to explain the concepts and run certain activities at school, time constraints will often force them to move on before the whole class is ready.
 
How to teach problem-solving skills in mathematics

Here is a step by step method students can use to help them break down, understand and tackle problem solving questions.

1. Underline or highlight key pieces of information.
2. Translate the information from part one into easier to understand language or equations.
3. Create a labelled diagram of the given scenario to get a visual understanding of the problem.
4. Form a plan outlining each step involved in your calulations to finally complete the problem
5. Action your plan, one part at a time.
6. Once you have your final answer, check that it is reasonable and logical. Add units or complete final calculations as required to fully answer the question.

In a one-on-one tutoring session, tutors often let their student work their problem out loud. This helps them develop their problem-solving skills since they articulate how they arrive at a solution. This will eventually slow down the thinking process – giving them a better overall picture of how it is done, and the steps they need to take to solve the problem.
 
The tutor can also introduce the two-column method wherein the student will write their solution to a problem along with their calculations in one column, and their reasoning on the other column. This will help the tutor identify where they may be having problems.
 
Overall, parents must support their children by providing all the necessary means like hiring an in-person or online tutor which can help improve their problem-solving skills in math. There are several qualified tutors in Melbourne like Maths Tutor Melbourne who can cater to any of their learning needs.

School closures have presented a dilemma to both parents and their children, because months out of school may have set back children’s learning and development. In fact, the transition to home learning is a massive challenge to students since it must be adequately implemented by their schools as well as their parents, or it won’t be that effective at all.

That is why online tutors have flourished during these times since they have helped students cope with their schoolwork and other learning needs. Fortunately, this has alleviated the burden that was passed on to parents, and tutors have provided a better avenue for learning since they are also experienced and qualified teachers.

For parents, becoming teachers to their own children was hard, but letting them back into the world, where you can’t control the situation will be much harder. Eventually, children will be going back to school after months of isolation in their own homes. Therefore, it is essential for us as parents, to know the things we need to prepare for to ease our minds.

Re-establishing a school day routine
Most children sleep late over long breaks, and this is relatively true during the lockdown. So, parents should compensate by waking them a bit earlier each day, leading up to the back-to-school period. Adults are more resistant to altered routines, so they need to lead their children during this change.
Also, schedule change can trigger attention issues, so planning each part of the day can help your child keep his or her focus. Posting some detailed routine each morning can also keep the family on track with their daily activities.

Helping our child with anxiety
Another thing to consider is that the situation is NOT 100% back to normal, and even when the lockdown lifts completely, it might be a new normal for most countries around the world. This new normal or new way of doing things will definitely affect your children mentally and emotionally, and it could lead to anxiety.

Therefore, we must be more patient with our children, and we must reassure them that what they are feeling during the transition back to school is just OK. They may have a lot of things in their mind, listening to their concerns and acknowledging that what they are feeling is valid will greatly help them cope with their anxiety.

Keeping the lines of communication open with teachers
Communication with your child’s teachers is a significant factor during the lockdown, and it will make a difference to your child’s academic learning. You should also inform their teachers of any concerns you or your child may have. This will ensure that they will cope up with all the requirements they may have on their school’s online learning program.

Overall, the concerns that parents have during the lockdown is that their children may have fallen behind or may not be able to catch up quickly when they return to school. In reality, this Covid-19 pandemic is not something we’ve ever experienced, and the uncertainty is still very real. In the grand scheme of things, it is not really a big deal if they do fall behind.
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In fact, there are other alternatives available to us, like hiring a certified tutor who can help our child with their schoolwork as well as their homework. The most important thing during these times is to set our priorities, so health and happiness come first. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most significant event this century, and it is the first and foremost health crisis that affected many countries, including Australia. In fact, schools, colleges, and universities were closed to limit the spread of the virus. This short-term disruption was also felt by many families in Victoria, so homeschooling is not only a massive shock to parents but also to children’s learning and social life.

We all know that the only possible means of schooling during the lockdown is through online classes, but it is untested, and many students have not fully adjusted to this new way of learning. In fact, student’s assessment is now also moving online, and it breeds uncertainty due to trial and error. Some schools have even cancelled assessments since it’s not as accurate as they expect it to be. These interruptions have long-term consequences, but we must face it head-on, and we need some pragmatic approach to how we help our children with their schooling.

Difficulties faced by children, parents, and teachers during remote learning
Homeschooling may cause stress to both parents and children since students are still expected to participate in at least two to five hours of daily online instructions via Google Classroom or Zoom. They will also need to submit assignments, learn complex new concepts, and do online assessments. But the most significant hurdle is the amount of time, and support parents can devote to their children’s online learning activities.   

Typically, parents should be available at all times to provide the needed attention, but we all know that remote learning is something new for most of us. Parents are still adapting to this new trend and they are also struggling with stresses far greater than schoolwork. This means that support may sometimes be limited, but for households with three or more children, the decision on who gets more attention at a given time is somewhat complicated.

Not to mention that parents should also take a more personalised approach in helping their children by setting a separate study space away from any distractions, a working computer and an internet connection that their kids may use in their online schooling.

That is why most parents seek out additional help by hiring online tutors like Maths Tutors Melbourne. Fortunately, these tutors are also qualified teachers, and they can help your child improve their academics skills through the use of various technologies like artificial intelligence in gathering the much-needed data to determine the best way of customising their lesson plans.

Positive impact of the lockdown
Living on lockdown has given us more time to reflect on ourselves, our relationships and what’s important to us. It is also given us more time to spend with our children and to better assess their learning as well as improve our bond with them. We now have the chance to talk to our children without worrying about our work in the office. We can also learn more about their experiences with their peers and teachers, as well as their everyday struggles at school.

This is also the most appropriate time to create the foundations for better communication with our children and to learn the technologies that they need in their homeschooling, so we can better assist them with their schoolwork.

Most importantly, you can do several household chores together, which can build better cooperation and unity in your home. So, being lockdown due to the pandemic is not all that bad. You just need to be more patient with your children, especially with their homeschooling. 

Overall, social isolation, staying away from relatives, friends, school, facing an unsafe environment, and taking all the necessary steps to protect ourselves from the coronavirus will have a greater impact on ourselves as well as our children. But we need to accept the “New Normal,” which can be the standard that we need to adhere to in the coming months or until a proven vaccine is available on the market.

These are uncertain times, and it can be very daunting for you and the whole family. With all the news about the pandemic, it is just natural to feel anxious since the world is now reeling to the effects of Covid-19, both emotionally and economically.

Being isolated inside your home and not able to go out and about can be very challenging for most people. That is why reaching out to your friends and relatives online is a must; you can perhaps start a group on Facebook or initiate a group chat or Skype call once a day to lighten up your mood and minimise loneliness.

Prioritise kindness and compassion, because you will be with your kids most of the time, and they may display challenging behaviour as they are feeling cabin fever since they can’t get out of the house. You may need to set boundaries, so it is important that you talk to them and convey your expectations as well as understand theirs too. Most importantly, build in family time so your children will feel that you support them during these challenging times.

Remote learning alternatives
With the lockdown in place in most of the communities in Australia, you may be thinking about how to keep yourself as well as your children occupied. As schools are closed, and there’s no clear indication when they will reopen this year, it is essential to find other means to help your kids learn and cope up with their schooling.

However, before you start searching for remote learning alternatives, you need to first reach out to your children's school and teachers, so that you stay informed as well as receive the necessary guidance about online learning. They may even give you pointers on how to assist you, child, with remote learning.

Common mistake that parents make
Some parents and students are not ready for the sudden switch to online learning at home, and parents tend to make common mistakes like leaving their children on their own since they know more about technology, which in fact, not the case.

Parents should take a more personalised approach in helping kids with their online learning activities like setting up a separate study space, including a working computer, and away from any distractions. You should also be able to block certain apps or software in your child’s computer that could potentially distract them from their studies.

What to do when you are close to breaking point?
Helping your child with online learning using various digital platforms can be quite daunting and sometimes frustrating, especially if you’re not seeing the results that you would expect from your child. You may even be close to breaking point since you also have other issues of your own. When you’re in this situation, you need to calm down and take a break. You need to be patient and understand that not all students will learn online at the same pace.

You should appreciate the little wins and be thankful that they are moving forward in spite of our current situation.

Online tutoring
You may also want to consider hiring a qualified tutor like, who can provide digital classes. These tutors can help your child improve their academic skills using various online means like artificial intelligence that can gather data from apps to determine the best way of customising their lesson plans.

Maths Tutors Melbourne have recently joined the Australian Tutoring Association (ATA). Check out our profile here.

Many parents nowadays opt for in-home or online tutoring rather than sending their kids to a tuition centre since they feel more comfortable seeing their children being tutored in the comforts of their own house. Also, parents can quickly gauge the progress of their child and the effectiveness of the tutor’s teaching methods when they are nearby. Most importantly, they have the opportunity to interview the tutor face-to-face before they hire them.

However, there are important factors to consider before you make the final decision especially if you’re living in Australia. In fact, it is essential for you to know if the tutor you are hiring is a member of the Australian Tutoring Association. ATA is the only organisation in the country who represent and unify the tutoring industry, and they have strict requirements and regulations that their members follow.

Child protection
One of the most important principles that ATA espouses is “child protection”, and they are very particular when it comes to the welfare of children. In fact, they provide strict guidelines when it comes to home tutoring like the session should not take place in the student’s bedroom, and must be conducted in an open area where the guardian or parent can easily view or hear the whole process. Usually, the kitchen table or dining area is an ideal place to conduct the tutoring session.

Also, it is required that a parent or guardian should be present during each tutoring session, and the tutor will not start the tuition if there is no adult in the house. This prevents the possibility of the tutor being left alone in a house with their student.

ATA is also meticulous in their application process, and they do not accept applicants with current or pending charges or convictions in relation to children, especially if an applicant is suspended from teaching due to child-related matters. This means you have peace of mind when you’re dealing with a tutor who is a member of their organisation.

How to choose the right tutor?
Choosing the right tutor is not an easy task to do, especially when the future of your child is at stake. You’ll need to hire a qualified, accredited and experienced private instructors that are ready to help your child increase their knowledge, skills and understanding in difficult subjects like math and science. You’ll also want to know if they are qualified to teach topics within the Victorian Curriculum and Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). 

There are different types of tutors based on their qualifications, and these will include the following:

• Education undergraduate tutors

These tutors are currently studying in higher education, which means they are studying to become full-time teachers. The advantage you have with undergrad tutors is the fact that they are learning in a variety of techniques and are mostly aimed to help students in grades 5, 6, as well as years 7-10. They have also completed VCE, and this gives them comprehensive knowledge of the curriculum.

• Qualified teachers specialising in the general subject area

These tutors have completed their undergraduate training and are qualified teachers. Most of these teachers are employed within the private and government school systems. They also have completed their discipline study and have their own specific teaching methods. 

• Qualified teachers in the exact subject area requested

These tutors have completed their teaching practicum and higher education training as well as acquired their Bachelor in Education. These tutors are considered specialists and skilled in teaching the subjects that your child needs. So, if your child needs to improve and develop their understanding in a particular subject like math, then it is recommended that you hire a specialist teacher like Math Tutors Melbourne to conduct your child’s tutoring sessions.

Overall, hiring a qualified tutor for your child is an essential task you need to do to ensure they get the needed help to improve their academic performance. You may even opt for online tutoring, which is also another option to consider since digital classes make learning fun for students. Tutors can also gain valuable info from online assignments via artificial intelligence which they can easily employ to determine the best and most efficient way of customising their lesson plans.
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I had always been sceptical about online tutoring and whether or not it was feasible. How could any online forum replace the power of one-on-one in person? Especially for Maths. I do not know I you’ve ever tried it, but typing equations and formulas is tedious and time consuming. And so, along I plodded, inside my comfort zone, only offering in person tutoring to local students.

Crises have a funny way of making us think outside the box and problem solve. Through the lockdown of Covid-19, not only did I investigate online tutoring and how to make it work, I recognised that the benefits of online tutoring far exceed any reservations I have had.

Student Benefits of One-On-One Online Learning:

Access to any tutor- Private home-based tutoring limits your access to good quality tutors. As a tutor myself, I will travel up to half an hour for my students, and charge for my travels. Any further than that is just not feasible. The selection of tutors for online tuition is endless and you are more likely to find someone both you and your child are truly compatible with.

The Online Interactive Classroom – The online classroom acts as though the tutor and student are sitting side by side. The tutor observes the students working and the student watches the step by step demonstrations and instructions of the tutor. Documents can be uploaded and worked through together, and the classroom even offers the assistance of graphs, grids and symbols. The tutor and student can share their screens, which can be beneficial for a quick look at important videos or other external resources, such as CAS calculator emulators.

Lesson Recording – All online lessons are securely recorded, so that students can revisit and review lessons as needed to cement their understanding.

More flexible time slots – Often, tutors can open up more flexible time slots given that they are able to work from anywhere

Tutor Benefits of Online Tuition:
No travel required – You can literally work from anywhere and can save on petrol and time. This opens up opportunities for taking on more students and charging slightly less.

Offer you services to more students – Gone are the days of tutoring locally. Through remote tutoring options, you can tutor anyone within your state (and possibly interstate if you understand differences in curriculum). This is huge for tutors, as they are likely to receive more enquiries from a bigger pool of potential students.

Online Classroom preparation and homework – I have been finding the access to the online classroom great for me and my students to interact outside of lessons. I set homework that they can complete in their own time, and I then go in and correct their work. The flexibility and ease of this allow both the student and tutor benefits that in person tutoring cannot offer.

If as a parent, student, or tutor, you have been resisting online tutoring for whatever reason, I urge you to give it a try! At Maths Tutors Melbourne, we are currently offering a free half hour trial of the online classroom for new students. Contact us now for more information.