The current pandemic that we are experiencing has impacted schools, school their staff and families with school age children, requiring parents to be more involved in their children's education. Tutors are also beginning to play a larger part, and many families have found themselves searching for a reliable Maths tutor in Melbourne. The National Council of Mathematics Supervisors believes that it is essential to change the way mathematics is taught in schools. Maths instructions should be more consistent, so teachers and tutors must plan what math classes should be like during these times.

Educators must also recognise the emotional, social, and academic differences of students because these factors will have a great impact on their learning. While the future is still uncertain, educators must now take action and determine what needs more attention. They must focus on flexibility so students can learn maths at varying speeds and levels.

Why is planning key?
Educators must focus on three critical areas, namely, advocacy, structural considerations, and teaching practices. These factors should be in the conversation of district leaders and schools. They must know what supports are needed and what is lacking in their area moving forward.

The critical areas in a mathematics program

• Structural considerations

These factors will include strategies for students, especially after a quarantine period. Teachers must know what support these students need and think out interventions. They could even rework school schedules so students will focus more on their maths subjects.

Schools should also require teachers to work together to determine the most appropriate priorities before teaching maths in the new school year.

• Teaching practices

Educators must use new and improved strategies that focus on formative assessment to gauge and know how well the students are learning maths. It is also essential to adjust if necessary, so being flexible is critical. This means that teachers must know their students' current learning pace and help them improve their learning methods.

For this to be successful, teachers and tutors must ask questions and analyse the activities and assignments of their students.

• Setting maths goals that focus on learning

Implement various tasks that promote problem solving and reason. When you are teaching maths online, always facilitate a meaningful problem-solving class. Teachers should also ask questions with a purpose.

Advocacy
The purpose of advocacy is to make the student realise that maths is everywhere, from gadgets to finance and politics. Therefore, educators should not limit mathematical reasoning to the classroom.
Overall, students should be given the same learning opportunities, so families and the community need to get involved. We still do not know the final outcome of this pandemic and how long it will last, but one thing is certain – we are already in the new normal.

As a maths teacher, you may remember the stress of being responsible for your students’ future, especially when they reach high school. In fact, there are various areas in which students need to demonstrate competency at the required level. Not to mention that stakes are much higher when you are teaching VCE.

That is why it is essential to effectively teach Algebra to your students to successfully pass this subject and be prepared to tackle higher mathematics. Here are some tips to help you if you are a teacher or a maths tutor.

• Classroom management matters

As their maths teacher, you will need to be clear on what mindset and behaviour you are expecting from your students This means spending at least two days negotiating and clarifying classroom expectations. Every routine and procedure should be straightforward, so each student should act according to the guidelines.

Prioritising relationships is foundational since this will motivate your students to act within the boundaries set in the classroom.

• Explain the why before teaching the how

This method is beneficial for all types of teaching, but it is also effective when teaching algebra. For example: before teaching your students to solve equations, you should start by giving them a simple problem – A + B = 5.

You would follow up by asking, “What is the value of A and B?” The students will most likely give you a combination of number like 3 and 2, 4 and 1, or 5 and 0 since this will make the equation true. You will then ask a follow-up question – A – B = 3. Now, your students will see that B=1 and A=4 will satisfy both equations. Providing them with these simple problems will help them see the “why” behind some concepts in algebra.

• Get Familiar with your calculator

Calculators are essential tools that are commonly underutilised in algebra. Several calculators can help students with various algebra activities and lessons. One good example is the TI-Nspire from Texas Instruments, which support some specific lessons in Algebra.

There are also various YouTube videos that can help you and your students learn the features and capabilities of a calculator. You just need to type the name of the calculator and the skill you want to learn.

You can also search the web, especially Google and create a chat with all the calculator basics you need. It is possible to upload all your references inside a Google classroom account. You can create a living document that your students can access, and they can even add their references too.

Overall, these are just simple steps you can implement in your classroom or one-on-one tuition if you are a tutor. 

Click here to find out about the best time to find a tutor.

Teachers and maths educators believe that engaging students in visual maths can help them improve their skills and bring their learning to the next level. During one study, several activities for learning maths facts were presented to several students, all of which had visual representations. Conclusions of these studies suggested that students are more engaged and interested in learning maths.

There is a common perception that visual mathematics is just a crutch for abstract mathematics. However, curriculum guides suggest that physical and manipulative sketching can help students learn abstract maths more easily. So, the widespread lack of appreciation is due to the misconceptions that visual maths is only a supplemental method for learning.

In fact, a ground-breaking new study by Joonkoo Park and Elizabeth Brannon in 2013, found that learning occurs when a person uses various areas of his or her brain. Therefore, when students work with numbers, symbols, and analogy, they use different parts of their brains. This will develop and build their visual and spatial skills and may even help them boost their learning capabilities, especially when they are tackling mathematical problems.

Additionally, researchers have found that training students through visual representations may help improve their skills and performance in numerical maths as well. So, visual training is a viable tool that can help students comparable to numerical training.

Visual maths and its benefits
In visual maths, teachers engage students with images and visual cues instead of numbers. Through decades of work with high tech companies, students, and maths educators, people are now more inspired and excited to see mathematics as pictures and symbols.

For example, solving a standard arithmetic problem like 20 x 5, a teacher will provide students with a visual solution to a problem. So, each of the visual highlights corresponds to the solution inside the problem and this can help student develop their understanding of multiplication.

In fact, pictures can provide students with a way to see mathematical ideas, which supports them in understanding difficult math concepts. Therefore, visual mathematics can facilitate a high level of thinking, enabling communication so students can see maths more creatively.

Teachers and tutors can use this method to create mathematical excitement in both the classroom and one on one tuition. With any mathematics, teachers can ask their students for various ways to see and solve problems. This can be done by encouraging discussions and letting students see mathematical problems in a different light – giving them ways to solve it based on their understanding. If you think your child may need a tutor to assist with their development in maths, find out here about when to look for a tutor. 

Teaching maths is not a walk in the park. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most difficult subjects, especially for students who are left behind in class and need more support from their teachers. More on that here. Ideally, teachers would be able to customise lesson plans based on the needs of individual students. In reality, teachers do not have the time or resources to do this to the extent needed by many.

For tutors, there are standard procedures that you can implement to ensure that your students are getting the most of each tuition session, including:

• Always look at the problem in the book and ask your student to explain the procedures they are using to solve the problem.
• Troubleshoot any misconceptions
• Determine what your student currently know and build on that.

Here are some additional tips to consider:

• Be a guide

As a maths tutor, you should guide your student through the solution process and not solve the problem yourself. It is essential to ask your students questions that will lead them to the correct steps. If your student cannot answer the problem and asks for help, you should look at what they have done so far and locate the error. If they become stuck, provide an explanation and see I they can apply the information to the current problem.

It is advisable to give students a similar problem to help them consolidate a skill they had some trouble with. This ensure that they have a firm grasp of the concepts or procedures to lead them to the correct answer.

• Always discuss the concepts

The main goal of tutoring is to help students become independent learners. That is why it is important to discuss key concepts rather than just procedures and processes. For example, you should explain why it is essential to follow the “order of operations” rule rather than just showing them how you would solve a problem. If your students understand the concepts, it will be easier for them to remember the procedures.

• Encourage them to attend class

Some students think that having a tutor is enough to be good in math, but they must realise that a tutor is not a substitute for attending class or completing homework. The time spent with a tutor is supplemental to classroom time and should be used to consolidate concepts learnt in class.

• Address maths anxiety

As a maths tutor, you will encounter several students with varying degrees of maths anxiety. That is why you need to avoid phrases that may intimidate them, like “this is easy.” It is much more useful to tell them, “I know you can learn this,” because this will motivate them to learn the concepts and procedures no matter how hard it is for them.

Overall, these are just some of the ways you can help your students learn maths. Always remember, a good maths tutor is flexible and customises their lessons based on their students learning needs.

Many kids and even some adults have trouble with maths. In fact, maths work and upcoming assessments can cause anxiety for many students. When maths becomes a struggle, how can parents help their children improve their confidence, as well as skills and understanding?
Helping our child with maths is not always easy, but even if you are not the best at maths, there are methods that you can use to help your child improve their skills. Here are some of our recommendations.

Start in your home
It is normal to feel frustrated, especially when you see your child is struggling with math. Sometimes it helps knowing you are not alone. Many parents and are not confident in their ability to help their child with maths, and the persistent lockdowns and online learning can often make our relationships fragile, and our levels of frustration heightened. It is essential for both parents and children to adapt to the new normal, which often means taking a break, self-care and family connection become the highest priorities.

However, if your child is struggling with their schoolwork, there will be times when you are both in the right headspace to tackle the problems together, and hopefully come up with some accurate solutions. Even naturally talented students sometimes have a hard time with certain concepts and problems in maths. The most important thing to remember is that kids need support to develop confidence and to become engaged with their work. After that, the skills, knowledge, and understanding will develop too.
You may find it beneficial to analyse your child’s work and figure out where the gaps in their knowledge lie. For example, some kids may be great with skills, but they will struggle with word problems. Some kids have good analytical skills, but they fail to use the right method in solving a problem.

For some kids, the biggest challenge is having math anxiety and low self-confidence. They feel anxious about doing homework or taking math tests as they have an overwhelming fear of failure. In fact, they doubt their capability to improve, and their failure can get in the way of attempting their work.

Ways to help with maths at home
If your child is into sports, you can use football or basketball statistics or concepts to reinforce concepts and allow them to practice their skills. There are also several board games which can help young kids develop their skills in counting, addition and subtraction. Cooking or baking  together could also help because you will need to measure the ingredients of the dish you are preparing.

There are several inexpensive tools that can make maths easier for your child. Try discovering items in your house that you can use to create graphic organisers or refer to your antique clock when teaching concepts about time.

You can even create an anchor chart to help them with multiplication or number lines to compare fractions.

Hiring a maths tutor
If your child is not responding well to your help, or if you feel overwhelmed by the level of maths understanding required, we recommend that you seek the help of a qualified and experienced maths tutor as they can provide one-on-one tuition in the comfort of your own home. Tutors can also see the gaps and tailor their lessons based on your child's learning needs. Find out here about the best time to look for a tutor.

Most kids start tutoring during the school year due to low grades or lack of confidence. The challenges that many kids face is a fast paced curriculum with little explanation of concepts or in depth problem solving tasks. This can be a challenging endeavour for many tutors.

That is why it is best to start tutoring during the summer because this is the time when tutors have maximum availability and can tweak some of the lessons that their students need the most without the added urgency and requirements of a typical school year.
 
How to know if your child needs a maths tutor
Even if your child has figured out the answers to their maths problem, you still need to determine their level of understanding of the concepts they are tackling, as well as frustration while they work through their homework. If you think that their homework becomes a long and drawn-out affair without much understanding, you may need to seek the help of a qualified maths tutor.

You need to understand that frustration is often the result of not mastering the basic foundations, which often becomes the cause of your child's struggles. Perhaps your child understands some of the basic skills but starts facing difficulties when required to answer more difficult math problems since they need more advanced skills and understanding.

When your child's grades slip to the point of extreme concern, or you feel like it's too big of a drop of his or her recent scores, then it's time to hire an experienced maths tutor.

How to find a good maths tutor
If you are planning to hire a maths tutor, then it's a good idea to ask your child's teachers in school because they might know someone who can effectively teach your child in this particular subject.

You can also ask your child's classmates, especially those who excel in maths, because they may already have a tutor helping them.

We have several excellent Maths tutors to choose from in various locations across Melbourne. 

When to find a hire a maths tutor
Many tutors finish up with VCE students during November, and they might might have some available schedules during this month. Some are quickly booked out for the following year, but others may still have availability. You'll need to get in touch as soon as you can to secure a regular session for your child.

How often should your child have tutoring lessons?
It's recommended that you start with a weekly session to get your child acquainted with his or her tutor, then you add more if needed. The important thing is to build rapport between your child and the tutor so that learning will be much more effective.

How to get the most out of each tuition session
 As a parent, you need to know your child's current skill level and knowledge when it comes to maths. Encourage your student to highlight certain questions and concepts to be addressed by the tutor during their lesson.
 
You can also require the tutor to help your child with all their homework or do some practice tests since this can give them an idea of where the problem areas are and how to address them.
 
Overall, a qualified math tutor can help your child improve their confidence and motivation in maths, while also helping to improve their grades, and provide them a better chance of achieving their academic goals. 

When it comes to maths, many schools teach skills and tell students that they must memorise formulas, facts, and functions without any applicability, which is essential when they face real challenges involving maths.

In the real world, students are unlikely to have nice problems that can be tackled easily. Students will face complex math problems that require a lot of preparation. That is why educators should help and prepare their students by teaching them problem-solving skills. No doubt, maths is not an easy subject to teach, and you can read more about that here.

Why problem-solving skills are important?
Students develop problem-solving skills at different rates, so they must learn to tackle problems with creativity and resilience since they will also learn to cope with setbacks.

Problem-solving skills are important in maths and science, but people will to be able to solve problems when they face other complex academic subjects and interpersonal issues as they mature.

Why students struggle with problem solving in maths
The most significant issue while learning math is that students lack an in-depth understanding of the basic concepts. Students are often taught skills, and then it is expected they will be able to solve problems involving these skills. The problem is, they do not actually understand the concepts behind the skills they are learning. This becomes a significant issue, because no matter how they try to develop their problem-solving skills, they cannot solve even the less difficult maths problems they encounter without the basic understanding of the concepts.

Teachers must need to first lay down the foundation before moving forward. Just think of math as a building blocks, and if the foundation is not laid properly, the blocks will eventually fall apart.

How to assist students with problem solving problems
Teachers have different teaching styles and methods, but it is important for all teachers to help their students develop their creative thinking to quickly generate ideas, see things in a different way, or use materials in unique ways. Creative thinkers are also willing to take risk, to experiment and even make mistakes until they eventually solve the given problem.

It’s also essential for teachers to encourage their students to break down the problem into parts, so they can easily analyse them. They can then sort it, classify, and apply the concepts they have learned throughout the years.

How to incorporate problem solving into every lesson
Here is one idea that teachers could use:
For every maths lesson, start with an open-ended question that uses the skills that will be taught that day. This will give students the opportunity to read the question carefully and try to figure out what to do to solve the problem.

As students become interested and engaged with the problem, they will be more engaged with learning the skills and developing an understanding of their application.

Overall, we recommend that teachers incorporate problem-solving into every maths lesson because this will help their students become better mathematical thinkers. 

In today’s world, we spend much of our time within an online community, spending vast amounts of time and completing many activities online. These include shopping, business transactions, banking, keeping in touch with our love ones, and even playing games. This breakthrough has led to the rise of online tutoring, as it offers many benefits to students, tutors, and parents.
Online tuition is an affordable and flexible solution as you are paying solely for the tutor’s expertise and time without having to cover travel expenses.

Why is online tutoring on the rise
 
Online tutoring is more affordable than other options, and the results are outstanding since professional tutors will often fine tune lessons based on the learning needs of their students.
 
Also, various tech gadgets can be used for tuition like laptops, tablets (iPads), and other mobile devices. A vast array of platforms have emerged which enable students and tutors to communicate during online tuition sessions just as they would during in home tutoring. The online classroom has a whiteboard on the screen which is used by both parties. Audio and video assist in the communication, and a variety of tools can be used to consolidate different ideas. The online classroom can also be used to share and work on worksheets, or work through past assessments.
 
Not to mention the recent pandemic that swept the world and the various lockdowns that came with it. In Victoria, we spent most of 2020 in lockdown, with all students learning from home. Tutors and students had no choice but to teach and learn online.
 
Why tutors prefer to work online
 
Online teaching provides teachers and tutors with greater flexibility, especially when addressing varying learning styles and assisting students in locations outside their local area. Tutors have greater flexibility when scheduling lessons, as they are working from the comfort of their own home.
 
Online tuition is a great way of earning a decent income especially if you’re a qualified teacher specialising in the exact subject area request by your students.
 
What benefits can online tutoring bring for students?
 
The most significant benefit of online tutoring is the process of finding a suitable tutor for your child. Tutors who work with students in their homes have travel limits for obvious reasons. It is difficult to find a tutor who services your local area, is currently available, and who can work effectively with your child. Therefore, online tutoring can provide unique learning experiences specifically tailored to their needs with specifically customised lessons and activities.
 
Tutors can help student improve their confidence, enjoyment and academic performance as they help with areas of difficultly and assists students in their preparation for exams and tests. They can also work with their student on specific problem areas, so your child’s understanding and grades are likely to improve over time.
 
Some disadvantages of online tuition
For some students, the biggest challenge of online learning is the struggle with focusing on the screen for long periods of time. Therefore, it’s imperative for teachers to keep their lessons engaging and interactive because this will help students stay focused on their lessons.
 
Another significant disadvantage to online tutoring is internet connectivity. A consistent internet connection is essential to online learning but is sometimes hard to come by. Slow internet connection and other technical difficulties is detrimental to the online education process.
 
Lastly, some students and parents’ value face-to-face interactions and feel more engaged and connected during in home tutoring sessions. Though it is important to consider online tutoring during lockdowns, illness and other periods of isolation, some families still choose in home tuition as their preference.
 
Overall, as technology advances further, remote tuition is likely to continue to grow and become more affordable in the coming years. Maths is certainly not an easy subject to teach, but the online platform and tools within certainly make it easier than ever before.

Whether you are a teacher, student or parent, you are likely to have your own opinions about the benefits and purpose of homework. Many educators believe that homework is essential since it bridges the gap between children’s learning at home and school. The theory is that homework will enable students to manage their time wisely and plan out their study schedules.

Time management is a useful skill to have, especially when they reach their senior high school years, university, or employment within the corporate world. Therefore, completing homework early in your child’s schooling years ensures that this task becomes a habit rather than being seen as an inconvenience.
​
Many teachers find it useful to track students’ progress via their homework submissions, making it easier to notice if a child is falling behind or lacking in understanding. Submitting homework will also develop a student’s character since it’s a good lesson in diligence and responsibility.
 
Disadvantages of homework
 
One of the most common arguments against homework is that it takes up rest and recovery time. School is an emotionally, socially, intellectually, and physically enduring daily task, and many students are exhausted in the afterhours.  Many children who spend a lot of time with their homework miss out on family bonding time, socialising, chores and extracurricular activities which are also important for real life lessons.
 
For students in Years 11 and 12, it can be difficult to manage homework especially if they have part-time or casual work. Also, homework assigned during the holidays may cause severe stress for some students and may even lead to sleep deprivation issues.
 
How much is too much?
 
Homework can be categorised as a burden and no longer benefit students when it is not carefully planned and implemented. This usually happens when the homework is too challenging or overdone, causing many students to become frustrated and give up.
 
Teachers can customise a homework based on the age of their students. For ages 10, it is advisable to use other forms of media like a video reference of the topics included in the homework. This will make it more engaging to the students since they will be watching a video rather than just reading a book.
 
For students ages 13, teachers must provide focused assignments since it is easier for their students to understand and complete. Homework should not reinforce or introduce too many ideas, because it is less likely to contribute to their learning. Not to mention that 13 years old kids haven’t developed their abstract thinking yet, so they cannot handle too many concepts at once. This is particularly true for some maths concepts, which are difficult to teach, let alone learn on your own.
 
Lastly, 16 year old students often get bored if all their homework is similar. Therefore, teachers must try mixing styles and approaches. This makes each assignment unique, engaging, and enjoyable.
 
 
How to motivate students both in class and at home
 
Teachers must design a balanced homework schedule and figure out ways to give students immediate feedback. This is relatively applicable for preschool and elementary students.
Teachers who are working with high school students must leverage homework to require students to read a chapter of a book at home, watch a video, create a second draft of an essay, or reflect on a topic recently tackled in the classroom. Homework tasks should be created in such a way that students can work through them without support.
 
Teachers can make homework less overwhelming when they give students flexibility on when they can submit their assignment. This will be beneficial for students in Years 11 and 12 since they can work around other commitments before completing their homework.
 
Some teachers choose to overextend students during class time, setting high volumes of work which, if not completed in class, must be completed for homework. This will motivate students to knuckle down during class time, so they have less homework. It sometimes helps to set fun and engaging practical tasks based on the topics already discussed.
 
Lastly, teachers should communicate with parents of students who are not completing their homework, so they can trouble shoot and problem solve ways to motivate and assist this student.
 
Overall, homework that is age-appropriate, relevant, and engaging can enhance learning and instil good study habits.
 

Probability is an important topic in mathematics since it explores collecting, describing, organising, and analysing numerical data. So, whether you’re trying to make sense of a weather report, election results, or product reference surveys, you’ll need a basic understanding of probability and statistics. In fact, students need to understand these concepts to help them judge the validity of an argument which is commonly supported by persuasive data.

High school probability requires students to learn and work with fractions and decimals, as well as developing an understand of various terminology and symbols. They must be able to apply the sum of probabilities to solve problems, while also identifying complimentary events. Students use and create graphical displays including venn diagrams, arrays and tree diagrams to solve various problems.

In addition, they must construct sample spaces for single-step experiments to get the ideal outcome. This means they must assign probabilities to the outcomes of events and determine their probabilities.
Lastly, students must learn how to compare and construct a range of data displays, including steam-and-leaf plots and dot plots. This will help them identify and investigate issues that involve numerical data.

Issues around the teaching of probability
Probability is often the last topic of the year, so many students are tired without the focus they had earlier in the year. Teachers often rush through this topic as time is running out and students are losing interest. Not to mention that students find it daunting to learn new symbols and terminologies.
Another issue is that most of the topics in probability are not linked or integrated, so it’s harder for students to retain the information.
 
How to help students learn and retain concepts within probability
 
Maths is definitely a tough subject to teach, but probability is one of the easier topics to make fun and engaging. Teachers can introduce games for the students to practice and apply their learning. This hands on approach will help students retain the skills and understanding required for successful completion of the game.
 
It is also advisable to group students together during games and problem solving tasks. Students can often learn more by actively working through problems with their peers. However, it is important to watch out for students who are not participating in the group. This situation can sometimes be avoided by assigning roles to each student in the group.
 
Following games, investigations and problem solving tasks, students can complete reflections or discussion questions. This will help consolidate their knowledge and give the teacher insight into their level of understanding.