Blog – Bright Minds Tutors

Making the Most of Now

November 11, 2015Jane Barry

[An example essay for year 12] Students are told by teachers that every school year counts. Make good decisions, get good grades, stay healthy and sane and you will get to where you want to in life. Yet, as demonstrated throughout life and re-told in our favourite narratives, where we end up in life, often is different from where we started. This essay will identify three narratives in which the tension between conflicting ideals exist, and attempt to resolve some of the issues that students may face. The first narrative takes the form of a poem. Published by a user named ‘Thursday1908’, Time Travel tells a story of a person… Read More

Learning How to Learn

September 15, 2015Jane Barry

It seems like a silly concept to learn how you or your child actually learns best, but understanding certain important things can dramatically improve your time spent learning. In this article we’re going to point out a few things that you should know about yourself or your child, and then how those few factors can improve your studies. 1. Everyone has their strengths. In 1983, psychologist Howard Gardner identified eight types of intelligences which he outlined in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. According to Gardner, intelligence is not something determined by general ability, but rather something defined by: the ability to create an effective product… Read More

You Can’t Vaccinate Against Human Nature

September 10, 2015September 10, 2015Jane Barry

It seems to be a trait of mankind to seek meaning and reasons for why we’re plagued by diseases and catastrophic events. In 1346-1353 Europe was devastated by the Black Death, where healers were unable to find a cause for the condition, turning to astrological forces, earthquakes and persecutions against various groups including Jews, friars, foreigners, beggars, pilgrims and lepers. Then in 1692, when the people of Massachusetts couldn’t explain the illnesses of their friends, they resulted to blaming the supernatural. This was referred to as the Salem Witch Trials. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller in 1953, is a dramatised retelling of these trials, highlighting the town’s need to… Read More

Expanding Brackets: Foils students daily

March 30, 2015March 30, 2015Jane Barry

Good morning! We’ve decided to start a How-to series on some math concepts which our students seem to struggle a little on, so without further delay, welcome to our first tutorial. Most students begin learning algebra around grade 7 and one of the most difficult concepts to learn is how to expand different types of brackets and understanding certain terms. So, to begin, here’s a refresher on certain things: BOMDAS (or BODMAS, or BEDMAS, or BEMDAS). Stands for Brackets, Other (or Exponential), Multiplication, Division, Addition & Subtraction. This is the order that we complete mathematical questions E.g. 6 + 12 / 3 = 10, not 8. (12 / 3 is… Read More

Good Tutors Love Tutoring!

January 9, 2015February 4, 2015Jane Barry

Teachers have high expectations to meet. They hold our young children’s minds in their hands and mold them like pieces of fine clay. Greatness is expected form these teachers as they are responsible for helping bring our children into their adult lives. This is partly why it is important to find the characteristics that these great teachers share. If teachers are to be taught themselves, they must be taught the excellent traits of their peers before them. A good teacher is easily recognized. They are zealous in their approach to education and inspires everyone around them with cheerful optimism. They manages tremendous responsibility with balance. They employs a holistic approach… Read More

Tutoring: A Proven Success!

November 20, 2014February 4, 2015Jane Barry

The benefits of tuition is proven. Jann Ingmire wrote in the University of Chicago Newspaper that; “High school students who were at risk for dropping out greatly improved their math test scores and school attendance with the help of intensive tutoring and mentoring, according to a new study by the University of Chicago Urban Education Lab. The program’s benefits were equivalent to closing nearly two-thirds of the average gap in math test scores between white and black students—the equivalent of what the average American high school student learns in math over three years.” Bright Minds Tutors and our talented team are committed to improving the grades of students across Brisbane.… Read More