I Do, We Do, You Do: Explicit Teaching
The personal teaching philosophy of our founder, and a core part of the New Zealand curriculum refresh since 2025.
I do, we do, you do
I do: the tutor explains and models the idea first, in more than one way if needed. We do: tutor and student work through problems together on the shared whiteboard. You do: the student practises on their own with feedback on every step. It is the approach the research supports, the one our founder's own research into New Zealand classrooms points to, and the one the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum asks for.
Every lesson is planned for one student around the topic at school that week, so what is learned with us is used in class the next day. Gaps from earlier years are fixed as the tutor finds them.
What it is not
- Not homework supervision: the tutor teaches
- Not a fixed programme: the plan follows the student
- Not copying notes: the student works, the tutor writes up
- Not a replacement for school: a supplement to it
A 60-minute lesson
Every student is different, so the split moves. This is the usual shape.
Review, about 10 minutes
Last week's homework examples, and anything from school that did not make sense.
Explain, about 20 minutes
The week's topic, explained on the shared whiteboard with worked examples. If the first explanation does not land, the tutor tries another way.
Work together, about 30 minutes
The student works through questions on the same board, with feedback on every step. Independent practice towards the end.
After the lesson
PDF notes, the same day
Everything from the board, sent to the student and the parents. The student stays engaged in the lesson instead of copying, and reviews the notes later.
Homework examples, five minutes a day
A few questions chosen for the student, done in short daily bursts rather than an hour on Sunday, so the work sticks until the next lesson.
Free practice on the same topics
Do Now quizzes and worksheets on the New Zealand curriculum, for when the student wants more.
Tutors trained by a registered teacher
Our founder is a registered secondary maths teacher who teaches in an Auckland school alongside Cell Tuition. He trains and supports every tutor on the team, whatever the subject, so every student gets the same way of teaching: planned, explicit, practised, written up.
How much tutoring works best
- Years 6 to 10: 60 minutes a week per subject
- Years 11 to 13: 90 minutes a week per subject, or two shorter lessons
- Before exams: extra lessons, including in the holidays
Questions
Do you follow what my child is doing at school?
Yes. The tutor asks what the class is covering and plans each lesson around it. If the school is ahead of your child, we catch up; if your child is ahead of the class, we extend.
Can the lessons be in person?
Most lessons are online on Microsoft Teams with a shared whiteboard. In-person lessons are available with some tutors in parts of Auckland and may cost a little more.
What do parents see?
The PDF notes after every lesson, so you see exactly what was covered, and the homework examples for the week. Ask the tutor at any time how things are going.
How soon will we see results?
Many students feel more confident within a few lessons. The biggest changes come with regular weekly lessons over a year: students who stay with us for twelve months commonly move from Achieved to Excellence, or from Not Achieved to Merit.
See the difference for yourself
One free lesson, no contract, and PDF notes afterwards.
