All wonderful advice! I think too if you have a sample of a well-pieced quilt along-side a poorly pieced block, you can explain what could have been done differently on the poorly done one.
Also explain it is not necessary to have every new ruler/template/cutter that is out there. You can do a lot with one 6"x18"ruler.
I am one who took a beginning class at my LQS and had nearly zero sewing experience. (My mom won the class) I did feel like the others were speaking a foreign language because they had sewed for years.