What do they teach in 11 plus coaching?

[DadAtLarge]

My question is what do they teach and how do they prepare children at these courses?

I've read numerous threads about how hot housing kids for selective school ends up with unhappy children who aren't suited to the academic rigour. And threads against the whole concept of selective schools. Disclosure: I don't have a DC doing the 11+ but ...

I'm hoping in here to get some insight into what these places teach when they coach children for the 11+ and how they teach it. I'm not talking about curriculum topics like fractions, but the NVR type of questions. Do they just get children to take various practice papers and hold their hand through the more difficult bits i.e. improving through practice?

Or does anyone have a proper stuctured approach? For example, on sequences they might approach it by explaining the finite number of ways sequences can be formed. I'll try and explain with some completely made-up examples (I know nothing about this stuff or teaching logic so bear with me here)

"Kids, there are 10 ways in which sequences can be formed.

1. Linear Type Progression: 5, 10, 15, 20 .... f, m, x, z ... mouse, goat, elephant, blue whale
   

(Here's a practice paper with some linear progression questions, please time yourself)

1. Formulaic Progression: 10, -1, 15, -6, 20, -11
   

(Here's a practice paper... please time yourself)

1. Movement within the plane: circle in top right corner, circle in bottom right cornr, circle in bottom left corner, circle in top left corner...
   

(Here's a practice paper ....please time yourself)

1. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
   

10. Combination of above/mix of multiple types of progression

(Here's a real 11+ paper. Enjoy!)"

Anyone here had their child coached for the 11+. Could you assist with your comments on how they were prepared for the exam?

[sarahfreck]

I've done some 11 plus tutoring. The answer is yes, I teach techniques for the VR and NVR questions. I probably would use more "child friendly" language though. In my experience, just giving them practice papers without practising techniques first can panic many of them into believing they can't do it, even if they are perfectly capable.

There are lots of books that work through techniques bit by bit that you can use.

Also see this website www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/

I'm curious to know what your interest is!

[DadAtLarge]

Thanks for your reply.

My interest is in the "business" of 11 plus tutoring and the potential for a product to be imported and modified for the UK market/UK tutoring organisations/teachers ...or commissioning one to be developed. I won't go into that in too much detail here, but would welcome more opinions and feedback on what currently happens with tutoring.

Thanks also for the link. There, as with other sites, I'm having trouble finding mention of anything other than practise, practise, practise (though, in fairness, they do suggest different forms from PC games to CDs to puzzles and visual logic games). The only two options they mention are practise materials and practise papers.

Especially with logical reasoning - this can be taught in a structured fashion. There's got to be a better method than to just keep doing mock papers.

sarahfreck, when you say teach techniques are you talking about exam skills such as elimination of wrong answers in multiple choice questions, recognising where an estimate would suffice rather than obsession about an exact answer, saving time, skipping difficult questions and returning to them at the end etc., or are you talking about improving core logical/spatial or other skills? If it's the latter, may I ask what methods you use?

[DadAtLarge]

cr: obsessing, not obsession

[sarahfreck]

Well some of both of the techniques you mention. It might be worth you getting hold of some of the "teach the techniques" type books so you can see for yourself. An example on Amazon here www.amazon.co.uk/Bond-How-Non-Verbal-Reasoning-Guide/dp/0748781218?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Your business idea about a "product" sounds interesting. I've no idea about the kind of thing you are suggesting but I'd be a bit concerned to be honest about anything that was too computerised/mechanical/one-size-fits-all.

11 plus preparation is often unfortunately a stressful process for children. What I've found is that the thing they often need most of all is a bit of "nurturing" through the process - an understanding adult to come alongside and take the strain, work out an appropriate pace for learning, reassure, break down a task into smaller sub-steps when necessary, that sort of thing.

I don't teach in the same way for every child. They all have different weaknesses and strengths. I very much tailor what I do to them and think of creative ways to get things across if the "normal" explanations aren't working.
So for example I have taught times tables with biscuits, and practised algebra with "wheel of fortune" type games. I make my own equipment and manipulatives to demonstrate concepts as well as using some commercially bought stuff.

[DadAtLarge]

"I'd be a bit concerned to be honest about anything that was too computerised/mechanical/one-size-fits-all."
Children aren't the target customers, teachers and coaching centres are. Any product that is developed would aim to help them to do exactly what you are suggesting - break the learning into small sub-steps for their pupils.

Thanks for the link.