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Original poster

go on, tell me how you actually get children to do revision ...

53 replies

Clumsymum · 30/05/2012 18:17

DS is in year 7, he's facing proper summer exams for the first time after half term.

He is bright, very high in his year, very academically able, but unfortunately he is very aware of it. (if it's relevant at all, we pay for the academic ability with immature emotional development, still get major toddler-style tantrums sometimes)

Over the last week, homework has basically stated "revision" in almost every subject. DS classes this as 'haven't got any homework, it's only stoopid revision'. If pressed about it he says "I'll do it over half term", but of course, he will have other things he wants to do next week (and I wanted to go to stay with rellies for a few days, pref without taking school stuff with us).

Then last night he said "well, I'm clever, I probably don't need to revise anyways". Now pride comes before a fall, as we all know, and half of me says 'let him get on with it his way, let him fail, and then see how he feels' - but I know he'll be devastated, and that's not quite responsible parenting, is it?

There is also a possibility that he'd do OK in most subjects even if he doesn't revise, but OK isn't what we would like for him ideally, and it's a bad habit to get into.

Now I know I was also very dilatory when it came to revision when I was in secondary school ... and looking back I know I could have done better, but that is what growing up is about.
But have you got any hints or tips to encourage, preferably without it being a HUUUUUGE battle every day.

I am thinking of saying 'no computer time until at least x mins of revision has been done each day', but is that just fighting talk ?

OP posts:
mumstoast · 30/05/2012 18:36

i luckly dont have this problem however DD use to get very annoyed with a friend who never revised however now in year 11 this friend hasnt managed to get by with no work and is now failing, it might sound harsh but leaving him to realise his brains wont take him all the way maybe the only to get it into his head

mirry2 · 30/05/2012 18:34

He probably needs to be brought down a peg or two about his cleverness. Let him do not so well in his exams this year and he'll learn.

Why does he think he's so clever anyway? He must have had other people telling him.

freerangeeggs · 30/05/2012 18:31

If I were you I wouldn't fight it. Let him sit on his arse and do nothing. Sometimes they learn more from failure than they do from success. I'm not trying to be rude or anything - that's genuinely what I'd do. It's better that he learns it now than later, when it matters.

You can lead a horse to water etc.

It's very damaging for kids to think that their academic achievements are due to an innate ability, as you're experiencing. Very, very little of it actually is. He's been taught well (clearly having a lovely mother who values his education has paid off thus far!) but if he wants to stay ahead he's going to have to up his game.