Anyone with a year 7 starting today?

Asda do sticky backed plastic in rolls.

I think a warning would have been enough re the planner, myself, though I guess it might depend on the DC. IF the DC (and not suggesting yours is, vaga!) has demonstrated themselves already to be cheeky, or maybe confrontational towards authority (or has a record from primary implying that) then yes, a teacher might see fit to come down heavy from the start, but in reality, few 'normal' DCs (non-behavioural difficultied, I mean) would have the bare-faced courage to be that 'difficult' by day 2 and, is it likely a subject teacher will have read all the incoming DC's notes from primary to even know that?!

Though I'd never dream of 'marching' into the school about it, for my DC, it would sadden me a bit if that had happened because it would crush one of them completely as he isn't very resilient. They'd die of shame.

That's exactly what my mum's approach was: super-strict at the beginning and then she could relax a bit. She was always eventually a very popular teacher. :)

WhSmith?

I think teachers know very well that you can't get stricter as term goes on if you were lenient to start - whereas you can do it the other way around. So yes, all this sternness over planners and so on is probably just them making sure the groundwork is there so that they can relax more if a class/pupil warrants it over as they get to know them over the year.

Sainsbury's had some a few weeks ago when the Scottish schools were going back: I presume the English stores would still have some.

Where is the best place to get sticky back plastic from. DS needs to cover his English and Chemistry books.

At DS's school they have discipline cards which teachers can sign for a number of reasons. 6 signatures and you have a lunchtime detention.

2 days in and DS got his first yesterday. He left his planner in his form room so didnt have it for English. He is mortified. I am hoping it will teach him to be more organised, but I do feel its a teensie bit harsh for his second day.

That is completely the message my daughter is telling me. The teachers seem to be concentrating on laying down the law and explaining what will happen if they do xy&z wrong. Maybe they start strict and will loosen up a bit as the term goes on. I hope so

It depends on the year 7 and also on what else is going on in the house. And how many other (younger) children there are.

I tend to help with the 'decorate the book and cover it in sticky backed plastic' h/w. I confess I actually did DS1's entirely, that being covering his geography exercise book. I would rather a Y9 put the time into researching the properties of alloys, his other bit of h/w actually. Oh, and I'm a lot better than they are at it .

H/w happens downstairs here, DS1 on his laptop slumped on a sofa (we are remedying that), DS2 at the dining table in the room that opens directly to the kitchen and living room, so I am always just a 'muuuum!' away.

A good friend of mine speaks of her regret that her DS was allowed to take to his room too early (Y9), complete with XBox, to do 'homework' and 'revision', partly through space restrictions in the house. The barely scraped 'A' levels make her feel she should have been supervising far more.

Re the social aspects of secondary, my 'fear' is that my 'beige' DS2 a) will slip under the teachers' radar, and b), once the honeymoon is over, will be billy-no-mates as his louder, more outgoing, more mature and socially skilled 'mates' find new friends whereas he won't. He will be sitting alone at lunch, too, I imagine.

Homework at the kitchen table can be very successful as long as you don't also have littlies getting in the way.

We nearly didn't send DC to the school he started this week as we were worried it is so strict and that we didn't see too many laughing faces. It does get good results though and most of his friends were going.

First few days went well, but this evening we have had a 'it is very serious and not much fun' and I have been brutally reminded that this was our initial reservation, that we tried to ignore.

Are most senior schools 'not much fun' and very serious? [can't remember from own school days].

Blu - I'm glad the first few days are going okay for him It's a bit of a change from Primary I think the school handles it well though, or at least it seemed to be fairly stress free both times we've experienced it. Boys are settling back in, whinging about having to get up in the morning, usual chaotic rush to get up and out so they get to school in time. DS1 nags DS2 like a boss to get him to the bus stop in time; saves me doing it...

Day 1 went pretty ok, day 2 less successful. She couldn't find anyone she knew, didn't want to eat lunch at a table in her own so went and ate in the toilet. Am trying to get her to try to arrange in advance to meet people at lunch tomorrow, really hope that works.

Sorry thread moved on there! That was in response to Fallens quote that they seem older!

Don't they just fallenmadonna! Our DS asked for a double bed in his room so his girlfriend can stay over, he hasn't ever had a girlfriend

My DC have always done thir homework in the kitchen, and I don't see why DS can't continue to do that. He gets home before the rest of us, and has been making a start. While watching the Paralymics I think. Mind you, I used to do my homework in front of the television when I was at school!

Hi I am joining in here if I may...was goinng to start new thread ..but thought someone here might understand ! !!ds1 has just completed day 3..he has done his history and drama homework and decorated and (WE) have covered it in the sticky plastic stuff...

I said ok enough for now we will do others at weekend ....he looked at me with sunken eyes at 8.30 pm and "I think they all have to be done by tommorow "!!!

I have finished off covering his books while he collapesed into bed !!
2 subjects he dosent have tomorow so he can learn how to do it himself at weekend ..

Anyone else being a bit "soft" on their DC'S at the moment...I have insited homework is done in bed room...even though he says "it is lonely up there "

I am a secondary teacher and am finding it a bit disconcerting to be on the other side. DS started his secondary school on Tuesday, and seems to be taking it all totally in his stride. I am quizzing him madly on setting (only set in Maths for now, apparently), whether he is talking to new people, what his lessons are like...

He seems so much older all of a sudden...

MrsDTK - yes! We're all v happy about it. How are your lovely lads doing?

Interestingly, I think some of the original Academies that were built on the ruins of old, failing comps designed the loos so that they were bully-proof. Opening straight off the main drag of the school, walls just high and low enough to ensure modesty, knee to chest hidden, but open enough to allow bypassers to sort of see in!

As for looong lunch breaks, I am torn. There is s good comp near us whose new HT said, on prospective parents open day, that she believed in long lunch breaks to allow pupils to socialise and to get involved in one of the many clubs; she said that she believed it was a valuable part of education to learn how to use tracts of time beneficially without complete supervision. Their school day is something like 8.30 to 3.45 or 4pm.

Ours day is 8.35 to 2.55pm with a 35 minute lunch break! 1400 kids descending on a lunch hall!

I think the ideal would be an hour or so with stuff laid of for the newbies.

Hello Blu, did your DS end up going to D? (memory like a sieve...)

Well, that was amusing.
This afternoon the HT PA phoned me personally to apologise for their lack of organisation in helping DS start today. She was quite profuse about it. The HT apologised personally to DS for the fact that he had no timetable, didn't have an assigned buddy, basically we (he) had to fly by the seat of his pants in figuring out what to do first day. He went thru a bit of induction with the new yr7s before someone figured out he didn't belong with them. DS says HT sounded genuinely angry, like she wanted to fire someone over it. They chopped & changed his buddies & form group today from what I was half-told in June (I've had no official comms from the school since late June).

This after I came on MN and said I was concerned at the lack of school organisation, and that I was pretty sure this school had too little experience with new entrants after Sept of yr7, so they really wouldn't have their act together. Oh NO, I was told emphatically, even the most popular over-subbed schools have frequent new starters mid year part year late year all the time, they'll handle it well and smoothly, they'll know what they are doing. Yeah right.

And although HTPA said that DS would come home with a timetable... he didn't! I am not surprised, but he's got the same timetable as close mate so will just follow him around, I guess. Hope close mate isn't ever ill or away on holiday.

Oh a positive note, DS had a great day! He's in with his friends & is happy as Larry. Which is the only thing that really matters.

I think you're right blu. Unfortunately DS2 is one of those with none. I think he will struggle for the first few weeks, hopefully not for longer.