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Original poster

Feeling out of touch and need to step up. Suggestions?

31 replies

FloraFoxley · 24/08/2013 15:53

Hi all

Would appreciate your thoughts on my ramblings.

I have a soon to be 15 year old daughter about to start year 10. She has been predicted A grades in all her 12 GCSE subjects and because she is so 'sensible' I've mainly let her get on with this. The most I ever do is ask if she had any homework and I attend a parent's evening once a year.

Anyway, she sat her mocks just before the summer break - and I was distinctly unimpressed with the grades coming back. Yes, the odd A and B but mainly Cs and Ds. I then received a letter from the school head of year offering support and extra tuition in 3 subjects that they feel she needs extra support in. I can't yet discuss this with the school of course until next month.

I've realised that DD had been lazy and assumed that she will just pass these exams with no hard work required. She is bright and intelligent but no child prodigy and its dawned on me that we will be in for a shock in 2015 if she doesn't pull her finger out now.

So ... What should I do? Nag more? Pay for external tuition? Insist on seeing her work? I've been rather lazy and just left her to it so its probably time for me to actually 'do' something before its too late.

She has said to me that she doesn't know how to revise. Well, neither do I! Are there revision guides or something?

Any tips appreciated - thank you

OP posts:
lotsofdirections · 24/08/2013 18:21

I agree with Ett36. Also effective revision depends on the individual, some like guides, some mindmap and some will cover the house with post-its. Your DD will soon come to realise what works for her and needs to focus on that method so a silent room wont work for all.

Ett36 · 24/08/2013 18:05

I'm a secondary teacher and if she has C and D s in yr 9 that's OK. she has two more years yet to study and mature and that's what an A grade candidate needs, maturity particularly. so its partly time and working surely but steadily over the two yrs.
revision guides are good. flashcards work well to revise key things and acronyms for key parts of a subject. as courses progress teachers should do this anyway.
I would also say time out and a non academic subject/hobby to enjoy rather than everything be about grades. hope that helps. Smile

Original poster
FloraFoxley · 24/08/2013 17:43

Some really helpful suggestions here.

Yes, I'll get her doing her homework at the kitchen table and whip her mobile and iPod from her for the duration. I think I'll ask the school if they have revision guides ( they try and flog you everything else so they're bound to! ) and then ill ensure that she starts from September with an hour a night.

I've got a real feeling that this could be the difference between A and B grades and a clutch of D grades and she has admitted to me that she hasn't worked as hard as she could have.

Flexes whip ....

OP posts:
monikar · 24/08/2013 17:28

CGP do some excellent revision guides which you can order from Amazon. They have all the books - I found the selection in WHSmith and Waterstones rather lacking. Be careful with revision guides though - you need to make sure you buy the ones which are relevant to the particular exam boards your DD will be doing. Look at these together and work out how DD can use these alongside her textbooks. My DD often found the explanations much simpler than the ones in the textbooks from school.

I think a good way to start is to take an interest in the content of her subjects. You can use the excuse of the GCSE years for this. So ask her which books she is doing for English Literature (then buy the revision guides for those books) and ask what topics they are starting on for science and so on.

I agree with doing the work in a public area of the house - in their rooms there is too much temptation from fb, twitter etc..

One of the main keys to success is to keep up with the work. They get given a lot at a time and it is best to make a start on work as soon as it comes in. You could help DD draw up a timetable for work.

Good luck.

adeucalione · 24/08/2013 17:19

Sorry - DD

adeucalione · 24/08/2013 17:18

In our house revision takes place in a quiet yet public place (usually the kitchen table) because being cloistered in a bedroom leads them into temptationGrin

They also switch off their phones and give them to me for the duration.

Depending on the test, they calculate how many hours will be required and draw up a plan of action (an hour each night or whatever). Revision usually involved reading their notes, reading their text books, plus research online (public PC!) and practice papers if necessary.

It's good that you are addressing this now, and that your DS is onboard; I always think that the Y9 exams are intended to prompt exactly this sort of action! I would expect any decent school to begin looking at revision techniques now, if not already done, so hopefully the message will be reinforced effectively too.