Year 12 - first half term DONE.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

new thread so we don't get lost. Well done to all our dc whether doing btech (or breach as autocorrect prefers to call it) or a levels. 1/6 of the way through this year. (blimey)

so much positive stuff going on. Congratulations everyone's dc. Awesome stuff!

Think dd is a bit tired. Found her asleep on the floor.

DD is feeling good she has motivation to now study for that subject
In other words she rang today sounded giggly and her friends were shouting about boys
She rang me later and she was like mum I've got something to tell you I was like what?
She said I'm talking to a boy and it's getting quite serious, she's met him 4/5 times in social groups planning on going on a 'date' soon. I guess my baby really is growing up! It will be her first proper relationship so lots to discuss with her when she comes home I think

eep! Take it very gently Fantasy - apart from a reminder about safe let her take the lead!

OYBK
She's a sensible kid I've had the talk with her before but just want to reinforce safety and safe sex etc, she's spoke to her dad about her and had the talk but he's really chill about that kind of thing. Starting to think when the doctor did ask if she wanted the pill next month she may say yes, I feel nervous for her!

OYBK
She's a sensible kid I've had the talk with her before but just want to reinforce safety and safe sex etc, she's spoke to her dad about her and had the talk but he's really chill about that kind of thing. Starting to think when the doctor did ask if she wanted the pill next month she may say yes, I feel nervous for her!

the pill could revolutionise her health issues.

It's the next step OYBK she's meeting him this weekend I'm more nervous for her

I'm really glad DS2 can do nearly all his assignments on the computer as his writing was so bad he qualified for a scribe at GCSE, though not extra time. It's quite a skill to use a scribe for essay type questions.

Wow, Lobster 100% on a maths paper? Are you sure your DD shouldn't be doing FM?

Fantasy, I won't worry you with what I was like at 17 or 18.

ellen
I'm thankful DD isn't like myself. I can safely say I cringe at what I was like at DDs age (18) she'll make mistakes but hopefully not too big of a mistake

dds handwriting is famously awful, most of her homework comments seemed to be 'I can't read this'. But it seems that maths and physics teachers have no problem in reading it, so I'm coming to the conclusion they have a special code.

DS used to have awful handwriting because he tried to make it fancee. It had loops on the bottom of the downstroke of a "p" and other sorts of odd embellishments that script doesn't need. Fortunately GCSE essay writing to a deadline got rid of all the oddities and it looks a lot less cluttered now. I'm not sure whether he still crosses his 7's so that he can misread them as a 4 and add them up wrongly, it's less of an issue now that he's dropped maths and science.

I think the advantage maths and physics teachers have over other teachers is that we have fewer words to read so can spend more time deciphering it. And pupils have to put more thought into each line of working so it's slightly more readable. I know there are kids I teach that I can read what they are writing because they have set it out in the right way for maths, but if I had to read a paragraph they'd written I wouldn't manage it (I also can't read anything dh writes on paper, I make him text me important notes rather than write it down)

Ellen if she'd been allowed to do 5 Alevels then she would have done further maths.
I do wonder if it was the right decision - maths definitely seems to be her strongest subject.
She does enjoy it, but loves languages and history more. And says she doesn't think she'd like "university maths" whatever that is?!

The only complaint dd ever has about her handwriting is that it's too small. She did go through a phase of it being practically microscopic, but horror stories about GCSE markers not being able to read it made her put in a huge effort to improve/enlarge it!

Dd knows exactly what I was like at 18, as that is when she came along!! (Sorry to scare you Fantasy! I'm sure your dd is far more sensible than I was!)

Lobster my DS1 is in his first year at Warwick doing maths, he's been surprised
A) at how hard it is and
B) how different it is from A levels.

His preferred area was mechanics which went well with his physics A level but university maths has been very pure so far. Lots of emphasis on proofs. So your DD may well have a point if her preferred subjects are more essay and language based. You have to properly enjoy your subject at degree level, I think, as well as be good at it.

dd now seems more settled into sixth form life and has made some new friends (most of her old friendship group stayed on at her school sixth form so this is good news).
Regarding the handwriting issue, most teachers (and examiners) should be able to cope with different handwriting styles. There was another thread on this issue this week and papers are scanned in before marking. I have marked exam papers and the software is actually quite good. Small writing can be magnified if needed (for example), so try not to worry too much. There are quite a lot of assessments to go through though before pupils are allowed to use lap-tops in exams but schools will have people qualified to do these before the deadline (which is some way in advance).

catslife
It's being a common thing with her handwriting could be due to her arthritis so she can have a health note should be easy to solve

DS's current topic in Maths is Statistics, which he loathes and despises with passion. He pretty much loves all other forms.

Hardest jump so far ihho has been Chemistry.

Actually, wrong choice of word, biggest jump would be more appropriate.

That's really good catslife :)

Statistics is so boring!!!

I liked statistics back in the day when I took A level maths and stats. It is massively useful and means that you can spend the rest of your life mocking adverts and newspaper articles from a position of strength.

I've always hated stats, so I've avoided it whenever possible. I know enough to understand news reports (and when they are ludicrously wrong) and to follow studies about stuff I'm interested in. I would hate to teach it though, because it is indeed BORING!

Dd also has stats now, and also loathes it!

Can I ask what you are planning to buy your dc's for Christmas?
I'm really struggling for dd this year. I guess those who are already 17 will probably be getting driving lessons, but as dd has another 6 months until her birthday that doesn't really feel like an option.

Dd2 is easy - there are always clothes/shoes/ make up bits that she wants, but dd1 really isn't in to that kind of thing.

I've got her a few things for dance but they're things I would have bought anyway so don't really feel like a proper gift.

Any ideas very gratefully received!

Mine are getting tablets Lobster, but this is because both of their laptops were last bought in Y7 and are really on their last legs.

Does she enjoy fluffy socks, lip balms? A Kindle? Trip to see a big show?
Doc Martins? Massage for dance aches and pains? Camera?

It's very difficult and I can't really say cos dd might find this thread and it's a surprise. It's not a very good one though. She doesn't like makeup, or clothes, so much of her leisure is electronic based.

Presents that did go down well for her birthday were a geeky tshirt from redbubble (allow lots of postage time) and some decent headphones with proper noise insulation.