GCSE '18s (19) - New Beginnings?

[whistl]

Following on from the GCSE 2018 threads as our DC enter year 12.
This the first thread in our new home in further education

Peggy very true - I think it all settles after a while as they get used to it.
Stickerrocks congrats on your doubles matches!
DS keeps talking about philosophy to us. It's very tiring.

Thanks for the reassurance peggy and loose she certainly does seem to be going backwards at the moment.

Loose casually drop into the conversation the following phrases: relativism (pragmatism), absolutism, (dogmatism), consequentialist (teleological), non-consequentialist (deontological), egoism and utilitarianism. Ask Loose junior is they can spell them all, run & hide!

Stickerrocks DH said this morning it's a bit ironic that he said virtually nothing to us for three years and now won't shut up!

Twin DS who's also doing maths only said last night that it takes him a couple of weeks after the summer to get back up to full speed. Also the fact that your DD worked it out later is fab, it shows she is more than capable, plus I think the most important thing is, is she enjoying the subject, that's what really counts

DS has only been back a week but he is already exhausted in bed by 8.30 last night!!!

Loose you have my symphony, not sure I'd be able to cope

symphony!!!? Guess who can't spell!

Loose sympathy from me too. DD did Philosophy A Level and we had the same. I’m ashamed to say I found it deadly dull and had to stop myself from saying things like ‘because it just is, and who cares anyway’ to various philosophical questions she’d introduce! It’s a bloody hard A Level to do well in though, so I’m sure the (incessant) discussion helps them get their heads around it.

Glad most of the DC are enjoying it and settling well. We’ve hit a bit of a problem here in that DS is having a major wobble about Maths A Level. He seems to have been put in a class with the majority having done Add maths (he didn’t) and is finding it tough going. They set them after half term I think so he’d go into a lower set then (out of choice even if not by necessity) but I worry about the damage to his (fragile) confidence in the meantime. He did get a 9 at GCSE so theoretically there’s no reason why he can’t do it, but I’ve heard about the maths ‘ceiling’ and am worried that he’s hit it. I’ve told him to go and discuss it with his gcse teacher, who also teaches A Level (but not to DS) and see what he thinks. The problem is he’ll need to make a decision to change pretty quickly.

Sigh...just when I thought things would settle down for a while post gcse...

DS is not a ‘sharer’ so I’m not really sure how he’s finding it academically. Questions aren’t welcome either! We did have a meeting with the head of year, Head of sixth form and SENCO earlier this week and DS was very articulate at that - he likes talking to adults other than his parents!

He’s off on the outward bound type activity day today - he’ll be in a group with some of his form. I hope it does help the bonding process and being in a group all day isn’t too stressful for DS. He also struggles with eating much away from home and had a very meagre packed lunch despite my attempts to get him to take more food ‘in case’. (There’s no where to buy anything but he wouldn’t anyway - I’ve put the minimum on his school catering card but it may still be there in 2 years!)

Dd starts her proper timetaqble today. I havn't seen it yet but she will be in most days 9am-6pm and she has also opted for a couple of early morning (8-9) & late (6-7) classes.

She was going to do Philosphy & Ethics A level on a self-study/tutor basis (she goes into school early 1 day per week for a 1:1 tutorial session & will also have a mentor from another school) but her techer and the teacher from the other school decided it would be better to do the OCR RS syllabus with Christianity, Philosophy & Ethics as the chosen topics.

Due to this she will have more free periods than the others on her course as one of the A level slots will be self-study for her but her days are going to be pretty full on. Its also a jump as for the dance part of the course its a mix of 16 year old school leavers & 18 year olds who are doing the diploma instead of going to uni.

Cherryburn Confidence plays a big role, I think. It's interesting they set for maths A level as I think that can help avoid the fear that everyone else understands it better - I doubt that's really the case! I gather chemistry A level is scary at first as well.

sorry to hear that cherryburn. Hopefully it will settle down.Has he got something he can change to, or is it a '4th subject' if he decides its not for him. Probably will settle down though especially if he can change sets

I was expecting some wobbles after the initial excitement/novelty value wore off. I think some of our DC were on a bit of a high after results and keen to get back but reality may kick in and they are being reminded of what hard work gcse s and a levels are now

Loose yes, I’m pleased they do (am hoping DS hasn’t misunderstood!) Over half the year group do Maths A Level, and over half the year group got a 9 at GCSE. Even within that group (and the DC who got an 8 and are carrying it on) there’ll be a range of ability, from the maths ‘naturals’ who are really talented to the very competent but not gifted at it. My gut feel is that if he was in a class with DC at his level and working at a pace that was manageable, with hard work he could do well. I’m hoping his gcse teacher agrees, because I think he’d struggle with the writing workload of taking 3 essay-based subjects (he’s also doing History and Economics).

Cherryburn have they had the test in maths that everyone seems to have and how did he do? as the test is on specific skills needed for the A level(algebra) What would he do if he dropped maths? The advantage that the Add guys have will soon fade it must be the same initially for those that did combined science as opposed to triple........at least there is a reason why he might feel a little behind and finally does he enjoy maths far easier to work at the subjects you enjoy even if they are a little harder for you to get your head around!

Sorry Oratory, cross-posted. No, it’s not a 4th so he’d have to switch. Probably to Politics or Geography.

I think it’s a confidence thing with maths. His dyslexia means he processes more slowly, and when they’re going at pace I think he starts to panic a bit. He can do it, just not at the rate they’re moving.

Bluebelle no, no test as yet. They’re due to do one before half term which they’ll use to set them. He does enjoy maths, just not when he feels he’s running to stand still. I’m pondering contacting the school and asking if he can move into a less add maths heavy class in the meantime before they set them. I’ll see what his old teacher has said to him before deciding.

Cherryburn could you ask what topics they will be covering in each class so he could maybe have a look beforehand so its not all completely new?

That makes sense. If he's like DS he will have to 'do things' for them to make sense rather than just being told so needs to practise. DS always struggles at the start of the year too or with a new teacher/new subject so they may just need time to adjust.

Good point about 'natural' mathemeticians versus competent who worked hard. DS only excelled recently (maths learning support at the start of secondary) so I don't know whether he's a good mathematician previously held back by his dyslexia or just did well though hard work and has hit his level now. Hopefully the next few weeks will shed some light.

Bluebelle yes, I suggested that to him and would make a big difference I think. He did ask the teachers if they would give him prior notice of the topics. One said he would but the other was a bit vague and seemed to be saying that she couldn’t really Not surprisingly it’s her classes he’s finding tricky...

It could just be the step up that’s thrown him. But being in a class where most of them have covered the stuff they’re doing really isn’t helping, particularly when his confidence isn’t great anyway.

Yes Oratory so far he’s cracked the topics by going over them on his own after the lessons, which to a large extent is what A Level is about. I think he’s just finding the lessons soul-destroying and I worry that he’ll decide to drop it on that basis. Ideally he’d wait and see once they’re set, but if he is going to switch it would be better to do it sooner rather than later.

The more I think about it, the more I think he needs to move class quickly if possible.

Oh it could just be teaching style too then, especially if dyslexic. Could he go to another teacher for some one on one in those topics if it doesn't get better (It is very early days though). At DS school they have 'clinic' sessions for sixth form (and year 12 nearer exam time) in enrichment where they can just turn up and get help with stuff. DS often looks who the teacher is running them each week to see if they might be useful. Also very lucky this year as they happen to have physics and Maths teachers in house as housemasters and tutors so he can grab them sometimes at prep time. I know that's a lucky bonus for him though.

He used to be very reluctant to ask for help but learnt through GCSE s he need I:I sometimes and has promised he will keep asking.

sorry cross post again - yes definitely switch if he's not enjoying the lessons. A different teacher could make a difference too. My DS did and not because they were good or bad, just different.

Yes he could Oratory and there are a couple of maths teachers who he gets on very well with (and whose teaching style really suits him) that I’m sure would help him if necessary.

I think it’s a combination of teacher/make up of class/step up to A Level that has thrown him. Hopefully things will settle down if his old teacher is reassuring today and once they’re set. I don’t have a problem with him switching at all, as long as it’s for the right reasons. But I would worry a bit if he had 3 essay-heavy subjects...aaaarrrgggghhhh!!!

Sorry, yet another cross-post! I think I’ll pursue the class move thing once I’ve spoken to DS later

That sounds sensible cherryburn let us know how it goes

Will do. Thanks all!