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

Cherry can school support by providing DS with a copy of any powerpoint, lesson plan/topic, handouts etc. Can he or the teacher capture what's on the board? Can he record parts of the lessons? The processing demands of listening, copying, working all at the same time and at pace can really knock your confidence if you are dyslexic. From what you have said it is probably not a conceptual or reasoning problem and it would be a pity for the actual mechanics of managing the lessons to put him off.

Panetonne DD wirries avout food too. We have had a bit of success with me getting her to make her own sandwhich and pack her lunch while I'm pottering in kitchen. That way what's in her lunch is completely known and she seems to eat more.

Hi Cherryburn - we are in similar situation but have the luxury of 4 subject start with a view to dropping one (maths economics history and Geography). ds always thought it would be geography that went.

However despite his 9 in Maths and also in a school where at least 70% do Maths A level or Maths Pre-U he seems to be in a group that did FM whereas he didn't.

After first lesson he said Maths was going. He had previously thought he wanted to do an economics degree so I did say that would be off the table. After next lesson he seemed to have switched back to geography going.

It now changes from day to day. His frie d has explained why he did a maths question wrong and he has now said once he gets it he gets it - if that makes sense. His school does a lunchtime maths surgery so he is committed to going if he is feeling shaky on anything.

He did think he would do all 4 until end of yr 12 but has discovered he can't do an EPQ if he does this and he really wants to as he got 100% on his HPQ. Yesterday.we were back to geography going. He has now fully committed to wanting to do a History degree so I have said I will support his decision as to what to drop either way and actually where he is aiming it is more important to get the best grade in his non History A levels to support uni applications.

loose

brainmelt that is brilliant - made my day!

Peggy yes all of that would help immeasurably. We have a parents evening before half term and if he carries on with Maths I’ll ask that at least some of that can be put in place with his new teachers when they’re set. I really don’t think it is a conceptual or reasoning problem.

Shalom I can see the merit in starting with 4 now! Even if it was just up until half term it would give them a chance to actually experience what each subject was like at A Level.

That was our thinking too, that if DS fell in love with Economics he’d need maths to do anything degree related. Plus it would give him a break from essays. The chances are though that he will do History or something of that nature, so grades will be more important than carrying on with maths. And I want him to enjoy his subjects!

Just had a text from him and Maths was apparently much better today. As you say, it’s changing all the time at the moment (and I’m just along for the ride on the rollercoaster!)

It’s us still very early days. That’s one of the fearsome AS has gone as they used to be straight in to AS mocks after a few weeks. Now at least they get time to struggle a bit and get over it (or not) and develop into a subject before being hit with external exams.

Yes Oratory I’m thankful that ASs have gone, the pressure just didn’t let up through Y11-13 for DD. It really felt like a treadmill.

That should say one of the reasons I’m glad AS has gone

Actually at DS's school those doing 4 who then want to drop one at the end of yr12 can take an AS in it, so at least there is something to show for the years work, at the moment top of DS's list to drop is physics, he just doesn't find it interesting, which is confirming that the medical/chemical/biology route is the one he wants to go down.

I often wonder though, if they are going to drop it, why don't they drop it earlier and concentrate on the A levels. Unless they enjoy the subject or they're undecided until then.

It is amazing how all schools have different systems. I guess because there is no one optimal way of doing things !

I would agree with you Oratory but DS is very strong in physics and it just might be the topic they have started on that he's not keen on, after all a week isn't really long enough to decide but a year should definitely make things a lot clearer........and yes its fascinating all the different approaches

Peggy glad you’ve had some success in your DD eating more of she makes her sandwich. DS isn’t really eating a sandwich as such - just bread and butter. I’m hoping that once he’s more settled into sixth form he can start buying food away from home - it would help socially. He has been working on getting to like coffee - he’ll sit and sip one for ages- not sure he does like it yet though!

DS is doing Maths and FM. He did do Add Maths and is finding lessons more revision than new stuff ATM. However I’ve do real idea where his ability lies on the good/gifted/genius scale of mathematicians (well it’s not genius!) At his school only a couple got a 9 for GCSE; at the grammar I think it’ll be way over 50% of them, so it’s quite a different peer group academically. I hope DS doesn’t lose confidence when there will undoubtedly be more able mathematicians than him in class.

It feels v strange. Dd is loving her subjects and really enjoying it. However she only has to be in for lessons so is at home this afternoon and were going swimming. (I'm self employed so taking afternoon off.)
She does seem to be working though...So not too worried ...

Seems like all our DC are having the same maths experience. DD dropped it yesterday. She's good at maths but doesn't like it and said she couldn't bear the thought of 2 more years intensive maths. She spoke to head of year and explained she was only doing it so she could do computer science or economics but hated it. The Head wisely pointed out that if she hated maths she would hate both the computer Science and Economics degrees.

Decision made. Maths gone and replaced with Government & Politics!

Even my maths-loving DD, who has an A in Add Maths under her belt is clearly working very hard on the maths front. She is enjoying it, but it's the first time I've seen her looking like she's really having to wrestle with school maths. So my sympathies go out to those who are finding it a massive step up. Hopefully they'll get into the swing of it.

DS is living proof that it is possible to get a 9 in Maths with no real passion or aptitude for the subject - just superb teaching and a lot of hard work. There is no way he would have coped with A level...

DS is definitely having to work at maths - he says he feels like he'd forgotten everything and it's clear that it comes less easily to him than the other subjects. However, he's aware he just needs to keep plugging away at it. I think it's good for him! And he's got lots of homework. (Cackle!)

For the dc struggling a bit with Maths-it's definately worth hanging in there for a little while yet. One of the issues with Maths is that you have to keep doing it, so an 8 week break over the summer can slow many down at the beginning until they start doing it daily again. That's why Maths admission tutors don't like gap years. My ds is one of those talenetd mathematicians who reaches Olympiad in UKMT but what I notice is that he does maths every single day! Yes, even in the holidays - he has a subscription to brilliant.org and literally every single day will set a problem for himself.

What I'm trying to say is once they get 'warmed up' I'm sure they will be fine. In the meantime, writing essays for ds's Geog is painful...

Ever the optimist, DS3 is enjoying all his subjects and not finding any particularly difficult yet. That might be down to it being a comp rather than a grammar. Nobody has done add maths or FM at GCSE, so the pace may be slower as appropriate to the ability/previous experience of the DC. Chemistry is also 'fun.' DS is unusual in having done triple science as the sixth form school only does double. The topics so far are new to him, though, so no advantage there. Computing is rehashing GCSE stuff but in more depth.

DS3 is always optimistic about his understanding and ability though. Every GCSE went 'well' though the results begged to differ. At least he's not stressing. A little stress might be beneficial!

He's taking 4 subjects up until the end of Y12 and his school still take AS levels. Lots of different systems! Most drop one after AS. Not always the subject they expected to drop which is why the school follow their system. I'm not convinced it's the best idea, but I do think starting at least with 4 is a good idea.

Thanks for your reassurance Bluebelle123

Side note, feeling really middle aged today and a bit down

Missing the feedback from DS at the moment - he is having 12 hours of maths a week and I have no idea how its going ! Probably why I'm on MN :). I'll have to wait for Costa at the weekend.

For what it's worth I remember the step up to A Level Maths being intimidating. I think it lasted until about Christmas?

DS1 seems to be coping at the moment but I do think the Ad Maths has been a big help in bridging the gap.

Twinplusone you are definitely not the only one. Middle age is one big hormonal roller-coaster of ups and downs for me. Anything specific bothering you or just life in general?

Ellen that's really interesting about what you put as DS is also at a comp and is saying similiar to your DS.........maybe they're both optimists

Completely agree with middle age, some days are definitely worse than others for no apparent reason other than our hormones.......definitely come back as a man next time!!