Support thread for those self tutoring for the 11+

[Retropear]

As suggested on other thread.

Will be back later.......

They both had the Collins one from Y4. In primary school they could enter their spelling words and then do a little test on them.

In Y6 DS1 was given one from here by a grandparent:
www.thatcompanycalledif.com

Since he got a smartphone for his 13th birthday he tends to use the dictionary app on that.

I found the elevenplusexam site useful. Gives info on exams in each area. I had to help my DD with 11+ as we were posted abroad.

BTW ThreeBeeOneGee, thanks for the VCOP suggestion.

I googled as you suggested and my dd1 is delighted and cutting and gluing a pyramid as we speak. I'd had no awareness of "VCOP" or what was on the level 5 agenda until last night. So thank you again for bringing me up to speed. She enjoys reading and writing, and she sees this as some sort of "fun dt project" for her own pleasure, use and enjoyment. If only math would take care of itself in the same carefree manner!

The Collins dictionary they have is the Franklin DMQ221 model.

Missinglalaland: at least she now knows the net of a pyramid. I'm sure she'll cover the rest of the gaps in the Maths before long.

Looks good,wonder how it compares to the Seiko Thesaurus(has anagram solver etc)

Hmmmm

Missing I think she means lala land. I must say after looking at some sample papers I agree. Ignorance was bliss! Dd1 enjoyed freerice.com and is telling anyone who will listen that she has given 580g to people who have no rice.

Doh! Of course 3birthdaybunnies. I made up the name a decade ago and disappeared from this site until realising I needed a broader view about education as the children are growing. Must check out FreeRice, as this is new to me too.

Thanks for all the suggestions here. Have to say though that the electronic dictionaries are a bit too pricey for me; do you think a conventional one will do?

Have looked at the 11plus forum and was scared witless. Using that as a guide I think I may as well give up now as I cant dedicate my whole life and sacrifice my other childs life just to focus on these exams. Feeling a little in despair. Is it representative of the size of this 11+ diy challenge do you think? Huuuuuge gulp!!

How much should I be doing each day/week?
I have drawn up a reading list and ds will be working through that. Lets see how that goes. Lastly, I don't have money to spend on loads of materials etc, any suggestions? Ds does stuff online, is that ok? Will also take look at freerice. Thanks.

Abreviated my name! I think that the way I look at it Sue is that if I were to get someone to tutor my dd then it would probably only be for an hour a week, that is the amount of time I am planning to do in 121, however I will be able to divide that into two half hour sessions (harder to do if paying tutor) which will probably be more beneficial for their attention. The rest of the time we are in same position as all other state educated candidates.

I am planning to buy some materials but again justifying a small spend on maths and english specifically as if I were to pay for tutoring again it would cost more, and anyway these topics will help her at school wherever she goes. The reasoning I will tackle nearer the time. I am also planning to make use of free resources on the net.

For us too it isn't the only school option so I guess if she doesn't pass despite putting in the effort then maybe not meant to be, also the other school options are streamed so should at least start her off in a higher stream. I might reconsider my answer though when she is in yr 5!

Thanks or your reply 3B, as ds will be doing the exams in September, im going to aim for a couple of hours a week initially and adjust that time according to how receptive ds is to such dedicated time. Yes, youre right about the streaming thing, also there's only so much one can do and ultimately whatever will be will be. I guess.

I hope that the journey is going well for everyone. I have found the information given here to be useful and encouraging. thanks.

Sue try the CPG range.

They have a study book explaining everything for the 3 areas and then work books to extend from that.Quite well set out.

They do 20% discount if you spend over a certain amount.

I have bought some materials in order to help my son as we have decided against a tutor. We are currently doing one hour a week during the school term and then we increase that during the holidays to 3 hours per week. It doesn't sound a lot but because there is only one child (as opposed to a class of 30) a surprising amount can be done.
I figure that I don't want my son to spend his whole life doing academic work just to get into a grammar school because then he will be excessively worried when exam time comes around and feel an enormous amount of pressure. I also think if he needs to spend 5 hours every single week studying for the exam then he perhaps doesn't have the natural talent required to really enjoy a grammar school education.