11+ 2014 What are people doing over the hols?

[SeagullsAndSand]

Just realised we only have 3 weeks until they go back.

Trying to keep things calm although dc is starting to talk about the exam itself.

Have kept things pretty low key(odd VR paper)wondering if we should up it a gear.

morethan you clearly have no understanding of the 11+. State primary school do not show children how to do VR or NVR. It would be cruel to throw a child into an exam of no experience of these question types. Also, what is covered in the Maths paper in Key stage 2 is often not completed by the time of the test at the beginning of year 6.

Me trying to pick a fight?

Why so aggressive?

Personal attacks are against Talk Guidelines, RaisinBoys.

But justifying yourself to me and 'my ilk' is exactly what you are doing serviced by explaining in great detail what fun things your offspring are doing to mitigate the boredom of 11+ practice.

Why feel the need to list your child's itinerary? Who really cares.
I ducked out of this thread yesterday because Match of the Day was more interesting, only to be referred to again by Taffeta today. Invited back no less.

Now a beer beckons so argue amongst yourselves children.

My dd got the 10+ so we aren't doing anything this summer BUT anyone I know going for tiffin grammars are doing at least one paper a day plus at least one 2 hour tutor session each week.

Um to illustrate the point you're talking cobblers when expressing the need to pity.

No pity needed.

My head even told us last September that the school did not prep the kids for 11+ entry
No VR
No NVR
And probably not sufficient in maths & English so extra work/tutor was essential
This is a school where 75% get level 5 SATS
You can't compete if you don't, no matter how bright your child is.

Raisin- I think that you better go back and read my posts.
I did not list the things that my dd is doing during the holidays, because I cannot be bothered to justify myself to you or to others .

I'm guessing MNHQ delete posts that are reported that break Talk Guidelines.

Personal attacks include the comments you have just restated.

No problems with comprehension here.

For those who are doing more than 30 minutes a day with their DCs, are you looking at super selective schools?

Minimilist

It doesn't take 2 years or even many hours when the child should be playing to show them a test and let them have a go.
I just think if it takes too much effort and work it is cruel to the child.
I have nothing against grammar schools they are for the brightest kids and if mine were exceptionally bright would have chosen this route, maybe.
Aren't people afraid that their dc won't be able to keep up with the really bright dc who didn't need hours of extra tuition.
The school may be better for the parents so they can brag about their kids, but an unhappy child whose been tutored within an inch of its life to me sounds so wrong.

Tess, we've obviously not met because my DD is sitting the tiffin test and has no tutoring. Mind you, I doubt she will gain a place, not because she is not academically able, but because I don't believe it is so great a school it is worth spending the thousands of pounds on years of tutoring and the countless hours of preparation rather than her having a childhood (and the vast majority, if not all, of children accepted there have been down the intense tutoring route. With 10-12 applicants for every place, even heavily tutored kids, achieving good level 5s by the end of Year 5, are missing out)
She is (like your DD) already guaranteed a place at a fantastic, high achieving indie (and as I said in a previous post, actually achieving similar results to her heavily tutored friends). The best thing about Tiffin would be the lack of fees, but if she doesn't get in on her natural ability (and any self motivated preparation) then so be it.
We are in a fortunate position to have a (almost preferable) backup plan in the case of 11+ 'failure'. Perhaps this is why I am so relaxed about it all and it may well be different if it was the difference between grammar and a failing comp (but imagine just how incredible a young person would be to succeed in an environment 'against the odds'! Their skill set of personal resilience, determination, self-motivation, organisation, problem-solving and self-belief would be astonishing and serve them well in life!)

Do you actually read posts Morethan or just believe what you want to believe?

they're nearly 11 not 4.

Looks at dc playing Disney Infinity ANC outside with mates,yup playing nicely.Add "playing" to the itinerary.

"Cruel" give me a break.And we wonder why our kids perform badly compared to kids in other countries.Ours are apparently so precious they can't cope with a teeny bit of work during an otherwise very relaxing 6 week holiday.

In my view you grab what you've been given and make the best of it.My dc may not be privately educated but they've got brains,tenacity and me.We'll make the most of that thanks if you don't mind.

mumtrying - no, not super-selective here and DS is doing 1hr per day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks only.

He's not been tutored and we've never done work at home previously. I'm not trying to get him to go way beyond what you'd normally expect him to achieve, it is merely the fact that the exam is on 20 Sep & I do not believe he'll be fully recovered from his 'summer slump' if he does nothing until school re-starts. I just want him to be fully remembering everything he knows in September so revision it is.

Are you in Essex, Chewbacca?

Sorry, Chewbecca!

Chewbecca Thanks for the reply. Just to be clear, I'm not questioning what people are saying. However, I do think it important for people to remember that there selective schools and there are super selective schools. I would imagine those looking to gain entry into a super selective would need significantly more prep. than those just looking at the standard selective.

The other reason I am asking these questions, contrary to what some people on this thread might think, is because I am using it as a sounding board for what I have been told. So many comments get banded about, it is hard to know what to do for the best.

On speak to the tutors they have suggested no more than 30 minutes per day three days per week during the Summer. However, this is on the assumption that the DC is doing the 9 months prep. with them. The reason they have given (three different tutors) is that children can often burn out if too much prep. is done. Again to emphasise, this will be dependent on how long, how much and the end target.

Would love to know how people expect a kid to write an essay in 30 mins if he's never done it before,of a reading comp in a format he's never done before,let alone a VR exam in a format he's never done before or a maths exam on material he hasn't done yet.

The school he would like to go to tells you to do prep before,sell packs at their open day and have details of materials to use at home on their website.

I'm guessing we should all ignore advice from the school- because Raisin et al said so.

SeagullsAndSand Would love to know how people expect a kid to write an essay in 30 mins if he's never done it before,of a reading comp in a format he's never done before... I think this demonstrated the point I have just made. The 11 plus exam content varies from area to area. The more area that are covered, the more preparation will be required.

Yes rollon - trust you are too given your exam format! The creative writing will be tough for DS. Only upside is that so many mums of boys seem to say the same so I guess they're all in the same boat.

I thought what you were saying sounded familiar! Are you going for blue blazer or green blazer school?!

Green! You?

Green for DD, too-even though we live closer to blue!

DS is at the boys' green school-going into year 8-and loves it.

I feel the same about the creative writing-girls aren't always great (or willing!) either. We are working our way down a lengthy list of banal things to describe- it's starting to take its toll!