Year 12 preparing for AS levels

[HSMMaCM]

Here we are everyone.

Ha ha HSMMaCM revision by osmosis! I think ds has now realised that his latent telepathic powers are not going to get him to university and has started frantically reading through notes, doing mind maps and flash cards and past papers.

Picked DD up from her residential Easter thing yesterday and she'd had an amazing time and was so pleased she'd gone to it. Was even OK that DH & DBro had taken the opportunity to tidy her room for her a bit whilst she was away You can even see the floor now!
Am feeling a bit stressed with DS's audition coming up on Saturday the same day DH is going away for a week's trip with work. And DD wants to come with us and re-visit the museum she went to before to take more pics for her art project - and still be back in the evening to go out with friends!
So that's all a bit busier than I'd like! But I think the key is to not stress too much about the audition (much easier said than done).
He'll give it a good go, and it's all good practice right?
(It's for an Academy opportunity with residential weekends and other on-going support)

Took food up to sustain the revising pair and they looked suspiciously like they were watching a film. They did enjoy decorating gingerbread men though.

Dd currently has her school chums round, who appear to be playing pictionary
It's lovely to hear them laughing and letting their hair down.
This week Dd has handed her notice in at her Saturday job, which was becoming too much, and started having maths tutoring again which improves her confidence. For the moment all is calm, but let's not count our chickens.

HSM maybe they were watching one of those YouTube revision videos?

DS tells me he has 'forgotten' how to revise and can't remember what worked for him last year. I've suggested a number of things but unfortunately all of them involve actually doing some work!

Juggling, that all sounds very stressful. What was her residential thing? I am so glad DS gave up art after GCSE - having horrible flashbacks to this time last year and virtually paying my salary into the are suppliers every month.

Anyone know of positive experience with EPQ?

Ono I'm sure you're right about the YouTube revision. After all what else would a 16 year old girl and a 17 year old boy be doing ?

My needy 16 year old has been following me around all day trying to get me to commit to open days .She seems to really want me to go with her rather than her friends.Given that I have 3 other children and a Dh who is often travelling on another continent it's difficult.Coupled with being on my third sleepover thus week ( and another week of holiday next week) I've sort of had enough.
Anyway she went off to her cow farm and came back happier.Anyone else find endless revision makes their children a bit neurotic?It doesn't help that she keeps on getting really swollen glands and looking like a hamster.
Sorry if this name isn't recognisable.I've name changed back to my old name as I've totally forgotten my other password.

teta, sounds like you have your hands full. I need to engage DD in conversation about open days - I think she wants to go with friends, but she/they need to sign up!

HSM

I dropped DD up to the library just before 9 - there were at least 15 teens waiting for it to open. She says there are usually way more. She and her friends have been in at 9 every day, or else they can't get a space. Not sure how much revision they are actually doing in there - looks like a youth club to me

BTM lucky you even having a library, ours closed in the last round of council cuts.

Teta ....dreams of DS being neurotic due to doing too much revision!!! ......dreams of DS following me round and badgering me about open days!

I was out all day yesterday and DS was like a lost sheep when I got home, he says he hates being on his own. He was distraught because he couldn't work out how to use the coffee machine (try adding water; don't rip the top off the pods and don't tip the grounds into your cup). First world problems!

However, I did barge into his room last night to shout at him for having his light on after 11 only to find he was actually sitting up in bed reading an actual history book!!! Today I'm expecting a request for sleepover/party/cinema trip etc. Or maybe to pay for a few more driving lessons but he will be after something, lol

I was just thinking about that ono - how awful it is that libraries are closing. This one is big and is used loads, so fingers crossed.

My DC LOVE to have the house to themselves - DD having just been left home-alone for 2 nights for the first time ever!

Ono40 mine also hates being on her own.She was so bored the other day when we were all out she took the dog for a really long walk ( unheard of).I would have thought she would have appreciated the peace.I'm amused by the coffee machine angst though.

A good but busy day in Cambridge yesterday where DS had his trumpet audition for the Academy opportunity. Went reasonably well but these things always depend on the competition too don't they? In any case I feel doing it has been a good experience for him - they were all very encouraging to him. Meanwhile DD spent a couple of hours looking at and taking pics of masks at the Museum of Anthropology for her mask project - so I think that's some great research there which will really help things along for her.
So, not our most relaxing day in Cambridge ever - I liked the time DS had a go at punting whilst we watched the colleges drift gently by - but a good day's work by us all I think.
DD has been having moments of realising that there isn't so much time left till exams to put her great revision timetable into actual practice - but I'm sure that's pretty par for the course at their age and stage? - easier to make the revision plan than to actually carry it out day by day?
I think on the whole Easter break has gone as well as could be expected, with a reasonable balance of revision, trumpet practice, seeing friends, and doing things together.
Last night they both had a party to go to too which was nice for them

Juggling that sounds good

DD broke down over the stress of taking her ballet exam at the same time as her school exams. I told her not to worry and she started blubbering on about the money I had spent etc. I pointed out that happiness is worth more than £100

Thanks HSM, good call I think on the ballet exam. It feels quite good when you can make a decision like that I think - kind of wave a magic wand and make things better for them. Often of course things can be harder to fix. But youngsters don't always see when something could relatively easily be changed? Being open to all options a crucial life skill I think which sadly sometimes only comes with maturity - and not always even then?

Oh HSM, poor DD.

I think we may be heading to the same as DD has a coaching exam next week, but the club don't seem to have any girls organised for her to do the exam on. Added to some huge drama surrounding her friend at sixth form that is likely to blow up today.

I agree, Juggling. They may be fast approaching 18, but they are so young in many ways.

Best thing you could have done HSMM . I told my dd3 the same when she took her music exam. She relaxed when I told her it didn't matter and to just do her best.

Juggling You have been busy! Bet you are glad that day is over.

dd3 has an interview on Friday for a course she applied for and she is really shy. I've told her that the outcome doesn't matter because the interview is really good practice. I have a horrible feeling that maths and science university courses interview.

We ran away from home to Cornwall for the weekend. Two older teens now back at university.

Im an english teacher and I wish you good luck with your exams. The only advice I can really give is that when revising for english you need to come up with meaningful and diverse titles, I can't stress enough how important this is. I've been using this tool essaytopicgenerator.com which is very helpful.

Try it and good luck

Thank Nickivanov. DD is not doing English, but any input from teachers is VERY welcome.

I have a horrible feeling that maths and science university courses interview.

For maths virtually nobody interviews outside Oxbridge. Top courses like Warwick and Imperial use MAT and STEP more than interviews (although I think Imperial may also interview at least some students). It's similar for physics and few engineering courses interview.

Thanks quit2. It will still be good for her to gain some confidence at interviews but at least she won't have to worry about that particular hurdle for university applications.

Relieved here too. Although I did pick Dd up a lovely tailored jacket at the next outlet for £15 instead of £40. I'm sure she will need it at some point

Sorry no Draylon . Sounds like you are still hoping for a miracle for your DS.
No sign of a change in attitude from him regarding the AS exams then?

One day you'll look back at this and it won't seem so bad (hopefully)

Draylon, I've seen it on amazon