Year 8 Science top group

[gleegeek]

Hi. My dd hates her science teachers and is rapidly losing interest
She is doing really well in English and Maths and has hit her year 9 targets already but she seems to have given up in Science and has made little progress. She thinks she can't do Science and is refusing to revise for their end of year test.
At parents evening the teacher said she was doing fine but there is definitely a problem.
Anyway I'm looking for some help! We have revision books and I've suggested BBC Bitesize but her chemistry teacher told her BBC Bitesize is rubbish so she's given up!
Are there any great fun revision materials we should be buying or looking at?
My dd is doing really well in every other subject and works really hard. She would hate to be moved down next year but I can see that happening if she carries on sabotaging herself in this way
Help!

I wouldn't describe BBCBitesize as rubbish but imo (former Science teacher), it isn't really aimed at top set pupils but is OK for covering the basics. Due to cuts at the BBC it is no longer being updated, so will soon be out of date as it isn't going to cover the new GCSE specification for example.
The teachers are the best ones to make recommendations as different schools may not cover the same material in Y8. There are Science videos on Youtube that your daughter may enjoy for example.
PS Being moved down a set may not be the end of the world especially if she ends up with different teachers that are able to motivate her better.

Thanks catslife I hadn't realised Bitesize was getting the chop too. I know lots of people on here really rate it. We've had a look at Bitesize for homework help and it didn't go into enough detail to answer the questions fully so I understand what you mean about not being aimed at top set. Tbh though I think dd could do with a bit of revision of the basics...
I had hoped the teacher would direct me towards some useful resources but she seemed to think what was in their workbooks would be adequate! I guess we'll have to look on YouTube for each subject and work it out ourselves.
Dd is a bit of a perfectionist so her attitude is hugely out of character. She would be mortified to be moved down - pretty much same teachers as well as they struggle to recruit science teachers...
I'm kicking myself for not noticing earlier how much her science was struggling I wonder if a tutor might plug some gaps???

Is it possible to ask for the exam papers that you DD had done at school, then you can find out what she didn't understand, so focus on to solve that. If that's not available, then maybe buy some practice books from the shop, and you can mark for her, and then you will be able to find out what she doesn't understand.

Yes we've got her test papers but I'm concerned they only test a small amount of the curriculum. We've gone through those, they seem to be gcse level questions and very poorly worded tbh. She doesn't always understand what she's being asked although she has a good grasp of the actual subject IYSWIM? I can see panic sets in and then she's good for nothing...
Can anyone recommend either good revision books or websites or good videos which might inspire her to actually enjoy the science and want to do well???
It doesn't help that she is scared of one teacher, bored by the second and the third nice one is off regularly from stress!
Thank you do much for your suggestions so far x

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Science-Workbook-Revision-Curriculum/dp/1844197646/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463746906&sr=1-3&keywords=letts+science+ks3

how about the above one, the review is good. I didn't use it. But I used LETTS book in primary school and found it was good.

For Science, I always think it is better to do the practice questions, then you will apply the basic knowledge into it. Solving question will help you understand it. The ability to understand what is asked is quite important. There is the basic point behind each question the examiners want to test you, being able to grasp that is vital to give a correct answer. I have no other suggestions on how to improve this, other than practice questions.

I wouldn't necessarily blame her teachers. The new KS3 curriculum is dull.

She needs Crash Course Chemistry. It goes way above KS3, but it is fun to watch and is inspirational for anyone interested in science. If she can just watch it with the attitude of just getting from it whatever she gets from it and does not feel it essential she understands it all first time through, it could be a boost to her enthusiasm.
Crash Course Chemistry

My DD is also in year 8. I'll be subscribing to mygcsescience.com. My year 11 had it just for this year and has found it useful for revision. If you start in year 9/end of year 8 you can just subscribe to the core science as that is all they will cover. There is a free option but the one with the resources is about £10 for the year.