Year 11 support thread

[pasanda]

I can't find a new thread, moving on from the old full one, so I thought I would create one (please tell me if I'm wrong!)

Last night ds stayed up till 4.30am doing his biology coursework

This time the tsunami affect didn't work and he left it far too late to do a reasonable job. Which is a bloody shame because he wants to do biology A level and he has done so well in his other controlled assessments.

I wait with bated breath to find out his mark

Oh well, thank God for half term!!

[errorofjudgement]

I looked at various online apps but found them quite confusing so we've ended up creating a simple Excel spreadsheet which seems to be working well.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

I've seen getrevising.co.uk recommended a few times. Haven't used it though.

Possum good to hear - hope it inspires your dd through these last few weeks!

[Danglingmod]

Another one pleased for Possum's dd and hoping it gets her through to her exams.

Ds is having a week or two "off" - he's had little homework for a week or so, but I think it's a good idea for him to start next weekend onwards with the full on revision plan, so he's had a mini break.

[PossumInAPearTree]

Sam learning also good and I think will give a revision timetable. You put in what subjects, any you need to concentrate on, etc. Also does a league table of kids from the same school, who has done the most hours.

[pointythings]

DD1 uses SAM learning too - was working on it for her History mock tomorrow. Had to stop because she had done the maximum and it wouldn't let her do any more.

I may have to resort to disconnecting the internet if she carries on like this.

[Giraffesaretootall]

I have been lurking for a while but also have a DS in yr11. He is starting to work now but not yet enough and is, as some of your DC, not achieving his potential. May hit target in 1 or 2 subjects but that is on a good day. He has never liked school and despite being intelligent, is not really a studier.
He has a sixth form offer at a school he really wants to go to but needs to step it up to get the results to get in.

So my question, this SAM learning looks really good. Is it just available through the school? from the website it looks as if that may be the case but it looks good.
DS has tassomai which he does seem to be using but something that does more subjects would be good.

[pointythings]

Bad day in the mocks lounge - DD was supposed to have a 2 hour revision session before this morning's mock so was planning to do that. Only her class didn't get it, the other class did, due to a scheduling cockup. So Chemistry mock went badly. She's also very tired.

Told her the real thing would be spread over 6 weeks so she would have a much better opportunity to revise/cram. Poor her.

[LIZS]

After a somewhat stressful day yesterday dd got her igcse result from January today and is , phew!

[pointythings]

Yay miniLISZ!

In other news, which DD1 failed to mention because she was in the dumps about her Chemistry mock, she got A* in her French reading mock. Up from a C on the previous one. Hard work on vocabulary paid off big time.

[LIZS]

Excellent pointy , that's a great improvement.

[LIZS]

I don't think it is exclusive to igcse but some gcse boards had a November sitting.

[Laniakea]

well done LIZS & Pointy's dds :) ... lovely to see work pay off!

dd's off the boil a bit - she has a drama thing tonight (very time consuming) & has been doing lots of procrastinating. School revision sessions are starting now - it's all very targeted & differentiated for small groups so the kids can't use the "it won't be relevant" excuse - dd has three weeks of after school geography sessions & an all day English masterclass. I hope that focuses her slightly.

Still no official news of study leave but last week her form teacher said they only have 40 something school days left.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

I think they've just stopped recently, there definitely always used to be a Jan/Nov sitting. Think now it's just maths ave English resits.

[LIZS]

I suspect it will change in time although as schools outside UK with different school year dates take them maybe it ties in with those. Bear in mind igcse gradings are changing later too.

[cleanasawhistle]

I have read through this and I just feel at a loss.
What happens to the kids who don't have a hope in hells chance of getting anywhere near a C grade ?

[cleanasawhistle]

Thank you so much Draylon.

Me and my husband are worrying constantly.
My son is just not an academic,he has no interest in sitting at a desk and learning.He does the minimal amount of homework and refuses to revise.

We Can't seem to get through to him that it is so important that he at least tries. We don't think he will pass a single exam.

I wish he could just leave school in the summer and go and get a job.
He gets up early for school no problem and never wants to miss a day but he is there to socialize.
The teachers say he is a great lad,happy and polite but school work is a non starter.

[teddygirlonce]

Can I ask what happens when there's an exam clash? DS has one on the penultimate day of his exams (RE and Computer Science). He seems to think they'll be on 'lock down' at school overnight. I think it's more likely they'll do back-to-back afternoon exams (or one in the morning then be temporarily isolated until the afternoon one).

Any ideas?

[pasanda]

Been away from he thread for a while. Burying my head in the sand I think!!

clean - my dd will be like your ds (she is currently in Yr 8). Dyslexic and with memory problems she is just not academic and finds learning a struggle, although at least tries hard (at the moment anyway!). It is a worry but there are always opportunities for all of our dc and something will gel with your ds I am sure.

My ds has had his phone taken off him for a week (oh joy) because of emails from his Business Studies teacher telling us about his lack of homework. He was warned if he didn't step it up this is what would happen and now it has. He has been working Ok-ish but I still think could do a LOT more. Has still got his chemistry CA to do and is going in most lunch times to do it.

I have to say, I really cannot wait for it all to be over. I still feel that he has SO much to learn and not much time to do it but I am hoping for the best and will probably keep burying my head in the sand!!!

[AtiaoftheJulii]

I think it's more likely they'll do back-to-back afternoon exams (or one in the morning then be temporarily isolated until the afternoon one).

Yes, something like this depending on lengths of the exams, and how the school arranges things. Who does your son think is going to stay overnight at school with them???

My dd1 had a few clashes, ds has one. I think there are guidelines about the minimum gap in between exams so they'll have time for lunch, toilet, whatever.