GCSEs 2018 (4 already)

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Following on from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3152060-GCSEs-2018-3

That's a good idea. I think i will. The teacher was off sick for a week this term, so maybe she's fallen behind. I wonder if they had a PE teacher supervise the class during those days? You'd hope they'd have another physics, or at least science teacher cover the class at such a critical time , but I would not be surprised if they had a PE or DT teacher to babysit, rather than teach.

I've just checked and 15/4 is the Sunday at the end of the Easter holidays. So, the core practicals have to be done and written up this month.

Now ... just to find a way to word the email so it could not be misconstrued that I am suggesting that the teacher may have dropped the ball.

He has done 6 (out of the minimum 8). The core practicals are shown in italics and DS doesn't recognise two of them (and he's unlikely to have forgotten that he did them after all because they are in the sections of the curriculum not yet covered).

Its only another 2 lessons. It can be managed. It looks to me like the teacher just needs to change the order a bit so that the core practicals get done a bit sooner than the curriculum would suggest. Then she can finish teaching by the end of April.

I asked DS how many practicals he's done, but he just told me not too worry as the teachers know what they are doing

These are subject units in aqa physics
4.1 energy
4.2 electricity
4.3 particle model of matter
4.4 atomic structure
4.5 forces
4.6 waves
4.7 magnetism and electromagnetism
4.8 space physics ( triple only)
4.9 key ideas.

Seems some physics teachers tend to be a bit behind. Bit of a worry dgd still has 2 units to go, in fact, she is doing space physics herself to try and get ahead as he hasn't started teaching it yet!

Well I guess they do bluebelle

Hmmm...a student I tutor told me that they're not finishing Romeo and Juliet in class because there isn't time. We're going to finish it together, obviously, but I was a bit surprised.
However, it also struck me that the teacher may be planning a workshop in the Easter holidays and meant that they weren't doing it before the end of term. Or they'll do it when they go back? Close to the exam but it's doable.
I'm too scared to ask DS about physics practicals!

The only subject I know for definite has finished teaching is maths. Doesn't say much for the rest of the subjects!

Been lurking on and off. Just to say that I have also had this looming ahead of me that I need to organise DD a revision timetable. We don't have one as yet. She is just getting on with revision in school in lessons where they are covering and still getting homework. She has had a English course work to do currently plus oral exams looming in the next couple of weeks.

Drummer your post did somewhat reassure me as not a sign of charts, post it notes or anything structured here either. DD too tells me not to worry and that she has got it in hand. I am still stressing. And will continue to do so until I build a timetable. Can anybody share any good formats - ie what do you do? Download the specification with all topic area and build in a set amount of time for each. How do we even know what is appropriate amount of time per topic area?

What about the past papers practise? What about vocab learning. Plus as we don't know what homework she is getting every day difficult to know how much available time she has for revision until at least Easter. Any guidance would be appreciated.

I think maths is finished here but DS's class are doing additional maths and working on that. I was a bit worried to discover it's level 3 but it is great preparation for starting maths A level. English all done. Sciences not done.
DS got a 9 in the last geography test but he is very pragmatic about the actual GCSE - especially if he's competing against mini-Sostenuto!
I think he can push himself to do well. As far as art is concerned a 6 would make him very happy indeed!

Yeah, just to add no post-it notes or plans here. He did some mind maps for music because school made him - ditto the file cards for computing! I don't really know how he revises...

DD had a timetable for her mocks but it didn't work well...DD works best by visualizing hence why we have turned dining room into a revision room and have example revision wall charts for each subject - Physics is below - she then can move post-it notes from chart to weekly Mon-Sun planner and then move it to finished or back on board again if more work needed (she is rating confidence in topics). Its a way to suit DD...we have left off Maths at the moment because endless revision going on in class and we will also add French come May exam leave (given she has a tutor who she does revision with each week). Homework takes precedence and is done before any revision (although most homework is revision). Tutor said DD's French Vocab is very good so I'm leaving this area alone.

DD did get A* in a test yesterday (3 topics) so I think she can see how revision does pay off...she is not being called to any extra mandatory lessons which allot of the other girls are having to do so I guess its good news and I should be more laid back.

slinkyme How my dgd and myself did a rota was to look at how many units there was for each subject. We then divided them by the weeks left to exams. I.e 8 units for biology 8 weeks left so 1 unit of biology to be revised a week. Other sciences ( she's doing triple) the same. Maths where there are many units but small units we worked out at 4 a week. We did this for every subject and it seems to be working. She is supposed to tick off which ones she's done as she goes along. But at the end of the day each child has their own method of revision. Some have rotas some do not, some work in chaos but magically know where everything is, some have to have everything in order. I think as parents, grandparents or carers we sometimes have to trust our DC to do the work.
You could try doing some tests with your dd just to reassure yourself. But if they are hard workers generally it might pay to step back a bit though that is the most difficult thing to do! ( has heart in mouth with worry). Hope this helps a bit.

Loose

@BlueBelle123 Your DS has wonderful faith in the system. Chances are that he's right

WoW Teen very impressive , I'm just telling myself its a girl thing to be soo organised and I shouldn't worry that DS has no plan whatsoever

Bought dgd a national geographic special on the brain today. They do really great special editions especially history or science Ines. She has national geographic each month anyway and has 2 bookcases full! But look around they are all great mags from national geographic.

Teen and Sostuento thank
You so much - this really helps. I agree some of this is me letting go but I don't want to do that and then worry that I could have done more.

She is definitely one of those who to an outsider Things look chaotic but yet she does do well at school and doesn't need to work as long. Our experience with mocks was that the revision time just wasn't enough to do everything to the depth wanted as well as enough practise papers.

I am going to give some further thought to what you both have suggested.

here are the edexcel physics topics:
Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics
Topic 2 – Motion and forces
Topic 3 – Conservation of energy
Topic 4 – Waves
Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
Topic 6 – Radioactivity
Topic 7 – Astronomy
Topic 8 – Energy – forces doing work
Topic 9 – Forces and their effects
Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits
Topic 11 – Static electricity
Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect
Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction
Topic 14 – Particle model
Topic 15 – Forces and matter

You could email teachers slinkyme and ask if it is possible to have some practise papers ( maybe get dd to do herself?). Have you got revision guides? Or download complete spec for exams found easily on line and go through them. Just find put what board they are go on their sites and the specs are there free to download.

Mmzz yes seems to be more or less the same as aqa but smaller units. Aqa covers same but grouped into 9 large units instead.

Same here mmzz looks like the same topics are covered but DD's are 7 large units. There are endless practicals on DD's list but the knowledge is tested within the exam papers. DD did make me giggle because I think her Physics teacher is amazing - he role plays allot of practicals and last week did one in a Blue Peter format - I think this is the main reason DD loves Physics the lessons are interesting - he's not even a spring chicken and brings his Tortoise into lessons when not hibernating

I did manage to sign DD up for NCS today...they are not running any courses in our area in Aug but they are in the neighbouring county...so she goes on 6th one day after returning off the cruise. It actually works out fine because the first week is in Shropshire, the second week is at the Uni 10 mins away and the third week is at football stadium 30 min drive but they are only doing 4 days (given results day on 23rd). Such good value £50 all accommodation, activities, training, and meals.

Just about to go and book Sundown Festival tickets and that will be it for the summer.

Wish dgd had your dds physics teacher teen as dgds just sends her to sleep! She's always moaning about him ( and the subject) as she finds physics a big yawn. In fact she finds everything a big yawn at the moment. She's in grunting and groaning phase at the minute ( sigh)

So organized teen think I'd better have a stiff to console myself for being so disorganised!

Dgd not interested one bit in NCS because
A) she hates physical exercise
B) she's a quiet type who finds mixing with strangers a little difficult. ( would be fine if there was someone she knew) and she doesn't like a load of people in her face.
C) shed rather do her own thing rather than be organised.....
Damn!