GCSEs 2018 (5 & a puppy, but no kittens)

[Stickerrocks]

Here we go again.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3177476-GCSEs-2018-4-already

Oddsocks very sorry for your loss - it is very hard on you and the family.
Sostenueto you are so thoughtful of your dd and dgd. but make sure you think about yourself too. And I’m sure your dgd has done loads more revision than many of her friends.

Thanks everyone, been a hard couple of weeks.

Thanks for the summary stickerrocks DD has attended some revision sessions during the holidays, we have some practice papers in the dodgy brown envelope still sitting unopened.....

DD goes back to school tomorrow, so I think stress levels will be back to boiling point.....

I know its not much comfort, Oddsocks, but it will get easier (but not easy) once the funeral is over.
Meantime, try to distract yourself however you can. Anything that can help you forget what's going on whenever you don't need to be dealing with it. It does ease with time, but until then, be kind to yourself and just get through each hour as best you can.

Ds2 is taking nine GCSEs, he took stats last year and I have withdrawn him from RE as he wasn't getting anything from it. He has done some revision this holidays as he attended the revision sessions his school set up, he spent the first week on an under 17 driving course with me though so no revision but he can now control a car well!

Sorry for your loss oddsocks

Sorry to hear about your father in law Oddsocks

Sostenueto I'd hate to think of a loved one bearing the burden of bad news alone, I'm sure your DD would want to support you.

Sticker rocks I loved that book, looking forward to seeing the film. *

A.Ham* that's such a shame that your dd feels she has to return something she loves. I hope she finds something even better.

Ellen I love the sound of your DS's suit!

No prom here (they have one at the end of year 9 as they change schools then - very unusual local system!) and awards evening is school uniform.
DD has requested either an End of Exams or a Results Day Party. Another girl will host the one we don't apparently. I'm still considering but I expect I'll say yes - her 16th party went pretty smoothly - and I imagine new outfits will need to be purchased for those!

I've got a not very happy DS1 packing his bag for school atm! Apparently, the holidays are way too short. It's a funny feeling seeing him go back to school for this last term. It feels like school is getting in the way of exam preparation, but rationally I know it is helping, not hindering.

I think DS trudged out of the house this morning - definitely not an early morning person. art exams this week so at least that'll be out of the way.

DS not back at school till Wednesday. Am just about to go and wake him up for another day of revision. I think he'll be glad to go back!

They 'break up' for study leave on 4th May, although he also has a one-off day on 1st (the day before his first exam). I'm finding the discussion on the thread about extra revision sessions really interesting. DS's school don't do any but I suspect he'd get more done revising at home anyway, and at least he can concentrate on the things he feels need more work. Not sure how I'd feel if they were on offer...FOMO might have kicked in!

DD in school today but only to finalise some presentation. I also found the extra revision thread interesting ...DD was in school 4 days over Easter but 3 of those were completing coursework...the other 1 was an optional History skills and technique session and I think nearly all the girls from both sets turned up so they were running two classes. I think the geographers are in today for something similar. I think attendance to the various sessions has been high. I think its hard knowing whats right ...DD definitely found the History session of benefit and its a weight of her shoulders getting all the coursework out of the way... hopefully she takes more notice of what the teachers are saying (rather than me waffling).

Yesterday she had a long session on Tassomai Biology - she's fully completed 25% of the program and partially completed 62% of the program but ahead of schedule to finish before exams - which is a testament to hard work given she only started 10 day's ago.

Still making silly mistakes on past exams by not reading what is asked (not explaining when question states explain)... she is geared to looking at marks and knows that higher mark questions require some form of more detail - but not all is clicking into place at the same time. I'm going to suggest she sets timer for 15 minutes less than exams now when doing past papers and she specifically now checks question/answers/marks for that remaining 15 minutes - she seems to write too much on some questions too.

Finally back on line.
So sorry oddsocks for your loss my thoughts a d prayers are with you and your family
Dgd also starting to panic and a few tears this morning though not sure whether that was because back to school grind begins again. Last leg now here and looming large for all. Will have to fortify myself for the strops and rages and the tears to come with the build up to exams. Think we will need lots if group hugs very soon!
Cannot tell dd about results from hospital at the moment as she is completely unable to hide her feelings, lie or keep a secret from a very intuitive dgd. I will continue as before with a bit of urgency regarding patio 90 bricks laid over the weekend. Just waiting for gardener to come with more sand and cement and help with groundwork, brick laying easy, groundwork a bit out if my reach at the mo. But pic of progress made!

P.s thanks to all for support

We found the most useful aspect of the holiday sessions was spending an afternoon on computer science and getting the art prep checked as it had to be handed in this morning. There was only one maths session but it was also useful. Otherwise DS seems to get much more done revising at home with his practice papers. I think it's established a routine for revision - possibly he won't be quite so keen after a day at school, though!

I use timers with my GCSE English language students so they get a sense of how long they should spend on a particular question - it can be quite a shock, but I need them to make sure they at least attempt all the questions! We did a mock before Easter and one student who had been making real progress has left out a question worth a lot of marks, so timing is still an issue!

Sostenueto that's very impressive progress - it looks great!
One of my friends recommended a plasterer after we had a rather bad leak in one of the bedrooms and he let slip that he also does garden stuff so I now have dreams of a new patio, stepping stones in the lawn etc etc!

DD hasn't tried any past papers yet. Oh well.

Sost - The patio is looking good....perhaps maybe speaking to your other DD would be better...I do think holding things in will create more stress for you when you need support.

Do you think our DC's have mental blocks sometimes? DD has been stating that she is weak on fish farming questions for 2/3 years (I kid you not it was a topic covered in year 9). She stated that she struggled with question in mock and again in past paper she did last week.. again she scored 0 out of a 4 point question yesterday which was worth 7% of total marks. I'm hoping for NO fish farming questions on exam!

Hope your dreams come true regarding patio loose will give you free advice as to how to build one

Eldest dd even worse than younger dd. Sometimes its best for them to guess because I'm not sure I can handle them getting upset at the mo tbh. I have been in this situation 5 times since age of 28 and I'm still here its early stages just treatment to be sorted. Repeated hospital appointments may alert family to problem but we've been here before and I am a fighter! So don't worry, you all are already supporting me which is sufficient

DD got her offer this morning from back up school .

so sorry oddsocks and wishing you good health and outcome sostenuto

We also need to get a suit... Not for prom, but for Lower Sixth induction day...

DS is working hard now, in full gear. He printed and did a past biology paper and I was in shock how early he finished it but as it happens he found out half the questions had been in the mock Not all subjects have been covered though, so hopefully school hours will just be revision from now on? He also has two music competitions this week and his two GCSE music performances. I wish I wish study leave would start now!!

Sostenueto the patio is looking fabulous, love the design!
Hope all the DC who have gone back today have had a good day.
DD is staying in school until 6pm today for revision sessions.
It's hard to believe that we're actually in the final term now!

teen congrats to your DD.

Congratulations on the offer, Teen. Is it conditional or unconditional?

teen well done to your DD its always nice to have a back up......DS wasn't so sensible!

Sostenueto patio is coming along nicely and if the weather report is right you will be able to sit in your deckchair and admire your handiwork!

Can't believe that DS has gone back to school for the last term this year has just flown.

Conditional 6 x 9-4's (A-C) including English and Maths plus 6(B) in both Physics and Biology.
Offer needs to be accepted by 30.4 and DD needs to go to 3 x induction days at beginning of July.

Teenmum congratulations on offer to your dd