GCSE 2018 no. 6: stress, struggles and success (hopefully) *Title Edited by MNHQ*

[mmzz]

New thread for GCSEs 2018

Stickerrocks - I would just be honest but bring it up this week when you are all together before exams start.

Oddsocks - glad to see you back sorry to hear about FIL.

MMzz - glad that I don't have the DH problem ..but occasionally it would be nice to have some moral support instead of feeling like the whole weight of parenting the teen through GCSE's is on my shoulders..

I'm not sure DH is aware I'm not speaking to him! I'll find out when he finally switches off Sky Sports.

Sometimes having someone to share the burden helps. Sometimes it would be easier to just do it alone as you don't have to adjust for someone else's POV.

Sorry to hear of the loss of your FIL Oddsocks

I am so glad that DS withdrew from the RS exam back in Feb - sympathies to all who are finding the revision heavy going. And I agree with those who are ‘cuttting losses’ - for DS it was no.11 GCSE (everyone studies for the GCSE at his school). DS did take some reassuring that 10 GCSEs (plus Add Maths FSMQ) was enough, despite him only needing/scoring points from his best 9 for his preferred sixth form offer.

I liked stickerrocks summary. I am rather amazed that I have a DC falling into the calm and collected category who has been revising steadily. No panics - yet? This is for a student who was out of school for over a year back at the start of secondary. The only thing causing him stress is whether to keeping attending lessons once the exams start on May 14th - they have timetabled lessons as normal around their GCSES until that subject has been examined. In theory, lessons are compulsory, but I’m sure I could make a case for DS revising at home instead. DS is worried about missing out if he’s not in lessons, but equally gets frustrated if revision classes only cover stuff he knows!

Busy thread today.

Sorry for your loss Oddsocks

Thanks Cherryburn - Tassomai now working.

Re the fear / melt downs that your dc are experiencing RosieLig and mmzz - that's never far away with my dd either. This evening she has declared that she won't finish everything, doesn't know it and will fail. I think most students go through this wobble? I just keep pointing out to her that she did okay with her mocks so she should be fine with her GCSEs, and even if she isn't it won't be the end of the world. I find myself talking about famous folk who have done well in life without a string of impressive qualifications like Richard Branson (I've caught her eye rolling in response )

I think we have to just keep repeating - 'you've worked hard, whatever happens we are proud of you'

I am quite certain she will pass all her GCSEs - they may well not be grades that set the world on fire (although her Art should be 7-9 and interestingly given her dyslexia her English could get to a 7), but a lot of people don't manage to leave school with 9 and a half (one short course) GCSEs so it will be cause for celebration that she has passed a good range of subjects.

stickerrocks I was going to say music too. One in the front, one in the back and radio on. A talking programme such as R4 would work even better. Your DD will need an ipod for the lifts given by friend's parents I guess - that one's tougher.

I had so much gibberish coming out of my mouth on Friday morning after DD had done her Spanish but chum hadn't. Sometimes there is a definite advantage in speaking for a living! On Tuesday morning I will have to decide whether to spout Sarah Milligan jokes or Bill Bailey. Speaking of which, he got some Macbeth into his routine. Apparently the poster's soliquoy in Act 2 scene 3 is the first known example of a knock knock joke (so get that in your Eng Lit papers, DC everywhere).

Well I guess for some of us this time next week our DC's will be on route to their first exam...eek!

For anyone whose DC are doing Computer Science, I found this site very good - they have video tutorials for every are of the syllabus. They are also running Webinars (Mini mocks) this week each evening - although cost £10. I may sign DD up to one of them because she is feeling uncomfortable with the topics they did for homework.

craigndave.org/free-ocr-flipped-classroom-videos-for-gcse-computer-science/

DD certainly a little more snappy over the weekend so I guess so nerves are kicking in...

Brainmelt I think sometimes having something different to focus on can actually help and he will start study leave today afresh and ready to go!
I think DS is motivated by the fact that a couple of good friends are revising hard and he's quite competitive with them. He is also rather typical of boys at his school in that they prefer to go flat out on revision in the last weeks before the exams!

Teen yes, this time next week it's computer science and RE for us. Good thing is, by the end of next week, both of those will be finished. Maths seems to go on forever!

When are the earliest exams, for anyone's DC on thread? Sorry, I tried to read thread, but it's long & didn't see the info. I wish everyone well thru this stressful season, which seems to run 14 May to 21 June for us (not fully weaseled all date info out of DD).

My yr9 DS is doing almost no revision; any excuse will do, why not. I guess it's start of make or break time whether he'll ever find self-motivation and be suited for A-levels or going onto University later.

lljkk - I think some of the iGCSE Cambridge exams were last week..

Loose - DD will also have completed two subjects by the end of next week too French and Computer Science .

We have biology and chemistry paper 1s and both PE papers next week.

DD has already sat IT exam, some of her classmates are going into school on a couple of Saturdays to sit as a buffer in case of any weak results. DD obviously can’t do this as she has already sat it as one of core exams so keeping everything crossed that she will achieve enough in her other exams.

She is very independent which I keep telling myself is a positive for the future but I feel in the dark about her GCSEs and strictly no questions are allowed.

She has a French speaking exam next week, finishes school at lunchtime on Friday and then that is it full on exams

Ljikk DS1 has already had history and geography (paper 1) and has English Language this week (all CIE).

Has anyone heard of financial incentives being offered for grades? We're must definitely not but DS1 told me ones his friends had been offered £50 for a 9.

We're in the camp if rewarding effort so DS1 will get a trip with DH to climb a mountain over a long weekend in July.

sandy We aren't either, however DS1's best friend will get the following:
9 = £60
8 = £50
7 = £40
6 = £30
5 = £20
4 = £10
For every GCSE The boy is predicted 9 grade 8's.

DS is doing a day of Biology today. Going over content and then papers. Will also look through all of his flashcards for various subjects.

I've heard of lots of people offering rewards for grades but we didn't do it with DD and won't with DS. We do reward for effort though so we've bought DS his ticket for Reading Festival. Slightly less healthy than a trip to climb a mountain!

I can see why people might offer grade based incentives. This approach wouldn't be fair on dd - she works very hard but I would be astounded if she gets any 8's (apart from Art). I shall be giving her money at the end of exams - but it will be for putting in so much effort and not grade dependent, and its because I think she deserves to enjoy her summer and be spoilt a little

For her brother however I can imagine a money based grade dependent incentive scheme could work. He's able but lazy - currently in Y9 so we hope he might change....but more money for a higher grade might encourage him to focus

RS (pah!) here today, then a Biology paper afterwards. Tomorrow will be Eng Lang all day ready for the exams on Wednesday and Friday (eek)

We don't offer cash for grades - DS1 would barely get anything and DS2 would get hundreds of pounds.

When DS2 did his GCSEs we paid for half a laptop, contributed towards a school trip to Mexico and bought him a suit & smart shoes for prom / sixth form (he normally buys his own clothes from his allowance).

For DS2 we've bought him a suit, paid for him to attend an overseas orchestra tour and Physics summer school and paid for the Chromebook he'll need for sixth form.

We aren't doing cash fir grades either. I don't think they would inspire DS1 to try any harder.

My parents paid me and my siblings by grade. It was nice to get, but eclipsed by the certificate that arrived a day earlier. I wanted to do well for the sake of doing well, and I really think that motivation from within like that is the only way to get someone to go the extra mile.

DS is confusing me! Does he care or not? One day he seems to and the next he wastes.

No grade incentive here although DD's DF offered to buy her an Applemac for 6th form which I am contributing to and DD is also going on a school trip to Japan with school in 2019. I'm going to treat her to a photography course and maybe a trip to the theatre too - just for working hard.

No cash for grades here either!

Cash for grades: DS1 made it clear he wanted minimum £200 for an A and that would probably THE ONLY A he'd work for. Couldn't be arsed to aim for lots of them (clever enough, just lazy).

DD would bankrupt me.

DS2... would probably see the fin. incentive as too much stress.

No cash rewards here either.
It has taken a full hour to put all papers, folders, notes, handouts, guides, textbooks, etc back in order. They take two full shelves in his room. It is madness.
loose thank you, always, for your positive outlook on everything.

No cash for grades here, either. The good grades are their own reward. I'll buy him a new phone or something, I expect but that's not dependent on him making particular grades.

I can remember some of my friends' parents giving them money for grades, £10 for an A, £5 for a B, £2 for a C was the going rate in 1981!