GCSEs 2018 (12) Are we nearly there yet?!

[mmzz]

Devilish . It makes you wonder how we've got ourselves into this position as a society. I really despair sometimes.

DS is another one doing Edexcel igcse sciences, so 3 shorter paper 2s this week. Physics is also his strongest science (he says it's just common sense-it definitely wasn't to me) followed by Chemistry. Biology is his weakest because it's much more 'wordy' and there seems to be a lot more to learn. He's been getting very high marks in the practice papers he's been doing so fingers crossed for high grades in them. Has no interest in doing any of them for A Level though. The exams fall quite nicely with a day and a half between each so I suspect the printer will be earning its keep this week.

I want to give DS something nice to congratulate him on how well he has applied himself these last few months. It's been a long old slog. I was thinking if I give him it in Friday, rather than on August 23rd, then I am rewarding the effort not the achievement.

It has to be big enough that it will mean something to him, but not so big that he thinks that I am saying that what he has done is exceptional (because this is just the first time he will have exams, not the last).
I am stuck though. I just can't think of anything he would like!

Kick that's terrible re your DD's employers. Good on her for sticking it out for so long.

Cherryburn agreed Biology is mostly just learning terminology and there is huge amounts of it. If your DS is logically minded though, he might find the probability calculations in genetics an easy way to pick up marks.

Mmzz that's a lovely idea.

Is there anything he might want or need for sixth form?

If you can't think of anything to buy how about a day out. My dd loves things like Go Ape. Or maybe a driving experience.

Or is there anywhere he'd love to visit? From reading the thread maybe Bletchley Park if it's nearby? You could have a night away if not.

We have a lovely holiday planned for July so that will be dd's reward but I think we'll have a meal out after last exam.

Total curveball mmzz and I'm not sure of your budget but how about a short break to Geneva and include a visit to CERN?

We went last year and it's really interesting. And I'm no physics nut. Flights to Geneva are reasonably cheap (although not much else is in Switzerland) Plus the area around is beautiful in the summer for walking or downhill mountain biking. (Cable car up!)

Kick horrible people - but sounds like do the last shift and give notice. The money isn't worth the swearing. Poor dd.
mmzz I like your idea of a treat on Friday!
DS revised biology yesterday, going to do some physics and chemistry today. A positive way of looking at it is that he's already finished 6 GCSEs and by the end of Tuesday he'll have got 9 out of the way!

The CERN idea sounds wonderful but it's a bit too expensive for us. We went to Bletchley Park last summer, but that was more a treat for DH (military history buff). It was quite interesting though.

I think something football related is the answer. I will ask DH if he can think of anything. TBH it could be as trivial as taking DS to watch his first ever England match in a pub. Nothing to you or me, but a huge deal to someone who thinks about football 24/7.

I've already rewarded DS once a few months before the exams started as he'd been working so hard and although I'd been telling him how impressed I was with his attitude I knew a new bike accessory would say it better plus he's recently got a new cycling jersey (£50) as a reward for all his hard work and finally we will all go our for a meal to celebrate the end of ends because I think I need that as well

sorry that didn't read very well I mean the end of exams!

Kick - Sounds like a good time for DD to give in her notice...I am very swear adverse - I have never swore and I really cant see the need and I think language in the workforce is even more offensive.

DD has asked for a lie in so will leave her till 11am, she worked hard at past papers yesterday and hopefully she will fit in another 2/3 today.

She has not worked to a revision timetable at all during the exam period ...there has been a bit of luck - like Friday when the topic she had enjoyed and revised heavily in History came up and her friend was testing her on the other topic before they went into the exam...

All three sciences are important because those are the A levels she wants to take...

Mmzz - how about an Apple Mac (if expense is not an issues)....DD's Df and I are probably going to split the cost of buying one for sixth form... I'm already taking DD and three friends into London for play, overnight stay and a meal - mainly late birthday celebration but they are all excited...most would have finished exams but DD will still have one more on 19th...

@mmzz - your DS' interests sound a bit like DS1's. How about a trip to the National Space Centre in Leicester? Sounds like it might not be too far? I've driven past it so many times but it's never been the right time to stop!

If its football he loves then maybe a trip to Wembley - tour etc...I was going to say that Barcelona is great to take a football fan ...flights are cheap but accommodation can be expensive.

Maybe the retro computer museum ...but this maybe more DS2 www.retrocomputermuseum.co.uk

Kick definitely time for your DD to leave I'm a big fan of DC getting part time jobs as I think they teach them so much but there is always the exception and I'd say that is your DD's place, I hope you also vote with your purse and never go in the place.........

DS's favourite science is definitely chemistry, due to his maths I would of thought it would be physics but I think he gets it more than he actually likes it and biology he enjoys but there is just so much of it.........anyway he's doing them all at A level so they can't be that bad!

mmzz regarding a treat and the fact you will probably be having to do it 4 times once the president is set (but I'm sure you have already thought of that ).............you may not want to spend too much....

Bluebelle123 - DD hopefully doing all three sciences too...just need to wait for the Chemistry results ..she is very capable -forecast an A* at the end of Yr10 but change of teacher meant she lost quite a bit of interest in Yr11 (the teacher knows her chemistry but teaching style did not really suit DD)..she'll be fine if she gets a B....I did ask if she wanted a few tutor sessions in April but she said she was OK... There is a local tutor who has rave reviews in Chemistry and Biology (young 24 yr old Cambridge graduate) but gets fully booked...but I may see if I can get a monthly slot booked...so that I can ensure DD feels confident in the first few months of A levels.

mmzz how about a retro England shirt? DS has just bought himself an Italia '90 England top. He ordered it online and I think paid around £30 for it. No doubt he will get his money's worth out of it over the next few weeks!

DS's reward for working hard is his ticket to Reading Festival. I had to buy it a while ago but luckily he has kept his side of the bargain!

Bluebelle definitely. Especially as yesterday's insults were due to her washing up too slowly. Dd said when they showed her how to do it they weren't even wiping all the food off properly. (vom)

I am tempted to suggest she phones in sick next Saturday. I know she'll be dreading going in.

Also she's got 3 German exams next week and no chance to revise until after physics on Friday. And it's her stepmum's birthday on Sunday. She was only going in because the other two Saturday staff are off due to A levels but I don't think they deserve any loyalty.

Such a shame for her and totally going against all the messages I've been giving her about sticking to her commitments etc but I'm not going to force her back into that environment.

Teen I think that's a really good idea A levels can be a shock anyway but I do think it makes it easier if you are starting with a solid grounding of the basics (GCSE concepts) so if teaching was patchy I would go with it plus a confidence boost in a subject is never a bad thing..............DS's chemistry teacher isn't great either but he's just used the CGP books to revise, teacher used to tell them not to write anything down whilst he was talking, so he doesn't actually have much in the way of notes anyway....

Kick or leaves feeling sick at 11ish???

Kick I agree plus it does almost sound like bullying, she needs to put her priorities before theirs, I would definitely be telling her to quit now don't let her worry about it all this week you don't want it to cast a shadow over her upcoming exams.

I love the football shirt idea.
He's been on the Wembley tour. Loved it. Flights + accommodation + eating out might set the bar a bit high for next time, as fantastic as it sounds.

Right! I am now permitted to wake DS! I'm not very good with patience!

I agree with Bluebelle, kick. Your DD comes first. Her employers just threw away their right to being treated with common courtesy when they swore at her.