Starting Yr11 Gcses 2020 Support Thread [Edited at OP's request]

[OrangeCinnamon]

A continuation of a Year 10 support thread
previous thread

Last thread was great and supportive as some of us tried to navigate year 10 and some very helpful peeps steered us through.

Sorry everyone I'm on hols in Zante will catch up ...welcome to new recruits jump in as much /little as you like. We have had tears about failing every gcse possible whilst been here

How is everyone doing? Term starts tomorrow for us. I've asked Dd to bring down her cloudbook and mobile so she can have some screen free time before sleep around 9.30 ..this seems to be her natural sleep time she likes to go to sleep. I'd like her to establish a bedtime wind down /sleep routine if any does this can you let me know what works for you?

DD is doing OK. She has been having some difficulties with anxiety for a while, and has tried lots of different things over the last few months but there's been no improvement. It's been quite noticeable in the holidays that she is not able to relax or enjoy anything, is often tearful with no apparent reason and looks exhausted.

She spoke to the GP and CAMHS are going to offer some CBT or similar, so hopefully that will help.

Obviously going into Y11 is not the best timing for having a health issue, but the school is being supportive.

DS seems happy enough to start yr11. Fingers crossed that lasts.

Silverhill Your poor DD. A bit left field but a friend got a cat for her anxious yr11 DD & she believes caring for, stroking & talking to the cat helped a lot.

LoveGrowsWhere
It's funny you should say that. We have a cat and this summer DD has become more involved in her care, seeks her out more often and seems to light up when the cat appears.

Silverhill Hopefully those moments will lengthen.

Oh @Silverhill im so sorry it is rubbish isnt it? Dd had CBT last year which I think helped a bit but she didn't really engage enough to get the full benefit but there are less anxiety attacks for sure . Her school do mindfulness sessions for those that they think suffer during exam periods it is worth asking about as that sees to help too. I didn't even know Dd was doing hers until she told me. She has been different this summer engaging in exercise /long walks and learning to sew etc

First day back with new technology regime. One hour a day Saturday and Sunday. Nothing during week. DS seemed happy enough to agree to that but will see how it goes... also an agreement that even with no homework he needs to set aside note taking, revision etc for an hour a day. Am not so confident on that one! He is a swimmer so have cut out one swim session so far (waving to Ealing there 🏊‍♀️🙂). That does mean getting up 4.30 twice a week rather than three times and swimming three nights so needs to be organised. Will cut down further if still too much but he needs some outlet. We’ve never had “upstairs” technology as always been so tired from swimming!

He has gone in today saying “I just want to get back to school and get this year over with”... that’s a bit sad really

estherfrewen
How does homework and revision fit into the technology regime? All of DS's textbooks are online, much of his homework is on Google classroom and the past papers and mark schemes are in pdf format. He uses Seneca Learning and gojimo for revision. Or do you mean no technology on weekdays other than for studying?

Sorry meant apart from school stuff! They have very little that involves being on a pc. They do activelearn sometimes for French and MyMaths. Science textbooks are online but that's it. Very old school!

Morning everyone, new to this forum. Looking forward to supporting each other in what will be a challenging year for us all.

DD starts yr 11 tomorrow. She’s already sat 2 GCSE’s Art grade 6 and drama grade 5.

She’s put together a revision plan already, we’ve agreed revision to take place in dining room, not bedroom, no head phones whilst revising and no access to phone. We also agreed Friday nights off.

Fingers crossed for everyone. Xx

Nice to see a familiar face esther

Back tomorrow. Hope everyone's start to Y11 has started smoothly or will be smooth!

Hi everyone, I'm also not looking forward to this year! Dd has done barely any work over the summer (a History essay and writing some Maths notes in neat is about it!). She has, however, tidied her bedroom and bought lots of folders!

She goes back on Thursday. Silverhill, sorry to hear about your dd's issues. Dd was asking whether we thought she had anxiety yesterday as she worries about everything and can get tearful, but I think it's 'normal' teen stuff really. This is going to be a tricky year though for all of them. I hope your dd gets some help with managing.

I’m in (or rather DS is). Sigh. It’s not going to be pretty is it?

Term started and so far, DS has willingly given me his phone at 9pm (our agreement as he knows how to hack Apple's supposedly password protected parental controls!). We are, however, only on day 3 so I have yet to see how this goes.

DS still seems far to chill about the exams, but does have positive mindset about them. Surprisingly, he has booked some extra sessions with teachers in 2 subjects which he finds trickier than others so perhaps he is not as passive as I feared!

Good luck to all with the adjustment back to school.

DD back tomorrow and keen to go. She’s surprised me and done the Duolingo ap for French and educake for science over the hols along with a little of her other subjects, even some music theory. However she’s left the homework of doing some textiles research till tonight to finish!
We have no electronics upstairs and this doesn’t seem to have been challenged (yet).

DD starts back tomorrow. Annoyingly, school have emailed to say timetables will only be released at 8.30am on the first day of term; DD knows she has a history test the first lesson back, but obviously doesn't know when that is in a 2 week timetable.
She's done a lot of history revision, prepared her English speaking exam and done 2 maths papers that were set as homework...but that's all.
We've told her the clock is counting down to next June and every day counts.

Hi, Can I join?

DD is sitting 7 gcses next year, and also doing a BTEC musical theatre.

She sat her English Lit this year, so has one under her belt already.

I'm dreading next year; DS1 is sitting Alevels, as well as DD having her GCSES.

She is telling me she has a revision plan, but I'm not convinced.

Hello, I have dd taking 8 GCSE's
Likewise being told of a revision plan, and hope it's happening.
Mine is a boarder but we are insisting she comes home at weekends so we can keep an eye on her work, she used to stay at school over the weekend.

When are mocks, anybody got the dates for January?

Mocks in November here, eek! Revision hasn't even been mentioned yet, but I guess she will need to formulate a plan at some point soon.

Mocks in November here, then further mocks in January/February.

Mocks first week back after Christmas - that’s going to be a jolly holiday...

Mocks are scheduled to straddle the Christmas holidays for us.