Thread 3: Continuing to GCSEs Summer 2020 - Happy New Exam Year!

[OrangeCinnamon]

Continuation of previous thread
Thread 2

Thread 1 Year 10

At the end of last thread there was a bit of talk on prom dresses ( recommend Fonthill Rd in London if you can get there) by @proggymat and @crazycrofter

@TigerMum had a query regarding moving to foundation level at this stage.

Sorry peeps thread progressed without me noticing so none can reply to your queries!

@sansou and others, sorry been a busy few days.

Workbooks are good for listening and everything else.

I would also recommend past papers. AQA (assume it's that board) 2018 is here , 2019 one not about yet, exemplar we were sent in advance of first sitting is [[https://revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/french/french-gcse-past-papers/aqa-gcse-french-past-papers here]]

What I would do is this. Attempt the past paper. Use the mark scheme to mark it. Now try it using the transcript - this will show if it's an issue with the aural, native speaker, speed of speech, or with the vocab (if they still can't do it even with the transcript). Then use the mark scheme to see where the failings are. Look up any key unknown words.

Techniques for listening include using the two clips, make sure you try to find an answer first time and check second time. Use the time beforehand to look at what vocab you might need and jot down on the paper. Never ever miss out a question. Put a letter if multiple choice, if written, write something sensible. HTH

Glad clinic went well Silverhill and fingers firmly crossed for tomorrow. That’s really good she has managed a bit of revision and went and had a bit of fun.

GP tomorrow for DS to sort hayfever meds. I do have a kind of DIY GCSE timetable Proggy as got very fed up waiting, feel like I am waiting for everything at the moment and fed up with trying to be patient!

DD had her prom at the end of January after mocks so no distractions now of tracking down the right shoes or jewellery. Seemed mad at the time, but I am starting to see some sense in the timing after all.

Dd has mocks from 3rd March so busy revising here. She seems determined to get on with it and has set her sights a bit higher for her targets. She gets a treat most days ..usually related to food. We all went to Taco Bell tonight im usually a bit meh with it but was actually quite nice. She is focused and less anxious about the actual exams. I think that is down to the academic tutor we use ..someone external to help with revision planning mindset etc

Guilty as charged for Prom dress bought in the Factory Warehouse shop in London last October at under half price - was perfect ...she wanted emerald , lace, sparkle and fishtail and that was what we found with an illusion neckline , I think they call it. Hanging up at Nans before we take to get altered ...unlike me she is a little petite thing, good things come in small packages eh

well done to your daughter @Silverhill one step at a time is a good mantra she'll get there x

Lots of busy DC this half term. DD has had school most mornings this week and she wants to go on Saturday morn too. Decided not to go tomorrow or Friday as her dad can help with some things.

She's finding revision clocks extremely helpful and has spent all afternoon doing history ones.

Trying to do something fun every day as well as h/w and revision - mocks are straight after half term - and she seems to be coping okay so far. Her skin is still playing up as school was very full on leading up to half term so she was stressed and warding off a cold. Has had two days off this term already and she wasn't stressed about it like she would normally be as she really needed a break. Now half term is on her terms she seems to be doing better. Helps she's hanging out with friends and like a pp we get in her fave foods and snacks to make it a bit more bearable.

She wants a prom dress even though she can't make her prom as they made it really late in the day and so we booked a holiday not realising. Her school is all about the stick and no carrots at the mo as the new head is draconian. Gutted doesn't cut it but I can't justify a £££ dress so I'm hoping for a TKMax jobby or similar if anyone has any ideas. She'll go out for a meal with her besties at some point instead.

DD found something something she liked on ASOS for around £30 that was under heading of a Prom dress but a short one and not full on as she didn’t feel comfortable in a long one. It was very ‘her’ and I think she realised recently when moving and saw it that she could get a fair bit more wear from it.

Hayfever meds here, nasal spray to start soon, then back up tablets.

DD got her prom dress from TKMax so it’s definitely worth a look. Needs a little bit of altering but DM has volunteered.

Having said we would be at home half term for revision we booked a last minute 3 night break away which has done DD the world of good. She was ill about 10 days before half term but battled on at school as not wanting to miss out but is now all rejuvenated.

I’m in the micromanaging camp but DD happy for me to help. Great suggestions on this thread have resulted in a new revision scheduled being jointly prepared with detailed instructions and DD was then happy to plod through and do it.

Orange your DDs dress sounds fabulous! I tried to steer DD towards an emerald green, similar sounding gown but to no avail.
DD is really tall and willowy but the two dresses she (eventually) picked out both fit perfectly so no alterations needed and thankfully a decision was made today after one ‘darkening of’ a prom dress shop.
Anne if your DD isn’t attending prom - bloody wish mine had decided not to- I’d steer her toward something indulgent and special that can be worn again.
Lots of DCs are ‘slugging it out’ over half term but given DD sent homework to a teacher yesterday and got an immediate ‘thank you’ for this-let’s not forget the fabulous Yr11 teachers that are also ‘under the cosh’
to all Yr11 subject teachers.

Totally agree about the teachers

DD has a dark teal dress. She didn’t want a full on ball gown so she’s gone for one that’s knee length at the front, dipping down to floor skimming at the back. It looks young and fun and more importantly only £65!

Had a bit of unpleasant surprise yesterday to find DS has lost a few pounds he couldn’t afford to lose. His BMI now very low, I think stress of mocks and not knowing where he will be going to 6th form twkimhnhis toll and he forgets to eat so will have to keep close eye.

Not helped by culture if not eating lunch at school. Listening to some parents I am grateful he actually eats something. Think lunch time revision sessions will impact on that,

Oh, I hope he'll be OKpost. DS1 used to have eating problems until about year 9/10 . Then he started eating junk and , probably because he had a history of not eating at all, I turned a bit of a blind eye. Now , he is a bit overweight and really really unhealthy. It's tough being a mum....

Great, will have a look at Asos and in TKMax for sure. I think a dress she'll get more wear from is the way ahead. She has two wedding in June so can wear to them

Yes, yes to the wonderful teachers who have given up their time to help the students.

Post DD also on hayfever meds as we realised her cold was more likely early onset hayfever. She is also taking a spoonful on local honey too.

AnneofCleavage, what’s a revision clock? Sounds interesting.

Those that have done revision timetables, have you done one for the whole period between now and mid- May?
Anyone not made one/not intending to?
DD is very unpredictable when it comes to knowing how long something will take her to learn, so I’m reluctant to make a timetable she has no hope of sticking to - it’ll increase anxiety, not reduce it.
That said, I am concerned that she’ll run out of time if we don’t have at least some idea of the pace she needs to be revising at.

Lots of examples here:

www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk03llqC6syLOKHn9AXAM3lMFLHIyyQ:1582279124416&q=revision+clock+template&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4xZWJseLnAhV0QRUIHYedBXkQsAR6BAgKEAE&biw=1366&bih=651

Those of you who are blessed with teenage readers might want to encourage your DDs (not so sure DSs would like it) to read The Mercies if they are studying Macbeth. It's a highly readable novel about witch hunts and trails in the 17th century and mentions King James several times. It also highlights the horror of the superstition and the misogyny. It is excellent context for Macbeth (and a good read) and might highlight to teenagers that witchcraft was not just some silly, comic interlude in history. It has some grim reading in it, be warned.

It made me think about how Shakespeare sets his play in the past as if to say to James 'look at what happened in times when witches roamed free : see how you have now freed us poor men from the clutches of witchcraft?' I have always been fairly sure Shakespeare played to his audience rather than believing these thing himself but it should make them reevaluate how they think the witches should be performed/could be seen at the time. And they ought to gain a fuller understanding of the dark nastiness of the period.

Enjoying hearing about the prom preparations and dress purchase successes!

And to all of us for having to be mindful on our DC eating habits without entering a minefield. We have challenges too, and I agree with Post that their environment is not always conducive to healthy eating. Tbh, nor is today's work place (generalising here) where taking a lunch break, going for a walk etc can be frowned upon by some. Hoping a more progressive attitude comes back into play by the time our DC enter working life.

We're working on knowing where the food off button is, and not eating continuously due to boredom. And that sport alone doesn't offset huge volumes of junk, especially when you're off sports regularly with injuries!!

Ordered. Thank you Piggy

Thank you Piggy, ordered and I shall look forward to reading it after DS.

DS suffers quite badly from hayfever.

These things seemed to help last summer:

• Cetirizine morning and night (has GP's approval to have 2 tablets a day).
• Beconase morning and night.
• Sodium cromoglycate eye drops as needed.
• Change out of uniform as soon as he gets in from school, have shower, change into indoor-only clothes. Blazer stays in the alcove under the stairs and doesn't go in his room.
• Tumble dry his laundry (and hang his shirts to dry indoors) rather than line dry outside.

DD is having a meltdown. Says she just can’t take any more in. I’m trying to remind her to look at watch she’s achieved (mocks 977766554) but she’s not listening. Apparently they’ve had an email from teachers reminding them to revise this holiday. I’ve told her it’s not aimed at her but she can’t see that.

ealing could not agree more!
Also, in the work environment I can be guilty of being so wrapped up in something that by the time I’ve realised I haven’t nipped out to buy a sandwich it doesn’t seem worth it as it’s not that long to home time.
Post my DD has dropped a few pounds too and as she is tall like your DS it’s noticeable.
Thinking back to when she was in full blown revision mode for mocks she didn’t seem too fussed about what was on ‘the shopping list’. I’m making sure I stock up on things she enjoys and ‘easy eat’ nutritional foods for when she doesn’t want to leave the tip that is her study room,
also DD was going to do a revision plan but this week has been full on with homework and revision for end of topic tests and more mock papers.
She has three weeks off for Easter and then 3 weeks after the exams start. We had a discussion and she thinks she will most likely do a plan that’s starts one or two weeks before Easter.
piggy that looks an interesting book - I’ll show DD.

So sad to hear lilgreen, I hope you can manage to arrange some nice stuff for you all to take her mind off the studies. This week DD has realised how lucky she is with her school who told them to relax, where many of her pals at others are going in for daily lessons, weekend intervention work etc. This has definitely taken the pressure off us to ask for balance.

I just read Piggy's post to DD and that I had ordered her the book. She launched into an excited monologue on King James, Shakespeare and how clever he was to play to Jame's interest in witchcraft with care on the politics etc etc. I was taken aback - not that I didn't know she had an interest or was capable in english/history, but my worry was the depth and passion wasn't there. And nervous on how to manage her higher education ambitions, when all I seem to see is attitude, snapchat/social media obsession and a huge increase in going out.

I should really start to believe that they have many personas at this age, and that not all of them are negative, even if the worst are reserved for home.

Thanks @ealing. We’ve had a few days away visiting DD1 at uni. Ive suggested short bursts etc but she needs to rant I think.

lilgreen hope she is able to rest and relax this weekend without feeling guilty.