Entering GCSE years ...

[MrsChinamano]

|Hi wonderful mums,

I wanted to ask a couple of questions for some research I'm conducting. I'm not a mum but have been a teacher for eight years now. I want to know how best I can support and encourage students going into year 10 and what I can do to support and encourage their parents, like you!

I wondered how many of you struggle with motivating your teens as they go into GCSE years, especially during this time of home learning.

What do you want most for them?
What do you need solutions to?
What have you tried that doesn't/isn't working?

I hope you can all help me!

Thanks,

Mrs C xx

Best thing I’ve found (DD Y11) is a teacher who has the time to give great feedback and gap analysis.

If they don’t have time to feedback on all separately DD had one English teacher who would write a five page report on the whole class work and pick out a few best examples from the students, also a few that were grade boundary types and say what tweaks were needed to get to next level.

Balance positive with negative feedback.

Test regularly so it doesn’t become scary and provide gap analysis of weaker areas (more easy in subjects like maths) and links to resources to fill those gaps.

Be enthusiastic as a teacher, revel in the student knowledge and don’t make learning one way.

Reward engagement in class and don’t shut down discussion, debate or help amongst peers, yes there is a fine line between disruption and helpful dialogues - a skilled teacher can encourage the latter. Silent classrooms might as well be delivered remotely on Teams for ever.

What doesn’t work is

• dry subjects taught in dry ways, I.e regurgitating a text book, it gets nil respect from the students.
• only picking up on errors
• if a student is usually very capable and they have a singular off day but usually do very well demoting them a class on one test is not helpful or motivating, check in with them first, it is a fine balance between motivation and demotivation

Thank you @petswoodparadise for all your tips! Is there anything you can share with me as a parent that you've tried when motivating your own children that has or hasn't worked?
I'm wondering what common pains are that parents feel they experience with schools/teachers and wish they could have access to.
xx

I am a fairly hands off parent when it comes to school work and home work. I think that is how it should be for DCs who don’t have SNs shouldn’t need hand holding at this stage. The good habits should have been in place well before Y10. I more provide routine, structure, food, resources, emotional support. So as a parent I need to know when subject choices are taking place, know what doors may be closed or opened depending on choices so I can have good conversations with my Dd.

Saying that DD took more notice of students who were on the option evening stalls than me or the teachers, it was their enthusiasm for their subjects they were studying that was hugely helpful to DD in deciding.

One thing I’ve missed as a parent is understanding progress. This year as well the school refused to give predicted grades which made applying to other sixth forms a challenge. We ‘think’ DD is doing well, some of her mock grades were clearer than others. The five minute zoom parents evening was pretty hopeless as I am a stickler for time but other parents aren’t and I sometimes only got two minutes as others over ran, teachers need to be firmer or have the tech (or in person a bell) for when switchover is required. Five mins is really quite meaningless anyway, ten mins would be better but appreciate the logistics of that.

Yes, I hear parents say this a lot in my private work - they never really know how well their child is doing and want more regular feedback from teachers so they know where they are with assessments. As a parent what would it look like for you or mean if you could have more 1-2-1 time with a teacher or specialist?

Thanks so much, this is super helpful!

I wonder what other parents think too.