Help with Chemistry

[maymummy22]

DD is about to go into Y11 and is struggling with chemistry - she says she just doesn’t get it so can spend time reading her notes, looking at the book, doing flash cards but it just doesn’t click and I think it’s becoming a self-perpetuating cycle where she doesn’t expect understand it and so her brain switches off from it. I’ve said I’ll try to help but I’m pretty sure we’ll end up arguing!

Could anyone recommend resources that have helped your DC, especially anything to help look at things in different way which could help her shine a light?

Chemistry is beautifully logical, BUT the core concepts are quite abstract and hard to wrap your brain around.

She shouldn’t feel bad for finding it hard. It is hard!

My favourite free resource is Seneca Learning. It breaks topics down into manageable ‘lessons’ with very easy quizzes interspersed.

She would do well to combine Seneca with maybe some of the revision videos on YouTube, but definitely with some practice questions - physics and maths tutor have past exam paper questions organised by topic.

Start at the very beginning again. Have a go at one sub topic at a time until she finds where it gets hard.

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/chemistry-revision/gcse-aqa/atomic-structure-and-periodic-table

A little regular work (10 mins per day) is better than nothing. It’ll take time to work through it so persistence is key. It’s worth starting NOW though.

Good luck, OP!

Thank you hedgewitch (great name) - that’s really helpful

Just wanted to pop in and say to her not to give up hope. I didn't "get" chemistry at all in Y10 and then the right teacher/right explanations made it all fall into place and I ended up becoming a chemistry teacher!
There's not much else I can add to the great advice above. If she's got specific things she's stuck on, the Khan academy videos on YouTube are quite good at breaking it all down.

Crash course chemistry on YouTube is also very good for explaining the basic principles. It's hosted by hank green who is very good at explaining things in a way that makes it a bit easier to get your head around

Ha! @PrincessAnne4Eva- same!

Cognito videos on YouTube are good at explaining in small chunks.

The organic chemistry tutor on YouTube is great. He does all chem not just organic chem.

And make sure you know how something works rather than just relying on memory of equations

Kayscience.com videos are great! We get all our students to use this website for revision.

Thanks everyone, lots to investigate. She laughed when I recounted the story of not getting it to chemistry teacher 😂

I would also recommend bill brysons book of absolutely everything. He discusses science in a really good way.

Just wanted to give you / your DD some encouragement, my DS really struggled with chemistry, don’t think he passed one mock/test ever. It was the weakest of all 3 sciences. He tried hard right at the end of year 11 and watched loads of Seneca videos and went through the exam board text book. It was combined science foundation and it was going to be a struggle for him to pass… and today he’s got his result : a double 4-4 !! Definitely make use of Seneca, and look out out for the school putting on any extra revision sessions / top up classes during year 11 . And sometimes they give out targeted revision guides, booklets etc that might help your DD focus on some key concepts.