GCSE coursework - getting them to do it!

[Jopeg]

I am having a nightmare getting my DD to do her GCSE coursework. I have tried stopping her from going to extra school activities (she does a lot) but that has no affect, she keeps losing everything she needs to get the work done and seems not bothered.

The trouble is, I really don't think she is lazy and I think she cares, she revised for her French orals.

She is in trouble at school for being disruptive in lessons (nothing major but talking too much etc.) and is now on report. School keeps asking for my cooperation but I'm not sure what I can do.

She is very disorganised and has got it into her head she has ADD - maybe she has.

Suggestions - similar experiences anyone?

Make a list of all the coursework, with stages of completion for each and deadlines for each stage. PLan when each part will be done and make a timetable
i.e.
Englist essay on --
read book
first draft
revisions

make sure she has all the atationery she needs to organise everything such as an envelope folder or ppastic wallet for each subject. If she can't remember contact teachers and ask them to email you each time new coursework is set so you can help. If she is on report teachers can write on there exactly what needs to be done by next lesson.

Does she need help knowing where to start? Can you help her make a to do list for each piece so she has a structure to follow.

Pretty much did the first two paragraphs word for word, but then she'd fail to meet the deadlines because of things left at school or she would say she needed to talk to a teacher and then would forget to.

She does seem to not be able to get started or perhaps I should say going and I have only talked things through not written them down, so that is a thought.

She hates my interference, but I just can't understand why she is so resistant to doing it. It is almost like she is setting herself up to fail.

Is she in year 11 or year 10? Because I don't want to worry you but I have now had to hand over all my marked coursework for the marks to be submitted to the exam board.

She is in Yr 11 but don't worry I'm up to speed with what is going on! Only one piece left now for final draft, so if she didn't do it there would still be something to hand in.

That said one piece was handed in incomplete and another she didn't do the necessary improvements on...

She also has a piece of homework that needs doing in order for her to have all the necessary information for the exam.

Phew

So any ideas on how to get this last bit of coursework and homework done without resorting to an ineffective screaming match?

Just calmly and reasonably point out to her that there is no computer access, TV, MSNing, going out with her mates, (whatever is her passion) until she has completed the work.

Then tell her if it's not done by noon on Sunday her mobile will be confiscated as well.

This is really really late for yr11 c/w.

I would sit down with her on Sunday afternoon and help her work out a revision timetable that is reasonable and she will be able to stick to. Several exams are taking place in the next couple of weeks and the biggies (Maths, English, Science etc) start in about 2 weeks' time and finish in about 5!

Hi Jopeg,

You are not alone on c/w issues believe me. My son caused me and the school no end of problems - highly intelligent but just took the attitude that he knew it and he didn't really care what anyone else thought. We eventually (after a really hard battle and with huge school involvment) got him to hand in all coursework on time but a lot was not done to a decent standard. However, he pulled out all the stops in the exams and walked away with mostly A's B's and a couple of D's. Sorry I haven't got some magic potion that could be sprinkled on teenagers. They say youth is wasted on the young! I've had this same conversation with three other mums recently - and there I was a couple of years ago thinking I was the worst mother in the world and that the school must have thought I was totally unsupportive. Not so.

PrincessTippyToes, I think I read your saga on Mumsnet when I was looking for inspiration, thanks for your comments.

Roisin

Good suggestions but that approach hasn't worked so far, I stopped her from going to various things but to no avail.

She isn't too fussed about TV nor is she a mobile addict.

She is addicted to facebook, but she needs internet access to do a lot of the work, although probably not this last batch, she will need a computer though.

If she has shown no signs of doing it by tomorrow lunchtime I'll sit her down at the laptop that has no internet access and get her to work on that. If she comes up with excuses/refuses well I will have done all I can.

Are you talking about coursework for this year - which is due to be sent to the awarding bodies next week - or next year?

This year, but only one piece outstanding now! It has to be in on Monday.

Too late for much advice now, and coursework is disappearing in favour of doing it all in class time under supervision.

The way to handle it was to carve it up into small pieces and then have mini-deadlines when each piece has to be completed and handed-in months ahead of the final deadline.

Well the coursework got done with only one tantrum!

The homework has also been done very scrappily, but I will face one battle at a time.

Looks like she didn't hand it in...!!

She did hand it in, but it looks like it was her earlier version! I found the latest version in her blazer pocket. Teacher is going to compare the two copies, have to say if he had told me to get lost I couldn't really have argued.

She did hand in the wrong version, can you believe it! Just got updated version to the teacher in the nick of time.

Now to tackle getting the revision done, not easy, apparently I am 'smothering' her.

Her argument is also that I didn't give her big sister all this grief - true but we had no complaints about her...

(Name change) She got 5 As 5As a B and a C, one of the As was for the subject where she handed in the wrong version, sighs!!