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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

How do you support your stressed Y11s?

4 replies

noblegiraffe · 12/02/2015 14:55

I don't know whether I've got a particularly nervy group this year or whether it's because they're a top set with a lot of expectations on them, but I've had a few in tears lately and a couple of others missing school/lessons because they're overwhelmed. It's not even Easter yet and I suspect things are only going to get worse. Their exam timetables are incredibly packed thanks to the new linear exams and I feel really sorry for them.

I haven't taught Y11 for a while due to the timetable and maternity leaves but I don't remember it being this bad with my previous classes. How are your Y11s coping and what things do you to do to try to help them while still keeping up the pace until exams?

OP posts:
Callooh · 14/02/2015 15:05

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phlebasconsidered · 14/02/2015 18:47

I am primary now, but used to be secondary History. I found the best support was to demystify the exam questions and really really thoroughly prepare them for the types of question, the type of answer and so on. I would do quick starters asking them to identify the question, how many points, main arugment and so on, untile they were confident about what would face them. Sounds trite, but familiarity with the papers helps enormously.

Quizzes, fun games, revision fun activities. Timetables of what you will be covering and when, revision sheets prior to the lesson to help them come into it empowered already.

And lastly, lots and lots of you saying positive things, and empathising without making too big a thing of it. We all know that GCSE results are not the end indicator of potential. I sometimes had to accept a student "backing off" in my subject to get the maths or whatever, and that is fine. Reassure them.

I found lots of peer marking helped too, as well as them marking their own test questions with the actual markscheme.

I had an open door policy for weeping, a chill out corner and every now and then would just go "Blow it! Let's boogie!" and put some music on for 5 minutes.

I am now using all these tactics with my Year 6's, which just breaks my heart. At 11!

SignoraLiviaBurlando · 14/02/2015 19:36

phlebasconsidered what great ideas!
My Dc are at a fantastic school, and what I have noticed as a parent is the difference in the way they are prepared compared to the total lack of preparation when I was at school, but the flipside is that where we weren't stressed at all (blissful ignorance), our DC are so much more stressed.
DC school gives them control by precisely those things - demystifying by decoding the questions, making sure they understand and can apply the mark-scheme to peer work, and giving them full understanding of the timetable and revision plan so that they are reassured that everything will covered in a timely way.

Katnisnevergreen · 15/02/2015 16:42

Cake! Lots of cake Grin

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