Parents Play A Part Assisting Your Child to Success At GCSE

1. Parents Play A PartAssisting Your Child to Success At GCSE • Eirias High School

2. TONIGHT’S PROGRAMME Elspeth Crombie A Parent’s Guide- Study Support Phil McTague Revision Support John Mullarkey Revision Strategies Ian Gerrard Introduction to the VI Form

3. A Parents’ Survival Guide Mrs Elspeth Crombie Deputy Head

4. What are GCSE exams? • GCSEs are exams that are taken by pupils usually in Year 11 • The exams are set by external examination boards who set the syllabus and methods of assessment • Some pupils maybe following a Vocational GCSE. They are of full equivalence to the traditional GCSE • The exam is usually made up of two parts – The formal exam and coursework • GCSEs are graded from A*- G. Failure to complete either section of the exam may result in an unclassified grade

5. Coursework

6. Coursework – For pupils • Coursework will be made up from a combination of taught lessons, fieldwork practical work and independent study. • Access to variety of sources e.g. in house materials, textbooks, library, internet, film and video can be used to support the coursework. • Tasks completed in class will support students. Homework may include writing / typing up. • Use will be made of mark schemes to enable students to assess their own work.

7. Coursework –For Parents • Coursework is an important component of all courses • Between 20% and 60% of the final grade can be gained from coursework marks • Show an interest in the tasks set and offer assistance by • Discussing your child’s approach to planning and meeting deadlines • Helping to locate necessary resources • Proof-reading draft materials • Checking Spelling Punctuation Grammar Readability Relevance

8. A Word About Plagiarism • Work submitted by pupils must be all their own work • Pupils know that they are not permitted to cut and paste/ directly copy work from books, the internet and other source • The consequences of pupils copying work is that they may be disqualified from their exam in that and other subjects set by the board

9. Preparing for the Exams

10. What can parents do? Provide support Avoid anxiety Talk to your child Show pupils how to get help Set targets Plan a revision programme together Build self confidence Reward progress and achievement (bribery does work) Contact the school for information or progress updates Keep an eye open for distractions!!

11. Distractionsfor boys!

12. Distractions for girls!

13. A parents guide – Study support Provide the environment for revision • A quiet comfortable room • Access to books and materials • Away from the TV and other distractions • Keep an eye on your child's social calendar • Working in a job outside school can be a distraction and it takes up time • A balanced diet –the burger and chips problem • Try to encourage exercise “All work and no play“

14. Most of all • Be patient and • Don’t nag!!!

15. How else to prepare? Look closely at the Annual Report (issued 16th January) and discuss it with your son/daughter. Make every effort to attend the Parents’ Evening on 30th January Ensure a high attendance rate to school is achieved (We aim for 95% as a minimum) Ensure attendance at the Grade Improvement Classes Identify + purchase revision guides (These may be offered at a reduced price in school) Reduce part-time employment hours

16. Mr Phil McTagueHeadteacher Using your Brain

17. Knowing teenagers is our job

19. The more you link the more you learn Jeannette Vos Learning Revolution

20. Brain Gym • Stand up and, by raising your knees alternately, touch each hand to the opposite knee • Do this ten times whenever stressed Recommended by educational kinesiologists to integrate both sides of the brain

21. Why did we do that? Oxygenate your brain Warm it up!

22. Reptilian-instincts Cortex-thinking Mammalian-emotions

23. Top-tips for Brain Power • Drink water whilst revising • Warm-up your brain • Workout for the brain - once a week - read a magazine/read a newspaper/watch a documentary

24. How to tell learning styles by the eyes • Eyes straight ahead or upwards • Generally a visual learner • Eyes move from side to side or down to his “offside” • Generally auditory learner • Eyes looking downwards and to the right • Generally a kinaesthetic learner

26. English Japanese Sound (spelling) one two three four five six seven eight nine ten ichi itchy ni knee san sun shi she go go roco rock shichi shi-chi hachi hat-chi kyu coo ju Jew

27. How to skim-read a book • First decide what information you are seeking • Then hold the book about 50cm away from your eyes: far enough to see the whole page • Run your index finger down the centre of the page, with your eyes looking just above your fingertip • Move the finger so fast that you do not have time to stop at each word and pronounce it to yourself.

28. REMEMBER TO….. • Reward progress and achievement • Be available and willing to listen • Say “DO” not “DON’T”

30. Revision Techniques Mr John Mullarkey Deputy Head

31. Learning by Heart Some things you just have to learn … Chemical Formulae, Historical dates, Spellings, Quotations etc. 1066 Hasting 1666 Fire of London 1815 Waterloo H2SO4 Na HCO3 Check you have learnt it by • Looking • Covering, • Writing and then • Checking Rote learning should be kept to a minimum Their There They’re Alas, Poor Yorrick! I knew him Horatio

32. Mnemonics or Memory Joggers All the better if you can set to music For remembering the colours of the rainbow Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain Brian’s Clouted Only If He’s Naughty (Less easy but all these elements have two atoms in its formula)

33. Crib Cards A range of different techniques can be used on crib cards Crib cards are postcard sized and can be used to condense a lot of information. Increasingly Post It notes are being used. These can be stuck up all around the house.

34. Notes and tables River Processes A Corrosion Chemical action caused by acid in water B Attrition Wearing down as stones rub against sides C Hydraulic Action The sheer force of water D Corrasion The force of stones hitting the banks E Deposition The dumping of carried material;

35. Weighing up an argument Advantages Wide range of outlets available Buy now, pay later Convenience of payment Security, no cash Perks e.g. Insurance, gift scheme Disadvantages Need a good credit record Interest charged after time allowed for repayment Minimum Age Usually 18 High interest rates Risk of fraud The pros and cons of using a credit card

36. Mind Maps

37. Links to the Sixth Form Mr Ian Gerrard Deputy Head

38. Welcome to the Sixth Form ..... At Eirias High School we offer: • An outstanding record of academic success • A wide range of courses - A level and AVCE • High quality pastoral care and guidance • Expert direction on the route to Higher Education

39. Remember ............... Sixth Form Opportunities Evening Wednesday 12th December 7.00 pm Offers an opportunity to discuss the courses on offer in the Sixth Form with subject teachers and students already on the course

40. Strategies for LearningParents Evening Eirias High School