How can you help support your daughter in GCSE English?

How can you help support your daughter in GCSE English? English Faculty

There are 30 schools days left until……… "Growing Our Global Learning Community for Girls & Young Women"

Your daughter’s GCSE English exam Tuesday 5th November 2013 "Growing Our Global Learning Community for Girls & Young Women"

Mock Exams • Will be in week beginning 14th October. • They will have their mock exam result back before October half term. "Growing Our Global Learning Community for Girls & Young Women"

Overview Understanding what has to be done Organisation and resources Place of work Praise and Trust

Understanding what has to be done • This exam is the AQA English Language exam, not IGCSE. • The exam is 2 ¼ hours long and will tests students reading comprehension skills, their ability to write about writers’ intentions and to write creatively. Accuracy of spelling , punctuation, grammar and paragraphing is also crucial to their success in this exam. • Students will be taught the skills for the exam during their lessons but will need to practise these skills over and over again.

Understanding what has to be done Students will have revision homework each week In addition to this, they should complete 2 hours per week of their own revision using BBC Bitesize, Samlearning and CGP revision guides for AQA English Language In total they should do 3 hours of English work per week at home

Understanding what has to be done • Encourage them to talk to you about what they find difficult – to you and their teacher. • Encourage them to attend the English revision sessions which will be held on Thursdays after school from 10th October and during half term. • There are two half term revision classes planned: Monday 28th October (Reading) and Tuesday 29th October (Writing). Students will be invited to these sessions. "Growing Our Global Learning Community for Girls & Young Women"

Organisation & Resources How organised is your daughter? • Create a revision timetable together • Have a calendar with all key dates on it. Talk each week about how time will be divided into work time and free time. • Check through vital equipment with your daughter on exam day: • 2 black pens, highlighter pen, water • Make sure there is enough time on the morning of the exam for a good breakfast

Place of work • Quiet • Without distractions – take away phones, computers and I pads etc unless supervised. Return these as a reward when their revision time is complete • Strip away some of the other responsibilities they have at home to help them focus on the main thing – their exams

Praise and Support • Support them during revision by providing healthy snacks and drinks • Plan in treats for their days off which will only happen once their revision time has been completed that week • Ensure they have time to relax and a good nights sleep (8 hours) -especially in the run up to the exams but also throughout the year to help them to cope with the pressures they will be under

Extra help • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/English/ • www.samlearning.co.uk • www.aqa.co.uk • CGP revision guides

GOOD LUCK and may your daughter succeed in these exams. "Growing Our Global Learning Community for Girls & Young Women"

How can you help support your daughter in GCSE English?