Welcome to Castle School Parents for Learning Evening March 2011

1. Welcome to Castle SchoolParents for Learning EveningMarch 2011

3. The Current Situation • GCSEs are imminent! • Much of this will affirm what you already know • The most important person is your child • Them, you and us … we’re all in this together!

4. What can you do? • Be realistic – not only in your expectations of your child, but also in the fact that GCSEs are important, and life still goes on • It’s important that you encourage without too much pressure. Your child should be happy. Too much stress will cause failure • Be interested in YOUR child’sprogress and praisesuccess! • DON’T PANIC! You are not alone. Contact school and talk to us • Avoid offering bribes or presents conditional on high grades. It’s better to encourage them to work for their own satisfaction • Encourage the rest of the family to be considerate

5. Health Tips • Exams and Revision are hard work! • The right FUEL : plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Bananas are brilliant for brains! • Avoid caffeine, it makes stress worse and it dehydrates their brains, just drink LOTS of water it re-hydrates the brain and makes it work better. • Regular exercise • A good night’s sleep

6. Creating the right environment • Quiet, comfortable, work environment • It is their environment so music is OK and so is standing on their head if it works! • Provide them with things they need to organise themselves; box files, folders, paper, highlighters, coloured pens, Post-its, access to computers/ internet for revision

7. During exams • Make sure they have a good night’s sleep • Ensure they have all the equipment they need – pens, pencils, rubber, ruler, sometimes a calculator and a protractor • Find out where and when their exams are • Wish them well and tell them they worked hard and that they can only do their best • Avoid post mortems! • We are here to help! BEFORE, DURING and AFTER!

8. Be prepared! • Mood swings • Conflict • Don't forget your teenager still needs you and, underneath it all, cares about your opinions. If you understand and accept that some conflict is inevitable, you'll be better prepared for it EXAM STRESS!!!!

10. Time Management Revision Timetable

11. THE BIG CONVERSATION

12. The Big Conversation Booked time Call it a ‘meeting’ Make an agenda Formality (even if fake) Pin to kitchen board/door? Take as much emotion OUT as you can by creating some distance Don’t let your irritability show This family member is No1 for this period of time (without too much pressure) All in this together: really will help! Try

13. Time Management: Background…… Socialising Sport/exercise Watching television / DVDs / computer games / on computer Paid work Get into balance with school work Only a short period of time Think about

14. Planning for revision Each subject what books/textbooks do I need? have I got them? do I need to catch up on any bits? coursework: is it done? nearly there? deadlines? organise notes: sort (or put in a file) any reading to do……? introduce idea of timetable……

15. The timetable idea…… Makes everyone feel better Makes your child (and you) feel efficient and organised Gives a place to start Basics

16. Learning is best at the beginning/end of each revision session Maximum concentration time is around 40 minutes Targets for each session, then a stop/reward Positive non-revision time Remember

17. Think in terms of…… 3 possible sessions a day In any non-school days, your child doing 2 sessions A ‘session’ is 2 hours (made up of 2 blocks of 40 – 45 minutes + 15 mins breather) Is your child a lark or an owl……?

18. Remember, too,Important blocks of revision time… Easter Spring 2 week ‘holiday’ Summer Whit ‘half term’ Exams start 16th May Exams finish 27th June

19. Don’t worry too much about…… What the timetable looks like The exact length of revisions slots

20. Y11 Students’ Revision Timetable 2

21. Y11 Students’ Revision Timetable 2

22. Y11 Students’ Revision Timetable 4

23. Individualise it – suit to taste…Alternative Timetable Shape - Footnote!

24. Revision Techniques

25. What revision isn’t • You have agreed the timetable – keep talking! • Just reading isn’t enough • Many students ‘revise’ by copying out their class notes or pages of school textbooks. This is not only a dull and slow way of studying but also highly ineffective – it is possible to copy out a whole book and still know little or nothing about what you have written. Instead, GCSE students need to find ways of taking notes that require them to analyse and actively think about topics that they are revising. • Revision needs to be active • Get them to explain… more talking!

26. Pages of notes or text can be daunting Selecting key ideas is essential Highlighter pens Use colours to denote dates, key words, names etc. Text Marking

27. Posters • Summarise key ideas and facts • Visual • Colours and symbols help • Explain them • Display them – wall, ceiling, next to the bathroom mirror • Examples – Science concepts, Maths equations, English character notes

28. Summary of information Key ideas, words, quotations Use both sides Colour code Making Explain Use to test Cards

29. Diagrams • Any method of transforming text into another format • The act of organising or placing facts/words helps ensure understanding • Explain • Colours and symbols • Display – visual • Examples

30. Diagrams

33. Mind Maps

34. Mind Maps • Another type of diagram • Individual • Again, explaining is key • Again, visual • Again, colour and symbols work • Many uses – making, explaining, recreating, displaying, planning

37. Whatever works! • Engaging • Fun • Memorable

38. Interactive Talk Sharing resources Sharing anxieties Social YOU Teachers Study Buddy

39. Using your child’s natural life support system Recording voice Downloads / CDs Music Texting, MSN? Using what they know and like …. ICT Music and Voice

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