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GCSE’s. What can a Parent/Carer do?. Acknowledgement. GCSE’s What can a parent do? By Julie Casey M.Ed., C.Psychol. www.futurelinkpublishing.co.uk. Some parents think that their role could include some or all of the following…. Attendance Officer Partner with School (meetings, etc)
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GCSE’s What can a Parent/Carer do?
Acknowledgement GCSE’s What can a parent do? By Julie Casey M.Ed., C.Psychol. www.futurelinkpublishing.co.uk
Some parents think that their role could include some or all of the following… • Attendance Officer • Partner with School (meetings, etc) • Provider of tools • Banker • Study Buddy • Entertainments Officer – a balanced programme • Sounding board, adviser • Project Manager • Go-between • Information provider and interpreter
What could I do?Parent ideas for Attendance Officer • Being at every lesson really counts! • Each option subject has about 9.5 (8 hour) days • Each core subject has about 28 (8 hour) days
What could I do? Parent ideas for Provider, Banker & Partner • Attend all the meetings for information about your child’s progress so that you are informed and know what they know • Pay for activities that support their learning • Provide a toolbox of useful equipment and stationary
What could I do? Parent ideas for Study Buddy, entertainments officer and adviser • Be able to advise and discuss ways of completing work • Study with them where they will let you and talk through work • Ensure a balance between work and play to maintain their momentum and drive
What could I do? Parent ideas for Project Manager, Interpreter and Go-Between • Consider ways of improving your child’s workload • Interpret what pupils have been told by knowing date and times of deadlines, exams, controlled tests • Make representations to the School to help your child be understood if things go wrong
Have you heard these? • ‘my work’s on the computer at school’ • ‘I’m doing that with a friend and she’s got the book’ • ‘It doesn’t have to be in for ages- I’ve got loads of time’ • ‘We didn’t get homework’ • ‘I need to be in the library at school, I’ll do it tomorrow’ • ‘Mr X never gives us homework’
What could I do? Parent ideas for countering homework excuses…… • Keep track of excuses (they won’t be able to) and write them down with the date and the subject • Agree or suggest a solution • Follow it up! • Explain your concern to your child and say you will contact the school • Let your child save face as long as the work gets done
What could I do? Parent ideas on not working at target • Use the planner to find out when deadlines are and note them yourself • Contact the School • Keep revisiting the issue both with the child and the teacher until you are satisfied that the work is back on track • Encourage your child to talk about the specific issue. ‘I hate this subject/teacher’ is not enough of a clue
What could I do? Parent ideas on keeping positive • ‘All or nothing’ thinking is a symptom of this age. Discuss issues until they are specific • Accept that they feel the issues are real and try not to minimise them • Explain that their difficulties are soluble with support and temporary • Rewards are not ‘bribes’ and do not be afraid to use them!
What could I do when the going gets tough..? • www.bbc.co.uk offers an A-Z of life with advice on issues that may worry your child with stress from the educational demands on them • www.childline.org.uk/ offers tips and advice on beating exam stress, with online text and video clips
Madeley High Website • Dates • Examinations • Revision ideas • Subject information • This presentation • What the School is doing over and above lesson contact
Using other sources of help • www.sparknotes.com free downloadable information and study guides for many areas • www.essaybank.com useful for frameworks of essays and examples of work
Other sources of help for parents • www.connexions-direct.com/parentcarer • www.familylives.org.uk and a confidential helpline for parents on 0808 800 2222 • www.coursework.info (a marked by teachers website) • www.studentcentral.co.uk
General help • www.gcseguide.co.uk • www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize • www.gcse.com • www.hotcourses.com • www.s-cool.co.uk • www.edulinks.co.uk • www.schoolsnet.com
Your turn…. What are the common problems?
Solutions….. What works for your family?
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