Surviving GCSEs: a guide for parents

Transcription

1 Surviving GCSEs: a guide for parents

2 COPING WITH EXAM STRESS A PARENTS GUIDE E a e a e a ajo ause of st ess fo hild e a d pa e ts at this e of ea. He e a e so e ps o ho to ope. At e a e, a pa e ts a e aious a out ho u h thei hild e a e stud i g, hethe the a e looki g a e the sel es, a d hethe the ill get the esults the eed. So e pa e ts also fi d thei o diffi ult e o ies of e a s o s hool etu at this e a d ake it ha de to help thei hild e. BEFORE THEIR EXAMS It s al a s o th plai g ahead a d p epa i g as ell as ou a as a fa il. Aept that this is goi g to e a st essful e fo the hole fa il e pe t out u sts a d t to e ai al! T a d fi d out as ea l as possi le hat is e pe ted of ou hild, he thei e a s ill e a d he ou se o k eeds to e ha ded i. But e lea that a oidi g su je ts the fi d diffi ult ill ot e helpful i the lo g u. Eou age the to talk to ou if the a e eall oied that the ha et do e e ough o k eassu e the that if the do ot get thei e pe ted g ades, the e ill e othe oppo tu i es ahead a d the should just do thei est. Fi d out hat e isio te h i ues a e e oe d the s hool, hat e isio sessio s the a e p o idi g a d he k out o li e e isio sites too. If ou ha e a oes o ues o s, o ta t the s hool athe tha el i g o ou hild to do it all tea he s ha e e ail add esses hi h a e useful if th a e ha d to o ta t. TIPS DURING REVISION While the a e e isi g, hild e a e o e st essed, aious a d iita le a d a ha e t ou le ith eag a d sleepi g. But a fe si ple thi gs a eall help: T a d o k ith ou hild a d suppo t the athe tha poli i g the. Eou age ou hild to ha e egula eaks, to do so ethi g the e jo, e e if it s just half a hou off to liste to so e usi o to at h thei fa ou ite soap. Make su e the eat health s a ks egula l a d d i k e ough so the dot get deh d ated ou a al a s pop ou head i to see ho the a e doi g a d i g the a d i k. E eise is also a good a to ela, e e just a alk ou d the lo k. Child e ha e diffe e t a s of e isio so e a p efe to e alo e he eas othe o k est suou ded oise a d fa il. Respe t thei od lo ks a tee age s a e o e ale t du i g the ight a d this a e the est e fo the to e ise e e though it akes pa e ts aious!

3 WHEN IT S ALL OVER A e the e a s, the e a e feeli gs of elief, ut also st ess a d aiet if thi gs ha et go e ell. Feeli gs a at h up ith ou hild a e a sustai ed effo t of stud i g ha d, a d ou a eed to let the e fo a hile. A e a e a o ha d i, the ight ot a t to talk a out it iediatel so let the de ide. If the a e aious, eassu e the that the ha e do e thei est fo o a d a p o le s a e dealt ith i the futu e. T a d pla so ethi g i e fo he it s all o e e a d the fo ti g thei est, ho e e the feel it e t. GETTING FURTHER ADVICE If ou a e e oied a out ou hild a d feel that e a st ess is o ehel i g o has ade othe p e e isg issues o se, all the You gmi ds Pare ts Helpli e fo i foa o a d p ofessio al ad i e: f ee f o la dli es a d o iles We site add ess: h p://. ou g i ds.o g.uk/fo _pa e ts/pa e t_helpli e

4 Ho to ope ith stress: The est a to oat st ess is to e og ise a d deal ith it. It is pe fe tl oal to feel st ess o e e a i a o s it is a a e of fi di g the est st ategies to edu e it. St ess e o es a p o le he pa e ts a d hild e ha dle it dei g its p esee of doi g thi gs to ei foe it. Fo pa e ts, aki g a fa il joke of a hild s aie es o i posi g a eessi e e isio s hedule a e su e a s of i easi g the st ess u de. Fo stude ts, goi g to a pa t a d geg d u k has the sa e effe t! Pare ts Dot go o a out it. Bei g asked ho ou feel o e akes thi gs o se. T to e a liste e athe tha to gi e ad i e. It is oal to sa that ea h e a i a o pape as a total disaste, so dot joi the iuest! Be eou agi g. E e if ou hild has ee laz o e the past fe o ths, o it ot the e to i g it up. Dot o ga ise fa il isits a d da s out as e te tai i g dist ao s, eithe. Talk to tea he s if oue oied. A appa e tl st essed hild at ho e a e opi g ell at s hool a d i e e sa. E pe t a u p ide du i g the e isio pe iod. Slai g doo s, a gui g poi tlessl a d i g a e si ple safel al es a d ot a ause fo o. Ho e e, at h out fo the hild ho is ha i g eal diffi ult sleepi g o is e uiet a d ithd a, o the o e ho is appa e tl stud i g dilige tl ut eall doi g othi g op i g out the te t ook, fo e a ple. Wat h out fo side effe ts. The st ess of e a i a o s a easil i g uelated e o o al issues a d ph si al o plai ts to the su fa e. Stude ts Rela fo a hou a da at least liste to usi, at h tele isio o take e eise. Re ise ha d i slots of a hou o less ite athe tha ead a d take a i ute eak e ou self i et ee. Get egula sleep a d a oid too u h ju k food a d affei e offee, ola, a d tea. The est e isio is do e i the oi g. Dot i d ou self a d ou f ie ds up ith f e zied h pe a it. Stop plai g ou a e e a s paes a d holida.

5 Your health, your choices Beat s hool e a stress Tests a d e a s, iludi g GCSEs, a e a halle gi g part of s hool life for oth hildre a d pare ts. But there are a s to ease the stress.. Wat h out for e a stress Look out fo sig s of e a st ess. St essed hild e a e iita le, ot sleep ell, lose i te est i food, o a lot a d appea dep essed o egae. Heada hes a d sto a h pai s a also e st ess elated. Ha i g so eo e to talk to a out thei o k a help. Suppo t f o a pa e t, tuto o stud udd a help hild e ai thei oies a d keep thi gs i pe spe e. If ou feel ou hild is 't opi g, talk to tea he s at ou hild's s hool.. E sure our hild eats ell at e a e A alaed diet is ital fo ou hild's health a d a help the feel ell du i g e a pe iods. So e pa e ts fi d that too a high fat, high suga a d high affei e foods a d d i ks su h as ola, s eets, ho olate, u ge s a d hips ake thei hild e h pe a e, iita le a d ood.. Sleep helps e a perfor ae Good sleep ill i p o e ou hild's thi ki g a d oe t a o. Most tee age s eed et ee a d hou s' sleep a ight. Allo half a hou o so fo kids to i d do et ee stud i g, at hi g TV o usi g a o pute a d goi g to ed to help the get a good ight's sleep. C ai g all ight efo e a e a is usuall a ad idea. Sleep ill e efit ou hild fa o e tha hou s of pa i k last i ute stud.

6 . Be fle i le at e a e Fa il Li es ad ises pa e ts to e fle i le a ou d e a e. Whe ou hild is e isi g all da, do 't o a out household jo s that a e le u do e o ud ed oo s. Sta i g al ou self a help. Re ee, e a s do 't last fo e e.. Help our hild re ise Help ou hild e ise aki g su e the ha e so e he e o fo ta le to stud. Help the d a up a e isio s hedule o ask the s hool fo o e.. Dis uss a e a er es Re i d ou hild that feeli g eous is oal. Neous ess is a atu al eao to e a s. The ke is to put these ees to posie use. Bei g e i ded of hat the do k o a d the e the ha e put i to stud a help the feel o fide t.. Eourage e er ise at e a e Make su e ou kids a e a e. E eise a help oost e e g le els, lea the i d a d elie e st ess. Walki g, li g, s ii g, foot all a d dai g a e all effe e. Read fu a s fo tee age s to get fit. Get ad i e o ho o s a d gi ls a get sta ted ith dae fo fit ess.. Do 't add to e a pressure Suppo t g oup ChildLi e sa s that a of the hild e ho o ta t the feel that the g eatest p essu e at e a e o es f o thei fa il. "Keep thi gs i pe spe e," sa s Rosae Peae, a se io supeiso. "Liste to the, gi e suppo t a d a oid iis." Befo e the go i fo a test o e a, e eassu i g a d posie. Make su e the k o that faili g is 't the e d of the o ld a d the a e a le to take the e a agai if thi gs do 't go ell. A e ea h e a, eou age ou hild to talk it th ough ith ou. The o e o a d fo us o the e t test, athe tha d elli g o thi gs that a 't e ha ged.. Ha e treats a er e a s Whe the e a s a e o e, help eleate ith a t eat. These a e a eal eou age e t fo the e t e the ha e a test. Do 't use e a ds as i es. I stead, eou age the to o k fo thei o sa sfao, offe i g s all, f e ue t t eats. More i for a o Fo o e i foa o, ead the Mi d e site page o e a st ess: h p://. i d.o g.uk/i foa o suppo t/ ou sto ies/ a s to eat e a st ess/#.wmfpn_hdg

7 . Copi g ith re isio M hild has ee re isi g ethodi all for his GCSEs sie efore Easter. He s ade a re isio eta le a d opious otes for the eight su je ts he s stud i g, ut he s o o er hel ed the prospe t of tr i g to take it all i. Ho a I help hi to ake the re isio pro ess ore effe e? Ja e Flo sha as a se io tea he a d o o ks as a edu a o al o sulta t. I teie A a da Rope. You so eeds to dis l the i foa o he had leaed i to o e a agea le hu ks. He eeds to go th ough his otes a d edu e the i to topi a eas, a d the ke otes. These fo the pegs o hi h ou a ha g ou ide k o ledge. Wo ki g out ho to e ee these depe d upo hat t pe of leae ou a e: isual, audito o ki esthe. Visual leae s use floha ts, spide g a s, ha ts o e o i s. These take a la ge uat of i foa o a d the p ese t it i a si plified ut e o a le, fo. Put the up o the alls i ou ed oo to e o ise the. The e a e e isio aids o CD o fo audito leae s, ut it s also o th aki g ou o. As ell as liste i g to it, the p o ess of sele g the aae fo ou e isio CD ill help to fi ideas i to ou suo s ious. Ki esthe leae s lea est doi g. The e a t of ig do e isio otes is a fo of a e leai g, as is at hi g ideos. The BBC oad asts the Bitesize e isio se ies, hi h is e t e el useful ega dless of hi h fo of leai g suits ou. It s p odu ed ith GCSE e isio i i d, a d gi es a g eat deal of isual sulus that ill help to t igge e ee ed leai g. The sa e is t ue of usi g o pute soa e, su h as CD Ro s o i teet e isio sites. Ad i e to gi e our hild: Thi k a out the o te t i hi h ou fi st leat so ethi g: fo e a ple, isualise the s iee e pe i e t, the ethods ou used a d the esults e o ded.

8 P ase doi g ed past pape s a d get the a ked ith feed a k. To fi d out hat e a i e s a e looki g fo, dig out thei a ki g s he es. S hools also offe e isio lasses i GCSE su je ts. These ill e plai ho to get e tai g ades a d p o ide the oppo tu it to seek i di idual guidae. You ight eed so ethi g e plai ed agai o help to idef hat to e ise to get the highest a ks possi le. You a feel as if oue le s hool, ut ou tea he s ill s ll ie ou as thei stude t ul a e ou e a s. Pla ou e isio eta le to follo ou e a eta le. Spe d i utes e isi g, take a i ute eak, a d the test ou self o hat oue just leaed. Ask so eo e to test ou. You do a tuall lea o e tea hi g so eo e else. A good e isio p og ae should lea e ou e to ui d. Dot t to sleep st aight a e e isi g ou ai ill e too a e a d stop ou f o geg to sleep. Ne e a iediatel efo e a e a, it ill just ake ou aious a out all the thi gs ou dot k o. Make su e oue got e ethi g ead a d ha e a good eakfast. Gi e ou self ple t of e to get the e, ou aot pe fo at ou est if oue st essed efo e ou sta t.. E pert Ad i e Ho should ou help ou hild e du i g the e a pe iod? E pe ts gi e ad i e. Ro ert God er, Head of Wath o Dear Co prehe si e, Rotherha P o ide a al a d suppo e ei oe t at ho e: t to e the e fo ou hild, oth to p o ide p a al thi gs like food a d to help he the e s a e o o al isis e ause a pape as u e pe tedl ha d o a o ae has oke up. Dot offe a i e, these al ost al a s a kfi e a d lea e s oulde i g ese t e ts, o athi g that s o di o al o suess. But o ga isi g a e e t to look foa d to he it s all o e ; a e e i g out o eeke d a a, a e a good idea. A d ake su e ou e pe ta o s a e ealis a d e i ith ou hild s. Ve di t: Be the e. Joh Wildi g, Cog ie Pshologist spe ialisi g i stude t lear i g. Reseah sho s that e o is the ke to e a suess; it also sho s that st ategi leai g is u ial he it o es to e ee i g thi gs. So ou a help ou hild helpi g hi o he de ise a e isio st ateg. Eou age he to e o ga ised, to ha e a pla. This is e i po ta t, a d it s so ethi g ou eall a help ith, espe iall at es he the e oit of the task see s o ehel i g fo the ou g pe so. You ight ot u de sta d the details of thei o k, ut ou a help the pla it. A d dot pa i : it s e e too late. Ve di t: Help the pla. Daph e Metla d, other of t o hildre, a o aged a d a girl aged. Whe so did his e a s e all thought the e e so i po ta t, a d the a e, ut if it all goes o g the a al a s do the agai. No daughte is doi g he GCSEs a d this e I o e ela ed. I keep e i de he that she does k o he stuff, ut that if she fails it s ot the e d of the o ld.

9 Sta o ou hild s side: let the k o ou lo e ist o di o al. Gi e the food thell e jo a d do athi g ou a to gi e the a it of e t a lo e a a e. P ote t the : dot ha e the house full of f ie ds, a d dot e pe t the to put i a appea ae at fa il e e ts. Ve di t: Be o thei side. Mi helle Elliot, Dire tor of the hild safet harit, Kids ape M so has just go e th ough the US e ui ale t of A le els. I thi k the ost i po ta t thi g is to a k off: dot tell the to do the dishes o pi k thei lau d off the floo. You k o the flashpoi ts, so la off the e ause ou hild is al ead u de su h a lot of p essu e a d oue got to gi e a it. Dot e take i if the e a g all ool a d ouldt e othe ed: the do a e, the k o a lot depe ds o these e a s. Re i d the to take eaks, suggest the go out fo a alk. Gi e the lots of s all s a ks, a d let the sleep i he e e possi le. Ve di t: Ba k off.. Strategies for opi g E a i a o s are upo us, a d, alo g ith the, the pressure for stude ts to do ell. I so e respe ts, e a s are harder tha the ere i the past. Ji S eet a offers ou g people so e strategies for opi g. With the e a i a o seaso i full s i g, o e ou g people a e fi di g it ha d to ope ith the p essu e. C a ki g up, pa ula l at A le el, is u h o e oo tha a pa e ts ealise a d oe it has happe ed, it is diffi ult to t eat. I the o st ases, it is the p elude to adult e tal ill ess a d a lead to a e pted sui ide o e e death. Fo pa e ts, the e is a diffi ult li e to ead et ee seg e pe ta o s a d eou agi g a hild to o k to a ds halle gi g goals, as opposed to pla i g hild e i situa o s he e the aot ope o pug the u de ueaso a le p essu e at ho e.

10 A o t i uto fa to i a ases of st ess is the assu p o pa e ts a d elaes that e a i a o s used to ha de i thei da. The e is i i al e idee fo this poi t of ie, although a si th foe ill tell ou that the ha e hea d it e p essed ithi the last fe eeks. Cou se o k a d odula test a e hoked a out a a oppo tu it es ape f o the eal test i the e a i a o oo he, i p a e, the test ide a eas a d o e o te t tha does a sho t e a i a o pape. The a e also eighted uite ha shl so that, despite the o k iol ed, the o t i ute although o l a ou d o thi d of the fi al a ks. The a o al ui ulu a d s lla us egula o ea that the e is o o e to e o e ed i e a i a o s. Also, the elief that the ui ulu should e ooted i oepts athe tha i fa ts has spilled o e i to pu li e a i i g. Fo e a ple, Geog aph, Biolog a d Histo th ee of the ost popula hoi es at A le el e e all ased p edo i a tl o the e all of fa tual i foa o he todas pa e ts sat the i the s. Toda, the s lla uses i the th ee su je ts e ui e o k to e o e ed that ould ha e ee of deg ee sta da d the. Geog aph e ui es a g ou di g i Che ist, a d Histo e ui es a k o ledge of soues, t e ds a d sta ss. So the e a i a o s a e ge e all ha de. A othe fa to i eag st ess is the i a ilit to st u tu e stud. Stud pa es a e set e ea l i a hild s s hool a ee ut a e usuall ot taught i s hools. It is al ost i possi le to e ise fo a e a ithout otes ou ha e ade ou self, ut it is oo to fi d stude ts adi g th ough te t ooks o seahi g hopefull o the i teet i the da s leadi g up to thei fi st pape s.. Maki g the grade What e er pare t should k o a out re isio. Liz Ro erts ad ises o ho to help our hildre through these tesg es. Neous, te se, iita le, u a le to sleep? Youe p o a l got P e E a i a o Sd o e. Ma sig ifies the sta t of the ost st essful pe iod of the ea fo fa ilies hose hild e a e sig e a s, espe iall o that the e phasis o esults is so st o g. Although pa e ts ight feel i pote t fa ed ith a ola le tee age ta kli g a st i g of su je ts al ost ue og isa le fo thei o s hoolda s, Paul Hu ph e s, a hief e a i e fo A le el Psholog, i sists that the a help. Pa e ts should sho the a e o the hild s side, he sa s. it s u helpful to o e ea t a d e o e d a o ia. He e oe ds le di g a spathe ea, eassu i g the that ou ot diso the if the dot do as ell as e pe ted a d a oidi g addi g to the p essu e ith oe ts su h as: Youe got to get a A g ade, You siste sailed th ough he e a s o It ast like this i da.

11 P o ide a good ei oe t fo stud i g at ho e. If a sepa ate oo fo e isio is ot a aila le, ask the s hool if it a offe stud spa e efo e o a e s hool hou s, suggests Ma t Be, Deput Head of Wil i gto G aa s hool fo Bo s. Ca ou ha ge ou o ha its to help? So e houses a e do i ated tele isio, i eithe a ph si al o a ultu al a, Hu ph e s poi ts out. Be le ie t a out do es tasks a d offe t eats a d e a ds to eou age stud. Make su e oue got food i the house, iludi g thi gs ou hild pa ula l e jo s, sa s Ch is Willia s, Deput Head of Liol Ch ist s Hospital S hool. But dot foe the to go fo a health alk i the f esh ai e ause it s so ethi g ou d do ou self he adds. The e a e p a al a s of assisg stude ts ith e isio. Get a ig pie e of pape a d d a up a pla of ao ith ou hild. Feeli g i o t ol sol es % of p o le s, sa s Lau ee Ha ood, A le el E glish tuto a d edito of E auste s e isio tapes. But ake su e it s a hie a le, o it ill e de o alisi g. Ha ood ad ises eaki g do o k i to hu ks of less tha half a hou : Se e tee i utes is the ideal le gth of e to stud efo e ha i g a eak. e isio is u h o e effe e if it s a e, he sa s. The stude t should p o ess the i foa o i so e a, pe haps eate a i de. B a g o i foa o, ou ll e its aste. Ch is Willia s e oe ds that pa e ts e su e hild e ha e the s lla us fo ea h ou se, so that the k o e a tl hat the e supposed to o e. Sk ea h pa t o to a ds, ith a sepa ate seo fo ea h s lla us. Allo ate oughl e ual e isio e to ea h ele e t. Pa e ts a help tesg thei hild e, he adds: But e a eful ot to lose pa ee ith the. Eou age stude ts to ead ualit e spape s egula l, Be ad ises. The ualit of ig a d o a ula ill e a soed a d help thei o o k, a d it gi es a ide pe spe e o ue t affai s. Make the ost of pa e ts e e i gs, pa ula l to ask hat s ei g do e to offe a ee sei es a d ad ise. These a aise the e pe ta o s of hild e taki g e a s. O e the ha e a li ke ed pe spe e a out h the e doi g the. The e ot looki g at the o uit ith u i e sit o o k.