Practical Parental Strategies to Support Learning Mr J Frew Learning and Teaching

Where are we now? 11 weeks until written papers start Time for effective learning and revision to be taking place is NOW Parents – your role is vital!

Strategies The Study Environment Organisation Screentime Time-management ‘Good cop, bad cop’ Monitoring progress Examination requirements and technique

The Study Environment Effective study and revision requires correct environment Quiet and calm to facilitate concentration Depending on your family size/age – kitchen table, study, landing, bedroom Try to keep to limited number of places Music can benefit some but distracts others…also depends on nature of task. Low volume. School is running a ‘study club’ for Y12 The public library

The Study Environment Resources File paper Post-its Cards Highlighters Coloured pencils/pens B&M bargains, The Works, Poundland

Organisation Pupils need to be organised and you can support them in this Textbooks, files and resources in one place (study environment) Ensure exterior of files is in reasonable condition and the mechanisms work.

Organisation Do the notes look to be in a logical order and complete? Use file dividers and ‘tabs’ to help with this. Pupils should check with a classmate Teachers can help check your files and notes Help your son/daughter to draw up a revision timetable and set realistic targets

Time management Revision time table Manage extra-curricular and social activities Plan ahead. Look at their examination timetable well in advance – where are the ‘pressure points’ and the ‘gaps’ Manage the work/break ratios

Good Cop Support your children Encourage them Talk to them Listen to them Stay calm Be consistent Patient but firm – the work needs to be done

Bad Cop The work has to be done They do need to ‘put in the hours’ Don’t be fooled Ask the difficult questions Curfews and sanctions may be needed Keep your expectations high Which leads us to…

Phones/tablets/social media MUST be limited Screentime Phones/tablets/social media MUST be limited

Screen time Set up Apple ‘Family Sharing’ – allows you to limit screen time for specific apps Many broadband providers now enable you to switch off Wi-Fi at certain times Phones and devices should be in another room under your control

Monitoring Progress How do you know they are working effectively? Mind-maps/Spider diagrams Scientific/geographical diagrams/labels Notes – highlighted Postcards – key words/terms - definitions Completed past paper questions Write Questions/Revise/Ask them Completing online listening tests - MFL

Learning Log

Post-Its Use these to note down key points or questions you have Are also good for sequencing activities etc

Know the ‘Success Criteria’ Success Criteria provide guidance as to what students need to do to achieve in a task or subject area At GCSE the success criteria are often linked to the techniques which need to be used in Controlled Assessment and examinations

Examination requirements and technique Try to become as familiar as possible with what is expected of the pupils in each subject Guidance booklet produced by departments Look through & practice sample exam questions (eg. CCEA website) Read through and use mark schemes to plan revision http://ccea.org.uk/

Message for Pupils

Are struggling to get started? If you are…. You do need to find ways to motivate yourself Parents, teachers and friends are all important but the most effective motivation will come from yourselves Set yourself clear and achievable targets – be specific about what you want to achieve at the end of 30 minutes revision

Hard work will bring success – talent and natural ability are only a small part of story “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” Thomas Edison after 10,000 attempts to create the light bulb