GCSE’s What can a Parent/Carer do?

Acknowledgement GCSE’s What can a parent do? By Julie Casey M.Ed., C.Psychol.

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..? offers an A-Z of life with advice on issues that may worry your child with stress from the educational demands on them 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 free downloadable information and study guides for many areas useful for frameworks of essays and examples of work

Other sources of help for parents and a confidential helpline for parents on (a marked by teachers website)

General help

Your turn…. What are the common problems?

Solutions….. What works for your family?

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