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

3. 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!

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

5. 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

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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

13. 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

14. 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…

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Learning Log

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Message for Pupils

28. 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

29. 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