Navigating GCSE Exams in 2024: A Parent’s Guide to Success

Parents, as your child prepares on the journey of GCSE exams in 2024, you may find yourself navigating unfamiliar territory. We’re here to guide you through by providing actionable strategies to support your child’s success.

1. Understanding the GCSE Landscape: GCSE exams are a significant milestone in every student’s academic journey, serving as a gateway to future opportunities. Begin by familiarising yourself with the exam format, subjects covered, and key dates. This foundational knowledge will help you support your child effectively.
2. Establish Clear Goals: Set clear and achievable goals with your child for their GCSE exams. Encourage them to identify subjects they excel in and areas that may require additional focus. By establishing goals together, you empower your child to take ownership of their learning journey.
3. Foster Effective Study Habits: Help your child cultivate effective study habits tailored to their individual learning style. Encourage them to create a study schedule that allows for regular breaks and incorporates varied study techniques such as active recall, summarisation, and practice questions.
4. Provide Emotional Support: Navigating GCSE exams can be stressful for students, so it’s crucial to provide them with emotional support and encouragement. Be a source of positivity, offering reassurance and perspective during challenging times. Your unwavering belief in their abilities will bolster their confidence and resilience.
5. Utilise External Resources: Explore external resources such as tutoring services, online study platforms, and educational materials to supplement your child’s learning. These resources can provide additional support in areas where your child may need extra help and offer fresh perspectives on challenging topics.
6. Practice Self-Care: Encourage your child to prioritise self-care throughout the exam period. Ensure they get adequate sleep, eat healthily, and engage in activities they enjoy to maintain a balanced lifestyle. A well-rested and rejuvenated mind is better equipped to tackle academic challenges.

Conclusion: As your child prepares for GCSE exams in 2024, embrace the StudyBox method to guide them towards success. By understanding the landscape, setting clear goals, fostering effective study habits, providing emotional support, utilising external resources, and practicing self-care, you empower your child to excel academically and beyond. Together, let’s embark on this journey with confidence and determination.

 

To book a free trial click HERE

Mastering the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test: A Parent’s Guide

Mastering the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test: A Parent’s Guide

Welcome, parents, to the journey of preparing your child for the selective eligibility test in Sutton. As you embark on this endeavor, it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. But fear not, for we’re here to guide you through this process using the proven StudyBox method, ensuring clarity and actionable steps to set your child up for success.

1. Understanding the Test: The first step in any journey is understanding the terrain. The selective eligibility test in Sutton assesses a child’s academic abilities across various subjects. It’s essential to familiarise yourself with the test format, subjects covered, and scoring criteria. This clarity will help you chart a strategic preparation plan.
2. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Every child is unique, possessing their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Take the time to identify these areas early on. Encourage your child to excel in subjects they’re naturally inclined towards while providing extra support in areas that need improvement.
3. Consistent Practice: Practice makes perfect, and consistent practice is key to mastering any test. Incorporate regular study sessions into your child’s routine, focusing on both content review and timed practice tests. This approach not only reinforces learning but also builds confidence and test-taking stamina.
4. Encourage a Growth Mindset: Instill in your child the belief that intelligence is not fixed but can be developed through dedication and effort. Emphasise the value of perseverance, resilience, and learning from mistakes. A growth mindset fosters a positive attitude towards challenges and fuels continuous improvement.
5. Create a Supportive Environment: As a parent, your support and encouragement play a pivotal role in your child’s journey. Create a nurturing environment that celebrates progress, acknowledges effort, and provides emotional support during setbacks. Your belief in their abilities will inspire them to strive for excellence.

Conclusion: Preparing for the selective eligibility test in Sutton is a journey that requires diligence, patience, and unwavering support. By leveraging the StudyBox method and implementing these tips, you can empower your child to face the test with confidence and achieve their full potential. Together, let’s pave the way for their success and future academic endeavors.

 

For a free trial click here: Free trial

Kids coding lessons

The Importance of Making Coding Fun for Children

As technology continues to advance and play a larger role in our daily lives, it’s becoming increasingly important for children to learn the basics of coding. This not only helps them understand how technology works, but it also opens up a world of possibilities for their future careers. However, if coding is taught in a boring or unengaging way, children are unlikely to stick with it or see its value. That’s why it’s so important to make coding fun and enjoyable for children.

The benefits of learning to code are numerous. For starters, coding helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They learn to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and then work through them step by step. This type of thinking is not only useful for coding, but it’s also applicable to many other areas of life.

Coding also provides children with a sense of accomplishment. When they write a line of code and see it come to life, they experience a rush of pride and satisfaction. This can help build their confidence and self-esteem, which can have a positive impact on their overall well-being.

Moreover, coding is an in-demand skill in the workforce. Many industries are in need of individuals with coding skills, from software development to finance and beyond. By learning coding, children are setting themselves up for a wealth of career opportunities in the future.

So, how can we make coding fun and enjoyable for children? One approach is to use educational games and apps that teach coding concepts through play. These tools can make coding seem less like work and more like a fun, interactive experience. For example, games like “Scratch” and “Code.org” introduce children to the basics of coding through interactive projects that they can work on at their own pace.

Another approach is to encourage children to work on their own coding projects. This could be as simple as helping them create a website or build a game. When children have the freedom to create their own projects, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated. Plus, they can see the results of their hard work right away, which can be incredibly satisfying.

It’s also important to make coding accessible to children, regardless of their background or experience level. This means using language and examples that are easy to understand, and breaking down complex concepts into smaller, manageable parts. Additionally, it’s important to encourage children to ask questions and provide support when they need it.

Finally, it’s important to celebrate the successes and achievements of children who are learning to code. This can include things like showcasing their projects in class or online, or recognizing their accomplishments with awards or certificates. When children feel like their hard work is being appreciated, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged.

In conclusion, making coding fun and enjoyable for children is essential to ensuring that they see its value and continue to learn. By using educational games, encouraging independent projects, making coding accessible, and celebrating successes, we can create a supportive and engaging environment for children to learn and grow as coders. So, let’s make coding a fun and enjoyable experience for the next generation of technology leaders!

To sign up for classes at StudyBox, please visit https://studybox.london/kids-coding/

 

Preparing for GCSE exams can be a stressful time for school students

F sit viot ntrial whua free r FoPreparing for GCSE exams

3 top tips to prevent procrastination

ween WhWe are all guilty of procrastinating from time to time, it’s in our nature. But children can be especially prone to procrastination, sometimes without being aware of it. There are many reasons why we procrastinate. It could be because the task we are completing is tricky or because we aren’t engaged in what we are doing.

In order to stop your child from getting distracted when completing homework or revision, first you must try to address the reason why it is happening.

Try these 3 top tips to prevent procrastination:

Create a learning environment

By dedicating a space for learning, your child will associate this place with being productive.

This can involve removing all electronics that won’t be useful for the task that they are doing, i.e. tablets and smartphones. By doing so, you eliminate distraction and your child can get their work done quicker.

Ensure they have everything they need in their learning space, so they don’t have to get up often and procrastinate. This includes stationary, a computer, textbooks, a notepad, and so on.

It will help if this space is quiet, so a desk in a room to themselves would be beneficial, so the noise isn’t disrupting.

Set a time for completing work

To ensure your child is fully productive, set a realistic time limit for them to complete their work.

By putting this slight pressure on them, they won’t take hours and distract themselves or make the task longer than it needs to be.

You can check up on your child during the time set and see how they are getting on with their work.

By setting a time for work it helps to establish a productive routine. It is also good practice for when children sit tests at school and have a time limit to complete it.

Create a list of priorities

Sometimes it can be overwhelming when there are a lot of tasks to complete at once.

By creating a list with your child, they can visualise what needs to be done and check off each task once complete.

Write the list of tasks in order of importance, so the most important one is completed first. Once this has been done, your child can make their way through the tasks until they are complete.

World Teachers’ Day

The 5^th October 2020 is World Teachers’ Day. Today celebrates the importance of teachers across the globe and recognises their hard work.

 

What is World Teachers’ Day?

The annual day of teacher recognition first started by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1994. This year’s theme is “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future.” This is because the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on education systems worldwide. It has added to the responsibilities that teachers face on a daily basis. They have had to adapt to remote learning, support vulnerable students, work in the classroom during the pandemic and ensure students aren’t falling behind in their education.

The importance of teachers

Teachers are an influential role model in many lives. I’m sure every one of us has had a favourite teacher who has positively impacted their learning in some way or another. Whether it’s teaching a challenging concept, sharing their passion for a subject, or simply being there for their students, take today to reflect on the importance of teachers.

How to celebrate

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated this year with a week of virtual events which will finish on the 12^th October. You can celebrate remotely by watching the events online, as well as reminiscing about your favourite teachers!

How do children develop thinking and learning skills?

Children learn through doing and playing, which builds their brain

development.

These connections are called neutral pathways. This is why

it’s important for children to repeat what they learn. This way the neutral

pathways become stronger. So, how do children develop thinking and

learning skills?

Children are constantly learning new skills at their own pace. They go

through different stages of development. Once children learn the basics of

one area, it is easier for them to expand on that area, building upon their

knowledge.

 

How children develop thinking and learning skills:

 

Processing information

There is certainly no one-size-fits-all with learning. This is why it is useful

to teach children in different ways. Some may be auditory learners, who

learn best when there is music playing or background noise. While others

may learn by doing, remembering more through a hands-on approach.

Teaching children that there are different methods of processing

information will help each individual to grasp it in their own way.

 

Thinking skills

Encourage your child to be curious and explore new ways of thinking. Try

to ask them how they reached a certain conclusion by asking “why?”

Similarly, get your child to go beyond “what?” and instead question

“why?” and “how?” This will open up a new discussion and let them

actively think about what they are asking. It is also worth teaching your

child that it is okay to agree and disagree with things. If they don’t

understand or support someone’s statement, let them know that they can

ask more about it. Then they can form their own opinion on the subject

and provide a reason for thinking this way.

 

Problem solving

Thinking critically about information and scenarios children are presented

with will help them come to their own conclusions. This way of thinking

requires a lot of thought and analysis. It will encourage children to think

for themselves and challenge things more.

5 essential life skills to teach your child

In order to help your child constantly learn and grow, it is important to teach them life skills from a young age. There are 5 essential life skills to teach your child that are particularly useful for them to learn.

 

Starting to learn those all important life skills early on will strengthen their mindset and help to become more resilient. Learning executive function skills will benefit your child in education and in their everyday life.  

 

Here are 5 essential life skills to teach your child:

 

Focus and self-control

Learning how to focus will help your child to achieve their goals. Self-control is about teaching your child to stay disciplined. This is particularly useful to practice when revising and completing homework. It will allow your child to complete the task they are set without distraction or procrastinating. 

Perspective taking

Perspective taking is about seeing other people’s viewpoints and understanding how others think and feel. It is an important life skill because it allows your child to see beyond their own thoughts and feelings, helping them to become more openminded. 

Communication

Being and effective communicator is a highly important life skill. It helps the way your child expresses themselves, improves their social skills and benefits academia. Communication will come in handy later in life for interviews, essay writing and public speaking. 

Critical thinking

This skill teaches children to think for logically for themselves. By teaching your child how to think, encourage them to go beyond asking “what? and encourage them to ask “how?” and “why?” It will  open up a new discussion and widen their understanding. 

Taking on new challenges

In order to constantly learn and improve, children should try to push themselves by taking on new challenges. This could be picking up a new hobby, trying a new skill or stepping outside their comfort zone every now and again. As a parent, you can introduce them to new things and let them know what’s out there to try. 

How are GCSEs being evaluated this year?

Students across the country will receive their GCSE results on Thursday 20^th August 2020. Although what makes this year’s results different to previous years is the way they are being graded. So this poses the all-important question, how are GCSEs being evaluated this year?

 

Students are currently awaiting grades from exams they were unable to sit due to the coronavirus. Instead, GCSE exam grades will be assessed based on teacher’s predictions. These predictions are then fairly moderated by the exam board.

 

What happens now?

 

Usually, students will go into school on results day to collect an envelope of their grades. However, because of social distancing, as a general rule they will receive results online. This will be either via an online portal or email. Students are unable to discuss grades with friends and say their farewells to teachers this year, unfortunately.

 

How are the GCSE results assessed?

 

After the decision was made by Ofqual in May to cancel exams, schools were told to ask teachers to assess their students on their previous academic progress. This includes mock exams, assignments and homework.

 

40 per cent of results are expected to be downgraded due to the algorithms predicting students’ grades.

 

What if I’m not happy with my results?

 

Students can ask their school if they have made an error when finalising and submitting their grades. If this has happened, students can appeal to the exam board. They will not be able to individually appeal their results to the exam board, however. If students are unhappy with their results, they may take their GCSE exams between the 2^nd and 23^rd November.

Easy ways to build children’s vocabulary

Helping your child to build their vocabulary is beneficial for a number of reasons. It improves communication, helps with pronunciation and with self-expression. There are many easy ways to build children’s vocabulary in order to help them succeed in school.

 

Encourage using a dictionary and thesaurus

 

Having a dictionary and thesaurus to hand will encourage your child to look up spellings and synonyms whenever they please. If they are stuck on a particular spelling or wish to know a word definition, you can encourage them to check for themselves in the dictionary. If your child wishes to expand their vocabulary or try creative writing, go through a thesaurus together and learn new words.

 

Understanding the types of vocabulary

 

There are four types of vocabulary:

1. Listening

Hearing and understanding different words.

 

2. Speaking

Words we use in our vocabulary when we communicate.

 

3. Reading

Words we recognise and understand when we read.

 

4. Writing

Words we use when we write.

 

Typically, a younger child’s spoken vocabulary is larger than their writing and reading vocabulary. As the child becomes older and can read confidently, their vocabulary grows in all four areas.

 

 

The two main methods of vocabulary development

 

There are two ways children develop their vocabulary:

 

Indirect methods

 

Most vocabulary is developed in this way.

It involves:

• Everyday conversation and speaking to other people to improve fluency with spoken English.
• Reading for pleasure. This improves vocabulary and it helps with putting words into context.
• Watching movies and listening to music. This will expand vocabulary and help with pronunciation.

 

Direct methods

 

This approach involves active learning to improve vocabulary, such as:

• Learning the formal vocabulary curriculum. This is usually taught as part of the school syllabus through learning rules of English.
• Word analysis. This is the breakdown of words to understand how words are formed and how they sound.
• Learning roots, suffixes and prefixes. Word roots help children to understand where words originate from. Suffixes are the end of a word and follow a pattern, for example ‘-ing’ or ‘-ed.’ Prefixes come before the word, like ‘un-’ and ‘dis-‘ to change the word meaning.