Page 4 - The Regent Digest Volume 12 Issue 38

From The Principal’s Desk
Robert Franklin
Principal
Dear Parents,
e have come to the end of the
week before the start of the End
Wof Term Examinations. Next week
all lessons are suspended and students
will be busy writing their examinations. I
thought this would be a good time to give
parents some advice about helping their
son/daughter to revise.
Why do we need to revise?
It is impossible to retain all the information
necessary to be successful in an examina-
tion without revising the content and skills
needed in each subject.
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
From The Principal’s Desk
However, sometimes the planning process is • Make a mind map to see how the ideas
misunderstood. A plan is not a strait-jacket that and knowledge fit together
Next week all lessons you need to slavishly follow. A revision plan is your • Use flashcards to help remember key in-
child’s way of organising his/her time over a long
formation
are suspended and period and coordinating this revision with other • Put revision resources e.g., cards and
important events e.g., revision classes and ex-
sheets up on the walls at home
students will be busy ams so that everything is done at the right time. • Get someone else to test you
writing their When Revising: • Explain key ideas to someone who hasn’t
studied the topic so they understand it
examinations. Students should: • Makeup memory aides e.g., mnemonics,
etc.
• Plan to revise specific topics in each subject,
• Do short tests and practice using past
not everything at once.
exam papers
• Break the material into chunks.
• Use the mark schemes from exam papers
• Many students think revising is simply reading to give you feedback on the details of the
The Right Mental Attitude:
notes or a text book see the pyramid diagram!
right answers.
Your child needs the right mental attitude to
Only reading the textbook is not a good revi-
be successful at revision. Some things to re- sion!
member are: Further Tips:
• Break the 40 – 45 mins up into revision activity Some basic tips to ensure that your son/
• They need to believe that revision will
(30 mins) and testing what you have learned
daughter revises well: -
make a difference (it will!).
(10 – 15 mins).
• Show an interest in what they are doing –
• They need to believe they can be suc- • Checking your work correctly gives you FEED- you don’t need to understand it!
cessful.
BACK and feedback is another key factor for
• Support your child with revision
• They must start somewhere and get success.
Make sure your son/daughter gets
started. • Revise for short periods e.g., 40 - 45 mins with
enough sleep, especially the night before
• They need encouragement to keep go- a 5–10-minute break.
exams.
ing even if it seems hard. • Stay focused, hours can be easily wasted on
• Eating sensibly - especially breakfast on
• They need to know they are not alone social networks and mobile phones.
exam days.
in this task and can get help from their • In the evenings, plan to revise one or two sub-
• Has all the equipment required e.g., pens
teachers and friends and support from jects for one to two hours.
and sharp pencils, an eraser, a ruler, a pro-
you. • Leave some time for relaxation every evening.
tractor, and a calculator (mobile phones
are not allowed in the exams)
Planning Revision: Revision Activities: • Has a suitable place to work at home (not
Your child should produce a revision plan. • Use a subject ‘Knowledge Organiser’ to revise
in front of the TV).
Lots of people find planning difficult. It is a the knowledge content for the exam
high-level skill. • Do something with the notes from your book
or text for each topic e.g., make your own brief
notes for that topic
4 4 THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL 5