Year 12 getting motivate

[Foyled]

My DD is floundering somewhat in Year 12, she is a bright girl but just doesn't seem that interested.

I really want to see her work hard on a piece of homework/essay and get a good grade for it, but it just isn't happening.

She had some work to do over the weekend an essay but she said her other work was more important/urgent. However I know she has to use this piece of work to prove she is capable of continuing with the subject, but she says she doesn't understand what to do. This is her perpetual cry, she just can't get started.

Of course she could be making excuses but she still isn't getting the work done.

Suggestions anyone? Also positive stories would be welcomed!

[DustDustDust]

I'm in Year 12 atm too. Drowning in work. =S
I had n English story, an essay, a Welsh story, a Welsh script, and a ton of biology questions to do over the weekend. All I did was the Biology. When it's difficult, it's very easy to ignore a specific piece of work, especially if you have other homework.
If she isn't motivated about the subject in general, then I don't know what to suggest. I love all my subjects, the work is difficult though, so I procrastinate a lot.
I've had my Welsh coursework set since before half-term, but didn't start it until yesterday. It's fine now that I've started it though. Choose one piece of homework, take away phone/laptop/TV, and just tell her to get started. Being bored and having no alternatives is the way I usually motivate myself to start work.

What subject is the essay for? if it's English Lit, French, Welsh or Biology, I might be able to help. :L

[reggiechase]

Can you speak to her subject teacher and between you come up with some strategies to support her?

Some students feel burnt out after Y11 and struggle with Y12. Help her organise her time, offer her support but dont nag, is it a subject she usually enjoys?

[Foyled]

Thanks for your suggestions.

DustDustDust it isn't any of those subjects, but it isn't just this subject if I'm honest it is anything with essay writing.

It is a subject she used to enjoy and was very keen on at one time, but don't think she enjoys it now.

She was just the same in Yr 11 in fact it has been a slow progression to this point!

Speaking to the teacher has got us in this situation in the first place!

[DustDustDust]

I enjoy writing essays...I'm so weird..
With essays, the key is to make a good plan first, in my opinon. Collect all relevant info/data/quotes/critics opinions/whatev. on one piece of paper, and plan what will be in each paragraph. Once you've done a proper framework, then all you have to do it write it all out following the plan. I cross out stuff as I write it into the essay, so I'm certain to include everything.
The planning and deciding what to write is the difficult part.

If she's struggling with a specific essay, then she could maybe ask the teacher to see examples of past students work. Even for coursework, my teachers are all happy to show examples or elaborate more on what needs to be done.

[waterplate]

Is she really sure she wants to do A levels? I know it's really hard to accept but if she carries on like this she's going to end up being asked (or even made) to leave the school, or will leave with a range of very poor grades or worse, fail her AS levels.

Would she benefit from a year out seeing how joyful the world of work is for those who only have GCSEs, and maybe going back next year, or is that not an option at her school?

[Foyled]

Your are quite right Waterplate, sums up the situation entirely. I did ask her if she thought she was doing the wrong subjects and she said "yes, but it is too late to do anything about it".

Positive stories anyone?

[webwiz]

Well if she thinks she has chosen the wrong subjects then she could repeat year 12 with the subjects she wants to do. One of DD's friends moved to another sixth form so that he could start again with new subjects.

[waterplate]

I agree with webwiz - she should talk to her school pastoral team about what her options are. If she can go back, or transfer to another school to do different subjects next year, she can work for a few months and go back with renewed enthusiasm.

She should also go and see the year 11s at her school and tell them her story so they will take seriously the options process...so many end up with shades of this problem and yet it is avoidable if they get the right advice. However some pupils just don't want to listen to teachers, whereas hearing the same advice from a pupil who has actually faced the situation might work.

[mrswoodentop]

Gosh I feel your pain,DS1 is bright ;an intellectual"rather than an academic"s in that his type of brightness doesn't easily condense into an academic syllabus IYSWIM.Good GCCSEs (4 A*,5 A and aB)started year 12 full of vim,workied really hard for the first month really enthusiastic etc.

Since then academic work has fallen of the side of a cliff,no interest at all,says its boring,a drudge,thought it would be better than GCSE but just the same,can't see himself gettig into decent uni,not even sure if he wants to go etc etc etc.
School being fantastically supportive,really trying to get to the bottom of the problem,encourage him etc but all so far to no avail.Having some medical checks to make sure no virus etc but otherwise feel like I am banging head against brick wall.Trying really hard not to nag as it has very bad negative effect but sooooo frustrating to see so much promise going down the drain.

He has alway been high maintenance but I've had enough actually the other two deserve some attention but here I am again with all energies directed at ds1.DH very cross with him....thats helpful?!

[Foyled]

Mrs Woodentop, your son is my daughter's clone, practically identical GCSE results as well! My DH is the same...

Her teacher has just been in touch about the work not being done, she will be seeing him today I hope.

Waterplate are you a teacher by any chance? DD had terrible trouble deciding which subjects to take and did take teachers' advice...

[mrswoodentop]

Don't think it is the wrong subjects with ds,actually in. way I think he is almost too interested in that he wants to go into greater depth and gets frustrated by the fact that it's all geared to the exam and they have to move on to another topic before be has satisfied himself that there is nothing more to be learned on an area.He thought it would be better than Gcse but I think he feels even more frustrated because he had such high expectations.
Another problem is one specific friend,they get on v well I can see the attraction,he is also very into politics philosophy etc....he can afford to be though as his family will not need him to work necessarily as they have the funds to let him explore his passions etc.!!ds does not have that luxury unfortunately .

[Foyled]

Not quite the same then, DD is interested in things, but on her own terms...

[mrswoodentop]

No thats a much better way of saying it .... Very similar I would say,just don't know how to get him to see that sometimes you have to play the game by other peoples rules

[Foyled]

Good luck Mrs W, let me know if you get a good solution.

Any positive turnaround stories - please...

[nosleeptillbrooklyn]

If your child is struggling with work in the sixth form, the best thing to do is tell your head of year/tutor. They will then hopefully alert all of your subject teachers that you are having difficulties and work out a plan to help them get through everything. Teachers in the sixth form often set work without any regard to how much their colleagues are setting (in my experience). Don't suffer in silence- make contact with the school and maintain this relationship throughout. It is well worth it

[Foyled]

It is more of a case that they have done all this and it hasn't worked...although I thought she had improved.

[angelpantser]

I am having the same conversations with my DD.

She isn't enjoying two of her four subjects and had a meltdown at the end of the Christmas holidays saying that she only really enjoyed the social side of 6th form. We have talked to her about other options - changing schools/going to college/starting an apprenticeship but she does appreciate that by doing this she will be walking away from her friends and have to settle to a new environment without the safety net of her social life. In addition she would be very unlikely to find somewhere that would have a place for her before September. We agreed that she should carry on in Year 12 but look at other courses in different colleges as a contingency. She wants to study Performing Arts. Most courses offer places based on auditions/interviews combined with GCSE results so she would know if a place was offered before the results of her AS exams. She also agreed that if she doesn't get a place she will continue with Year 13 and apply to Uni.

I spoke to the 6th Form mentoring team as soon as term started and explained the situation. The head of 6th Form also suggested that it may be possible to drop a subject after the AS module results. They have given her a mentoring session and she was frank with them about how she is feeling. I have to say that I was a little dismayed that her mentor subsequently dismissed all the research that she has done about different courses and suggested that she applies to the local college for A Levels.

However, she has also discussed how she is feeling with her friends. They are all in the same boat. I know from talking to parents of children the same age that many of their children feel the same - it is a very intense time and your child does not have the same range of subjects as GCSE so can't 'hide' as easily if they don't enjoy a teacher's lessons.

To confuse matters further she announced last night that she is now starting to enjoy the subject that she was struggling the most with and will most likely be dropping a different one.

[Foyled]

Oh dear you have my sympathy...doesn't sound like the mentor was listening.

[Renniehorta]

I think that apathy in year 12 can be a direct result of exam overload. In year 10 and even more in year 11 teachers put so much pressure on students to maximise grades.
It becomes the only thing that matters.

Obviously teachers behave like this because they are under so much pressure from above. With pay and even their very jobs dependent on their students results. It is very much the case that teachers are more desperate about the grades than many of their students. It can result in a very stressful and unpleasant atmosphere.

The problem is that whereas in the past year 12 was exam free, it now ends in exams as well. Not only that but if you are studying a module course the exams start again before Christmas.

It is exam overkill and just as the last thing you want after a big meal is another meal, the last thing many year 12s want is more exams.

I am sorry that this in no way solves your problem, but it could be a possible cause.

[Foyled]

You make a very good point, I think the teachers are covering their backs to a degree.

On the other hand I think I possibly had similar problems at school which weren't picked up on that might be today.

Not sure it would have helped though.

[TheVisitor]

Year 12s can rest on their laurels a little! They think that the GCSEs are out of the way, so they can put their feet up and chill. My son did this, and is now back up to speed, working hard and getting good results in Year 13, alongside the majority of his peers.

[Foyled]

I've realised that I've muddled two threads slightly, opinion at parents evening was very much that resting on laurels/putting up feet was the pathway to disaster and DD was on it!