Nine ways to help your overwhelmed teen prepare for exams
Leading online tutoring platform, MyTutor, reveals the best tips to support your child’s study habits and wellbeing during the upcoming exam season For the UK’s cohort of students, the main summer exam period is due to begin next week. Yet in the run-up to this year’s GCSEs and A-levels, a new report has unveiled the spike in levels of anxiety among pupils, with teachers reporting an all-time high in panic attacks, angry outbursts, self-harm, and disengagement among students. Acknowledging students’ heightened anxiety, particularly due to being the first cohort in three years to sit in-person exams, MyTutor – the UK’s most trusted tutoring platform – has highlighted some tips from world renowned educator and expert on teen learning, Professor Barbara Oakley, who shared her insights on top ways to support your overwhelmed teen preparing for exam season. Encourage your teen to work ‘retrieval practices’ like flashcards into their study routine The best way for teens to learn a new topic is through retrieval practise. “When you’re first learning something, there’s faint links forming between neurons in their brain,” Professor Oakley explains, “the more you retrieve that learning– the stronger the links become.” Have them look over key learning areas before bed The brain is hard at work even when we’re sleeping. Professor Oakley told MyTutor that during sleep, “neurons are connecting.” So, telling your teen to glance over their notes right before bed for 2-5 minutes, helps consolidate their learning. So, when your teen is sleeping, by building “neural connections”, their brain will actually work to keep this new information in their memory. Who knew sleeping could double as revising? Breaks are important for learning Like sleep, breaks are important in making learning stick. Professor Oakley explained that short study breaks are vital for the part of the brain that stores new information. She says the best way to organise study time is by using the Pomodoro technique. It’s really simple: you turn off all distractions, set a timer for 25 minutes of focused study, and have a 5-minute break once the timer goes off. That makes one Pomodoro round – Professor Oakley recommends doing 3 over the course of a study session. She says it’s key for teens to avoid any focused activity in their break time – and that means they shouldn’t go on their phones where distractions might pop up. Staring into space or petting the cat are both a good use of break time. Having a snack and stretching works too. Spacing out learning is better than cramming for hours This might seem obvious, but we’ve all heard of someone we know who’s pulled an all-nighter: “Learning takes time,”Professor Oakley says, “just like a weightlifter developing their muscle, it takes time to build neural structure.” Your teen needs time to learn from direct instruction (so from their notes, textbooks, teachers), and then they need to go back over what they’ve just learned. Ideally, all the way up to exams, they’d repeat this cycle: study from classroom learning, retrieval practice, study from classroom learning, retrieval practice, and so on… Encourage them to study in different places Studying in different places, Professor Oakley informed MyTutor, can help refresh your teen’s brain and boost their memory. So, if they normally study in their room, try giving them the option to set up shop in the kitchen, a quiet corner of the house, a library or even a cafe (if they don’t get distracted). They could try making mind maps in a noisier space, and keep the library for past paper practice. Having different places to travel to can also help motivate them too. Slow learners can learn more deeply There are two kinds of learners: declarative learners – or as Professor Oakley likes to call them – “race car learners,” and there are procedural or “hiker learners”. Declarative learners pick up things quickly, but they might be less flexible. Procedural learners take longer and are often more accurate. Both fast and slow learners are just as good– one is not better than the other. But often in schools, fast learning is rewarded. If your teen’s stuck on their Maths homework, encourage them to take time to work it out. That’s where home learning can be so valuable – it’s where your teen can learn at their own pace, and go over things as many times as they need to until they get it. Starting off with rewards for learning isn’t as bad as once thought Professor Oakley explained to MyTutor how her daughter was not a big reader in school. To encourage her along, she would give her little rewards every time she finished reading a book. Over time, it was easier for her daughter to read and get into a book. “She eventually became internally motivated,” Prof Oakley says. This is a perfect example of how starting with small rewards– like pocket money or a treat on the weekend (to get things going)– can help them get over their fear of difficult subjects and become more self-motivated in the long run. Calm Exam Stress with breathing exercises As we all know, exams can bring on stress. Professor Oakley shared a useful tip for teens to use if they feel panicked when they’re revising or during an exam. It’s called “box breathing”. She recommends teens to try breathing in for 5 seconds, holding for 5 seconds, and breathing out for 5 seconds. She explains, “When you get very nervous you do shallow, panicked breathing. It doesn’t give you the oxygen you need.” Practising this deep breathing technique a few days or even weeks before exams–so that it seems normal– will help your teen relax. If they feel panicked in the exam hall, using this technique can help them refocus and remember what they’ve revised too. Help your teen reach out for support There are times when they just need a helping hand from an expert. Whether that’s with a tutor (if their anxiety comes from
Laptop lockers and sanitisation from LapSafe
NEW from LapSafe® Over 70% of UK universities have now installed LapSafe®’s Diplomat™ Self-Service Lockers and over half have either expanded their service or installed further lockers across their campus since their first installation. This year LapSafe® are launching their NEW smart locker software together with a variety of new locker bay sizes. Their most powerful, sophisticated, and innovative smart locker solution to date. The new locker software, ONARKEN® offers a host of services and integrations. The powerful ONARKEN™ software is at the heart of our smart lockers and combines all of our software services in one centrally managed suite of applications. Intuitive and straightforward self-check application installed in a terminal allows quick and easy access to the services users need such as borrow, return, reservations, drop-off and collect. ONARKEN® has been designed from the ground up, following years of user feedback and is probably one of the most universal, powerful and innovative smart locker platforms to date. Existing LapSafe® customers will be able to upgrade to the new software ONARKEN® if they would like the enhanced features and functionality. The new locker bay sizes will be available later this year. To sit alongside the LapSafe® smart locker range or to work standalone, we have also worked tirelessly during the pandemic to bring to the market our NEW Diplomat™UV-C Station which sanitises a laptop or similar device in just 15 seconds! 99% of bacteria and some viruses* are deactivated when exposed to high-intensity UV-C light. Fitted with 18 Phillips UV-C bulbs ensure all areas of the device get sanitised, including the hard-to-reach places. The Diplomat™ UV-C Station is simple and easy to use, place your hand in front of the sensor to activate and follow the straightforward instructions on the LCD screen. Place your device into the cleaning bay and leave the unit to do the rest. Web: https://www.lapsafe.com/products/diplomat/uv-c
Teachers offered training to identify pupils at risk of self-harm
Headteachers, teachers and teaching assistants across the East Midlands and beyond are being invited to free mental health workshops next week which will tackle identifying self-harm and anxiety disorder in young people. The sessions are being held as part of the county’s first mental health festival Headfest, which kicks off on Monday 9 May which also marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. Paul Hanrahan, who is a teacher at the St Andrew’s Healthcare College, will be delivering two talks which are based on the mental health awareness programme LightBulb which the college has written for primary and secondary school children. Paul said: “We know the pandemic has had a profound effect on some children’s mental health, and even before we experienced the lockdown anxiety numbers among young people were already high. At St Andrew’s we care for some very poorly young people who have not received the help they needed until it was too late, leading to them needing to come into hospital. It is a worrying situation and the role schools can play in recognising and supporting mental wellbeing is paramount in ensuring young people have access to support when it is most needed. “LightBulb is all about equipping our young people with the skills they need to be resilient and seek help about mental health issues, hopefully reducing the distress they experience and positively impacting the outcomes they experience. We believe early intervention is essential and can make a huge difference to the wellbeing of those children who are experiencing mental health issues. “We’re thrilled to have been asked to take part in Headfest and provide teachers with a brief introduction to our programme, which could make all the difference in helping a young person who may be silently struggling.” Paul’s first session will focus on self-harm and will take place at the Royal & Derngate on Wednesday 11 May at 11:30am to 12:30pm. The second session about recognising anxiety disorder is being delivered on Thursday 12 May between 1pm-2pm.For more information about Headfest, visit https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/headfest-2022/ To find out more about the St Andrew’s Healthcare LightBulb programme go to https://www.stah.org/education/light-bulb/
NBA basketball launches free educational resources for secondary schools
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced the launch of “NBA in the Classroom,” an NBA-themed educational programme that provides free, downloadable teaching materials for secondary school teachers in the UK. The resources focus on career development, financial management, mental wellbeing and physical education. NBA in the Classroom, which was developed with input from teachers and is available to all secondary schools across the UK, offers a range of downloadable, flexible, curriculum-linked teaching resources for use in PE, PSHE/Health and Wellbeing, careers and/or personal development courses. Students will hear from current NBA players and employees on a variety of topics through video content containing tips, challenges and more. “We are excited to unveil this original programme to help secondary school teachers in the UK educate and inspire students with interactive resources that can be used in a variety of settings,” said NBA Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations, Europe and Middle East, Neal Meyer. “Through ‘NBA in the Classroom,’ we look forward to collaborating with institutions and educators across the UK to help children develop their personal and professional skills and grow as leaders.” Through a range of NBA-inspired challenges, the programme will help students be more active, harness a positive mental attitude, develop financial confidence and nurture skills that employers value, including creativity, numeracy, communication, teamwork and organisation. Resources can be downloaded and used as standalone lessons or personal development sessions and select resources can be combined into full off-timetable enrichment and personal development days or after-school club sessions. Mr Leighton, PE teacher at Kettlethorpe High School, commented on the new resources saying: “At Kettlethorpe, it’s our priority to bring new experiences to our students and engage them in creative ways. NBA in the Classroom fits the bill for this perfectly. Our students were intrigued to discover that there’s so much beyond just the game, from mental attitude to wide-ranging careers such as sports journalism, social media and physiotherapy. The programme is diverse and easy to add into lesson planning” NBA in the Classroom builds on the league’s on-court youth development initiatives in the UK. In partnership with Basketball England, the NBA currently runs 21 Jr. NBA Leagues that reach 630 secondary schools and nearly 10,000 Year 7 and 8 children each year. In addition, the Jr. NBA basketballscotland League features seven leagues and a Jr. NBA Wheelchair Basketball League, while the Jr. NBA Basketball Wales League is currently running in each of Wales’s 22 local authorities. Register to NBA in the Classroom for free today and receive a free digital poster and get access to a range of engaging, curriculum-linked resources that will equip your students with the tools they need for a brighter future. Web: https://classroom.nba.com/
History brought to life at The London Bridge Experience
Step down in to the vaults of the original London Bridge with The London Bridge Experience, an immersive walk-through experience featuring live actors who will take you on a journey to relive and meet all the characters from the past 2,000 years of its history. Travelling back in time to an age of adventure, guests will uncover the dark secrets that lie beneath the world’s most famous and haunted Bridge. Moving through the experience you will encounter some of London Bridge’s gruesome characters from its past including William Wallace and Jack the Ripper and hear the tales from the Great Fire of London and join Queen Boudica and the Iceni tribe to take over Londinium. Then for those brave enough; laugh, scream and jump whilst going through the UK’s best scare attraction or for an alternative the class could join our fun headmaster for a further history lesson on London Bridge and the secrets it holds. It’s funny, historical and educational, making learning easy. Because of this the London Bridge Experience welcomes many educational groups every year and is an invaluable lesson in history covering a number of curriculum topics. Join us for a multi-sensory experience, you will see, hear and even smell what London Bridge was really like through its 2,000-year history. This really will be an unforgettable school trip and memorable lesson we can offer students hot food and beverages at our in-house restaurant. To book your school trip contact sales@tlbe.co.uk or telephone 0207 403 6333 Web: https://www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com
Government regulator to investigate ESS moving schools on to three-year contracts
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether education software company ESS is abusing a dominant position to push schools into accepting a new three-year contract. The investigation will assess concerns around a contract change made by Education Software Solutions Ltd Group (ESS) – the largest provider of school management information systems in the UK. The company is requiring its customers to move from one-year contracts to three-year contracts and the CMA is considering whether schools were given sufficient time to consider their options, such as moving to an alternative provider instead of renewing with ESS for the full three years. The CMA said it was concerned that this change makes it more difficult for alternative providers to compete with ESS to win business. In the UK, most state schools are required to have a management information system in place. These systems are used to handle student information, such as attendance and safeguarding. Some schools have told the CMA that the process for selecting an MIS is often lengthy and can involve complex procurement steps. The CMA will be considering all relevant issues, including the concerns raised by schools and whether it should be imposing interim measures while its investigation is ongoing. Ann Pope, Senior Director of Antitrust at the CMA, said: “We have heard concerns regarding ESS’s contract changes. Thousands of schools rely on management information systems and their choice of supplier should not be restricted. The duration of the ESS contract has been significantly extended and schools should be able to pick the best provider for their needs. “While ESS has made some changes to its original position, such as the introduction of a possible 6-month break clause, some schools tell us this is still not enough time. A formal investigation will allow us to consider this matter properly.” As part of its investigation, the CMA will also consider the pricing of some ESS product packages – specifically, it will look at how ESS’s management information system product is being sold alongside its financial management software. This could encourage customers to buy both products and deter customers moving away from ESS. The CMA is concerned that, by adopting such a pricing strategy, market players that only offer one of these services may be unable to compete, potentially leading to an uncompetitive market in future. More information is available on the Investigation into the conduct of ESS case page https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-conduct-of-education-software-solutions-limited
Children’s author Sarah Morrell announces free end of Primary event
A children’s author is hosting a free online event for up to 100 primary schools to celebrate their next adventure to secondary school. West Yorkshire author Sarah Morrell and Hashtag Press are will be talking about her new book ‘A Head Full Of Magic’ on 16th June 2022. Sarah swapped criminology for children’s books and since signing with prize-winning independent publishing house Hashtag Press, based in south-east England, she hasn’t looked back! Released this week, A Head Full of Magic is already getting rave reviews from the fiercest of critics – children – as well as librarians, booksellers, parents and teachers. This middle grade fantasy fiction about the last term of Primary School, is sure to be a big hit with readers aged 8-11, particularly those who enjoy books by J K Rowling and Maz Evans. “A laugh-out-loud, middle-grade story with a mixed raced protagonist who can talk to animals. A young Dr Dolittle – perfect for children seeking a story bursting with magic!” Fleur is used to balancing her two different cultures – from her English Mum to her West Indian Nan – but when she discovers that she can talk to animals she finds herself in a whole new world! Can her new powers help her take down Celeste ‘The Best’ the hockey-loving, ankle-smashing new girl, once and for all? “I read this book in 24 hours, it’s the fastest I’ve ever read a book, and the first book I’ve finished so far this year. I loved Sir Barclay and Fleur’s adventures!” – Macy Lewis, 11 years old, Kent, England In honour of the last term of Primary School, after a crazy couple of years thanks to Covid for these young students, and to celebrate their next adventure on to Secondary School, Sarah and Hashtag Press are hosting a free online event for up to 100 schools across the country on 16th June 2022. For more details: https://y6aheadfullofmagicevent.eventbrite.co.uk About the Author Sarah lives in West Yorkshire and worked as a Criminologist until she fell in love with writing and quickly swapped a life with crime for a life with rhyme! She is married with three awesome kids who keep her on her toes whilst she is plotting and sharing her latest stories. Sarah has self-published two picture books. ‘The King and the Cockerel’ was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards in 2018 and ‘Molly’s Magic Brolly’ picked up a Silver Award in 2019. She is currently working on a number of middle grade and children’s picture books and has a couple of book club novels up her sleeve too. When she is not writing, she loves nothing more than to run, bike or swim in the hills of Holmfirth and recently entered her first Triathlon. Next New Year’s Eve, she will not be making any sports related resolutions… Sarah is an active SCBWI Member and a Volunteer Ambassador for Candlelighters Charity.
Only half of UK parents read with their child every day, according to recent data
A new report for Nick Jr. by the National Literacy Trust shows that fewer parents engaged in home learning activities during lockdown compared with pre-pandemic levels. Research suggests that about 1 in 5 parents said they had struggled with a lack of confidence in their abilities as a new parent during the pandemic. Our Early Words Together programme improves parents’ confidence to support their child’s literacy activities at home Only half of parents said that they read with their child at least once a day in 2021, compared with two thirds in 2019 A quarter reported that they did not chat with their child at least once a day, compared with a tenth in 2019 Research shows that improving young children’s pre-school language skills could boost the UK economy by up to £1.2 billion over the course of their lifetimes Nick Jr. and Blue’s Clues & You! are partnering with the National Literacy Trust to run Early Words Together programmes to combat the issues arising from underdeveloped communication skills in children A report compiled for Paramount as part of a wider partnership between the National Literacy Trust and Blues Clues & You! shows that parents of young children engaged in fewer home learning activities in 2021 than did in 2019 – despite spending more time with them at home during the coronavirus lockdowns. A survey conducted for the National Literacy Trust in 2021 asked 1,562 parents of children aged up to five-years-old across the UK about how often they carried out seven key home learning activities: reading, chatting, playing, singing, painting/drawing, looking at the alphabet and playing outside the home (e.g., at a library or play group). The findings revealed an overall trend of fewer parents engaging in all seven home learning activities in 2021 compared to in 2019, despite spending greater periods in the home and with their children due to restrictions put in place to fight COVID-19. The study asked parents about their activities over the previous week finding that a quarter of parents reported that they didn’t chat with their child every day in 2021, compared to ten per cent in 2019. Similarly, only half of parents said that they read with their child at least once a day in 2021 compared with two thirds in 2019. The negative effect of COVID restrictions on the learning development of young children has been established by studies such as new Ofsted report (2022), which looked at education recovery in early years providers, and found that the pandemic had affected children’s communication and language development. The Education Endowment Foundation’s study echoed this, revealing the negative effect of pandemic restrictions on the vocabulary development of young children due to children being less exposed to conversations and everyday experiences in more typical education settings. Further research by Pro Bono Economics (Kerr & Franklin, 2021), commissioned by KPMG UK in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust and BBC Tiny Happy People, has shown the wider societal impact that improving young children’s pre-school language skills could have, reporting an economic boost of up to £1.2 billion to the UK economy over the course of their lifetimes, while failing to support these children could cost up to £327 million for each cohort of three-year-olds over the same period. In response to this growing problem, Nick Jr. and Blue’s Clues & You! are partnering with the National Literacy Trust to run Early Words Together programmes in some of the most-affected areas in the country. With toolkits and activities inspired by Blue’s Clues & You!, the programmes are proven to help children’s early language and communication and phonological awareness skills. In addition, a further 500 Early Years Settings nationwide will receive free Blue’s Clues & You! learning materials and activity guides to improve their skills within their setting and at home to build parent’s confidence as their child’s first teacher and help their children be ready for school. Venetia Davie, Vice President, U.K. & Ireland at Paramount Consumer Products said: “The Early Words Together programme is a wonderful way for young children across the UK to have fun with their favourite Blue’s Clues & You! characters whilst learning vital language and communication skills to help them prepare for school and beyond. “The findings of this research have highlighted the impact of COVID restrictions on children’s language development and we’re determined to be part of the solution by creating a series of creative toolkits and activity guides built around children’s curiosity and appetite to learn new things.” Kirsty Cunnington, Programme Manager for Early Years at the National Literacy Trust comments on this exciting new programme, saying that “The pandemic has had a drastic impact on families with young children, with early years vocabulary and social development hit particularly hard and jeopardising their future development for decades to come. “During this difficult time, parents and carers have been unable to access key support networks that can give them the confidence and knowledge to create a strong home learning environment. The Early Words Together programme is dedicated to reaching and supporting parents and carers to create an engaging and lively home learning space and giving them the knowledge and skills to confidently help young children overcome the obstacles of the last two years.” Read the full report at https://literacytrust.org.uk/early-language-skills-the-role-of-the-home-learning-environment-and-emerging-insights-into-the-impact-of-the-pandemic
Are you integrating PSHE and emotional wellbeing across your curriculum?
Be Ofsted ready with ZunTold publications and teaching guides. Available from Peters and other leading educational distributors. Face in the Mirror – A teaching manual to support students’ mental health, was published by ZunTold, a specialist publisher of texts supporting mental health and the PSHE curriculum. It contains 54 poems, collated around 11 themes of wellbeing, detailed commentaries and curriculum specific lesson plans. Accompanying the teaching manual is a students’ guide. At 410 pages, the teaching manual retails for £60 but with discounts to schools available and with cross-curricular approach, it is an excellent investment for the English and PSHE department. Written by Judy Morris, who taught as a classroom teacher for over twenty-five years before she became a headteacher, Judy’s experience includes specialisms in English, special educational needs and disability (SEND), and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). Judy explains, ‘Poetry is an ideal form for developing speaking & listening skills and can be taught as part of the key reading, writing and speaking and listening areas of language development. But its effect and educative value are not limited to language development. Poetry can have a positive impact on the social and emotional learning of young people, and can provide them with a healthy outlet for their emotions as well as a means of accessing and understanding those feelings.’ Judy Morris has written a unique teaching guide, intended to help young people to explore issues associated with mental health, wellbeing and relationships. The lesson plans provide opportunities for young people to talk about worries and concerns, to see their connections with others and with the world around them, and to empathise with others. The aim is to move away from stigmatising mental health problems, a state of affairs that still persists in society, and to be able to talk about mental health and wellbeing issues in a normalised, accepting and supportive forum. Judy Morris is available for teacher training workshops and student workshops – topics such as how to integrate pupil wellbeing into an already busy curriculum, or Plugging the Covid gap; restoring fluency through poetry and many others. We would be happy to send schools a detailed guide of what is available for schools and the publisher is happy to take direct orders for the Teachers’ Guide and students text books. Please contact elaine@zuntold.com or call 07974 190136