As the start of the SQA exam diet looms it brings with it a whirlwind of emotions and stress for pupils, teachers, and parent\/carers. Not only is your child revising hard for the final exams, but they may also have to meet deadlines for assessments and\/or assignments.<\/p>\n
School staff have, of course, a crucial role to play in helping your child to prepare for this challenge. \u00a0However, as parents\/carers you<\/strong> are in an unique position to offer substantial support to your child\u2019s mental good health and academic achievement at home.<\/p>\n As parents\/carers it\u2019s sometimes hard to know how best to support your child in a sustainable way when they are stressed. To help you we\u2019ve put together practical, proven strategies that you<\/strong> as parents\/carers can use to help your child during this important time and throughout their school\/academic career.<\/p>\n PROMOTE HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS<\/strong><\/p>\n Sleep is vital for memory consolidation, a process which is integral to learning. You can help support your child by ensuring they follow a regular sleep schedule, getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night. This becomes even more crucial during the exam season, when quality sleep can enhance concentration and memory. Studies indicate that sleep helps\u00a0form new neural connections<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0prioritise important information<\/a>, enabling better recall during exams. In fact, prioritising sleep during exams\u00a0has been shown to<\/a>\u00a0lead to higher grades.<\/p>\n ENCOURAGE A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the common knowledge that breakfast is the most important meal of the day,\u00a0studies show that<\/a>\u00a0a significant percentage of teenagers regularly skip breakfast, with over\u00a060% of teenage boys and 70% of teenage girls<\/a>\u00a0doing so.<\/p>\n Parents\/Carers can play a crucial role in reversing this trend, emphasising\u00a0the importance of a nutritious morning meal<\/a>.\u00a0Research indicates that<\/a>\u00a0children who skip breakfast or rely on energy drinks perform worse in attention and memory tasks compared to their breakfast-eating counterparts.<\/p>\n MINIMISE DISTRACTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n In an age of digital distractions, parents\/carers can aid their child’s revision by creating a calm, distraction-free environment. This may look like looking after their child\u2019s phone for them during study sessions, turning the TV off, or helping them ensure their desk is tidy.<\/p>\n Multiple studies have debunked\u00a0the myth of efficient multitasking<\/a>, showing that the mere presence of a phone can\u00a0cause a 20% decline in performance<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 even if students don\u2019t use it. Encouraging students to put away their phones during revision can\u00a0reduce errors<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0improve productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n IMPLEMENT RETRIEVAL PRACTICE<\/strong><\/p>\n Retrieval Practice<\/a>, a strategy that involves recalling previously learned knowledge by generating an answer to a question, is one of the most effective revision techniques. It helps strengthen memory traces and increases the likelihood of long-term information retention and can take many forms, from past papers to quizzes.<\/p>\n One great way to utilise Retrieval Practice at home is by\u00a0using flashcards<\/a>. For example, parents and guardians can encourage their child to\u00a0use the Leitner System<\/a>, a handy way to make the best of flashcards.<\/p>\n GETTING THEIR CHILD TO TEACH THEM THE MATERIAL<\/strong><\/p>\n A powerful way to reinforce understanding is for students to teach the material to someone else. Known as\u00a0the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Effect<\/a>, this technique\u00a0improves memory recall<\/a>\u00a0and enhances understanding. When students prepare to explain the material to others, they organise and clarify their thoughts, leading to a deeper comprehension of the subject matter.<\/p>\n So, parents and guardians could utilise the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Effect by getting their child to teach them about some of the key concepts they need to master.<\/p>\n COMBAT PROCRASTINATION<\/strong><\/p>\n Motivating a child to revise can be tricky. However, research shows that highlighting the practical applications of the revising content can increase motivation. Parents can share examples of how they’ve used the knowledge they learned at school later in life, thus making learning more relatable and engaging.<\/p>\n BALANCE WORK AND PLAY<\/strong><\/p>\n While studying is important, it’s equally crucial to set aside time for relaxation and leisure. High stress levels can negatively impact a child’s well-being and even the quality of their revision.<\/p>\n Incorporating a healthy balance of screen time, socialising, partaking in hobbies and exercising within study can contribute to exam success by providing necessary mental breaks. This will help students stay motivated and avoid burnout but will also give their brain the time to consolidate their learning.<\/p>\n SHOW INTEREST \u2013 AND GIVE PRAISE<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAs they complete a task, ask them to show it to you. Their endorphins will flow if\u00a0you acknowledge their effort with praise, and if they can see you mean it. They are also likely to be intrigued and motivated if you show genuine interest in the topic being revised, and if you admit to having limited knowledge yourself which is being enhanced by their own studies.\u201d\u00a0Matthew Godfrey<\/em><\/p>\n FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH PAST PAPERS<\/strong><\/p>\n It can be helpful for parents\/carers to familiarise yourselves with SQA past papers as it is essential<\/strong> that your child practises questions from past papers specific to the subject and stage. Going through\u00a0 past papers with your child, in a conducive environment, making sure that\u00a0mobile phones<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0social media<\/a>\u00a0are not distracting them is an excellent study technique. If you make notes of which questions your child got wrong or didn\u2019t know the answer to your child can address this with their teacher either in class or during supported study. You can then test them again with that question after more revision to see if they now understand.<\/p>\n FINAL THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n As parents\/carers you<\/strong> play a pivotal role in shaping the academic successes of your child \u2013 not only by teaching and supporting them every day, but also by giving them access to great habits. Introducing them to the strategies we\u2019ve mentioned is a powerful way to boost not just grades, but also overall student growth and development.<\/p>\n Whether it’s making sure your child kicks off their day with a hearty breakfast or championing good sleep habits, you have the potential to leave a lasting impact on your child\u2019s educational journey and their future habits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Good luck in the coming weeks and months and remember if you have any concerns or worries do not hesitate to contact school. We are here to help support not only your child but also you, our Parents and Carers.<\/p>\n Parent and Carer guide SQA Jan 2024<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the start of the SQA exam diet looms it brings with it a whirlwind of emotions and stress for pupils, teachers, and parent\/carers. Not only is your child revising hard for the final exams, but they may also have to meet deadlines for assessments and\/or assignments. School staff have, of course, a crucial role … Continue reading Parent\/Carer Guide to Supporting Pupils during SQA examinations\/assessments<\/span>