2 months to prepare- he's IN! WORDS OF INSPIRATION FOR ALL!
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:43 pm
Wowee! Yipee! My son has made it into the Grammar of his choice and with only a little over 2 months to prepare for the exam!
We are in the catchment area of a SINK school and only last Sept discovered that there are two Grammar schools in a nearby town which accept children on merit, following an entrance exam, regardless of location. I had never heard of one of the Grammar Schools yet, following an open evening and the head teachers presentation, my son and I were totally WOWED. I told him,"You can do this" and, with a little over two months before the 11 plus, I planned and organised a crash course for him.
I spent appx. £40 on aids and materials and also designed and prepared worksheets myself. I prepared, printed and stapled together a booklet with 60 countdown days and logged the work and/or test papers and results he practiced each day. I also printed a list of maths subjects and VR question types which we had to cover.
He spent appx 1- 1 1/2 hours most evenings learning and practicing (and appx 4 hours over the weekend) and, on his free days we did something REALLY FUN. Wanting so much to get into that great school gave him inspiration, although he did get fed up sometimes.
The day before the exam, we chilled at home, watched a DVD and had a takeaway. I had some Cava too- felt that I needed it!
We both slept like logs and exam day he was ready! I told him to just do his best and, whether or not he passed, I would still love him. Oh, in case you wondered, I'm a single mum and he hasn't seen his father in years! After the exam we went out to lunch and shopping in town to buy him some goodies!
After months of waiting and wondering, the 1st Mar finally arrrived. I had decided that we would move house if he didn't pass. I drove to school to pick him up. I was sitting in the car and, in the rear view mirror, I saw a child running with arms in the air, holding a white envelope. He said that, when his teacher had told him that he had got his first choice, tears ran down his cheeks. Being a caring child he said he was sad for all the children who had not passed the exam who were upset. Me too, but, as I told him earlier, "Whatever happens, you can do whatever you want in life, if you have determination and work hard. For any children and parents who are feeling sad at not getting their choice, just read Richard Branson's book, "Screw it, let's do it"- Lessons in life. Richard Branson wasn't very bright at school; he had dyslexia, which wasn't understood in those days, but look what a success story HE turned out to be!
Best Wishes to Everyone AND MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!
We are in the catchment area of a SINK school and only last Sept discovered that there are two Grammar schools in a nearby town which accept children on merit, following an entrance exam, regardless of location. I had never heard of one of the Grammar Schools yet, following an open evening and the head teachers presentation, my son and I were totally WOWED. I told him,"You can do this" and, with a little over two months before the 11 plus, I planned and organised a crash course for him.
I spent appx. £40 on aids and materials and also designed and prepared worksheets myself. I prepared, printed and stapled together a booklet with 60 countdown days and logged the work and/or test papers and results he practiced each day. I also printed a list of maths subjects and VR question types which we had to cover.
He spent appx 1- 1 1/2 hours most evenings learning and practicing (and appx 4 hours over the weekend) and, on his free days we did something REALLY FUN. Wanting so much to get into that great school gave him inspiration, although he did get fed up sometimes.
The day before the exam, we chilled at home, watched a DVD and had a takeaway. I had some Cava too- felt that I needed it!
We both slept like logs and exam day he was ready! I told him to just do his best and, whether or not he passed, I would still love him. Oh, in case you wondered, I'm a single mum and he hasn't seen his father in years! After the exam we went out to lunch and shopping in town to buy him some goodies!
After months of waiting and wondering, the 1st Mar finally arrrived. I had decided that we would move house if he didn't pass. I drove to school to pick him up. I was sitting in the car and, in the rear view mirror, I saw a child running with arms in the air, holding a white envelope. He said that, when his teacher had told him that he had got his first choice, tears ran down his cheeks. Being a caring child he said he was sad for all the children who had not passed the exam who were upset. Me too, but, as I told him earlier, "Whatever happens, you can do whatever you want in life, if you have determination and work hard. For any children and parents who are feeling sad at not getting their choice, just read Richard Branson's book, "Screw it, let's do it"- Lessons in life. Richard Branson wasn't very bright at school; he had dyslexia, which wasn't understood in those days, but look what a success story HE turned out to be!
Best Wishes to Everyone AND MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!