Supporting your child Supporting your child to raise their to raise their attainmentattainment

Supporting your child Supporting your child to raise their to raise their attainmentattainment

Standard Grade EnglishStandard Grade English

How do we arrive at the final grade?

• 1/3 Reading: 3 folio pieces + exam • 1/3 Writing: 2 folio pieces + exam• 1/3 Talking: Solo and group,

internally assessed• See handout: Standard Grade

English Pupil Guide Sheet

What does the exam involve?

Reading: 2 papers : General and Credit, or, General and Foundation

• Each worth 50 marks• 50 minutes• Unseen text with

questions• No dictionaries or

support materials

Writing: 1 paper:• 1 hour 15 minutes• Graded 1-6, same

paper for all• Choose one essay• Writing for a range

of purposes

Knowing where to target effort

• Work smart, not just hard• Self assessment and reflection• Prelim feedback

Close Reading strategies

• Newspapers / novels• Vocabulary games and activities

(Scrabble and Balderdash)• Handout with info /strategies• Books: Bright Red book

Writing paper• Planning• Practise• Genre markers: handout• Success Criteria sheets• SPAG

Web resources• http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/studyskills/index.asp• http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/bitesize/standar

d/english/• http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/38989.html• http://www.rhsenglish.com/p/s3s4-standard-grade.html• http://www.chompchomp.com• www.timesspellingbee.co.uk• http://www.kilmarnockacademy.co.uk/

pupilenglish1of10.htm• Twitter: NairnEnglish• Nairn Academy website

Books and revision materials

• Language Skills booklets: £2.50• Bright Red book: see publisher’s

display• Past papers• How to Pass Standard Grade

English• Yellow booklets

Reading lists• http://www.thebookbag.co.uk• http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

genre/14/14-plus-readers.html• http://www5.scholastic.co.uk/zone/

book_home.htm• http://www.collegeboard.com/

student/plan/boost-your-skills/23628.html

What parents can do…• Help your son/daughter organize a study timetable and develop a

study/revision routine. • Ensure that he/she has the opportunity to study and revise. • Ensure that he/she has a suitable study environment. • Ensure that he/she is exposed to the types and levels of language that

will be encountered in the exam. In simple terms, they should have access to literature, “quality” newspapers, TV documentaries/the news and TV drama/ even Wildlife on One!

• Monitor and discuss the work they are covering – don't settle for “fine” but get them to explain things to you.

• Provide encouragement. • Provide incentives and sanctions. • Help to motivate by identifying career/FE options and by establishing

entry requirements for these as early as possible so they have an incentive, a target and a tangible reward.

• Ask your children about their set homework and be aware of ongoing homework and deadlines

Some useful study /revision tips

• Always remember the positive reasons for doing homework/ revision (e.g. pride, satisfaction, achievement, self-development, confidence, knowledge, opportunity, job-choice, freedom...... and money).

• Develop a routine and develop the self-discipline to stick to that routine.

• Don't do too much of one subject at the one time.• Take a break - but make sure that you have done something to

deserve it!• Get the least pleasant tasks out of the way first - save the more

interesting activities till last. • Do your homework and revision as early as possible (e.g. from 4pm

till 5pm or 6pm till 7pm) so that you have some leisure time to look forward to.

• Complete homework activities at least a day before the deadline.• Break revision down into manageable segments - it's better to do

small amounts on a regular basis than try to learn it all at once.

The next stage…• Higher entrance grades: credit in

reading and writing elements• 3-4 hours homework per week, outside

class• Ability to work independently• Commitment• Love of literature• Intermediate or Higher over 2 years• Careers and university entrance

Any Questions?