How parents can help kids get good exam results.

As a Science teacher of 9 years I have seen a vast number of students that need help lifting their grades. However, parents play no small role in exam success! There is a lot that you can do and to help and guide your child.


It sounds fundamental and it is, but does your child have suitable study guides and books for all the subjects that they are not achieving in? Also you must remind them to use these books not just have them. It sounds silly but don’t make any assumptions. It’s important that they know that different books present topics differently and they make find one book confusing, but another clear as day!


This may be just a library trip away.


Teenagers can be difficult at times and learning about their study habits may be a particularly difficult issue. Especially if they don’t understand the material or haven’t been studying much as they may feel defensive and want to avoid the subject completely. You don’t need to understand their notes but being positive and patient and explaining that you were once a student too might help. The biggest fear here is whether they have notes at all. This is especially important for IB and A Level. Again another fundamental point but many parents are surprised. It’s better to know this earlier.


Study free from distractions. TVs and computers become like magnets to students at this time of year. You can help to make their environment comfortable and more distraction-free.


Rewards and benefits are a bit of double-edged sword at times as values are probably better to instill if children respond. You know your child best. Explaining that better careers, university placements and general prospects come with better grades is obvious but cannot be overstated.


The tendency of young people to be very image-conscious means that studying is not cool and many students are not aware that their classmates are not always honest about how much they study because of this. Tell them. This is important. It may also be important to remind them that school days are fleeting and ‘being cool in school’ will not be relevant or important next year.


Are they taking school seriously? Okay, this one is not a five minute job. If you are a busy parent especially if you frequently spend time away this will take time. Pep talk time! This may be confidence, lack of study skills or lack of motivation or a combination thereof. It’s better to ask more questions here and listen more. If it has gone this far it may be better to be gentler to begin with in order to gain cooperation (and not a rebellious reaction) and commitment on definite goals. You can be firmer on they with these later.


If I haven’t covered the issue and you want some advice or you think they might need tuition just send me a message through the site.


James

Fun and easy Chemistry for kids and parents at home


What is chromatography? It is simply the separation of dyes. It makes wonderfully interesting experiments because its very colourful. It brings science to life! It is also very easy to get all of the

equipment required. You will be able to find it around the house or at a local show apart from coffee filters which you may need a supermarket for.


Materials

Skittles candy

Coffee filter

2 Clean, empty 2-liter plastic bottles

Table salt

pencil

Ruler and scissors

Water

Plate

Procedure

You will need to break down the skittles into smaller pieces and then take the following steps:

 

1. Cut out the bottom of the coffee filter and use a #2 pencil to draw a line about 1 cm from the edges.

2. Using the pencil, create small circles separated by about 5 mm and then label them with the names of the colors (first letter is fine)

3. On a plate, add a drop of water for each color you are using (space them about 1 inch apart) and gently rest the Skittle in the water.

4. Use a toothpick to pick up the water and drop it onto the corresponding pencil dot on the paper filter. Repeat 3 to 4 times or until there is enough pigment to notice significantly then remove the candy.

5. Prepare a salt solution with 1/8 teaspoon of table salt and 3 cups of water and place into a clean, empty large plastic bottle and replace the cap. Shake until dissolved (should be a 1% salt solution).

6. Cut the top off the second plastic bottle. Pour in the salt solution up to 1/2 cm. high, ensuring the level is below the dots, clip the filter paper onto the pencil and lie the pencil across the top of the container.

7. Place the paper into the solution and allow the capillary action to soak the salt solution through the paper. This will separate the dyes from the stationary phase (the paper) into the liquid phase (salt water) creating the mobile phase (movement of the dye in the solution).

8. Once soaked completely, remove the filter and place on a dry, flat surface. Allow to dry.

9. You can view the final colors that separated after the solution has dried on the paper.


Most importantly, have fun doing it!