Grade Transformation Blog

Grade Transformation Blog

No.1 in Transforming Students’ Grades

Posts filed under Goal setting

Pulling back the curtain on Term 1

As we round out Term 1 your teen has likely had back some assessment results to think about, or noticed along the way that the expectations on them and their work have ramped up a little.

This week I’m digging deeper into what’s going on behind those results and experiences at this specific time of year.

 

As we closed out Term 1 your teen has likely had back some assessment results to think about, or noticed along the way that the expectations on them and their work have ramped up a little.

I’ve had a couple of parents write in to me trying to either figure out why their son or daughter got a certain result that was a little below their expectations or commenting on the fact that their teen has struggled to get to grips with some of the tasks they’ve been faced with, despite going ok with things the year before.

 

Well, this situation is very closely linked to a blog video I made a while ago called ‘what got you here, won’t get you there’ and you can CLICK HERE to check it out 🙂

 

So, let’s say that at the end of last year, a student was performing at a particular level in a particular subject. That was after a year of teaching and learning at that year level’s requirements and standards.

And right now they’re working at the criteria and standards a year above that and with only having had one term of being taught and of learning at that level.

So they have another 2 thirds or 3 quarters of the year to still master these standards and climb up the criteria levels. Of course, the faster they can do that, by working on their exam technique, the quality of their written communication, and developing the learning techniques that are most effective for them personally, the better.

 

So, if your teen has been disappointed by any early results so far, or a little taken aback by new expectations, then hopefully these reasons will help them understand why this might be.

And of course, if they’re doing great, (that’s awesome!) they can still use this video to help them continue to level up throughout the year.

 

See you back here next week, and until then, let’s make this a fantastic week 🙂

Katie

 

P.S.  If you know anyone who might find this blog useful, please feel free to share or forward it 🙂
#sharingiscaring 😉

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Faking it!

We are all told so often these days: “Just be yourself, do things how YOU want to do them”.

But for students, when it comes to their writing style in assessments, they need to do the exact OPPOSITE if they want to achieve their best possible marks.

Discover why I struggled with this myself as a student and why students need to be okay with feeling like a ‘fake’!

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How to get really, REALLY good

To become *really* good at something, what should you do?

Maximise your strengths?

Or work on building your weaknesses?

Well, when it comes to students and their study success,
you’ll be glad to know that I DO have a definitive answer for you
and I share it in this week’s video 🙂

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Here’s why “you don’t know what you don’t know”

You’ve heard that phrase– “you don’t know what you don’t know”, right?

It’s a major reason why many students aren’t getting the results they could be.

So, in this video I want to go into a bit more detail on that

(here comes the science part!) 😉

and explain how it relates to your teen and their study.

 

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Students landing jet-planes

Luckily most of us don’t have thousands of people’s lives in our hands and millions of dollars worth of travel at stake, but students still have a big job to do.

They have their whole futures as well as their mental health and wellbeing at stake and so getting to grips with stress, overwhelm and efficient, effective study is absolutely crucial.

As we get into the swing of Term 1 that feeling of too many things to do and not enough time to do them may well start creeping up on students soon.

Each task needs to get completed to it’s deadline and to the requirements stated and this week I share a great analogy and explanation of this.

 

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100th video celebrations!… How it happened

This is the 100th blog video I’ve made and posted and emailed out to the world.

That’s 100 tips, tricks, insider secrets shared, advice and sometimes just thoughts and reflections on all things related to getting your teen happy, smart and successful.

It’s a huge accomplishment and certainly gives cause for a mini-celebration

#partypoppermoment

but it hasn’t actually felt like or been a huge great project to be completed.

How we got here has been by ‘baby-steps’ and it’s a great way to tackle many ‘mountains’ that students face.

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What NOT to do to achieve those goals

Last week I shared my one word intention for 2018 (well, actually it was two words, but hey).

And this week I’m sharing one of the strategies we can all put in place to help us achieve the goals we set for ourselves.

In fact, it’s not something to put IN place… it’s actually something to STOP doing

(yay – no extras to go on the to-do list!).

Find out what it is aaaaand 2 simple ways to help us to stop falling into this trap!

CLICK HERE to check out my ‘One Window Rule’ video!

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Happy New Year! (And my two words)

Happy New Year!

While I love the energy and potential a new year represents, I’ll be honest and say that I’m not really into New Years resolutions.

I AM big into planning, and setting goals – but the whole concept of new year resolutions just has such a bad reputation for big bold goals the one minute, then seem to be broken within a couple of weeks, so I just kinda avoid the whole thing!

 

But here’s a little challenge I have taken to the idea of.

Firstly because it really makes us think.

And secondly because it ISN’T associated with just one promise.

Watch this week’s video to see what I’m talking about and my intention I’ve set for the year ahead.

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Shadowing a class for a day – what stood out most

Towards the end of last term I worked at a high school shadowing a class for a day.

And you know what really stood out to me?

Not the tasks being set,

Not the teaching strategies,

Clue?…

I’ve tied it in with my festive Santa hat.

Got it yet?

You’ll have to watch this week’s video to find out  🙂

 

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Why your teen might be feeling unmotivated

 

Think for a moment –

How do you feel when you put time, effort and energy into something, only to be rewarded with…

a disappointing outcome.

If you’re anything like me, then there’s certainly those feelings of disappointment and deflation at not getting the reward you were after. But I also think there’s a couple of other things at play here too.

Watch this week’s video to discover what they are.

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