NCEA Results - high expectations a bad thing?

[wharekura]

Depends on the subjects shes doing imo. I'd probably be a little worried as it gets tougher in 6th form/level two (obviously) and if you want her to do well she will need to put in more effort than scraping a pass at level one, which realistically is pretty easy to do (or it was when I did it. They were very generous with credits).

I am thinking that too that she needs to be a bit more serious - so thanks for your comments.

[wharekura]

High expectations? Not a bad thing, but remember to encourage a pathway rather than a destination.

My guideless (stubborn determination is what others call it) in life for my kids is
1. Stay out of trouble (no convictions)
2. Stay off the drugs (there's plenty of legal alternatives)
3. Don't get pregnant until you can support the child

And my 4th is have a career.

Some say things happen for a reason and in some ways because I stuffed up early, it has made me determined to have my 4 points for my lot.

[wharekura]

I got my licence at 15, and yea, at the time I pretty much knew it all

Im 43 and I still know it all, plus a bit more

[wharekura]

I hate giving out advice on things I don't have experience in, but consider having a talk about what your daughter really enjoys doing, what she wants to do with herself

The advice you hated to give is the advice I used last night when the wife and I had the "talk" to said daughter.
What shes wants to do is not what I wanted to hear (sing and go to London to be with One Direction!)
After calming down and much kicking of the ferns in the garden I realised at least she has a goal. I said if this is her true path, then I promised I will take it seriously once I see her on stage for an audition.
All of a sudden, she was nervous.

[wharekura]

...be glad she is not knocking back the Cody's...To be fair, my Dad did then kick me out but hey, everything happens for a reason.

We have a little more class, we drink Chambord thank you very much, and I cant afford 18 bottles of that. I believe things happen for a reason and in similar circumstances as you, hence my post about being stubborn and having high expectations for my kids.

[Gremlin]

What shes wants to do is not what I wanted to hear (sing and go to London to be with One Direction!)
After calming down and much kicking of the ferns in the garden I realised at least she has a goal. I said if this is her true path, then I promised I will take it seriously once I see her on stage for an audition.
All of a sudden, she was nervous.

As you say, she has a goal. Right, support it, get an assessment of her real potential (whether she can actually sing and has a chance). Always good to get behind your child and help them succeed, but on the flip side (and not saying she is one) some kids drift through school, don't bother getting a job, have the cruisy life from mum and dad etc. Heard of one recently, where child is late teens, dropped out of school, parents going through hell as child leaves whenever a confrontation looms, then returns a few weeks later, twists parents around their finger etc. Pretends to get motivated but gives options only to get a rise (singing, corrections officer etc)

Having some sort of recognised qualifications at least keeps some options for them. School is easy when you're mid teens, not so easy trying to gain the same things when you're in your twenties.

Seems you have good policies, now you just have to keep them on the straight and narrow

[TheDemonLord]

The advice you hated to give is the advice I used last night when the wife and I had the "talk" to said daughter.
What shes wants to do is not what I wanted to hear (sing and go to London to be with One Direction!)

Fuck that - Get her a Slayer album and tell her to stop listening to shitty boy bands or you will dis-inherit her

[Banditbandit]

Fuck that - Get her a Slayer album and tell her to stop listening to shitty boy bands or you will dis-inherit her

I'm sure your mommy and daddy think exactly the opposite of your musical tastes.

[Squiggles]

This year will be a surprisingly big step up from her level 1 subjects.

Pass or not, a year 11 pupil still goes on to year 12 the next year. Under the old system, a pupil had to get a minimum result in School Cert to even get into the 6th form.

It's been a while since I've seen a school that will let a student advance in a subject without gaining the level before it. Yes it's theoretically possible to, but is rarely the done thing.

And buy her a present for passing, there's never an age where you shouldn't take an opportunity for some positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is always good.

Having some sort of recognised qualifications at least keeps some options for them.

And that's what it's all about.

[Jantar]

..... Pass or not, a year 11 pupil still goes on to year 12 the next year. Under the old system, a pupil had to get a minimum result in School Cert to even get into the 6th form. .....

...It's been a while since I've seen a school that will let a student advance in a subject without gaining the level before it. Yes it's theoretically possible to, but is rarely the done thing......

A student who does not achieve in level 1 can not advance to level 2 in any subject where that level 1 standard is a pre-requisite. But they can and do still advance to year 12 even if they are still doing level 1 subjects. They can take other level 2 subjects where they do have the pre-requisites.

[HTFU]

Good idea if you want your kid to do well is to ask them each week what they are working on for each subject, how many credits its worth etc. You will find this keeps them honest about the work they should be doing. Don't trust the teachers to push them and motivate them, half are too lazy the other half are too busy. Even sit down with the sprog and go through the student handout they should get for each unit of work. Often they need a kick start from someone who cares to get into the work.

Student - Parent - Teacher - all need to be on the same page about what is being done or not done.

[DrunkenMistake]

A student who does not achieve in level 1 can not advance to level 2 in any subject where that level 1 standard is a pre-requisite. But they can and do still advance to year 12 even if they are still doing level 1 subjects. They can take other level 2 subjects where they do have the pre-requisites.

^^ this is pretty much it.

Normally with NCEA you either have exams or internal assessments,
Occasionally someone will just Achieve Level 1 and may have worked their ass off all year but all it came down to was failing exams,
some people are just no good at them,
Normally if that is the case when you go onto Level 2 they tend to put those kids into classes that focus more on internal assessments to get their credits.

works for some and doesnt work for others, so long as your kid passes I would be happy just make sure they pull finger in the subjects that matter to their future career

[wharekura]

Good idea if you want your kid to do well is to ask them each week what they are working on for each subject, how many credits its worth etc. You will find this keeps them honest about the work they should be doing. Don't trust the teachers to push them and motivate them, half are too lazy the other half are too busy. Even sit down with the sprog and go through the student handout they should get for each unit of work.

This is what we do. I email teachers for progress if there are problems. I follow up on those lovely teachers that don't bother, with phone calls and offers of visits - this tends to work.
Thanks to online results at Hamilton Girls', we keep a close eye progress.

The hard part is trying to help with their homework on things I no shit about, like knowing what an angle of a triangle is based on certain things. Another hard thing is giving opinionated views when asked on topics such as politics (e.g. the Israel - Arab 7 day war)

[Ocean1]

This is what we do. I email teachers for progress if there are problems. I follow up on those lovely teachers that don't bother, with phone calls and offers of visits - this tends to work.
Thanks to online results at Hamilton Girls', we keep a close eye progress.

That sounds like a good idea. Certainly better than the hoops we had to jump through to talk to teachers about problems.

The hard part is trying to help with their homework on things I no shit about, like knowing what an angle of a triangle is based on certain things. Another hard thing is giving opinionated views when asked on topics such as politics (e.g. the Israel - Arab 7 day war)

Heh. But you gota do the help thing. And doing it properly means showing her some of that stickability you've been telling her all about. So suck it up and learn some basic trig with her, it'll do you as much good as it will her.

[HTFU]

The hard part is trying to help with their homework on things I no shit about, like knowing what an angle of a triangle is based on certain things. Another hard thing is giving opinionated views when asked on topics such as politics (e.g. the Israel - Arab 7 day war)

For the hard stuff use youtube or Khan Academy etc. Heaps of good tutorial videos to work through. Keep them from hibernating into the bedroom with a device. Sit down at a good work station and watch the videos together and then apply the knowledge. Well worth the investment. Good on you for caring.