Bear is tired and I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't coming down with whatever awful bug that I'm emerging from. I suspect that has made him a little more stressed than normal. However I can believe him when it comes to school's emphasis on the exams. The first school letter of this school year back in September emphasised that parents should not, under any circumstances, take children on holiday during SATS week. In the last few years bear has come home and told me all about the provisions being made for Yr 6 pupils taking SATS. It's a big deal and bear seems to feel under seige. If bear, who has no issues with confidence, is feeling like this, I wonder how the less confident and possibly less able pupils are feeling.
I'm glad he told us. It meant that DH and I could spend some time reassuring bear and generally talking him down. I'm trying to work out the best way to de-stress the poor lad and DH and I will have a few chats. We'll do some research and ask some questions. I suspect that bear will do fine once he's feeling a little more rested in himself.
In other matters, I've been watching some knitting YouTube videos and apparently you can get yarn made out of the shells of shrimp and lobster. It's in this video at around 36 minutes in. I like to think I have a good imagination, but I would never have looked at the picture below and thought it was a potential sweater, not even a fisherman's guernsey!
I hate all those tests. Some kids get really stressed out with them. I was one of them. Nightmares for weeks before my o'levels. Yuck. I always told my kids to just do their best. For the really big tests there are sometimes opportunities to take again.
ReplyDeleteI've repeatedly told bear that while it's easier to pass the exams first time, there are always other options. It may not be possible to do first choice jobs or courses, but it is never the end of the world. I am going to fight hard to keep the pressure off, but I worry that it's only going to get worse. LM x
DeleteGlad you were able to find out that Bear was stressing over the SATs. I'm sure you'll be able to reassure him. I watched the video - that's very interesting about all the different yarn fibers! Who knew?
ReplyDeleteI love the stuff that lurks around YouTube. There are some real gems. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for commenting LM x
DeleteI hate SATS with a vengence. What's worse is that it's not the children's welfare the school is concerned about but their own league table position. My three all took entrance exams so knew where they were going before the SATS. It was a great releief to tell them the SATS didn't matter a jot, their schools would take no notice of them at all because they'd already passed whatever they needed to pass and their place was assured. Bear is in the same position. He's passed his exams already, just tell him the SATS are for fun and really, really aren't worth worrying about, whatever his teachers say.
ReplyDeleteI agree! It's so unfair on the kids. Bear's school is pretty good (as far as I can tell) but they really to test the tar out of those poor kids. LM x
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