The Study Sessions: from The Study Buddy

Boys? Well, they're just lazier than girls / don’t try as hard / procrastinate more / need to run around and let off steam. These are some very obvious stereotypes about teen boys that we could call on. And most of us would recognise at least one or two traits in sons – and perhaps other males in your life. Afterall they are stereotypes for a reason: they come up time after time. But there has to be more to it than dismissing an inability to knuckle down to study with the age-old “boys will be boys” retort. Especially if we want them to do well in an increasingly competitive world.

This week's episode explores some perceptions of studying amongst boys. 

The Study Buddy founder, Nathan McGurl talks with Mark Roberts. Mark is the Assistant Principal at a mixed comprehensive school in Devon, an English Teacher, author of “You Can’t Revise for English GCSE: Yes you can!” and co-author of “Boys Don’t Try: Rethinking masculinity in schools” with Matt Pinkett.

Mark explains why we should care about the attainment gap at this age, and what it means to boys as they move through adolescence. We talk about the dangers of perpetuating stereotypes and how parents can make positive reinforcements to encourage their reluctant teens to study.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

We want our children to do well. Teachers want their students to achieve their potential. And I’ve never met a student that is actively trying to fail. Given that we all want the same thing, you’d think that the relationship between the three parties would be harmonious and collaborative. But sometimes those bonds could do with strengthening. 

This week's episode is looking at the relationship between Parents, Teachers and Students.

Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy is joined by Russell Hobby. Russell is the Chief Executive of teacher training organisation Teach First – whose stated mission is to unlock the potential in all our children, not just some. Prior to joining Teach First Russell was General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers.

Russell explores the changing role and function of teachers, the vital role that they - and schools - play beyond disseminating facts and figures, what to do if the teacher/student relationship falters, and how parents and teachers can work together in the best interests of the student.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

When it comes to most exam subjects, it seems fairly automatic that revision – for GCSEs at least - is mostly about ways you can retain facts and figures. For many revising English Literature mostly comes down to creating a bank of quotes. And all to often, preparing for English Language is an afterthought on the basis “I speak English, what’s to revise?”. But given that Maths and English Language are often required passes for further education, there must be more to it than that. 

This week we are looking at revising for English.

Nathan McGurl, founder of The Study Buddy is talking with Jennifer Webb. Jenny is currently Assistant Head at a large inner-city comprehensive school in Leeds, and has been a Head of English. She’s a blogger, speaker and author of “How to Teach English Literature: Overcoming Cultural Poverty” and recently “Teach like a Writer”.  Jenny also delivers professional development sessions to hundreds of teachers every month.    

Throughout this episode, Jenny offers insights around the significance of English Language as a subject and a skill. She explores the opportunities to excel in English Literature. And shares clear, practical tips on how to help teens do well in their exams. 

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

As parents we’re often confronted with situations where our teens will tell us, “I just don’t know how to” or “I’m just no good at remembering this”. From our own experiences too, we might have found that we’ll recall some things very easily even from childhood – the rhyme about Henry VIII’s wives – but other things seem to slip through or harder to grasp – what those wives names were. Is there a way that we can help our young people – and possibly ourselves – to better recall the information we’re told?

This week we are looking at Retrieval Practice. This is a phrase that is being used a lot by teachers and educators, although many of us parents may not have come across it. Today’s guest defines it as the act of recalling learned information from memory and in doing so make the original memory stronger.

In this episode The Study Buddy Founder, Nathan is talking with Kate Jones. Kate is Head of History at The British School Abu Dhabi in The United Arab Emirates. Kate is also the author of the highly acclaimed “Retrieval Practice” and excitingly soon to release “Retrieval Practice 2”. If that weren’t enough, she regularly speaks at international educational conferences, provides training to educators the world over and has a podcast “The Love To Teach” and manages her dedicated teaching and learning blog lovetoteach87.com

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com 
Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions. 

We know what we need to do to be better at something. Just work a little smarter, procrastinate a little less, start a little earlier, stop checking the phone so much. It’s clear. It makes sense. And it’s for our own benefit. So why then can it be so difficult to make these seemingly simple changes to the way we approach things- and, of course, how our teens approach their studies?

In this episode Nathan McGurl is talking about habits and behaviours with Shahroo Izadi. Shahroo is a Behavioural Change Specialist and bestselling author of The Kindness Method, an internationally published book on habit-change.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com

Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

We all have different ways of coping with – if not managing – stress. Perhaps it's the variety of situations we’ve experienced that make us more or less adept to managing pressure. But our young people have had limited opportunity to experience or deal with the kinds of pressure they now find themselves under. So just how can we practically help them to learn how to cope for themselves when we’ve typically tried to solve their problems in the past?

In this episode The Study Buddy's Founder is joined by Homework Guru, Omari Eccelston-Brown. We are looking at the impact that uncertainty and attitudes to 'failing' can have on young people. Omari shares stress busting tips to help our teens to stay centred and practical tips on how parents can approach this important topic.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com

Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

This year’s GCSE and A-Level students are suffering with a double whammy. They’re facing into future looking questions while also worried about catching up. That’s an awful situation to be in but does that mean it has to be a hopeless one?

In this episode The Study Buddy's founder, Nathan McGurl, is talking to Dylan Wiliam about this year’s exams. Given the uncertainty we consider alternatives as well as some practical guidance for parents when it comes to supporting their teens.

In a wide ranging conversation Dylan talks about the purpose and need for assessment and the shortcomings and upsides of different approaches. He  draws on years of working in a multitude of roles in the UK and also the US. He also gives practical advice to those facing exams this year, touching on retrieval methods and growth mindset.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com

Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions. 
 

Sometimes it can seem like teens get pushed through a cookie cutter template. But it’s important to remember they are all individuals. Each young person is unique and will approach things in a different way. 

We seem to have comfortably adopted a view that ‘normal’ exists - albeit within certain parameters. And this is how we have structured the mainstream system. But how does that work for those who are further away from ‘average’? And importantly what can ‘mainstream’ learn from those outliers?

In this episode we’re thinking about Autism, Special Education Needs – the impact that it has on those young people and what lessons there might be for all parents when it comes to supporting their teens. Nathan is joined by parent, Justine and Autism and SEN experts, Lynn McCann of Reach ASC and Georgina Durrant founder of the SEN Resources Blog.

We hear about the importance of flexibility, experimentation and above all of communication between parents, teachers and the young person. 

While this episode is focused explicitly on SEN, and especially Autism, it is important to note that these young people will likely find themselves confronted with the same kinds of issues as their ‘neurotypical’ peers. The significant difference is that their reactions and experiences may be amplified. However the approaches we take with these teens should shine a light on how we might better support all teens in their studies.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com

Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

We’ve all been in a situation where we have something that we need to do, but can’t quite bring ourselves to get on with it. Whether it’s cleaning the car, tackling the under-stairs cupboard or sorting out insurance renewals, there are some things that are difficult to get enthusiastic about. And that’s so often the case with teens and studying.

In this episode Nathan McGurl, founder of the Study Buddy, talks to Sam Strickland, Principal at The Dunston School, and VESPA Mindset's Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin, co-authors of "A Level Mindset", “GCSE Mindset” and more recently “The Student Mindset”.

We explore the foundations of good motivation and also some of the tactics and strategies that might help you to find what drives your young person. Importantly we find out the difference between activating and sustaining motivators.

For more information about The Study Buddy's approach to time management and study skills visit thestudybuddy.com


Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.

In this episode Nathan McGurl talks to Barnaby Lenon and Iain Kilpatrick about how best to approach the year that will have to end in a 'grade' for GCSE and A-Level pupils. 

The discussion looks both at the practicalities of the year for GCSE and A-Level students in 2021 and also at the purpose of exams. We also look at the role that teachers can - and perhaps should - play in any assessments that could take place for the summer results.

In our conversations this week, all of our students were actually reasonably happy to be back at school. They quite missed the routine and the structure. Although many would, I'm sure, prefer an extra hour or two in bed in the morning! They've also coped well with the new safety measures and grappled one-way systems! 

Where we found quite a stark difference between them was in preparation for – and consciousness of – what needed to be done to be ready for the exams.

For more information about The Study Buddy and it's approach to managing study and revision, visit www.thestudybuddy.com

Produced by Pineapple Audio Productions.