How to Succeed in English - With Gemma Toms

04/24/23 • 37 min

Ep. 46 Whether your teen's aiming for top marks in English, or hates reading and just wants to 'get through English', this episode if for you.
Gemma Toms is our English-Focus Coach, Shakespeare ninja, literature lover and examination extraordinaire.
As well as being an in-demand high school teacher in the UK, she's also an external examiner, lead marker, senior examiner, moderator AND she even works as a professional editor, too (just for fun)!
Here's WHAT YOU'LL LEARN from my conversation with Gemma:

What your teen should do BEFORE they start reading any substantial text they're set (and the two things they should know before they dive in).
Better ways to develop a deep understanding of a novel or play (rather than re-reading it).
How to encourage a reluctant reader.
How to choose the BEST evidence when planning or writing an analytical essay.
What to do (and NOT do) in top responses when aiming to achieve top criteria.
Tips for proofreading and critiquing your teen's writing if they ask you to read over it.
Small edits that will make a BIG difference to final marks in creative or original writing.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
Jump on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

What your teen should do BEFORE they start reading any substantial text they're set (and the two things they should know before they dive in).
Better ways to develop a deep understanding of a novel or play (rather than re-reading it).
How to encourage a reluctant reader.
How to choose the BEST evidence when planning or writing an analytical essay.
What to do (and NOT do) in top responses when aiming to achieve top criteria.
Tips for proofreading and critiquing your teen's writing if they ask you to read over it.
Small edits that will make a BIG difference to final marks in creative or original writing.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
Jump on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

Previous Episode

Building Confidence

Ep. 45
Confidence is a feeling created by thoughts like 'I can do this' or 'I'm good at this sort of thing' or 'I'll be able to figure it out'.
Confidence varies over time and also between different situations.
It can be dented or it can be built and when it comes to your teen's study, some of the best ways I've found to build their confidence is by giving them:
- the knowledge and skills to create success (evidence that they CAN indeed do it!) AND
- do it in a way where they have control and know HOW they created that success.
So they can do it AGAIN.
FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Get on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

Next Episode

Hitting the Top Criteria in Extended Responses

Ep. 47
What's required for the top criteria in extended response exam questions, essays and assignments?
In this Quick Tips episode taken from my recent Facebook Live Q&A + Bonus Tips session, you will learn:

The difference between what's deemed 'Effective' and what's considered 'Skillful' according to marking criteria for assignments,

> PLUS - the nitty-gritty of what 'Skillful' actually requires in your teen's writing.

How to create a 'sustained' and 'strong' extended response or essay.
What QWC is and how to achieve a high mark for it.

>>> See the full replay, including my 30 mins of in-depth answers to the excellent Q's that were asked by a range of parents and students.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
Jump on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

Parents of Hardworking Teens - How to Succeed in English - With Gemma Toms

Transcript

You're listening to the parents of hardworking teens podcast episode 46.
How your teen can succeed in English, even if they hate Shakespeare, don't like reading or are the worst short story writer in the universe... which they can't be, because that's me!

Hi VIPs. I’m so pleased you’re here for this episode, because this is a doozy.
I've just interviewed special guest, Gemma Toms, our English focus coach to share her years and years of experience as not just an in-demand high