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Resilience and Study Skills

Departmental approach to the curriculum

Resilience and study skills are the skills we all need to enable us to study and learn efficiently – they are an important set of transferable life skills.

Study Skills are not based on specific subjects but are generic so our students can use them for all areas.

In Year 7 at Rickmansworth, the focus is not only on helping students pass exams, but also on improving their character by supporting them to become more resilient. Resilience in learning, as in life, is about being able to persevere through setbacks, take on challenges and risk making mistakes to reach a goal. Learning from setbacks can empower students with their learning, help them build self-awareness and self-advocacy skills. It can also help them develop new strategies and tools for solving problems, boost their motivation and self-esteem.

Resilience and study skills aims to help students develop a better understanding of themselves and help them improve their ability to study, learn and retain information. Students develop their own personal approach to study and learning in a way that best suits them; through the lessons they will work out what works for them, and what doesn’t. Students learn and understand concepts, theories and ideas in all areas.

Year 7

Our students arrive from a variety of diverse Primary Schools and most have had different experiences in relation to learning Resilience and Study Skills.

Once in every two week cycle, our students are taught one lesson of Resilience and Study Skills. In these lessons they gain a better understanding on how to be more resilient in and out of the classroom. Within these lessons different techniques on study skills are also taught that best suits each individual's needs. These lessons are taught for the whole of their time in Year 7.

During these lessons, students learn the basics and then through activities we expand their knowledge further; some topics are over two lessons. The topics we cover to help them gain a better understanding are:

· A better understanding of Resilience and why we study this within our School

· Thoughts and Feelings

· Thinking Styles – Mind Maps

· Alternatives / Jumping to the wrong conclusion

· Putting into Perspective

· Presentation skills - Techniques

· Assertiveness

· Negotiation

· Coping strategies – Well-Being

· Solving dilemmas

· Skim Reading

· Procrastination

· Revision cards

· Reading techniques

· Tips for dealing with stress

· Decision making

· Problem solving – Organisation / Preparing ahead

Learning all of these techniques helps students to be themselves in a way that they are comfortable. They become more relaxed when it comes to their exams because they have already learnt different techniques to study / revise that best suits their own individual needs. They then use these techniques to help them achieve their aspirations.

All of the above are then taken into their daily lessons and practised within a classroom environment with the subject teachers encouraging them to do so. The students understand the importance of putting what they have learnt into practise in and out of the classroom.

Long Term Curriculum Overviews

Long Term Curriculum Plan - Resilience & Study Skills - Year 7

'The Big Picture' Curriculum Map

'The Big Picture' Curriculum Map

This document will provide a visual overview of the department's curriculum from Key Stages 3 to 5. This is in a student-friendly format to support them in their understanding the of the department's curriculum.

Assessment

Department Assessment Matrix

This document will provide an overview for assessment for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.

Key Stage 3 Judgement Descriptors

This document will give you an overview of the criteria for Emerging, Developing, Secure and Mastery judgements at KS3 for this subject.

How can you help your child succeed in resilience and study skills?

Students gain confidence throughout the lessons. We share lots of experiences within the lessons, students are happy to share sad moments in their lives and also happy moments.

Talking to your child about your own school experience would be a help.

Asking your child about the lessons and try the techniques that they have learnt together would be great conversation starter.