Bypassing breakfast?

During sleep your metabolism slows and pulse rate decreases but you still use energy in breathing, digesting food and other metabolic processes.  Breaking the fast means to eat after a period of time with no food intake. You need breakfast to get the body up and running. Research shows that students who fail to have breakfast also drop grades.  Breakfast can be fruit, nuts, cereal, toast, bagels, eggs, fuul and other forms of beans, lean meat. It can be as simple as a milk-shake and as quick as un-zipping a banana.

Do you eat breakfast each morning   Yes/No

Are you properly hydrated?

Let's not go overboard. Putting a bottle of water on every pupil’s desk will not produce high test scores; but there are optimal hydration levels for learning. 

• Water comprises more of the brain (90%) than any other organ of the body.

• Fruit juices, soft drinks, coffee and tea are all diuretics (encourage the body to pass water). When the first stage of dehydration occurs, we are not aware of it. Typically we display a restless, active state of scattered attention. During the second stage of dehydration we become aware of it, but we are often too slowed down to take action on it. We get lethargic and slow minded.

• A glass every hour should do it unless it is very hot.  Students are welcome to bring in a water bottle, which can be refilled using the water dispensers.

Do you drink enough water?               Yes/No

Is your body tuned-up for learning or are you a couch potato?

Exercise increases the amount of oxygen circulating and that includes to the brain.  There is a mass of research going on to see what the long term effects of regular exercise are (every other day), but the indication is that it has a role in maintaining the nervous system.  Brain-breaks between study periods should include some aerobic exercise. After this you may well find that what was difficult to learn just falls into place!

Do you take regular aerobic exercise?          Yes/No

How organised is your study area at home?

Complete the checklist:

Can you work undisturbed by other members of the family?                                                Yes/No

Do you have a desk or table that is just for your use?                                                            Yes/No

Do you have a full pencil case to use just at home on your desk?                                        Yes/No

Do you have shelves for labelled folders for each subject?                                                   Yes/No

Are your folders organised into topic areas?                                                              Yes/No

Do you have a pin-board or a white board?                                                             Yes/No

Have you pinned up: 

your homework schedule?                              Yes/No

your timetable and a list of items you need for each day?                                                    Yes/No

key words for each subject?               Yes/No

learning objectives as you study for each topic?                                                       Yes/No

Are you in the right mind-set for learning?

• Studying is not easy and you need to ensure that you are feeling positive about it.  It is a really good idea to have a regular time each day put aside for homework.

• You should set targets to work for 30 minutes on clearly identified tasks and then take a 5 minute brain-break between each 30 minute slot.

• Brain-breaks should be pleasurable – listening to favourite music, taking a snack, stretching and taking exercise.

• Tackle the difficult work first – get it out of the way so that you can mentally tick it off the list.

• If you are worried or upset imagine that you place those concerns in a box and close the lid. Open the box after your work is finished and talk about your concerns with someone.

• Do you understand how emotions can influence learning?                                      Yes/No

What did you score?                           /15

Name:______________ is ready for learning. 

Parental signature:    

Learning Skills at NCBIS

"I have six lessons to teach the children. What they learn is up to them"

Nanny McPhae (from the film Nanny MacPhae).

NCBIS places a high priority on the learning skills of its students. As teachers we seek to equip you with the tools you need to learn effectively in your time at school and in future studies.

Brain Friendly Learning

This means using your brain in the most effective way. This is not just using your preferred learning style wherever possible but also making sure you are clear about what you are learning, how it connects to what you have previously learnt and that you are taking opportunities to practise what you are learning to "save" the information to your brain.

Homework

Homework is important for all students to ensure they maximise their learning and become active and independent thinkers.  A homework timetable will be distributed to all students in Key Stage 3 at the beginning of the academic year.

Homework will be given each day and should be recorded in their planner.

Homework can take many forms so even if it is a reading task it must be written down and homework completed thoroughly.

Homework must be finished by the deadline. 

Homework and study should take place in a quiet venue with good lighting and a desk.

In KS3 & 4 homework must be checked by a parent or guardian and planner signed once a week to acknowledge this has been done.

Homework Guidelines

Year 7, 8 & 9    1-2 hours, 4 nights a week plus 2-4 hours at the weekend.

Year 10 & 11    2-3 hours, 4 nights a week plus 4-6 hours at the weekend.

Year 12 & 13    1 hour minimum for every double lesson of contact time.

Students can expect the workload to rise in the period leading up to exams.

Assessment, recording and reporting

At NCBIS we provide a number of opportunities to make progress reports to students and parents.

Parents' Consultation Evenings

There are two parents' consultation evening for each year group every year and two written reports. We hope parents will make it a high priority to meet with their child's teachers on these occasions. Students are all strongly encouraged to attend parents’ evenings.

Grade Reports

All year groups receive two short grade reports during the year, the first one for all years reporting on first half term. Grade reports grade both achievement and effort.

Written reports

All year groups receive one full written report during the year. As well as the usual achievement and effort grades, a written comment covering strengths, areas for improvements and specific improvement targets will be made for each subject. These reports are issued mid way through the academic year to allow students time to meet their targets and improve their work. This is a formative report which will give students the information they need to improve their work.

Years 7 – 10 will also receive a shorter written report at the end of the year. Teachers will comment on the end of year exam performance and the progress made towards meeting the targets set earlier in the year. This is an end of year summative report which summarises achievement throughout the year.

Key reporting dates for the academic year 2008-2009 are as follows:

Assessment for Learning

Are you clear about what you are learning? Do you know whether your work is good enough – before your teacher marks it? Do you think of answers to questions – even if the teacher is asking someone else in the class? Do you go back and improve work that your teacher has marked? Do you apply your teacher's advice of how to improve future work?

Assessment for learning will teach you how to answer yes to all these questions!

Academic Honesty

We expect all students to follow the school's academic honesty policy. This means that all work submitted should be your own personal work and that any information sources you used are fully referenced. In particular you should not "cut and paste" information from the internet or copy it directly from a text book and then submit it as your own work. Year 7 -9 receive a weekly information literacy lesson to teach the skills you will need to research and present information in the 21^st century.

Classroom Expectations

It is the goal of NCBIS to provide a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and to offer opportunities in which all students may realise their academic potential. Therefore you are expected to:

• arrive to class on time

• enter and leave classes in a quiet and orderly manner

• get your equipment out straight away and then place your bag neatly on the floor, safely out of the way

• obey the specific safety rules displayed in practical rooms and science laboratories

• sit in silence when waiting for the teacher to begin the lesson, when the teacher is talking and whenever the register is being called

• put your hand up before talking or moving from your place

• tidy the tables and chairs at the end of each lesson, ensure that no rubbish has been left behind and then wait silently to be dismissed by the teacher

• you should not deface your planner or exercise books

Equipment for Lessons

All students should have the equipment listed below with them for all lessons. It cannot be borrowed during exams.

• pens (a variety of colours)

• pencils

• pencil sharpener

• eraser

• 30cm ruler

• calculator (must be “scientific” for Year 9 upwards, but not programmable or graphical, as these cannot be used in exams)

• protractor, set squares and compasses

• colouring pencils

• glue stick

• small pair of scissors

Presentation of work

We want you to be proud of the work that you produce. In order to gain credit for your knowledge and ideas, your work must be set out clearly and legibly. If your work is well-presented it will also be much easier for you to use when you come to revise.

Some subjects may have particular requirements but, in general, your teachers will ask you to follow these guidelines for presenting written work:

• write the date in the top left corner

• write a title for your work

• underline all dates and titles with a ruler

• use the margin for any numbering or lettering of questions

• use blue or black pen for the main body of your work

• use pencil to draw diagrams, but label in pen

• make sure homework tasks are titled “homework”

• always ensure your writing is legible, even if making notes or producing a draft.

Use of ICT Facilities

Students are responsible for good behaviour on the Internet just as they are in a classroom or at break time. Access to network services will only be provided to those students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.

Irresponsible use includes, but is not limited to:

• Any illegal activity

• Sending or displaying offensive messages and pictures

• The use of chat rooms

• The sending of anonymous messages or chain letters

• Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks (for example, by the creation, introduction or spreading of computer viruses, physically abusing hardware, altering software settings etc.)

• Using E-mail or social networking sites to harass, attack or insult others (including sexism and racism). Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person

• Using the Internet for financial gain or for any commercial activity

• Revealing home phone numbers, addresses, or other personal information

• Vandalism of Hardware and Software

• Using profanity, obscenity, or other language which may be offensive to another user

• Unauthorised access (including the use of other peoples’ passwords)

• Violating Copyright Laws (for example, downloading copyrighted games, music or films)

• Plagiarising – In other words, the taking of someone else’s words, ideas, or findings and intentionally presenting them as your own without properly giving credit to their source

• Accessing, downloading, storing, or printing files or messages that are sexually explicit, obscene, or that offends or tends to degrade others

• Playing or downloading on-line games, music and films (unless they are for educational purposes and in line with the rest of this policy)

• Downloading attached files from a user you are not familiar with. Viruses can be transmitted this way

• Ordering any material over the Internet

 Network Use

• Under no circumstances are pupils to use someone else’s password and user name to gain access to the network.

• When accessing the network users must NOT:

• Violate copyright laws (for example, using the network to distribute videos, music or games) or use the network for unapproved commercial activity.

• Access another user’s folders, work or files.

• Use the name/password of another user.

• Use offensive language.

• Receive, send, copy or display offensive messages or pictures.

• Use computer systems to threaten, scare or bully any other member of the school.

• Violations of the above rules may result in a temporary or permanent ban from the facilities. ICT labs should be kept tidy.

Referencing and bibliographies

References should be presented in alphabetical order by author’s surname (or first author surname for multiple authors).  In a report or dissertation you may be asked to produce two lists of books:

• References - A list of books that you refer to in the text.

• Bibliography - A list of other relevant books.

General format for books:

Surname[s] of author[s], Initial[s]. (Year). Title:  Place of publication: Publisher.

Newspapers and magazines may occasionally need to be referenced, but bear in mind the quality of the newspaper or magazine being read. The format is much the same as for journal articles, except that the full date of the issue is required

Quotations

A quotation reproduces in your work the actual words a writer uses. You should, therefore, take care to copy accurately.

If you copy the actual words a writer uses you should both: put the words in quotation marks   "  " and give a reference.

Electronic Sources of Information

Web pages, like book pages, will need referencing in your essays. And, as with books, you should prepare for this as you read them, by writing down the details that you will need. It is a good idea to record the following:

The web address. e.g.
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/refer.htm

The author. This is not always available

The title. This is usually at the top of the page.

The organisation The page may be on the site of an organisation like a university, a company, or a society.

Any page date. Sometimes pages have the date that they were last updated on. It may be at the top or bottom.

Access date. This is the date you looked at the page. Take a note of it.

Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of books. In the bibliography to an essay you list the books and articles which you consulted in preparing the essay. You must include all those you quoted from or referred to. You can also include ones that you consulted but did not mention but, usually you just include the works that you quoted from or referred to.