2013 PSLE Discussions and Strategy
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buds:
I agree with the HOD teaching is not sth to rejoice until we can confirm this HOD can reach out to our child.Agree with you on the swarming bit. Besides with bigger classes, teachers will definitely find it hard to tailor lessons to benefit students of varying learning styles and/or students who require more time to grasp concepts before application and further stretching/challenging practices. As long as concepts cannot gao tim, students will surely fall behind.
It doesn't help that she had senior teacher to teach Math or was it HOD back in P5.. but the teacher was totally incapable of reaching out to students who were not at \"her level\". ie. The type who is only good at rote-teaching - I say.. you see/hear.. ok, now do! Then, when there were children who asked her to go through again, (which she did encourage)... she will do it but in exactly the same way. Yup, she would still use exactly the same way.. the first way that the students couldn't get because that's the only way she knew. That's why this thing abt HODs or senior teachers teaching classes may not necessarily be a jumping-for-joy news. Some of them can be really engaging because they know the subject well and in depth and have vast experiences working with students of different abilities but there are amongst them who are only good at teaching already smart students. Worst is there are a few who will tell students who aren't up to mark to seek external alternatives. -
Jennifer:
True, Elder DS previously was taught by the HOD, I was so happy. After 6 months, DS didnt improve but result went down the hill for math, ask him why so, he says the teacher is teaching too fast that he couldnt catch up, and thats when I had to engage a tutor for him.
I agree with the HOD teaching is not sth to rejoice until we can confirm this HOD can reach out to our child.buds:
Agree with you on the swarming bit. Besides with bigger classes, teachers will definitely find it hard to tailor lessons to benefit students of varying learning styles and/or students who require more time to grasp concepts before application and further stretching/challenging practices. As long as concepts cannot gao tim, students will surely fall behind.
It doesn't help that she had senior teacher to teach Math or was it HOD back in P5.. but the teacher was totally incapable of reaching out to students who were not at \"her level\". ie. The type who is only good at rote-teaching - I say.. you see/hear.. ok, now do! Then, when there were children who asked her to go through again, (which she did encourage)... she will do it but in exactly the same way. Yup, she would still use exactly the same way.. the first way that the students couldn't get because that's the only way she knew. That's why this thing abt HODs or senior teachers teaching classes may not necessarily be a jumping-for-joy news. Some of them can be really engaging because they know the subject well and in depth and have vast experiences working with students of different abilities but there are amongst them who are only good at teaching already smart students. Worst is there are a few who will tell students who aren't up to mark to seek external alternatives. -
happyheart:
No. I am saying teachers are expected to pass. To do well under a limited time is not guaranteed though. So in that sense, the questions may be set at a higher bar for an average 12 years old. Undeniably, there are kids who can excel but they are really not the majority here. I am of course concerned about my child and I have, in a way come to accept his capabilities for this subject. However, if you read enough of all academic threads, it is not difficult to hear struggling children, starting as early as at P5 despite piles of worksheets, supplementary classes etc. Thanks for your advice, we are looking at the BIG picture here.[/quote]Oops, misread your earlier message :imsorry:
Your child's SA1 paper was so hard that you don't think all school teachers can PASS? :yikes:wonderm:
[quote=\"happyheart\"]That is why I suggested letting the teachers take the papers themselves
(other school's papers) and gauge how well they can do . For teachers, a 100% PASS is expected, it is only how good they fare. My point is..if the school is just testing for the sake of 'waking up' the kids, the principal, HOD and teachers need to be 'woken up' first.
MOE, if you are tracking this thread, please bear in mind at most only 10-20% kids 'wake up' in these circumstances, the other 80% are trying hard...learning 'helplessness' too young too soon!
Don't be too stressed over such one-off unreasonable paper. You can let your child try the other 'top school exam papers' available in the market. As long as he can do well consistently in these papers, he is fine.
Agree that the big picture is more important. -
AdonciaTang:
True, Elder DS previously was taught by the HOD, I was so happy. After 6 months, DS didnt improve but result went down the hill for math, ask him why so, he says the teacher is teaching too fast that he couldnt catch up, and thats when I had to engage a tutor for him.[/quote]My elder boy requested for help in Science after SA1. Luckily we found a tutor whom clicked with him to go thru a crash course in the Jun hols.
I agree with the HOD teaching is not sth to rejoice until we can confirm this HOD can reach out to our child.Jennifer:
[quote=\"buds\"]Agree with you on the swarming bit. Besides with bigger classes, teachers will definitely find it hard to tailor lessons to benefit students of varying learning styles and/or students who require more time to grasp concepts before application and further stretching/challenging practices. As long as concepts cannot gao tim, students will surely fall behind.
It doesn't help that she had senior teacher to teach Math or was it HOD back in P5.. but the teacher was totally incapable of reaching out to students who were not at \"her level\". ie. The type who is only good at rote-teaching - I say.. you see/hear.. ok, now do! Then, when there were children who asked her to go through again, (which she did encourage)... she will do it but in exactly the same way. Yup, she would still use exactly the same way.. the first way that the students couldn't get because that's the only way she knew. That's why this thing abt HODs or senior teachers teaching classes may not necessarily be a jumping-for-joy news. Some of them can be really engaging because they know the subject well and in depth and have vast experiences working with students of different abilities but there are amongst them who are only good at teaching already smart students. Worst is there are a few who will tell students who aren't up to mark to seek external alternatives.
My younger boy was taught by the Maths HOD last year. After CA1, we found out a few pupils did not understand the order of operation. When we bou up the issue with the HOD during the parents-teacher meeting, he was surprised to learn that my boy did not understand. Still can tell us he could not understand why my boy did not do well in CA1. -
:rahrah: I cannot contain my happiness, I have to share with parents here, whom have been listening to my grievances for Maths....I hope sharing this news will not be viewed as being arrogant. I am just so grateful!
My DS whom has not been doing well in MT since P3, scored an 'A' for this SA1!
I am so happy for him because he has proven to himself he can, despite being a potato kid! -
happyheart:
:congrats::rahrah: I cannot contain my happiness, I have to share with parents here, whom have been listening to my grievances for Maths....I hope sharing this news will not be viewed as being arrogant. I am just so grateful!
My DS whom has not been doing well in MT since P3, scored an 'A' for this SA1! I am so happy for him because he has proven to himself he can, despite being a potato kid! -
TheAnswer:
Thank you
:congrats:happyheart:
:rahrah: I cannot contain my happiness, I have to share with parents here, whom have been listening to my grievances for Maths....I hope sharing this news will not be viewed as being arrogant. I am just so grateful!
My DS whom has not been doing well in MT since P3, scored an 'A' for this SA1! I am so happy for him because he has proven to himself he can, despite being a potato kid! 
! I feel that..really important that the child need to taste success to spur them on. It has been a long journey for DS. Although it is not an A* and the BIG picture is still PSLE, he has proven that it is a mission that is difficult but not impossible. Imagine he failed MT last year! I hope that with this, he will have motivation to do likewise for Maths.
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happyheart:
Thank you
:congrats:TheAnswer:
[quote=\"happyheart\"]:rahrah: I cannot contain my happiness, I have to share with parents here, whom have been listening to my grievances for Maths....I hope sharing this news will not be viewed as being arrogant. I am just so grateful!
My DS whom has not been doing well in MT since P3, scored an 'A' for this SA1! I am so happy for him because he has proven to himself he can, despite being a potato kid! ! I feel that..really important that the child need to taste success to spur them on. It has been a long journey for DS. Although it is not an A* and the BIG picture is still PSLE, he has proven that it is a mission that is difficult but not impossible. Imagine he failed MT last year! I hope that with this, he will have motivation to do likewise for Maths.[/quote] :congrats:
Indeed, what children need is encouragement and positive reinforcement. Can feel your joy! -
happyheart:
:congrats: that should boost his confidence! a small step for ds and big leap for mummy. hiphiphooray.:rahrah: I cannot contain my happiness, I have to share with parents here, whom have been listening to my grievances for Maths....I hope sharing this news will not be viewed as being arrogant. I am just so grateful!
My DS whom has not been doing well in MT since P3, scored an 'A' for this SA1! I am so happy for him because he has proven to himself he can, despite being a potato kid! 
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happyheart:
:congrats: I am happy for you. It is easier to score well if children have confidence:rahrah: I cannot contain my happiness, I have to share with parents here, whom have been listening to my grievances for Maths....I hope sharing this news will not be viewed as being arrogant. I am just so grateful!
My DS whom has not been doing well in MT since P3, scored an 'A' for this SA1! I am so happy for him because he has proven to himself he can, despite being a potato kid!
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