Zhangde Primary

[belle_116]

Just collected the report books of my DDs (P3 & P5) and sadly, they did badly for their Science and Maths. Can anyone share how to improve on these 2 subjects?

[kwcllf]

belle_116:

Just collected the report books of my DDs (P3 & P5) and sadly, they did badly for their Science and Maths. Can anyone share how to improve on these 2 subjects?

For Science,

It is important to grasp the concepts and know how to apply them. It is no good enough just reading and studying the textbook or supplementary books bought from outside bookshop. One way to improve is to practise other Primary schools' test papers and get them the exposure. This will help them apply the concepts in different situations and angles. Sometimes, questions are \"twisted\" in different ways and to answer them, the students must be able to apply the concepts.

For Maths,

It is important to know the basics in solving the problem sums. As students progress, they should move away from the Model method to the Unit method, in my opinion (of course, if people who are comfortable with \"Model\" method, then they should chose the method that best suit them). But from experience with my DS who is now in Sec 1 and who got A* for Maths at his PSLE, \"Model\" method is not efficient. Of course, there is no cure for practice and exposure to the many different types of problem sums.

Not sure which classes are your DC in. If they are in the top 2 classes, I think that the school should cater differently to the different abilities. I am not saying that students outside the top 2 classes should have lower expectation. But, I feel that the school push to attain higher standards for every levels and all the students.

I have a DD in P4 and during PTC yesterday, I brought up to the form teacher that there are simply not enought maths problem sums exposure, and this is VERY WORRYING.

The Principal has been saying she would do something and she was aware that previously, a group of parents (when my DS was in P4 and now in Sec 1) met with the previous principal and HODs to implement strategies to uplift the school's overal standards (which is awful) in the PSLE. The new principal said she knew of the series of meetings but needed time to implement new programs. Now that she is in for almost 2 years, I don't see anything concrete.

Perhaps, as parents, we should organise another group to \"confront\" the principal and get her to do something (and fast) to improve school's standard.

[qms]

kwcllf,


Your boy graduated from Zhangde? So, how would you rate Zhangde’s Chinese standard?

[kwcllf]

qms:

kwcllf,


Your boy graduated from Zhangde? So, how would you rate Zhangde's Chinese standard?

It is a difficult question to answer. My DS took HMT in last year's PSLE and got a \"Merit\". For his cohort, those taking HMT got 100% pass rate and about half \"Distinction\". So, this is not bad and the teacher is Ms Chia.

But on the other hand, it depends ALOT on the quality of the teacher our DC ended up with (So really tikam, tikam). When my DD was in P3 last year, she had an adjunct Chinese teacher and she gave tuition outside alot (I know this as a fact becos I accidentally found out that my DS' former classmates in P6 engaged her).

What this means is that my DD had hardly or ZERO homework everyday. We brought up to the principal and at the start after SA1, she wa no longer in the school. But her replacement teacher was also terrible (I don't want to identitify her in public domain). She is in her early or mid-thirties, I think, and she is still teaching at Zhangde. I find her attitutde not up to standard and during PTC, finds her attitude wanting. My wife and I are not the only one having low regards for her, another couple (parents) I spoke to also felt very let down by her.

But then again, there are some really good teacher. I am glad that my DD, P4 now, is taught by Zhang Laoshi. She was also the teacher that taught some of my DS' classmates (now Sec 1) who were not in HMT. she is very consistent with giving homework and dedicated.

There is another Lady who taught my DS a couple of years back when he was in lower primary, and she is still there (Ms Tng or something). I find that she is enthusiastic about teaching and when I bumped into her last week during my DD's PTC, she could still remember my DS although she taught him only for 1 year.

So about Chinese standard, I cannot really tell. BUT OVERALL, Zhangde is definitely not up to scratch, i personally feel.

[qms]

kwcllf:

It is a difficult question to answer...

http://media.photobucket.com/user/LuvH8/media/Please%20and%20Thank%20You/ThankYou.gif.html for sharing.

How did your son fare in the Normal Chinese compared to the Higher Chinese?

[kwcllf]

qms:

kwcllf:

It is a difficult question to answer...

http://media.photobucket.com/user/LuvH8/media/Please%20and%20Thank%20You/ThankYou.gif.html for sharing.

How did your son fare in the Normal Chinese compared to the Higher Chinese?

He received an \"A\" for Normal Chinese.

[iMeme]

Hi,


I am considering enrolling DD to ZDPS. I used to think ZDPS is rather good as they focus on creating a Happy Learning environment. However, it is slightly worrying that ZDPS PSLE results seem to be below national standards and also not improving for the past3 years. Though I know results are not the only criteria, their stats makes me worried on what could be missing in the current system. I have also seen some of the past posts that the teaching is not sufficient and things like doing homework in school hrs, etc.

Can anyone whose kids are currently studying in the school throw me some light? Perhaps you are able to share on what is good/not so good about the school/current system?

Many thanks in advance!

[mummy of 2]

Hi


My DS is p2 this year. He enjoys going to school and is very motivated in terms of school work.

I like the school’s focus on getting the students to read, contributing to the environment and teaching of values. They have a value that the school focuses on every month.

Academic wise I’m not sure how it compares against other schools. To me it also depends on the child and family support.

Distance is also impt. It takes only 10 minutes for my son to walk home from school compared to 30 minutes to 1 hour for taking school bus.

Hope the above helps. You may also like to go to the open house this sat. If you really have concerns about the school’s psle performance that will be a good chance to speak to the principal.

[kwcllf]

mummy of 2:

Hi


My DS is p2 this year. He enjoys going to school and is very motivated in terms of school work.

Good to hear that. But ultimately, the school needs to prepare the students for the PSLE athough there seems to be an attempt to 'De-emphasise\" the PSLE by MOE. Just hope that the students are adequately prepared when PSLE come around

I like the school's focus on getting the students to read, contributing to the environment and teaching of values. They have a value that the school focuses on every month.

I agree that this is important but not at the expense of academic achievement, as far as I am concerned.


Academic wise I'm not sure how it compares against other schools. To me it also depends on the child and family support.
It is important to have family support and be able to motivate the child. But with the kids spending so much time in school and many parents are working, I believe the school need to be more pro-active academic-wise. Ultimately, this will determined whether our kids can, or cannot, get into a good school. Although MOE always says \"all schools are good\", there are some that are better.

As I have mentioned previously, I am really concerned that the school is not pushing the kids to their full potential. You can see the school's 2012 PSLE statistics here: http://sis.moe.gov.sg/Results.aspx
There is a clear cause for concerns.

Although it is a neighbourhood school, I am sure there are some bright students and I feel that these students should be given the opportnity to excel by putting in place programmes that can bring out their full potential.

Distance is also impt. It takes only 10 minutes for my son to walk home from school compared to 30 minutes to 1 hour for taking school bus.

Hope the above helps. You may also like to go to the open house this sat. If you really have concerns about the school's psle performance that will be a good chance to speak to the principal.

[princesslady]

HI,

my child will be in primary 1 in 2014. i intend to enrol in in zdpr.What do you think my chances are -singaporean and school within 3.5 km from home.please help