2013 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[JohnYeo]

thehybrid:

Also, can I ask, how many hours a day on average does your child study?

np...i think the average attention span of a kid varies between 15 mins to 30 minutes...and most parents now study together with their children...

maybe a break for every 30 to 40 minutes interval...this relieves the parent off some stress for having to sit there with the kid...

my 2 cents.

[clay569]

JohnYeo:

thehybrid:

Also, can I ask, how many hours a day on average does your child study?

np...i think the average attention span of a kid varies between 15 mins to 30 minutes...and most parents now study together with their children...

maybe a break for every 30 to 40 minutes interval...this relieves the parent off some stress for having to sit there with the kid...

my 2 cents.

In my own situation, I actually spend less time 'studying together' with my child than before. Can sense he's already feeling the heat, my presence would be added stress. I try to stay out of the room and walk by from time to time.

For hours spent on studying, mostly we play by ear. I try to be sensitive to his body language and facial expression. If he looks 'congested', there's no point pressing him to study. I don't know if my approach is too laxed but I don't want him to burn out at this point.

His school gives out mock papers regularly so I try not to load him with past papers but focus on weak/specific areas.

[zeemimi]

I don’t study with my kids. I only help when it is necessary. It is impt for kids to learn how to study by themselves. If the children can only study with the parent around, we become their crutch and they will not learn to study independently.

[clay569]

zeemimi:

I don't study with my kids. I only help when it is necessary. It is impt for kids to learn how to study by themselves. If the children can only study with the parent around, we become their crutch and they will not learn to study independently.

What you shared is true. My other child is like your children. I'm totally hands off and that's the way it should be. However, I think some children take a longer time to learn that independence, like my boy who is borderline hyperactive. Till he learnt the self-control, we had to be around to bring his focus back.

For whichever reason parents have to be studying with their children, it's a matter of time to let go when the time is right. IMHO

[JohnYeo]

clay569 and zeemimi, Thumbs up!


Letting go is the hardest thing to do and you have done it...in fact, interestingly children are more likely to be able to learn how to learn independently once the parent starts to let go...of course, initially, the child may not behave or perform in the manner that the parent has expected...but I feel it is the learning process...

when we were young like them, we too had to learn to feel our way around too...so just be there to guide the child once in a while...

it's like flying kite, let go at times, pull back at times.

my 2 cents.

[Shan]

Are your kids just doing sch/tuition hw now or sch/tuition hw & more?

And are you still bringing your kids out? Wanted to bring him to watch a movie this week but DH said, "Are you sure?..PSLE is just a few weeks away…"

I have to "study" with my DS, that is stay in the same room with him. He is easily distracted…walk around, lie in bed, read a book or comic etc…
He is doing only school & tuition hw (except for Chinese) as he takes a long time to complete it. Eg, 1 Maths paper a week. And he took more than 1 hour yesterday to complete 2 Chinese OE passages(Tuition HW).

[JohnYeo]

Shan:

Are your kids just doing sch/tuition hw now or sch/tuition hw & more?

And are you still bringing your kids out? Wanted to bring him to watch a movie this week but DH said, \"Are you sure?....PSLE is just a few weeks away...\"

I have to \"study\" with my DS, that is stay in the same room with him. He is easily distracted.....walk around, lie in bed, read a book or comic etc....
He is doing only school & tuition hw (except for Chinese) as he takes a long time to complete it. Eg, 1 Maths paper a week. And he took more than 1 hour yesterday to complete 2 Chinese OE passages(Tuition HW).

Hi Shan,

Good morning. Imho, I feel the movie-watching can be part of the study strategy.

Study strategy consists of a few common components like
the actual doing of the questions
the motivation part
the resting part

so movie watching can be a motivation aspect.

You can attached meaning to the movie watching. How?

For example, telling your child this \"I have noticed you have been
working really hard these few days. So I want to reward you by spending
time with you and doing something fun. What about going for your favorite movie?\"

Most people only see the study strategy containing one part which is must always do homework. Actually, motivation n rest are important too and at times, can be even more effective than studying for a too long a period.

John

[Shan]

JohnYeo:

Shan:

Are your kids just doing sch/tuition hw now or sch/tuition hw & more?

And are you still bringing your kids out? Wanted to bring him to watch a movie this week but DH said, \"Are you sure?....PSLE is just a few weeks away...\"

I have to \"study\" with my DS, that is stay in the same room with him. He is easily distracted.....walk around, lie in bed, read a book or comic etc....
He is doing only school & tuition hw (except for Chinese) as he takes a long time to complete it. Eg, 1 Maths paper a week. And he took more than 1 hour yesterday to complete 2 Chinese OE passages(Tuition HW).

Hi Shan,

Good morning. Imho, I feel the movie-watching can be part of the study strategy.

Study strategy consists of a few common components like
the actual doing of the questions
the motivation part
the resting part

so movie watching can be a motivation aspect.

You can attached meaning to the movie watching. How?

For example, telling your child this \"I have noticed you have been
working really hard these few days. So I want to reward you by spending
time with you and doing something fun. What about going for your favorite movie?\"

Most people only see the study strategy containing one part which is must always do homework. Actually, motivation n rest are important too and at times, can be even more effective than studying for a too long a period.

John

Thanks, John. I have this \"picture\" that most of the kids are now at home...studying & studying.
My DS watches TV, play games on phone, etc...and only sit down to do HW when I ask him to & I have to monitor him.

[HAPPYH]

JohnYeo:

Shan:

Are your kids just doing sch/tuition hw now or sch/tuition hw & more?

And are you still bringing your kids out? Wanted to bring him to watch a movie this week but DH said, \"Are you sure?....PSLE is just a few weeks away...\"

I have to \"study\" with my DS, that is stay in the same room with him. He is easily distracted.....walk around, lie in bed, read a book or comic etc....
He is doing only school & tuition hw (except for Chinese) as he takes a long time to complete it. Eg, 1 Maths paper a week. And he took more than 1 hour yesterday to complete 2 Chinese OE passages(Tuition HW).

Hi Shan,

Good morning. Imho, I feel the movie-watching can be part of the study strategy.

Study strategy consists of a few common components like
the actual doing of the questions
the motivation part
the resting part

so movie watching can be a motivation aspect.

You can attached meaning to the movie watching. How?

For example, telling your child this \"I have noticed you have been
working really hard these few days. So I want to reward you by spending
time with you and doing something fun. What about going for your favorite movie?\"

Most people only see the study strategy containing one part which is must always do homework. Actually, motivation n rest are important too and at times, can be even more effective than studying for a too long a period.

John

Yes you are right. Motivation is important. I can see this with my DD.

My DD performs well when I am around (noticed recently). For example, she will look at me after every answer. If I nod my head (means the answer correct), she will move onto the next question and do. If I am not around, she does a lot of careless mistakes. How to fix it?

I asked her to do SA2 maths paper (raffles). She did 7 careless mistakes (7 questions) and 2 really not sure. I sit next to her for the next two Maths papers she did. There was no careless mistake. How? Of course, she was not able to solve three questions. I am fine with that as she can learn them slowly. I talked to her and asked her what could be the reason. She looked at me blank. She told me (after a while) that she feels nervous and she does not feel confident when I am not around. She feels the same during the exam. What can I do to solve this issue? Will appreciate any advice/suggestions.

PS: I really feel exhausted as I could not spare much time to her after work.

[ngl2010]

Shan, my DS has his Me Time 2 hours a day which is spread throughout the day.


My son works slowly too so we (my son and I) make plans on what he needs to finish in a day. If he can finish his work fast, he can have additional Me Time. Btw, I found out that it is ok to spend 1 hour on 2 Chinese Comprehension OE. I also thought it is too long but his Chinese teacher said it is ok.

I encourage him to work on sofa, on bed, on the floor, etc because I myself will feel bored if confined to the desk. I let him walk around the house and jump on the sofa if he needs to read and memorize something.

When he is doing his work, I will mark his work, prepare material for his practice, doing housework and have my own Me Time

Regarding movie during weekend, maybe you want to rent video instead? There won't be time wasted in queuing for tickets and less probability in catching cold/flu spread by other cinema goers.

Edit: DS also naps 1 hour everyday. When he works, I also allow him to have music in the background (he said it is too quiet otherwise).