2014 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[aamama]

Lucky for those kids where CCA is not compulsory.

My dd loves her CCA and I’ll let her go for it. It’s a de stressing time for her. But then it’s SYF this year so how "destress" can she be? Haha!
She stays back twice a week for CCA alone. Plus 2x supp, with tuitions or piano class taken up 4x a week. We barely hv time for revisions. We end the day daily only clearing school HWs!!! Tuition HWs also need to do. No time for revisions. Sigh! I honestly wonder what’s the purpose of going for supp, end school day late still need to do HW.
My lil girl - P2 suffer with me also. We don’t stay near the school so fugitive life everyday.
Btw, just asking around experienced mummies here. Can list down the pros n cons of sending kids to their classes on weekends. Now for my older girl, all her classes are on weekdays, weekends was left for 1 tuition in the morning. But I see how "rushed" we are on weekdays now. So thinking if for my younger girl I should push all her classes to weekends instead.

[iFirefly]

thankgod:

mine is snake tail with horse head leh! hopefully still can gallop ...

No worries.. Hybrids are amazing 'creatures'.. 有特异功能。。

[sleepy]

aamama:

Lucky for those kids where CCA is not compulsory.

My dd's schedule has been jam packed since p4. I told her if she chose to sign up for CCA, she would basically be camping in school the entire week and we won't have sufficient time to cuddle. She didn't object to me opting her out of CCA at p4

School is understanding enough not to insist on compulsory CCA as they are already required to stay back in school twice to thrice a week. She took CCAs during p1 to p3 though. Tried cello, chinese chess, guzheng.

aamama:

Btw, just asking around experienced mummies here. Can list down the pros n cons of sending kids to their classes on weekends.

I arrange tuition on Fri and Sat only. At least there's Sunday to catch up on whatever school homework or tuition homework.

[umaisarah]

I prefer weekends where I can keep an eye on the tutor too but my DD prefer weekdays. She stays back aft school 4x a week for supp n CCA. Happen to b the tutor is avail on the weekday she doesn’t stay back so it’s all working out. Good thing her supp ends at 3:30 n the teacher doesn’t gv supp h/w so her evenings are basically free to do normal h/w. My girl is the happy-go-lucky sort so she’s not stressed AT ALL. Which makes me worried bcos secondary school life is v hectic based on what I see my older DDs go thru.

[2bbtang]

aamama:

Lucky for those kids where CCA is not compulsory.

My dd loves her CCA and I'll let her go for it. It's a de stressing time for her. But then it's SYF this year so how \"destress\" can she be? Haha!
She stays back twice a week for CCA alone. Plus 2x supp, with tuitions or piano class taken up 4x a week. We barely hv time for revisions. We end the day daily only clearing school HWs!!! Tuition HWs also need to do. No time for revisions. Sigh! I honestly wonder what's the purpose of going for supp, end school day late still need to do HW.
My lil girl - P2 suffer with me also. We don't stay near the school so fugitive life everyday.
Btw, just asking around experienced mummies here. Can list down the pros n cons of sending kids to their classes on weekends. Now for my older girl, all her classes are on weekdays, weekends was left for 1 tuition in the morning. But I see how \"rushed\" we are on weekdays now. So thinking if for my younger girl I should push all her classes to weekends instead.

Hi!

My son has tuition for 3 subjs. HMT, Math and Eng.
2 Tuitions on Sat and
1 tuition on 1 weekday (the only free weekday when no supp or CCA)
Supp classes 3 days a week.
CCA once a week.

Is weekends tuition better? Hmmm... I guess its very individual. Depend on the school / class or the students.
Also, its too tiring to have tuition after supp class..and he will not have time to do any homework from school should he have tuition on weekdays. He prefer Saturday to have tuition.

Sunday = FREE Day. Church in the morning. the entire afternoon till evening is free for him.

My son as compare to his other friends from school. His class are given the most homeworks. Almost every day, will be given homeworks (full revision exam paper practice = 1 or 2 sets per day). Standard exam paper is about 1h 20 or 1hr 50min to complete. :scared:
Thank God, only HMT tuition has hw given, the other 2 tuitions no homeworks. Otherwise, I really cannot imagine how he can cope.

One thing I really admire my son. He really got high endurance! He always wanted to clear the HW given on the same day if possible. Even though by the time he reached home is already 5pm, shower, dinner and short rest. By 7pm, he will start his homework. On good days, he can complete at around 9pm or 10pm, worst night, will be around 11.30pm or even 12midnight. Even though I told him to sleep early. He just refuse. He say, if I don't complete now.. hw will be accumulate so much by then, I don't think I can even finish everything. I feel that he is feeling \"burnt out\" / tired. All I can do for him, is remind him to take breaks, prepare snacks for him....

Haiz... sad. But praying that God will see and carrying him thru these time!

[SpartanMum]

Reading these latest posts and looking at my son just confirms my belief that it's no fun being an upper primary kid in SG :sad:

Then again, as a parent I do have the choice to stop all the tuition and settle for less...

[sharonkhoo]

SpartanMum:

Reading these latest posts and looking at my son just confirms my belief that it's no fun being an upper primary kid in SG :sad:

Then again, as a parent I do have the choice to stop all the tuition and settle for less...

You may be surprised - there is a possibility that giving up tuition may actually improve his results? He will have more time to do targeted study, less distractions (because tuition and tuition hw can be a distraction), he may be more focused and responsible in schoolwork because he knows that there is no tutor to bail him out, and he will be more rested and better able to absorb. My daughter had me and my husband as resources at home during her PSLE year (but I did not study with her or hover over her), no tuition, and only attended supp class for 1 subject in school. She had sufficient time to study, rest and play (and did well in the end).

[sharonkhoo]

umaisarah:

I prefer weekends where I can keep an eye on the tutor too but my DD prefer weekdays. She stays back aft school 4x a week for supp n CCA. Happen to b the tutor is avail on the weekday she doesn't stay back so it's all working out. Good thing her supp ends at 3:30 n the teacher doesn't gv supp h/w so her evenings are basically free to do normal h/w. My girl is the happy-go-lucky sort so she's not stressed AT ALL. Which makes me worried bcos secondary school life is v hectic based on what I see my older DDs go thru.

I think you should feel happy that your daughter can do all that and still not be stressed. It shows that her capacity is high, which should make her sec school years less stressful too.

[SpartanMum]

slmkhoo:

SpartanMum:

Reading these latest posts and looking at my son just confirms my belief that it's no fun being an upper primary kid in SG :sad:

Then again, as a parent I do have the choice to stop all the tuition and settle for less...

You may be surprised - there is a possibility that giving up tuition may actually improve his results? He will have more time to do targeted study, less distractions (because tuition and tuition hw can be a distraction), he may be more focused and responsible in schoolwork because he knows that there is no tutor to bail him out, and he will be more rested and better able to absorb. My daughter had me and my husband as resources at home during her PSLE year (but I did not study with her or hover over her), no tuition, and only attended supp class for 1 subject in school. She had sufficient time to study, rest and play (and did well in the end).

Ah ... Slmkhoo if only this was applicable to my DS. My DS is a responsible boy but he definitely needs tuition to help him -1) teacher at school confuses him 2) he is not terribly self-motivated 3) I cannot help him in the 2 subject s he has tuition for.
When I did try leaving him to do his own studying ...the results were disastrous. Despite this... I am trying again this year for CA1... He's got to start sometime...

Just goes to show, every child is different.

[janet88]

sleepy:

Already opt out of CCA since p4.

CCA not compulsory

Need stay back in school twice to thrice a week so no time to indulge in any CCA

CCA is not compulsory in primary school...if the child is not part of SYF, then he/she will have more time to revise and rest. son didn't participate in CCA in primary school.