All About GEP

[KSP]

vlim:

Hi ksp,

the first gep screening test is somewhere before or after ca2, so by preparing for ca2 it somehow 'warm up' the kid brain also for the test... u can also let your kid try a few of the olypmic maths sum which u can bought it at bookstore like Popular..again to warm up your child mathematical brain..but not sure whether it works or not but at least your child has something to work on...for English I think he got to like reading story books which means most likely he will be able to understand 'tricky' or difficult passages. As for general ability test, u may like to google search abt it..u may have a rough idea how it look like but it most likely not the same as what the kid would be taking ......

Thanks for your advice.

[KSP]

Bronzy:

... I think I would go with High Ability Learner ...

I totally agreed with you. Those GEPer are High Ability Learners. Maybe one or two are really geniues.

[CoffeeCat]

KSP:

I'm thinking along the line of just give my child some help.

For the general reasoning section i recommend finding IQ questions (along the line of MENSA). Stuff like finding the next object in a sequence, looking for patterns or analogies (like word a is to word b as word c is to ___).

[CoffeeCat]

KSP:

Those GEPer are High Ability Learners. Maybe one or two are really geniues.

It is interesting to note that On the MOE website they have identified this subset of geppers called Exceptionally gifted. Those are the ones that probably become the top in their respective domains(like international academic olympiads) in the future.

[KSmom8]

syshi:

Glad that your DD school has feedback session. Not for mine though. I'm currently very concern for my DS's Math. I found out that the current GEP Math teacher actually 'skipped' a lot of items which she considered 'not important'. The teacher 'threaten' the boys not to tell their parents about it. I'm thinking of getting external tuition so that hr can cope with those 'missing' items as I find that it's not right for the teacher to just skip any items which are parts of the GEP curriculum. I worried that if I brought this up, my DS will suffer in the hand of the teacher.


The same teacher actually scolded one of the boy 'Kay Poh' just because he tried to take extra worksheet for his sick absent classmate. This was because the classmate's mom asked his help...
When this was told to the P, was told by P that maybe the way the boy asked the question was not right... I believe the P supposed to find out rather than throwing this assumption...

Anybody got suggestion?

Hmmm, perhaps I shouldn't have called it \"feedback session\"...gives the impression that more was discussed. According to DS, the HOD only confirmed with the students whether there was too much homework and discussed with them the possible reasons why they might not have time to do the homework (e.g. too many enrichment classes, etc). Don't know how he reached this conclusion but DS came home and told me that enrichment classes of non-academic nature were not important. Don't know the reason for the 'discussion' - perhaps a parent had complained. DS' classmates used to call him quite often in the evenings and at night to ask about homework... so I know that he is not alone. Anyway, homework is now mainly worksheets so it takes up less time! :lol:

DS math teacher also tends to give worksheets without much explanation. For one worksheet on estimation, the whole class had to redo because they gave the exact answers and not the estimates! Also, had to explain to DS the worksheet on HCF, LCM and prime factorisation. Not sure whether this is a teaching method. DS normally pays attention in class.

[KSmom8]

Zann:

I used to hear people said that GEP is only suitable for those who are very self motivated and independent type of kids coz there are a lot of works and projects to do. Therefore when knowing my child was selected I was quite worried. He used to get negative feedback for not working hard or paying attention in class. The day when he received his yellow envelope, the first advice he got from his tr was that ,\" Must work hard ah ,...\" . But I seem to see his change after joining. Be more keen in his learning and do his work on his own quietly. Perhaps the topics of learning catch his interest now.

Am looking forward to the day when he will be more independent. See some improvement recently ... he searches for information on the internet himself, uses the dictionary (especially chinese dictionaries) more frequently, studies for tests by himself without my prompting.

[syshi]

KSmom8:

Hmmm, perhaps I shouldn't have called it \"feedback session\"...gives the impression that more was discussed. According to DS, the HOD only confirmed with the students whether there was too much homework and discussed with them the possible reasons why they might not have time to do the homework (e.g. too many enrichment classes, etc). Don't know how he reached this conclusion but DS came home and told me that enrichment classes of non-academic nature were not important. Don't know the reason for the 'discussion' - perhaps a parent had complained. DS' classmates used to call him quite often in the evenings and at night to ask about homework... so I know that he is not alone. Anyway, homework is now mainly worksheets so it takes up less time! :lol:

DS math teacher also tends to give worksheets without much explanation. For one worksheet on estimation, the whole class had to redo because they gave the exact answers and not the estimates! Also, had to explain to DS the worksheet on HCF, LCM and prime factorisation. Not sure whether this is a teaching method. DS normally pays attention in class.

Ours don't even have 'discussion' with the HOD...
My DS used to finish his homework in school in his previous school. currently also struggling to finish the homework... no other tuition for him at the moment...

Quite strange that the Math teacher use same approach. My DS also attentive in school. Teachers always commented that he's very quite as he paid attention in class... but now always tell me that the teacher didn't explain... always lost and ended up have to coach him myself..

If this is the approach, I wonder whether the children can understand those maths? Wonder whether it's the right decision to let him join GEP. Can anyone clarify whether is this the approach for GEP curiculum teaching?

[syshi]

KSmom8:

Am looking forward to the day when he will be more independent. See some improvement recently ... he searches for information on the internet himself, uses the dictionary (especially chinese dictionaries) more frequently, studies for tests by himself without my prompting.

I think deep down they are quite responsible. Depend on how is the approach.
For my DS's classmate, seems like some of them are 'spoilt'... quite rowdy in class... compare to the other class which is more 'discipline'...
heard that next wednesday the VP Academic and HOD Chinese will visit DS's class... some rumours said that GEP Branch people also coming down... not sure whether it's true...

Was there last Chinese New Year. Helped in the Lo Hei for DS's class... Saw that the form teacher very fierce, but the boys not scared...

[pecalis]

syshi, sent you pm

[KSmom8]

syshi:

Ours don't even have 'discussion' with the HOD...
My DS used to finish his homework in school in his previous school. currently also struggling to finish the homework... no other tuition for him at the moment...

Quite strange that the Math teacher use same approach. My DS also attentive in school. Teachers always commented that he's very quite as he paid attention in class... but now always tell me that the teacher didn't explain... always lost and ended up have to coach him myself..

If this is the approach, I wonder whether the children can understand those maths? Wonder whether it's the right decision to let him join GEP. Can anyone clarify whether is this the approach for GEP curiculum teaching?

Glad to know that I am not alone!

Personally think that the 'homework overload' was too much too soon, the kids are still adjusting to the new sch environment and programme. However, I recognise that it also means that the teachers are committed cos they are willing to mark more!! So am thankful for that. I'm noticing that DS is slowly learning to prioritise his homework. Maybe it just takes time for the kids to adjust?

DS also does this for Chinese notes - teacher teaches some words in class but the worksheet has so many other words and phrases that DS says were not taught. DS ponders over dictionaries for answers (very time consuming and can be quite frustrating). Later, teacher runs through the notes with the class after marking. Not sure whether this process actually helps in memory retention. Could anyone enlighten on the logic behind this approach?