Pei Chun Public
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bewilder:
My son is currently in P2 and I am contemplating to transfer him to another school in Year 2015, P3.
DS has very strong interest in Mathematics and Science and I hope to put him in a school that will give him rooms to develop in these areas. I have shortlisted and spoken to 2 schools and there is 1 which I particularly like due to its numerous fun and engaging math programmes and competitions. This will add new dimension to his math learning journey, extend his creativity and analytical skills through problem solving from a different angle or perspective.
If he remains in PCPS, he will not have this opportunity at all. As much as he hopes to be in the Math Olympiad Training, he was not being selected. As we know, selection is purely based on results and DS did not fare good enough in his AAs and MAs. It was ridiculous that he made the inanest mistake in measurement, when everyone measured an object which was 20cm long, DS said it was slightly more than 20cm, more like 20.3cm to him so he rounded up to 21cm! Very simple, straight forward numbers arranging from greatest to smallest, he can arrange the reserve way! Skipping steps in problem solving that caused marks to be deducted. I gave him a good scolding but it was too late and he’s out of the game!
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My boy is in P4 this year in Pei Chun. Just to share my views on your observations.
1) Math Olympiad Training in PCPS - was not useful for my boy. I had the same sentiments as the other parent. Too fast, too surface and it is outsourced. Not sure about whether the vendor is just out to earn $$, because my boy didn't do well in MO for P4, yet they still offer him the form for P5 MO. Have also withdrawn him from MO next year anyway.
2) Maths Working - This is a universal MOE problem. You are expected to show working, else no marks. My boy recently got 1 mark out of 4 in one of the SA problem sum questions, because he only \"guessed and checked\" 1 option. So lesson learnt is you die die have to guess a wrong option before you reach the correct option.
3) Maths accuracy - I am surprised by the measurement mistake that you quoted, because in the recent SA, the teachers were so strict in the symmetry question that no marks were given if the lines miss the corner by a bit. You should've fight for the mark.
Anyway, feel that it's not the school that kills the interest for Maths/Science. It's the syllabus and marking that kills the interest for Maths/Science . It is not enough to understand the concepts, children have to be careful and detailed to do well in Maths.
About what the VP of your target school said, my view is that every school tries to make every subject interesting, but at the end of the day, if it doesn't translate to the marks, students will still be disappointed and parents will still be unhappy.
E.g. my boy enjoys science lessons, practicals, reading about science facts and understands all the science concepts. But it doesn't mean he got good marks because he didn't use the right answering techniques during exams.
So what the other parent said is right, your deciding factor is still the affiliation. -
Hi parents!
This is fresh from the oven and as accurately pieced as possible. All P3 and P4 classes are no longer banded in CCAs like they are used to. Formally, there were classes such as Chinese Orchestra Class 3G/4G; Sports Class (Volleyball; Basketball and Table tennis) 3H/4H and 3I/4I.
This served as good management flow when these classes go on CCA competition, their learning and school work are paced together, no children will be left lagging behind the other.
In place, they are all now randomised. So P1 to P4 classes are now all randomised.
Another new initiative that superseded the tradition is the incorporation of the traditional K booklet into the main papers. P1 parents practicing on PYP of 2013 and older will notice refer to K booklet, don't be alarmed.
Traditionally, this was used as nominal testing of each cohort's strength.
I hope this information has been useful to everyone seeking clarification on policies and initiatives of the school!
:B -
Hi mamemo,
I totally stand with you! The syllabus is extremely pack. It is not only the school but the teachers are feeling it too. My guess is that MOE is just one of the many pillars in government and they work hand in hand with various ministries to keep pace with economic development and workforce competencies.
The syllabus will only get tougher and harder along the years to stay relevant and most importantly, ahead of China (we are almost alike and only 10 years more advanced than them).
Can I advise all parents encourage the use of supposition (P4 heuristic / non-routine question, but P3 children is more than able to work it out) in place of guess and check? The column headings must be specific and exact to the marking scheme to earn the complete marks. Any deviation is not allowed.
:B -
A reliable source:
Anybody know what is \"K booklet\" ?Hi parents!
This is fresh from the oven and as accurately pieced as possible. All P3 and P4 classes are no longer banded in CCAs like they are used to. Formally, there were classes such as Chinese Orchestra Class 3G/4G; Sports Class (Volleyball; Basketball and Table tennis) 3H/4H and 3I/4I.
This served as good management flow when these classes go on CCA competition, their learning and school work are paced together, no children will be left lagging behind the other.
In place, they are all now randomised. So P1 to P4 classes are now all randomised.
Another new initiative that superseded the tradition is the incorporation of the traditional K booklet into the main papers. P1 parents practicing on PYP of 2013 and older will notice refer to K booklet, don't be alarmed.
Traditionally, this was used as nominal testing of each cohort's strength.
I hope this information has been useful to everyone seeking clarification on policies and initiatives of the school!
:B -
Hello GTGT,
The K booklet is no longer in practice any more.
It use to be a \"green\" booklet that PCPS uses at every SA1 Mathematics and SA2 Mathematics. It comprises a set of 2 MCQ questions, 2 short answer questions and 1 long question. Typically it is worth 20 marks.
Internally, it is used to measure and compare the standards of the current cohort against previous cohort (Means testing). Literacy and numeracy is traditionally the measure of children's intelligence.
I hope this would answer your question.
:B -
Hi,
My nephew is in 3H this year and this is a sports class whereby all niche volleyball, basketball are grouped together. Not recreational but those truly with potential are invited to join and consent form will be given to parents. Top 3s are indeed evenly scattered but because there are only 9 classes in P3 instead of 12, some classes may have at least 4 ex top3 pupils from P2 in each class. My child’s class has 5 top3 from last year P2. -
Precious050911:
Though my DS is among the top 3 for both years, I told him the results in P1 and P2 really depend on who are less careless. His teacher also told the class there are a handful who are very close to top 3. As such, I believe the results of those who are in the top 10% to 25% in class are extremely close, likely +/- 0.X %. In our school, many students are high band 1 category (> 90%) so no matter how the students are split, it is still going to be very competitive. I believe there are also another group of \"care-free\" learners in lower Primary who will eventually catch up. I heard top 3 ranking change quite a lot from P2 to P3 and P4 to P5. Ranking is secondary, just hope that my DS's results don't drop too much and be consistent in his work. :xedfingers:Hi,
My nephew is in 3H this year and this is a sports class whereby all niche volleyball, basketball are grouped together. Not recreational but those truly with potential are invited to join and consent form will be given to parents. Top 3s are indeed evenly scattered but because there are only 9 classes in P3 instead of 12, some classes may have at least 4 ex top3 pupils from P2 in each class. My child's class has 5 top3 from last year P2. -
By the way, is it by now if we did not get a letter to join certain sports CCA, that means he will be in leisure sports only right? I do not want him to be in school team, too much time wasted in training as feedback by some parents who have kids in upper primary.
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Precious2.lee:
Hi precious.2lee, I conquer!
Though my DS is among the top 3 for both years, I told him the results in P1 and P2 really depend on who are less careless. His teacher also told the class there are a handful who are very close to top 3. As such, I believe the results of those who are in the top 10% to 25% in class are extremely close, likely +/- 0.X %. In our school, many students are high band 1 category (> 90%) so no matter how the students are split, it is still going to be very competitive. I believe there are also another group of \"care-free\" learners in lower Primary who will eventually catch up. I heard top 3 ranking change quite a lot from P2 to P3 and P4 to P5. Ranking is secondary, just hope that my DS's results don't drop too much and be consistent in his work. :xedfingers:Precious050911:
Hi,
My nephew is in 3H this year and this is a sports class whereby all niche volleyball, basketball are grouped together. Not recreational but those truly with potential are invited to join and consent form will be given to parents. Top 3s are indeed evenly scattered but because there are only 9 classes in P3 instead of 12, some classes may have at least 4 ex top3 pupils from P2 in each class. My child's class has 5 top3 from last year P2.
Depending on the strength of the classes, some students who are 4th, 5th or 6th in their class may be top 3s if they are in another class. Hence, why the bother over rankings. Not that top 3s in each P2 class are split into different classes in P3. Instead, entire cohort are ranked from 1 to 360, then allocate randomly to the 9 P3 classes. E.g. 1st in position will in 3I, 2nd in 3H, 3rd in 3G and so on. Therefore, every class will have mixed ability.
Some schools already do away with class rankings as it makes more sense to rank by cohort. Perhaps PCPS should consider giving out top achievement Award to Top 36s instead. Not required to announce who is 1st and who is 36th but this will make more sense, IMHO.
I also hope my DD will be consistent in her performance when she's in P2 next year.
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A reliable source:
My kid not in P5 yet lah. Lol
Based on Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Development, children during Primary School years will face what is known as Industry vs Inferiority. This would explain why some adolescents are more willing to try and some less willing to because of the bad memories of failure.
It is important to build an appropriate sense of identity and self-worth in children so that they will grow up loving themselves and grow up loving learning.
:B
Good pointers above. Need to work towards that.
Kids nowadays need to learn to be resilient as well... how to accept failure and pick themselves up.
Too often we parents (me included) are guilty of being over-protective and teaching in advance, esp with our tuition culture.
:celebrate:
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