Raffles Girls' Primary

[phtthp]

school had removed Top 2 classes : from P3 onwards.

In the past : classes (E, F) used to be the Top 2 classes.
The Top 80 students, will enter (E, F) classes.
changes had been made.
now (2015) no more Top class : all become Multi-talented classes.

Removed : because some children feel traumatic.

Eg
P3 : some got assigned to Top 2 classes initially, happily.
Then, come to end of P3 to face a second round of streaming into P4, some got "kicked out" of Top 2 classes. They cried, feeling sad, disappointed. Pupils feel stressed, parents also feel stressed, when they see their poor child cry. Then cycle repeat, at end of P4 streaming into P5. This roller coaster effect of having to maintain the position within Top 2 classes : create stress, on both parents & pupils.

Then, others never get a chance to enter Top 2 classes.
Some begin to think & feel that they are not so bright as those in the Top 2 classes, when in actual fact this may not be true : because the difference between the 80th position and the 81st position may be out, just by 1 mark difference.
For this, the 81st ranked position student cannot get in the Top 2 classes. But the 81st position student won’t know about the 1 mark difference, begin to feel disappointed, despondent.
The child think, "since I cannot get in the Top 2 classes, means I am not so clever. I only average … because P3 I studied hard, but did not get in Top class. P4 also the same. Now, P5 … "
Shaken a young child her morale, her confidence level : which is bad
So, school decide to do away, with the Top classes.

substitute by subject Banding, instead.
depend on the ability of each child.
As school always say : " do your personal best. "
So now, depend on the child’s competency level, mastery of the subject content itself.

English : no banding
only Maths & Chinese.

for Maths -
students divided into 4 group(s).
school did not explain how they going to divide pupils, into 4 group(s).

P2 parents having meeting with P this coming Saturday (24 Jan) -
may wish to clarify : how Maths being banded into 4 group, at end of P2 entering P3, or is it at end of P3 entering P4 ?

at end of P4 entering P5 :-
"Foundation" Maths is introduced.


for Chinese -
either HCL or normal Chinese

[dardar63]

Hi


So Multi talented class but it would be subject banded eg E and F class be all band 1 math and HCL. G and H be band 2 math and HCL. D be band 2 math and CL. Is that what you mean ?

[ciaobella]

Saw the booklist from website. why E&F still using different maths textbook ? they are given extra worksheets too.


Is My Pals are here better than Shaping Maths?
Lower primary using my pals are here.

[phtthp]

dardar63:

Hi


So Multi talented class but it would be subject banded eg E and F class be all band 1 math and HCL.
G and H be band 2 math and HCL.
D be band 2 math and CL.
Is that what you mean ?

No, this is not what I meant.
nothing to do with E & F classes.
Even E & F have become Mixed Ability classes.
There isn't any Top class.
School had removed labeling of Top class.

Multi talented means : all are Mixed Ability classes

English : no banding

for example
Primary 4
7 classes (4A to 4G) : are Mainstream classes (40 students, per class)
3 classes (4P to 4R) : are GEP classes (25 students, per class. More attention given, since is small class)

a) Maths
What happen is -
take One cluster or bunching of 3 or 4 classes, together.
called cluster or bunching effect.

Eg
When school bell ring to attend Maths lessons -
combine the 1st cluster of 3 classes together (4A, 4B, 4C).
There are (3 x 40) = 120 students here, since each P4 Mainstream class have 40 students.
Then, breakup or split these 120 students, go into 4 different Maths group.

Repeat the same thing -
with 2nd cluster of remaining 4 classes combined together (4D, 4E, 4F, 4G).
How many students, here (2nd cluster) ?
There are (4 x 40) = another 160 students.
Similarly, divide or split up these 160 students, to go into another 4 different Maths group : go according to the child's ability, competency level, mastery of Maths subject content.

b) Chinese

when school bell ring to attend Chinese lessons -
pupils from classes (4A to 4G) : attend either HCL class or Normal Chinese

[dardar63]

Hi


Ok. Meaning A-G Multi talented class. They be in their respective classes for English cos no banding. Then when math lessons, each group of girls from the clusters based on their banding will go to the respective math classes. So possible be eg band 1 girls from A-C mix and attend math together.

Is that correct understanding ?

[phtthp]

Yes, you got it correct

[dardar63]

So that’s from P3 onwards where they stream for GEP. After that do they change classes again from P5-6 ?

[phtthp]

Not sure what is the latest change at P5 : because P5 involve Foundation subjects. Perhaps P5 parents may like to comment

[hoo1688]

phtthp:

hi hoo1688,


from the sample you had shown us, your P2 daughter's Higher Chinese standard (HCL) from Compassvale primary is higher than Rgps P2 HCL. Both schools are Non-SAP schools. We are comparing apple to apple : HCL

Compassvale primary P2 HCL had started moxie, in Term 1.
Rgps P2 HCL whole year : don't have moxie.
Only P3 Term 1 : then start moxie.

Yes, agree with you.
by right, HCL should have moxie.
maybe 1 or 2 sentences, just to expose kids to moxie, let them get used to it.
If is just normal Chinese (not HCL), don't have moxie : never mind.
perhaps our school Chinese HOD may look into this.

How about other SAP schools ?
Do SAP schools like Nanyang or Catholic High, Tao Nan, Nan Hua, Maha Bodhi P2, have moxie ?

Hi phtthp

DD’s School P2 normal Chinese classes needed to take the 默写 mòxiě and started in T1.

Normal Chinese : No.1 to No.6
Higher Chinese : No.1 to No.7
http://i62.tinypic.com/i282nk.jpg\">

[Funz]

I don’t remember dd’s tingxie at P2 were all in sentences. They were more like maybe about 8 with 2 - 4 characters and 2 sentences. No moxie.


I guess well and good if teachers want to start kids on moxie and tingxie in sentences but need to see what their marking is like.

DS’s previous school at P3 had tingxie all in sentences and moxie. Teacher refuse to give the tingxie list, expecting the kids to learn the words from their ke wen. Only moxie is given for kids to learn Fine too since every lesson they have a list of words that they must know how to read and write. Problem is teacher gives tingxie all in sentences and her marking is very strict. There will be about 10 sentences. Every word that is wrong, -5 marks. And that includes words that are not in the ke wen, but may be chang yong zi. Very demoralising for kids. Firstly no idea what will be tested 2ndly, the harsh marking.