Less Teaching, More Learning?

[Donkey Kong]

I think parents should not be teaching kids at home. That's 'home schooling' for those who choose to stay home.


Teaching should be strictly done in schools. As parents, we just teach kids not to lie, kill, hurt others, etc.... all the moral things. Teach them to be good citizens. :celebrate:

I am sad that I need to solve maths problems, science problems at night and weekend... English CLOZE too. Social studies research, etc.

Very tired you know? All thanks to 'teach less'.

[KSP]

Teach less, learn more.


Here is my interpretation.

Teach less in school. Yes, the children will not feel so stressful in school and will find schooling more interesting.

Learn more outside the school. Parents got to do more to maintain the good results. Either they have to do more personal coaching or more tuition.

In short, MOE is trying to push more to parents.

[Busymom]

I don't think the idea that MOE has in mind is for teachers to teach less.


My guess of what \"teach less\" means, is to be less reliant on text-books and less spoon-feeding. However, the students have to learn more through other methods: practical, role-play, project work, etc., in school.

The question is, has MOE fully equipped its teachers to teach effectively in this manner?

[caroline3sg]

Autumnbronze & Mrswongtuition are teachers of secondary schools, if I am correct. I believe Donkey Kong is referring to primary teachers. Having gone through 6 yrs of primary life with my elder child, I share the same sentiments as Donkey Kong. It is a fact that teachers do not teach (my case as in elite sch). Almost 100% of students have tuition outside. Why then tuition centres are booming? Classes are always full and long waiting lists at TienHsia, Learning Lab, etc etc. They are the ones who really teach (and of course some parents here who are very good in Maths to coach their kids).


Now my elder child in sec 1. Compare the secondary sch teachers to primary sch teachers, I would say sec sch teachers are better. The maths teacher drills the students by giving many tests. The tests are done outside curriculum time. Same for extra lessons (if the teacher wants it), not the remedial or supplementary type. The geography teacher tells the students recently Iceland’s volcano erupted (the students were grouped to make volcano eruption project in class). I do not know what else he said to the class, but I supplemented the consequences of volcanic ash to people’s lives & the environment. The english teacher made the class find meaning of vocab each week.

Now I am going through another around of primary life with my younger child. There were tonnes of homework and only in P1 last year. I spoke to Form Teacher that exercises in activity books should be done in class. Then parents can revise with child at home rather than coaching to do the homework. Revision is very important to reinforce what is taught in sch. She replied that curriculum time is for teaching, not enough time to do exercises, which is also true. Sigh, 左右为难.

So Autumnbronze & Mrswongtuition, don’t be offended with Donkey Kong’s postings. Those are observations & sentiments widely shared by parents of primary sch kids.

[autumnbronze]

Busymom:

I don't think the idea that MOE has in mind is for teachers to teach less.


My guess of what \"teach less\" means, is to be less reliant on text-books and less spoon-feeding. However, the students have to learn more through other methods: practical, role-play, project work, etc., in school.

The question is, has MOE fully equipped its teachers to teach effectively in this manner?

I believe so, as experienced while training in NIE.

Short courses are also conducted by external vendors. There are also in-house or schools in same cluster sharing sessions where ideas are exchanged as to how to effectively conduct lessons 'out of the textbook'.

Ultimately though, for this to be really successfully implemented, then the pressing need to conduct formal tests and exams have to be foregone ...

Would that be possible?? What with schs geared towards achieving good grades at national levels, the incessant race to obtain yet another award to display via banners at the school gates ... parents wanting to know the academic performance of their child in terms of class position and overall standard etc ...

It sounds really good in theory - I personally subscribe to this method of learning where teachers are the facilitators and not 'dictators' - but translate that into practical terms ... can a balance ever be achieved???

Food for thought lah ...

[caroline3sg]

Donkey Kong:

I think parents should not be teaching kids at home. That's 'home schooling' for those who choose to stay home.


Teaching should be strictly done in schools. As parents, we just teach kids not to lie, kill, hurt others, etc.... all the moral things. Teach them to be good citizens. :celebrate:

I am sad that I need to solve maths problems, science problems at night and weekend... English CLOZE too. Social studies research, etc.

Very tired you know? All thanks to 'teach less'.

Agree with you completely! My girl was free rider in P5 for social studies project. Someone or the mum did the research. In P6, I did the project for them.

[corneyAmber]

I am not sure about the "Teach Less" part because I see my child is learning both from school and outside school, albeit unequally, but the "Learn More" is definitely more real than in the past. They seem to be learning so much more than during our time and earlier. They learn more in-depth knowledge earlier and this results in tension for those who cannot cope with some of the advanced topics.


But I do agree that there needs to be a balance somewhere. If 90% of a child’s time is spent in studies, the child will eventually grow up a dull Jack or Jill. I am seeing that in some kids who have given up, those struggling are frustrated on a daily basis because they could not get to where they want to be.

[caroline3sg]

Do they need to learn how to operate powerpoint in primary levels? I mean during term time. Some do not know how to google for information regarding social studies project. Research, compile, collate, organise into presentation with pictures etc etc. takes up substantial time. This can be done after exams, for enrichment purposes. Just like home economics, photography were carried out during PE time after exams.

[caroline3sg]

Donkey Kong

看开点. Bear with the education system. Complain also no use. The only consolation is you are not alone. That’s why parents spend $1000 per child per month on tuition. Those who have house & car loans unpaid, ever increasing utilities bills & transport costs, they know 2 is enough. Very pragmatic. Low birth rate, brain drain are the consequences we are seeing now.

[care mom]

Busymom:

\"My guess of what \"teach less\" means, is to be less reliant on text-books and less spoon-feeding. However, the students have to learn more through other methods: practical, role-play, project work, etc., in school.\"

I agree with busymom. it's the teaching method.

personally, i feel learning and teaching must start frm home when a child is born.when a child is well disciplined, he/she will be able to learn on their own with minimum coaching.

of course, school is the proper place for learning but we as parents must also be responsible to guide our children at home. how much can we guide? it's very subjective. it's depend on what we want our children to be.
If you are very kiasu, then you guide more.

I do agree that it's very tiring to spend time after works with our children and we have to sacrifice a lot of our hobbies, movies etc.

But I feel that when we coaching our children, it will make our relationship getting closer, less generation gapping and we will know more about them, so do they.