2019 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2007)

[love1001]

laughingcat:

lee_yl:

I think schools like to award the TOP 3 (per class / cohort) which may not be very healthy, like what love1001 mentioned, making parents harbour certain expectations for the very next year.

As kiasu parents, we expect our children’s results to only improve and we don’t respond well when we see stagnation or horror of all horrors, a dip in the results.

Exactly..... my boys' school no longer practiced giving award to Top 3 (per class / chohort). Now their school only give out to those who improves and those good in sports only.

Well, I do hope more schools adopt this. Since MOE is already recognising good results through bursaries and scholarships, it is more meaningful for schools to present award for improvement, good character, leadership and contribution to CCA.

Furthermore in good classes, recognising only the top 3 is meaningless as the results are so close. Not getting the award does not mean one is a lousy student.

[zac's mum]

laughingcat:

Life is more than a score. After observing kids around....sad to see most are not well-rounded. Weekends chasing after tuition and tuition and enrichment and enrichment. No fun and interaction among kids. Weekday back to school. It is school then home or school then tuition/enrichment then home. :faint:


Sometime really wonder.....as a parents, are our lives as a kids like that too? If not then why do that to your own children? :?

My own life as a kid was like that. Tuition after tuition. Chasing that very last point from A* to even higher A*. Sometimes the parent is living their life thru the kid’s achievements. Sad life for the kids. Needless to say I am going the other way and prefer my own kid to be an all-rounder. And enjoy his childhood with adequate play time.

[laughingcat]

Jia You zac’s mum. You are not alone. I used to be like that when my ist born in P1-P3. Until one day, he told me that he has other passion that he has not tried. I felt ashamed. So when he was in P4, I dropped everything except Chinese. I wanted to drop his Science and he was devasted coz he loves his tuition teacher. together. My hubby told me off that …anybody can teach a primary school kid, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to teach. His mum has no degree can also teach him when he was a boy. Now that I have a degree…I should be able to learn and teach my own.


So I took charge. Together my boy and I revised together nightly. Surprise! Surprise! Subjects that we do not have tuition actually scored better than having tuition. How I do it? I just seek advise from all-so-great mummies that have the experiences and materials to share or buy from. Also I talk to the teachers and we have fantastic feedback loop. Some teachers even go the extra miles to mark our extras which are not from the school homework. Collaboration with the school is fantastic, which I can’t complain. No tuition at all but we participated in the school enrichment programmes after school.

It works and so at P5 we dropped all tuition. Partly is because my older DC has a little health issue which I want total rest. After his health okay, I was abit afraid of his Chinese. So last Nov we engaged a home chinese tutor BUT in Dec I fired the tutor because DC said the tutor is not as enthusiastic as me. When I heard that, I am in cloud nine. Now in P6, we are braved enough to say no tuition.

Like many parents, at first I thought I cannot do it. With 2 kiddos. I perserve. I am also working. I study and prepared the material till past midnight. Consistent efforts pay. Both my DCs and myself tried many things. We gotten good result. DC gotten top in English and Chinese compo in P5 SA2. Younger DC scored all subjects 100 at P2 SA2.

On top of that, all 2 DCs headhunted and represent a club in national sports.

My DCs have plenty of time to study, play sports (3/4 times a week that requires 3hrs each session), even video games with daddy over the weekend nights and weekly movie shows. This is call life. DCs are alot more happy. Something non-study to look forward to as a form of motivation.

The feeling is all so great. Trust in yourself and your child.

[MyPillow]

laughingcat:

Life is more than a score. After observing kids around....sad to see most are not well-rounded. Weekends chasing after tuition and tuition and enrichment and enrichment. No fun and interaction among kids. Weekday back to school. It is school then home or school then tuition/enrichment then home. :faint:


Sometime really wonder.....as a parents, are our lives as a kids like that too? If not then why do that to your own children? :?

My girl suppose to swim weekly with us , but rainy season now.
Mine attend music on wk ends
Girl is grp guitar with lots of interaction , grp of 4
Boy piano individual but he has uniform cca n student leadership prg - too much interactions in fact . Just started grp Chinese class too , hopefully can speak more .

[MrsKiasu]

dd asked to drop some of the stuff as she says the hw is more now. looks like i better dont add one more non acad enrichment which we originally planned for. not that she been studying, maybe just feeling that cannot have a total relaxing time maybe. i told them maybe after the coming exam of one non acad enrichment, we will stop for awhile then see how. i m beginning to feel stress too

[Estéema]

laughingcat,


Agree. Life is more than scores/grades. I rmbr encouraging DC to continue going for CCA up till July/Aug, even tho it was stand-down for those PSLE year. DC returned to say nobody in the same year are there except doing CCA with the younger kids.


I salute you! :salute:

You showed great determination and model worklife balance to both your DCs. I'm so overjoyed to hear both yr DCs did so well without tuition. You've helped them set good foundation for life. A mother's sacrificial love surpasses tuition. Most tuition has become BIG Business. There's no more love in coaching and guiding kids who need an educators' heart :grphug: to point them to the right direction and learn the ropes.

I do need to beg for your hubby to be abit more open to ustand education today is VERY unlike our times. I'm still struggling to agree with the pressure-cook education system we hv here & the PSLE yardstick that's still being used today. The way kids are tested not just their ability to ustand concepts, but at a young age to apply in specific manner such as those for Science Booklet B. Another example is the great difference in the way Chinese is taught today vs in the past & the level of vocabulary taught in the past comparing to today's much more demanding levels. I do want to pick on how kids were rqd to do modeling and yet totally not rqd when they move up to sec level. We're so aware how competitive schooling is with well-known schools going some length to point parents with lists of tuition centres to pull low grades up. Education are NOT abt grades & I hope MOE will bring some joy of learning not just thro My First Skool but all the way upwards so that primary education becomes engraved in the hearts of young fellows as the best childhood they had in Spore schools.

Here I do congratulate you again for all the hardwork, resourcing, planning and teaching & guiding your DCs and bring the joy of learning and fun in balancing time both for academic learning and sports. I'm indeed happy that your DH is at least supporting his role in co-parenting and spending time for sports time with your kids. You've not only saved fr expensive tuition, :moneyflies: but have given your DCs your love in action as a parent - teaching, guiding ... they can surely emulate u for their children down the road. More so, you've not pass the buck to educators that fail our future contributors to society. I salute you again. :salute:

I'm stepping back from direct involvement but looking into more character developmental needs now. Certainly hope the years of guidance would hv helped them exercise independent learning. Can't cope with their higher level of learning as hitting 60 soon & in spite having 2 degrees. This generation learn & interact differently. I just hv to let the string loosen out much more. Do not wish to push them to their brink nor want anymore umbilical cord remnants.

[laughingcat]

Esteema.....mostly all thanks to your help and great advice. :snuggles: It was through you that I find hope. Your prayer and your encouragement. Months of struggling and tweaking of schedule and materials and notes - all finally able to see lights at the end of the tunnel. To be honest, it was tough. Yeah! I sailed the boat alone. Hubby only encourage by saying \"jia you, you can do it\" :pokeeye: He is of the old school type that thinks mum rules the education and nurture.


So now I can say I have finally braved the struggle. The no-tuition for 2 kiddos helped to save the $ and channeled to DC operation. A payment of 5-figure sums not a joke after subsidy. Glad that it was a nightmare that was over. If I were to go over again on the no-tuition portion, I would say a resounding YES......but of course must meet the right person who gave me valuable advice to pick myself up.....and that is YOU.....Thank you Esteema. :please: :love: :celebrate:

[Estéema]

I’m just happy for u that things turned out well. I did very little. Was glad that portion of my materials helped yr young chap. Didn’t expect but glad to be a friend and your DCs gave me joy each time I meet them.


There’s a limit anyone can do & that’s why we need friends & give & receive positive & constructive help rather than a hindrance. It is because there are so many generous KSP parents who shares that I benefitted & prompt me to contribute & pay forward. Without veteran KSP members I cld not hv helped my kids if I’m put in silo cause not much info to grease my engine. So, I do want to give credit but must confess I can’t exactly trace back who helped point me to right direction as this is such a big & active community. So I chip in whenever I can.

Now u are my inspiration to encourage other kids and parents to be strong & brave the storm. Mothers always hv more grit. Thro the years I learnt to forgive and take on the mantle to coach my kids, but it is possible to encourage fathers to bond with kids esp boys thro helping abit of coaching. Encourage them fr perspective that it’s ano opportunity to bond & give the boys a father figure to emulate hardwork & enjoy his company. When that becomes a pleasure, you don’t hv to go alone esp for PSLE. It helps relieve u fr long hours of focus on yr kids. Failing which, u can always call on me. I try my best to be there for you. There’s always hope and Someone will send angels of sorts. Solitary prayers helps uplift your spirit too. Take care of yourself and extra hugs for your DCs.

[laughingcat]

Actually we didn't use the wanglaoshi material at all for the compo. We devise our own to create our uniqueness. Our very own phrases that help to boost his compo and stood out in the crowd. Since almost everybody is using all sort of tuition ctrs material. I want the kiddos to think and inventive and creative. Tweak something that is to their style. Partly thanks to the school teacher who is so willling to do extra. It was a boost of DC morale. Now the younger DC who is typically the lazy type used his korkor. Oh well.

[Estéema]

It’s good to guide the kids to think out of the box & find new ways to learn.


There’s real hope for the future leaders of Spore, u’ve helped someone to change the way they learn & achieve results. Agree there’s no one way to learn, owise we’ll all be factory churned robots but no one can lead with sth different. You’re ingenious.