2018 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (Born in 2006)
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Rainnie3, phtthp, private and bochapmum3, thank you for sharing about Academia. In fact, I am also kind of keen to send my girls there. Esteema is very kind to share so much feedback but I feel I should not use her son as a benchmark. From the few post that I read, I gathered that her child is an extremely bright boy so for this group of students, no matter which tuition place they are enrolled in, they will still do exceedingly well.
At least now, I am able to get a more balance view from the other parents. I fully agree that if we are able to get good EL teachers at TLL, actually TLL English is good. Academia standard is very high. I saw the P4/P5 materials, the content and vocab is certainly as tough as TLL. Do our 12-year old really need to learn such challenging stuff to do well in PSLE?
If students were to mark their own work, how do teachers know about their weakness and if they are following well in class? This is one concern for me. On top of that, I prefer a single EL tuition place that can teach both paper 1 and 2 well. It will be too tiring for my girls to have separate 2hr tuition for compo. There are so many tuition places yet so tough to narrow down to a single place that can help upper primary students ace in all area. -
love1001:
I agree for those kids who are attentive, on auto mode, do markings and correction conscientiously, they will do well even if the teacher is not very on type. My DC is far from that and needs someone to hound over him to hand in homework, do corrections etc. For self-mark, honestly, I don’t know how accurate his own marking is. For handing in of tuition homework, sometimes the teacher of some centres (not necessarily referring to Academia) don’t chase and my DC also don’t hand in. I also feel paiseh if everytime needs to ask the teacher to remind him to hand in his HW.Rainnie3, phtthp, private and bochapmum3, thank you for sharing about Academia. In fact, I am also kind of keen to send my girls there. Esteema is very kind to share so much feedback but I feel I should not use her son as a benchmark. From the few post that I read, I gathered that her child is an extremely bright boy so for this group of students, no matter which tuition place they are enrolled in, they will still do exceedingly well.
At least now, I am able to get a more balance view from the other parents. I fully agree that if we are able to get good EL teachers at TLL, actually TLL English is good. Academia standard is very high. I saw the P4/P5 materials, the content and vocab is certainly as tough as TLL. Do our 12-year old really need to learn such challenging stuff to do well in PSLE?
If students were to mark their own work, how do teachers know about their weakness and if they are following well in class? This is one concern for me. On top of that, I prefer a single EL tuition place that can teach both paper 1 and 2 well. It will be too tiring for my girls to have separate 2hr tuition for compo. There are so many tuition places yet so tough to narrow down to a single place that can help upper primary students ace in all area. -
Bochapmum3, can share what level is your DC? Because contrary to what I have heard and seen. Maybe different level different takes.
Would like to hear more if I were to consider for my younger DC. -
Oh yes, Esteema‘s son is very bright (passed gep round 2!) and is an all rounder who excels in ALL subjects. I think for fast learner, like what 1001 said, should have no problem going any centre. Oh, Academia more challenging than TLL? I feel that TLL’s standard is already pitched higher than mainstream schools.
TLL fees are expensive. Thus, I only let my girls attend one subject, English which they are most famous for. My DD1 went for trial at another centre at Goldhill recently, which is cheaper but the environment is different, 15 students cramped in a small classroom and they allow the students to eat/drink inside which shocked my girl.
My girls had been with TLL English since K2. So far, majority of the teachers are good except 1 or 2. Nonetheless, I am quite satisfied. For DD2, she is lucky to have the same Eng teacher who taught her through P4/P5/P6. The teacher last taught at a GEP centre before joining TLL. -
laughingcat:
My DC is in P6. Which level have you enquired about?Bochapmum3, can share what level is your DC? Because contrary to what I have heard and seen. Maybe different level different takes.
Would like to hear more if I were to consider for my younger DC. -
:? Strange. Because I was chit chatting with a P6 student who happens to be waiting for his class. This student told me that when they completed the worksheet in class, the teacher will go through the worksheet with the students using the overhead projector to sift out the answer. The students will highlight or correct on the spot. After all these are done, the teacher will then marked the worksheet.
I am considering getting extra help on English for my DC2 as we are always a few marks shy away our target. -
laughingcat:
Maybe different teacher different style?Bochapmum3, can share what level is your DC? Because contrary to what I have heard and seen. Maybe different level different takes.
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In TLL, there was once when we did SW at a replacement class, we were given 3 SW for that week -- 2 homework and 1 no need to do. When we attended our regular class the following week, our regualr teacher said we should do the 3rd SW too. My point is, different teacher different style/requirement. -
Obviously we cannot compare with gifted kids! For mainstream students, close monitoring from tutors (and parents), reinforcement of what were previously taught are very important because it is so normal to hear from MS kids that they “forget”!! After repeating so many times, they can “still forget” and make careless mistakes in exams! Parents with gifted kids will never understand and probably think this is so crazy, but this is reality! Maybe the gap will narrow in upper Sec but in upper prinary, this gap is still obvious!
Anyway, there are only 2 main teachers at Academia for primary level. We are all referring to tutor ST I believe. I heard he is usually teaching at that ulu jia lat Thomson V.
Since the classroom is open concept, parents can always go down and observe, pretend you are waiting for your child. Go during school term when all kids are back from holiday and full class size.
Good time to “observe”:
(Venue - Thomson V2 basement 1)
Sat - 11am to 1pm (P6)
Sat - 2pm to 4pm (P5) -
lee_yl:
Oh yes, Esteema‘s son is very bright (passed gep round 2!) and is an all rounder who excels in ALL subjects. I think for fast learner, like what 1001 said, should have no problem going any centre. Oh, Academia more challenging than TLL? I feel that TLL’s standard is already pitched higher than mainstream schools.
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lee_yl,
Thank you for seeing DS so up, but he's no gifted child, only gifted in parents.
I worked very hard with my kids when they're young & need guidance. I started very early, so learning is ingrained. I spent time whilst kids in sch to review what they can work on & they know after sch need to complete hmwk before doing my assigned reading or workbooks. I spent afternns coaching gaps in u'stand'g & after entire family sleeps, I'll be marking day's work & noting points to highlight/correct u'stand'g. A lot of blood & swear lor.
Where I can't make breakthro, I'll seek professional help to meet tt gap. One thing tho, DS is always an eager beaver & an avid reader. Since young had been doodling & by P1, he's been reading tons & wanted to 'published' books with his buddies. So, I often organized writers' workshops or sth.
My kids attended TLL since P3, but most teachers don't make the mark. He loved his P5 SYT teacher (sweet young thing), & refused to leave TLL Just coz of the SYT. I won't fight it, but gave a deadline to wean out attachment. Bo bian, gotta attend TLL & W@W concurrently for abt a mth more. We let him join W@W to encourage his writing desire & Horne his creative writing skills.
I also I don't see breakthro for DC's S&T. It wasn't the score I cared abt but his u'stand'g of the English structure & techniques. When I found Sherman, it was like God sent. Worksheets always marked & written feedback always there. DC said he gets explanation S'times esp those he always get marked wrong when WS returned (not just written ones). MCQs are visited in class & explained.
It was an exciting journey to guide my kids' learning. Now, I'm letting go so they can search their writing styles. It's diff with sec writings, but thankful that in late P5, I've organized a variety of writing of poems, prose & creating riddles & word puzzles. When they're young they find it fun. Now, they're familiar with diff literary tools & can use to contribute to their independent exploration with Language Arts. -
With Sherman of Academia, I’m very certain DC’s work was always marked except maybe MCQs (most were diligently marked). I’m on long trip now. Hopefully can still find DC’s work to ascertain. Update when back in Spore.
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