2019 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2007)

[sharonkhoo]

PSLEfrantic\" post_id=\"1940185\" time=\"1570447003\" user_id=\"181521:

Hi parents,

Hope you dont mind. For the psle English, there is one question. _____ the age of two, the baby could speak in complete sentence . Something like this. After or Upon? What is the answer?

By

[Timmy21]

enne\" post_id=\"1940201\" time=\"1570451023\" user_id=\"18363:

hello parents,

wanted to seek some advice..
DD is P5 this year next year will be PSLE

When in P4 she was still doing ok for her Math but this year P5 drop drastically..
We intend to hire a private tutor for her as we really can't guide her in Math. She refused but willing to go for group tuition instead. I feel that group tuition can't address her weakness but this seems the only other alternative at this point of time.

I'm thinking other than going for group tuition, maybe can let her do those exam papers.
but will it useful or helpful to her in any way as we won't be able to explain those questions (paper 2 problem sums especially) that she cannot do since we also can't do the questions as well.

I can source for the answer online but if i can't explain to her on the concept, i'm not sure if doing those past years exam papers will help her or not.

TIA

The practise with exam papers can come later. For now, need to diagnose the reasons for her drop in performance (note: a lot of students experience this when they move fr P4 to P5, so don't be alarmed).
Does she have major areas of weakness (e.g. word problems, model drawing, fractions etc)? Or not enough time to complete? Or too careless and throw away marks?
A tutor will be able to help pinpoint the problem and gradually get her back on track. Understand very well tat some kids prefer group tuition to 1-to-1 (my DD is juz like tat too), but in group tuition the student has to be a bit more pro-active to ask the tutor about things that she isn't sure about, otherwise it will be difficult for the tutor to pay special attention to any individual student. We had good experience with the 2 big-name group tuition centres (the learning one n the stretching one, hehe), so perhaps u can consider tat.

[overthinker]

6thisnthat9\" post_id=\"1939987\" time=\"1570332648\" user_id=\"145858:

hanhui\" post_id=\"1939978\" time=\"1570323305\" user_id=\"47197:

[quote=\"Mummy AA\" post_id=1939951 time=1570293502 user_id=148574]Just want to share my 2 cents on the difficulty level of PSLE.
Some kids found it difficult, others could manage and some thought it was easy.
While there were some other non psle kids or parents trying to solve the problem and commenting that non GEP or non MO kids could do it. There are comments about kids crying and some kids not seeing anyone crying.

My point here is, each student is to his or her ability. The exam hall tension, fatigue from studying, and the time pressure may not allow the kids who otherwise can solve these qs could not have solved it. Yes those qs could be hyped and many kids can solve it in non exam pressure.
There are psle boys and girls in this group. Lets empathize with the PSLE students and give them encouragement. A very big part is played by destiny too. Let's pray all get good results.
This post is not to provoke any emotions. Pls refrain from unsympathetic comments.

:goodpost:
Totally agree ! Yes, when the kids are in the exam hall with the tension and anxiety, how well can he/she think & solve this high ordeal thinking quests ? Is not straight forward quests. Moreover there’s a time frame to complete the paper too! The kids can’t digest well and starts panicking . Pls feel for those lower to average ability kids. 😢

Not every child will grow up a mathematician. Not every child even inspire to become one either.

Put a GEP kid in a chinese dance class and another child more artistic can stand out naturally like any GEP kid in Singapore's education system. I am also sure, that child can also score better in the chinese dance exam and shine well.

It is to accept that this national exam, unfortunately, do not test for a child's artistic, imaginative or innovative etc type of ability. It is designed to only test for a certain type of traits. Good in academics including quick to learn and capacity to absorb more.

The ribbon question is a practical question; a child with a maid to do all chores would not need to go out to a store to buy supplies would not understand that you cannot buy a breakdown of the roll of ribbon, while another child who is more hands-on, would.

A child who is better in spatial information or those who are already travelling on their own without being chauffeured around all the time, will shine in the question about travelling to the bakery and library.

I also see that for those kids without resources to train/drill in working on past school/psle papers, and without the luxury of family background to speak English as the first language at home, are given another chance to shine, in Maths. Finding relations and links in work problems, critical thinking in application and practical purposes are what we find in the real working world.

If all kids can score A* in Maths and some of the kids who cannot do these puzzle type of questions get into RI or RGS by balloting, can these kids match the other kids in the end? The difference will surface eventually. They will not be happy. This is because the top schools are focusing on the types of ability that will benefit those who are good in academics.

My view is, these puzzles can sieve out kids who are genuinely passionate and inclined to Maths. No amout of drilling and training can make one. If some kids got extra help and got himself into the same category, good luck to them. Their scores are inflated with the extra help and will always need extra help to sustain. Who knows, maybe through more exposure they might also really turn into a mathematician material. But for the rest of us, we will do what we are good at in the end. Far fetched for some but that is life.

The fact of life is, many adults who are not passionate about Maths, do not even want to do anything in relation to Maths. So it is ok if some kids cannot solve these puzzles, they are still our precious next generation who will contribute to the society in their own ways, like my kids' wushu/dance coaches, teachers in schools, sportsman, etc.

This post is not to provoke any emotions. Pls refrain from unsympathetic comments.[/quote] :goodpost:

[bluepencil]

Hi parents,

Wondering if anyone is buying a laptop for child for sec 1? i found an old ksp thread that its needed for IP ?
i am thinking of getting a laptop for my child for coding practice , learning video editing
What do all think? cos my laptop is business use so the sound is like cheap radio compared to iphone sound for eg!

[ShareShareLah]

sky minecrafter\" post_id=\"1909857\" time=\"1557572096\" user_id=\"130531:[quote=\"sky minecrafter\" post_id=1909857 time=1557572096 user_id=130531]
May be a bit far for East-enders...
https://www.lilbutmightyenglish.com/workshops/holiday-programmes/psle-oral-english-workshop[/quote]

My dd tried this programme. NOT useful at all

[enne]

Timmy21\" post_id=\"1940232\" time=\"1570494532\" user_id=\"122721:

The practise with exam papers can come later. For now, need to diagnose the reasons for her drop in performance (note: a lot of students experience this when they move fr P4 to P5, so don't be alarmed).
Does she have major areas of weakness (e.g. word problems, model drawing, fractions etc)? Or not enough time to complete? Or too careless and throw away marks?
A tutor will be able to help pinpoint the problem and gradually get her back on track. Understand very well tat some kids prefer group tuition to 1-to-1 (my DD is juz like tat too), but in group tuition the student has to be a bit more pro-active to ask the tutor about things that she isn't sure about, otherwise it will be difficult for the tutor to pay special attention to any individual student. We had good experience with the 2 big-name group tuition centres (the learning one n the stretching one, hehe), so perhaps u can consider tat.

Major weakness i observe is in fractions, those questions like twice or x more than or x less than type, decimals and percentage.. especially the paper 2 problem sums.
I tried to learn so that I can explain but I find it too difficult for my brain to process :lightrod:
Ask her to try to seek help with her teacher. Hope that her teacher can help her at least a bit

the learning one -> out of our budget
the stretching one -> going to take a look and see how this goes

Thanks!

[ShareShareLah]

bluepencil\" post_id=\"1940329\" time=\"1570530622\" user_id=\"165241:

Hi parents,
Wondering if anyone is buying a laptop for child for sec 1? i found an old ksp thread that its needed for IP ?
i am thinking of getting a laptop for my child for coding practice , learning video editing
What do all think? cos my laptop is business use so the sound is like cheap radio compared to iphone sound for eg!

I have bought one for my DD as I think it would be useful for her school projects, coding practice etc.
I bought an Acer model which is well within my budget.
It would be good for your child to learn some PC skills too. More IT savvy. But then, I always need to remind my DD NOT TO LOSE HER LAPTOP! must teach her how to take care or my money will go down the drain.

[ShareShareLah]

sky minecrafter\" post_id=\"1915003\" time=\"1560928123\" user_id=\"130531:[quote=\"sky minecrafter\" post_id=1915003 time=1560928123 user_id=130531]
Hello Fishermum, I'd agree with our forummer, that if it is not just Compo (also weak in other language components like grammar, etcetera), LilButMighty is a good choice (in the West), though I suspect all their P6 classes are already full... Do try contacting them nonetheless. Good luck![/quote]

They are not full, and personally, I don't find their programmes and packages that good. Just similar to what other tuition centres are doing!

[Santorini56]

Can recommend good laptop brands?

[sky minecrafter]

Dell