2019 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2007)

[ShareShareLah]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1940394\" time=\"1570579253\" user_id=\"28674:

bluepencil\" post_id=\"1940382\" time=\"1570551131\" user_id=\"165241:

Thanks all for the advice. Did you get after psle or are your homes those with many mobile phones and laptops or devices lying around. ...

I checked on the macbook, is too expensive and I indeed worry about theft or loss. I asked around and some people agree that a black laptop is less desirable than a silver macbook to steal for eg. My child is also quite careless.

I think I will just settle for lenovo as recommended by relative. But mainly because Macbook is expensive for us. Thing is my child cry foul and actually prefer mac book for just general use only so far. ...

We bought laptops for our girls when they reached Sec 1. No need to buy a Mac unless the school requires it (my younger daughter was required to get a Mac, but has switched back to Windows now that she has left that school). The rest of the family has used various brands (Compaq, Dell, Lenovo), but over the last few years, all 4 of us have been using Asus and it seems to be good - reasonably priced and, so far, reliable. Some of us are on our 2nd Asus laptops.

Unless your child has strong reasons to want a Mac, and no other computer can do those things, I wouldn't give in to buying something more costly for no good reason. It also sets a bad precedent for future purchases of other items - phones, watches, shoes, clothes, etc. Teach your child to make wise and modest choices based on need, not wants. And yes, a fairly ordinary laptop will attract less attention and is less likely to be stolen. Also make sure they set passwords to their computers so friends can't access and play silly pranks (some might do so!).

Yes, I agree with you. We as parents should learn to teach our children not to be obsessed over brands, otherwise they will start to pester us to buy those expensive gadgets. As for laptops, fortunately, my DD is happy to use a ordinary one. I don't actually allow her to use instagram, facebook any other social media websites.

[MrsKiasu]

I m not sure if dd can use her own cheapo laptop in Sec 1 should she needs one in school…my thinking is if need get another one, I will go by meeting the school’s requirements and one with ‘cheap’ price, replacing won’t be so painful… the handling of laptop is already rough for me. I do hope dd won’t go into social media websites and participate in it at such early age, to me la. I been telling them about keyboard warriors and bullying…recently told my mom not to put esp kids photos on social media…

[floppy]

TBH, as long as the laptop can surf web, handle Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, email, with reasonable speed, it’s more than good enough.

[MrsKiasu]

floppy\" post_id=\"1940427\" time=\"1570588949\" user_id=\"97579:

TBH, as long as the laptop can surf web, handle Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, email, with reasonable speed, it’s more than good enough.

I didn't install the MS office on her laptop..there was once she tried using PowerPoint probably trial from web..can surf nets/emails..can use already la hor

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MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1940425\" time=\"1570588483\" user_id=\"43981:

I m not sure if dd can use her own cheapo laptop in Sec 1 should she needs one in school..my thinking is if need get another one, I will go by meeting the school's requirements and one with 'cheap' price, replacing won't be so painful.. the handling of laptop is already rough for me. I do hope dd won't go into social media websites and participate in it at such early age, to me la. I been telling them about keyboard warriors and bullying..recently told my mom not to put esp kids photos on social media..

Yes, It's never wise to put children's photos on the internet as there may be paedophiles watching :yikes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRPUZ3pufAg

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MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1940432\" time=\"1570590192\" user_id=\"43981:

floppy\" post_id=\"1940427\" time=\"1570588949\" user_id=\"97579:

TBH, as long as the laptop can surf web, handle Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, email, with reasonable speed, it’s more than good enough.

I didn't install the MS office on her laptop..there was once she tried using PowerPoint probably trial from web..can surf nets/emails..can use already la hor

Is there a expiry date period to use these free online?

[MerlionInGermany]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1940413\" time=\"1570585334\" user_id=\"28674:

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1940408\" time=\"1570584192\" user_id=\"2964:

Didnt someone say in NUSH thread that there were 3 or 4 in the class without handphones until Sec 3 or something like that?

I don’t think any school will write handphone as an item in the booklist. Unlike a scientific calculator.

No school will make phones mandatory,

That is right. No school will make phone mandatory.

[sharonkhoo]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1940432\" time=\"1570590192\" user_id=\"43981:

floppy\" post_id=\"1940427\" time=\"1570588949\" user_id=\"97579:

TBH, as long as the laptop can surf web, handle Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, email, with reasonable speed, it’s more than good enough.

I didn't install the MS office on her laptop..there was once she tried using PowerPoint probably trial from web..can surf nets/emails..can use already la hor

You can get student editions of MS Office which are cheaper than regular ones? Not sure about this. Or some schools may have some kind of bulk plan or discounts?

Alternatively, you can download Libre Office which is similar in functions to MS office, and free. There can be some compatibility issues, especially with tables, but for general text, it works OK.

[floppy]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1940445\" time=\"1570591590\" user_id=\"28674:

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1940432\" time=\"1570590192\" user_id=\"43981:

[quote=floppy post_id=1940427 time=1570588949 user_id=97579]TBH, as long as the laptop can surf web, handle Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, email, with reasonable speed, it’s more than good enough.

I didn't install the MS office on her laptop..there was once she tried using PowerPoint probably trial from web..can surf nets/emails..can use already la hor

You can get student editions of MS Office which are cheaper than regular ones? Not sure about this. Or some schools may have some kind of bulk plan or discounts?

Alternatively, you can download Libre Office which is similar in functions to MS office, and free. There can be some compatibility issues, especially with tables, but for general text, it works OK.[/quote]Don’t expect the same speed from Libre Office though (but it’s free, so cannot hiam).

[jtee07]

Hi, I saw the questions on notebook (laptop) and mobile phone; hence, here are my few cents worth:


1. Notebook / Laptop

I think it is school dependent.

There is no real need to buy notebook when your child enters secondary school. My #1 is currently in Sec 2 and the most he needs is words and power point. He used the one that we have at home and never once did he need to bring the notebook to school. All the softcopies that he needs were saved into thumbdrive. Once he download a special software for school's D&T work.

I have a niece who went to a good school in Bukit Timah area (in 2011). The school requires the students to get an ipad (if I am not wrong), co-payment for students who need financial help. Not sure if the school still has such practice.

I also heard that there is a secondary school near Bartley MRT station that required students to have notebook. But this was changed recently, perhaps due to new principal.


2. Mobile Phone

Though mobile phone is not really a need, the society has changed such that it is now necessary for the students to have a phone for communication, not just with the parents, but also with their teachers and peers.

I gave my #1 a mobile phone when he entered Sec 1 because there is a need to communicate with him as he needs to travel to school. The school has rules regarding phone usage and the students are afraid to have their phone confiscated, though some will try to outsmart the system. The Form, CCA and any other teachers use WhatsApp (WA) as the main form of communication. They will also give parents their numbers. But with so many chat groups (CG), and students sometimes spam the chat group, some important messages may be lost in the ocean of info. Some time, last minute info was disseminated to the students via WA-CG. The IT-native generation will have to cope with these \"problems\".

I made my child signed a contract before he got his phone. Using the contract, I confiscated his phone once for 1 week and sent a message to all the CG that he was unable to communicate with them for 1 week. Even his FTs thought something went wrong and messaged him. I replied saying that his phone was confiscated. From that day onwards, he knows I mean business and does not try to disobey the contractual terms anymore. He is more afraid of losing his \"face\" than his phone.