Any P1 kids having tution/enrichment?

[janet88]

hardworking_mom:

Hi,


Thats' why sometimes I find it hard to tell if my child has reached P1 standard for English as Stellar has no textbook. Unlike subject like Mathematics where looking at the his textbook contents page now I would know topics like multiplication or division is not covered yet. So we need to study their English worksheets in detail to know what is covered... :roll:

My daughter is in K2. Like you, I'm worried if she is prepared for P1.
P1/2 has no Eng textbook...using this Stellar program which is kept in school. I'm at a loss what she has to know b4 she goes to P1.
It's easier for Math/Chinese because there is a textbook to fall back/refer to. Why must MOE do away with Eng textbook ???

[livewith_vanilla]

Vevey:

Just want to have a feel abt the tution/enrichment scene here.

DS is in a good neighbourhood sch but I've yet to c the need for any tution (no SA1 tho).
He didn't even go for any P1 preparation class or HYPY class either.

I've been having tuition/enrichment classes since I was like four. Its my decision whether I want to have tuition.

In P6 now.I have a sister, aged five, having tuition for phonics and chinese.

[Pen88n]

I have seen so many discussion of tuition / no tuition, enrichment / no enrichment. I think there is no one "best" way - different kids have different learning methods and need different teaching / coaching. But I still conclude that kids will need coaching and guidance - be it from parents / one-to-one tutor / tuition centre / enrichment centre.


I know there are people who are out to prove "success stories" for kids without tuition but who has fared well (we are referring to primary sch kids here, not the secondary school or more matured kids). But seriously, who would say that these kids really fare well without any home coaching or guidance from parents? From young, the likelihood of parents providing the guidance or giving them the headstart is already there, and they build from that foundation laid. Look at kids who are from poorer families whereby parents are uneducated and cannot even guide them or lay any foundation when they were young: do they really fare well without tuition? The Singapore education system is such that kids need help and coaching in the school and homework and more enrichment outside school syllabus to prepare for exams etc.

Let’s admit it, this is no longer the old time whereby all of us go to school and study under the same teacher without any help from tuition / home. I do not see the education system as a level playing field anymore and I see families / kids who suffer under this due to inability to provide personal coaching / external tutoring

[janet88]

Pen88n:

But I still conclude that kids will need coaching and guidance - be it from parents / one-to-one tutor / tuition centre / enrichment centre.


From young, the likelihood of parents providing the guidance or giving them the headstart is already there, and they build from that foundation laid. The Singapore education system is such that kids need help and coaching in the school and homework and more enrichment outside school syllabus to prepare for exams etc.

Let's admit it, this is no longer the old time whereby all of us go to school and study under the same teacher without any help from tuition / home. I do not see the education system as a level playing field anymore and I see families / kids who suffer under this due to inability to provide personal coaching / external tutoring

It's not a fair game for all kids now. Although more parents are able to coach their kids in school/homework/subjects, there is a limit. Hubby & I got a tutor for son since K2 (group)...then switched to individual tuition at P1. We are still trying to coach him as much as possible bcos we hope to be hands-on. I'm seriously thinking of getting English tuition for my son bcos it's getting tougher and I find it harder to coach. Why must our education system make it so tough for parents/children ?
Subjects are getting tougher.

[livewith_vanilla]

janet_lee88:

Pen88n:

But I still conclude that kids will need coaching and guidance - be it from parents / one-to-one tutor / tuition centre / enrichment centre.


From young, the likelihood of parents providing the guidance or giving them the headstart is already there, and they build from that foundation laid. The Singapore education system is such that kids need help and coaching in the school and homework and more enrichment outside school syllabus to prepare for exams etc.

Let's admit it, this is no longer the old time whereby all of us go to school and study under the same teacher without any help from tuition / home. I do not see the education system as a level playing field anymore and I see families / kids who suffer under this due to inability to provide personal coaching / external tutoring

It's not a fair game for all kids now. Although more parents are able to coach their kids in school/homework/subjects, there is a limit. Hubby & I got a tutor for son since K2 (group)...then switched to individual tuition at P1. We are still trying to coach him as much as possible bcos we hope to be hands-on. I'm seriously thinking of getting English tuition for my son bcos it's getting tougher and I find it harder to coach. Why must our education system make it so tough for parents/children ?
Subjects are getting tougher.

I believe, from a student's perspective, that it is so that our education system would remain first class, and so that Singaporean students would be eloquent in speech, possess higher education certificates and to be globally acknowledged.My parents don't coach me, for the standards are really too high for them.Even my tutors are stumped by the questions set by my school.
That's just my beliefs. No offence to anyone.

[pupilview]

My personal opinion is that if we lay too much emphasis on enrichment/tuition at the primary level, it is the child who suffers in the end.When he goes up higher to secondary/university level , he/she is not able to cope well.It is worst when they come and join the workforce - they are not able to think out of the box because they are so used to spoon-feeding.What is the use of being a topper at your O/A levels if you cannot apply what you have learnt at your workplace? You cannot blame the child - as a parent we never allowed him to slog it out.

[Monster Mummy]

Hi,


I personally think that nowadays, parents are both working parents where we would like to coach our children as well but sometimes, we might not be in the better position to provide the best guidance in terms of picking up the correct language.

Overall, as most of the parents are well educated but how much you can pass the knowledge as the education is changing every years.

Moreover, it is not just Singapore is impact by this education trend, you can look around for the other countries. The kids are also impact by the education.

Yes, I agreed that kids does not need so much enrichment that would impact their development but in the way, it is also one of the style to make them to interact with people. It would depends on the perspective view of the parents.

[Vevey]

Mine could be a simplicitic view as my involvement in current educational system is only at P1 level. Things could be more demanding than our time further down the road. At this pt, I observed that English has been accelerated (e.g Compo at P3 our time vs current P1) while Chinese has been slowed down + HYPY at P1 instead of our P4 (purpose then was for using chinese dictionary if u recall).


However, we will return to the basics of learning when we take away the hype & mystic abt phonics, models, method,preparation class for P1 & PSLE etc. Bearing in mind that most of these r just profound sounding tools coined by service providers & academics to lend them some sophistication, just like biz consultants always do.
hahahaa…:b

E.g. P1 Maths’ # bonding that sounds so foreign to me b4 i read the textbk – is just the articulated steps by steps method that we often use to +/- subconsciously.

So instead of being side-tracked, I always emphasize to DS that he must understand the Maths concepts & principles after being taught in sch (I refuse his request to teach in advance, as I want him to pay attention in class & not thinking he already know all). I m happy to clarify if he still has doubts afterwards.

English is all abt learning the syntax, some memorising of past & future tenses that r more unique, reading & using the language. Once he got these basics right, he will not b confused by complicated qns.

While Chinese requires him to spend more time & work harder in memorising the sound & sight of the characters thru some writing, learning the syntax, lots of reading & using the language. There’s simply no short-cut to learning the foundations.

Selective assessment practices r opportunities to clarify & reinforce concepts & correct technicalities while exposing him to various types of qns (in order to survive under & hopefully, beat the system.)

The most critical factor in learning is attitudes. With the right attitudes, nothing is too difficult to learn. All it takes is time & practice.

[r2010]

I think to have tuition at p1 is a bit too early. It will be good to let the kids settle with the school and try to have a good reading habits at this early yers. It will help the kids later in school life.

[mrswongtuition]

It very much depends on what is done during the tuition lessons.


For my students, parents’ main concern is the lack of a formal textbook for English. They are clueless as to how to guide their kids or what to teach them. As such, they turn to tuition for help.

For P1, I go through mostly basic grammar and vocabulary during the first semester. Second semester focuses on writing, comprehension and synthesis & transformation.

For Maths, basic concepts are done together with Problem Solving and heuristics. Many kids that come to me can’t even add/subtract numbers within 10 without using their fingers. In such cases, they might not be able to catch up in school as the teacher goes through the first 2 topics rather quickly.


If your child can do the following, then I think there’s no immediate need for tuition:
English
- Read well without guidance
- Understand basic grammar rules (singular, plural, subject-verb agreement)
- Able to write a short story with at least 3-5 sentences
E.g.
I am May. I am a girl. I am six years old. I go to Bobo Kindergarten. I love my school.

Maths
- Able to count, add and subtract up to 20
- Able to spell numbers up to 20
- Able to read and comprehend simple story sums
E.g.
Tom has 3 green balloons. He has 5 red balloons.
How many balloons does he have altogether?