is it possible to make it without tuition

[Quintessential Mum]

lauren:

its called \"Comprehension Skills\" by dorcas ang.published by sap.

i bought P3 tho my girl just P2. cos i bought only 2 wks ago, no point buy P2. from popular.
its quite gd. the compre got standard.

popular got other bks.
oxford essentials have also. seems gd but quite many pages of explanation.

Dorcas Ang is good. He also has books on Vocabulary too. Look out for it.

[24hr-mum]

what is 'what’s up‘？

thot reader digest is for adults?

[phankao]

atutor2001:

Maybe it is because of my DH - very strict from P1. Set very high std (99 for math kanna scolded) & doesn't believe in spending endless hours studying & always drilling them on the importance of shortcuts and efficiency but result must be of high quality - got careless mistakes, dieeee. Work finished, go and play.

Initially quite painful. However, once the eldest one made it, the others just felt that that is the norm - become self motivated.

Your kids v \"guai\". Mine would rebel at anything he perceives as \"too much\" or \"extra\" work.

[atutor2001]

phankao:

Your kids v \"guai\". Mine would rebel at anything he perceives as \"too much\" or \"extra\" work.

I have to thank my DH for that. Since a toddle he never pamper them. His philosophy is \"they start learning and testing our patience, the moment they are born\".

But he also keep to his promises. They were trained to do past year papers real fast. But once completed and properly done, he would not give them any extra work. They can do nothing for the rest of the day. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable and asked them to go study. He would chide me, highlighting that they have already done XXX papers. He wins, they are closer to him now.

[iFruit]

lauren:

any tips for maths? that's my headache

JMHO

1) I think the most important math skill that you can teach a child is to understand a given problem and put the given facts on the paper (easier said than done in the initial stages). Once the child learns to do that, the solution follows automatically and improves the kid's confidence. So try to test the understanding of the question as often as possible. Ask them voice out their understanding after reading a problem. Understanding a problem is more important than the method to solve a problem.

2) Teach the basic techniques in solving a problem. For example in age problems, the difference between the ages of two people is always a constant. Or if you do many operations and end up with some number, it is easier apply 'backwards' approach etc.

3) Don't worry about too clever solutions/heuristics. The child just needs to learn the methodical way of solving a problem at first. The clever solutions, the child can pick on his/her own as confidence improves. I'd in fact say avoid clever solutions at first when teaching until a concept is mastered by the child.

4) I know this won't be taken too kindly here but IMHO, while MDs are great for understanding they do not scale when the problem complexity increases or when a new twist is introduced into the problem. So even when you teach MDs, slip in albegra on the sly (put a u or x on in the boxes and it becomes algebra). After all MD nothing but algebra masquerading as boxes. And you will thank yourself when the child comes to you to draw a MD for a new problem.

4) Make them practice regularly and praise them lavishly even on small accomplishments. Soon they will surprise you (or at least do math better/faster than you).

[sleepy]

phankao:

Your kids v \"guai\". Mine would rebel at anything he perceives as \"too much\" or \"extra\" work.

Mine too :slapshead: anti any 'extra' homework.

[acehkr3009]

lauren:

so far my girl, now P2, is attending Eng compo, Ch compo regularly

i can teach the other components but not compo.
for math, its on and off. meaning i tried a few centres, not impressed, i switch.

she also has piano and lately art cos she wanted it.

maybe cos my girl is 1 jan baby, she is one year younger than her peers, so maths hv problem understanding.

my boy is now k1 but super playful and slower.
so i think tuition is no choice cos i need to wield the cane to show power, otherwise he just act and pretend

Hi Lauren,

Here is another lengthy essay to share....

In earlier years of coaching my children, I realised everyone of them are different in their learning styles. For my eldest, he likes to think alot, also day-dreaming alot. Initially in P1, I do caning, but felt very sorried after, as I felt he has done nothing wrong other than being inattentive and me being impatience. I soon realised he likes to move about, discuss alot & has short attention span in certain subjects. So I gotten a Big plastic board & get him to stand & write his solutions instead of sitting. Also, I made it a point to do only 5 problems sums at a time with small breaks if needed. My objective is quality work & not quantity. Hence, identifying areas of his weakness is important.

I also share with him on what I will be doing from the start and what he can do (his favourite PC game or TV) after our session. Over time, our session lasted 1hr or more, and sometimes we also chatted on other stuff.

Importantly, try to profile their interest & learning style in order to work out your best approach. Always have an open heart to understand his needs and response to see if it is effective. You may do a websearch on Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic learner. This can be helpful in understanding your child natural gift and find out best practice available to help them...I certainly feel that caning is not an childhood experience they should be remembered....especially over academic results....which the child may develop low self-esteem and/or becomes rebellious. Behavior issues will be a harder problem to correct later on.

This is just my experience and some thought...Thanks for reading.

[atutor2001]

iFruit:

lauren:

any tips for maths? that's my headache

JMHO

1) I think the most important math skill that you can teach a child is to understand a given problem and put the given facts on the paper (easier said than done in the initial stages). Once the child learns to do that, the solution follows automatically and improves the kid's confidence. So try to test the understanding of the question as often as possible. Ask them voice out their understanding after reading a problem. Understanding a problem is more important than the method to solve a problem.

2) Teach the basic techniques in solving a problem. For example in age problems, the difference between the ages of two people is always a constant. Or if you do many operations and end up with some number, it is easier apply 'backwards' approach etc.

3) Don't worry about too clever solutions/heuristics. The child just needs to learn the methodical way of solving a problem at first. The clever solutions, the child can pick on his/her own as confidence improves. I'd in fact say avoid clever solutions at first when teaching until a concept is mastered by the child.

4) I know this won't be taken too kindly here but IMHO, while MDs are great for understanding they do not scale when the problem complexity increases or when a new twist is introduced into the problem. So even when you teach MDs, slip in albegra on the sly (put a u or x on in the boxes and it becomes algebra). After all MD nothing but algebra masquerading as boxes. And you will thank yourself when the child comes to you to draw a MD for a new problem.

4) Make them practice regularly and praise them lavishly even on small accomplishments. Soon they will surprise you (or at least do math better/faster than you).

Hi iFruit

I fully support your view, especially point 1 on \"putting the given facts on paper\".

Just to add :

If a kid sits there and uses his mental capacity to think out the solution steps at P4, do not be too happy. It`s a bad habit. By P5 he will face great difficulty. Even if he manages to solve the problem sum, the amount of energy, time taken and careless mistakes made will be much more than if the information is written and organised on paper be it using model or units.

Unfortunately, many parents are very happy when their kids are able to produce the working steps mentally at lower primary, thus unknowingly encouraging a bad habit.

[phankao]

Quintessential Mum:

Yes Yes Yes!!!! If you make sure that they have a good foundation in their core subjects from the start, it is possible! I refrained from jumping on the bandwagon and giving my DD tuition! It worked out fine for her - 4Astars at PSLE! One exception is Ch as my DH and I do not speak/write/read the language at all. Other than that, no tuition for Eng/Maths/Science. I do not want my DD to rely on tuition as i prefer her to set out her own study schedule, develop good study habits, learn to make her own notes, identify her own weak areas and look for ways to overcome it etc. She needs to develop these thinking and decision making skills now and it will be useful for later in life. :lol:

How about no tuition and no help from parents? Just rely on the school to prepare them for PSLE .... can excel too, I hope!

[phankao]

Quintessential Mum:

Dorcas Ang is good. He also has books on Vocabulary too. Look out for it.

Hmm... Dorcas is Female.