is it possible to make it without tuition

[corneyAmber]

atutor2001:

csc:

[quote=\"ksi\"]I think it is possible too...and it depends on the expectation of \"make it\"

agree with this. first, we have to define the meaning of 'make it'... it may be different for individual parents :lol:

Just to share. The needs of our kids changes as they grow. In Pr, we gave 100% coaching and guidance. At Sec and JC, they were totally on their own (I also no no how to teach). After JC, I made a big mistake in not providing guidance on uni application. To get to good uni, good results alone is not enough. Because of that my poor eldest kid suffered. For my 2nd kid, 100% coaching on uni application and interview - luckily we did that.[/quote]Hmm...current day kids have it easy for parents to coach. During our time, we find out everything and coach ourselves to gain admission. By uni, I hope I can let go and let her fend for herself. If not, if she does not work in a good company, she may think I do not coach her for the interview. Just my 2 cents on when I will let go....

[Trapwithin]

verykiasu2010:

lauren:

is it possible to make it to good psle grades without tuition, if the mum is homemaker, can teach, and just buy gd bks to work on?

maybe just go for compo class only cos hard to teach compo

possible

but you need to understand the following :

based on day to day teaching and the topics at hand, you may be able to get by and showing good / high marks

assuming everyone in the class is equally good, then how to differentiate between them who is ahead ? extend this to the larger cohort in Singapore instead of the class in school -- there will be many equally good !!! so it boils down to how many careless mistakes one makes during the PSLE exam day.

hence the kiasu syndrome of tuitions to hopefully help the smart kids to master enough skills and experience (all types of questions on the same topics) to score high high / full marks at PSLE - as it is a placement exam and your hope is to be placed ahead of others.

tuition is thus a necessary evil for the purpose of placement, not for the purpose of learning a subject for a reasonably smart kid

Well said :goodpost:

[atutor2001]

ksi:

Hmm...current day kids have it easy for parents to coach. During our time, we find out everything and coach ourselves to gain admission. By uni, I hope I can let go and let her fend for herself. If not, if she does not work in a good company, she may think I do not coach her for the interview. Just my 2 cents on when I will let go....

I had the same thought when my eldest kid finished JC. However, only got to realise how competitive it is nowadays. There are easily over 600 pupils with perfect scores at A level. Countless with 4As 1B. For local favourites such as med faculty or law, they are taking only 260 and 200 per intake. How to squeeze in is a real art. Those kids with coaching definitely have an advantage. Kids, left on their own, must be really mature to make it on their own. Unfortunately, mind was not that mature in thoughts - only can study

For good overseas uni, it is even worse - good write-up and interview play a critical part in getting in (not results)

[Quintessential Mum]

sleepy:

Quintessential Mum:

[quote=\"lauren\"]what is 'what's up‘？

thot reader digest is for adults?

It is a newspaper for school kids.
We introduced reader's digest in lower primary, Newsweek in upper primary and The Economist in secondary school. It is important to have an understanding of current global issues.

How to subscribe to that newspaper?
My dd's school only introduce red dot[/quote]Check out http://www.newsforkids.com.sg/

[Quintessential Mum]

lauren:

wow. so gd. i realised even in the same sch, it depends on which teacher ur child get. some teachers are lousy even if in a top sch


i thot just get them read the straits times or new paper can already

Try to exclude the newpaper - the news reports are not very appropriate for kids.

[Quintessential Mum]

ksi:

I think it is possible too...and it depends on the expectation of \"make it\"

well it should be the best of one's ability.

[Sun_2010]

ksi:

Hmm...current day kids have it easy for parents to coach. During our time, we find out everything and coach ourselves to gain admission. By uni, I hope I can let go and let her fend for herself. If not, if she does not work in a good company, she may think I do not coach her for the interview. Just my 2 cents on when I will let go....

Yea, I guess most from my gen did that .

But now, more and more parents are getting involved and are very resourceful. At uni level, i really feel that kids should know far more than the parents abt the current trends and what they want whats best etc. but parental guidance should be there.

Frankly, I dont think I can coach - oreadi feel outdated , sigh.

[Quintessential Mum]

janet_lee88:

Hi Quinessential Mum,

It's very scary looking at how popular tuition/enrichment centres are.
I find it hard to speak or read CL at home...so son has tuition for that subject since K2. It's best not to rely on tutors but I don't have a choice.
However, I'm the one who is making notes & planning time-table for my son...though I hope to pass this responsibility to him slowly.

His teachers do help them prepare for Oral...for how long, I have no idea. Very grateful for that.

Yes true but once you get swept into the tuition whirlpool it is hard to escape! For example, the only tuition that i have given my DD is Ch and like you i started in K2 and it has been 10 years. Skylace has a good oral class. Since oral and lis comp make a nice chunk of the marks, it would be good to \"collect\" the easy marks 1st vis a vis the written portion. Like everything else, one has to plan a strategy that will yield maximum results with hopefully minimal effort.

[corneyAmber]

Sun_2010:

ksi:

Hmm...current day kids have it easy for parents to coach. During our time, we find out everything and coach ourselves to gain admission. By uni, I hope I can let go and let her fend for herself. If not, if she does not work in a good company, she may think I do not coach her for the interview. Just my 2 cents on when I will let go....

Yea, I guess most from my gen did that .

But now, more and more parents are getting involved and are very resourceful. At uni level, i really feel that kids should know far more than the parents abt the current trends and what they want whats best etc. but parental guidance should be there.

Frankly, I dont think I can coach - oreadi feel outdated , sigh.

I agree but my terminology used then would be a \"sounding board\" for them to bounce their ideas and see the possibilities themselves, no more \"parental guidance\"...... We are probably talking about the same thing but I am trying to give it a more granular meaning.

[Quintessential Mum]

atutor2001:

csc:

[quote=\"ksi\"]I think it is possible too...and it depends on the expectation of \"make it\"

agree with this. first, we have to define the meaning of 'make it'... it may be different for individual parents :lol:

Just to share. The needs of our kids changes as they grow. In Pr, we gave 100% coaching and guidance. At Sec and JC, they were totally on their own (I also no no how to teach). After JC, I made a big mistake in not providing guidance on uni application. To get to good uni, good results alone is not enough. Because of that my poor eldest kid suffered. For my 2nd kid, 100% coaching on uni application and interview - luckily we did that.[/quote]Agree - in Sec/JC - no need to coach but should be around to guide wrt decision making etc. :lol: