Preparing kids for P5 in 2011
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Hi livewith_vanilla,
congrats on your PSLE result and all the valuable tips that you have given.
My son will be in P5 next yr too. I am quite happy that he is being offered HMT and most happy that for his SA2 result this yr, he did very well. He has been doing just average in his MT. But this year, after I change school for him, he improved a lot. I think the school teachers and friends play a big part in it. He is coming home, speaking more mandarin to us, which I believe will help him in his interest and subject.
However, my worry is still his languages. He is very strong in his Maths and Science, so not worry at all. If he is not careless, he should have no problem getting 95 and above for this 2 subjects.
I am also now getting him to read more to build up his language. Hmm, but I miss out on reading newspaper. He is still reading a lot of those fantasy books, which I think will not help him much. Now must force him to read more newspaper article and non-friction books.
For all the subjects, I had got for him 2 assessment books each. I told him for science and maths, once he finish one topic, he will do the assess ment for me. For English, I got him a vocabulary & grammar book that he is already doing 2 exercise each daily for me. For Chinese, quite hard to start on him bcos he will give me a lot of excuse such as have not learnt the word etc etc. But I think maybe can get him to do those OE compre which requires more understanding than knowing the words.
For parents who are worried about MT paper, not sure if what I advise will be good. My husband teaches both my kids to be exam-smart more than teaching them the correct way. In MT paper, there is a section on re-arranging the sentences to form the passage right? He will tell them, if you see questions, then the next one must be an answer. To guess some sequences first then try to put them together. To me, I don’t think it is very good, but at least, it had helped them a lot in their exam, especially when there are phrases or words that they don’t understand.
My husband reasoning is, in Singapore, the marks matters more than anything else. So the most impt thing is to get the correct answer. Afterall, he find that the way Singapore education has changed (in teaching chinese) so much that more kids will dislikes chinese more. But bcos need to continue studying, then must teach them to be exam smart. -
kwokwc:
Hey, my hubby also thinks the same way. Exam-smart is like working-smart. Ultimately at the end of the day, what we are aiming for is the MARKS.
My husband reasoning is, in Singapore, the marks matters more than anything else. So the most impt thing is to get the correct answer. Afterall, he find that the way Singapore education has changed (in teaching chinese) so much that more kids will dislikes chinese more. But bcos need to continue studying, then must teach them to be exam smart.
For Singaporean parents, we have to be equally 'on' (if possible) even if the kids have tutors and not leave everything to them. Son's MT has given me a lesson and experience to learn from...so starting from next year, I will want to be more involved in son's MT to boost his grades. His other 3 subjects went up to Band 2 but pulled down by poor CA1 and SA1 results. -
From what I see, these books by Marshall Cavendish ('My Pals are Here)are recommended for PSLE revision.
-Science PSLE Revision Guide
-English PSLE Revision Guide
-Maths PSLE Revision Guide
I bought the Science one at Popular at $13.90…wonder if this price will be the same at BookFest. -
janet_lee88:
For Singaporean parents, we have to be equally 'on' (if possible) even if the kids have tutors and not leave everything to them. Son's MT has given me a lesson and experience to learn from...so starting from next year, I will want to be more involved in son's MT to boost his grades. His other 3 subjects went up to Band 2 but pulled down by poor CA1 and SA1 results.
I so agree with this ! Let's row the boat together !
kwokwc, welcome to this thread! Totally understand about exam-smart. I think mostly P5/P6 parents will understand the pressure and stress at this stage. To cultivate long term interest and language skills, sure...but for NOW, we need to fight the PSLE fire.
livewith_vanilla Thank you again for your helpful sharing. Big help for me. -
janet_lee88:
My husband doesn't really believe in tuition. He said given his and mine education lvl, we should have no problem in the pri school subjects. But agree with what you say, must be involved in their schoolwork even if have tuition.[
For Singaporean parents, we have to be equally 'on' (if possible) even if the kids have tutors and not leave everything to them. Son's MT has given me a lesson and experience to learn from...so starting from next year, I will want to be more involved in son's MT to boost his grades. His other 3 subjects went up to Band 2 but pulled down by poor CA1 and SA1 results.
Must say, nowadays bcos both parents working, everything depend on tuition or maid, the tuition teacher sometimes can play the parents out. It is impt that parents must still be involved in our kids' schoolwork. So now parents are all SUPER parents. :salute: -
pixiedust:
Hi pixiedust, yes quite stressful when they go P5/P6. I am also telling my son, P5 is an impt year too. If he can do well for his P5 SA2 exam, it will help him during P6 DSA. Then at least I won't be too stressful then.
kwokwc, welcome to this thread! Totally understand about exam-smart. I think mostly P5/P6 parents will understand the pressure and stress at this stage. To cultivate long term interest and language skills, sure...but for NOW, we need to fight the PSLE fire.
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kwokwc:
Now with both parents working and depending on maids and tutors regarding their children and housework...these maids and tutors are intelligent and cunning people. Which is why parents are left stranded easily. Tutors will play the parents out once they know parents leave everything to them.
My husband doesn't really believe in tuition. He said given his and mine education lvl, we should have no problem in the pri school subjects. But agree with what you say, must be involved in their schoolwork even if have tuition.janet_lee88:
[
For Singaporean parents, we have to be equally 'on' (if possible) even if the kids have tutors and not leave everything to them. Son's MT has given me a lesson and experience to learn from...so starting from next year, I will want to be more involved in son's MT to boost his grades. His other 3 subjects went up to Band 2 but pulled down by poor CA1 and SA1 results.
Must say, nowadays bcos both parents working, everything depend on tuition or maid, the tuition teacher sometimes can play the parents out. It is impt that parents must still be involved in our kids' schoolwork. So now parents are all SUPER parents. :salute: -
janet_lee88:
totally agree.
Now with both parents working and depending on maids and tutors regarding their children and housework...these maids and tutors are intelligent and cunning people. Which is why parents are left stranded easily. Tutors will play the parents out once they know parents leave everything to them.
I am lucky as I do my own TCM business. But when it is near exam time I always go crazy. Have to put aside my own work to go thru their assessment and school work intensively. After their exam, I got so much catching up to do. *whew* -
kwokwc:
Esp for the mums who are the supermums. Normally, dad usually more hands-off and will only chip-in here and there. I find that it is usually the mum who are more kan-cheong and has more to worry and more to handle.....
My husband doesn't really believe in tuition. He said given his and mine education lvl, we should have no problem in the pri school subjects. But agree with what you say, must be involved in their schoolwork even if have tuition.janet_lee88:
[
For Singaporean parents, we have to be equally 'on' (if possible) even if the kids have tutors and not leave everything to them. Son's MT has given me a lesson and experience to learn from...so starting from next year, I will want to be more involved in son's MT to boost his grades. His other 3 subjects went up to Band 2 but pulled down by poor CA1 and SA1 results.
Must say, nowadays bcos both parents working, everything depend on tuition or maid, the tuition teacher sometimes can play the parents out. It is impt that parents must still be involved in our kids' schoolwork. So now parents are all SUPER parents. :salute: -
Tell me about being kancheong. Planning his revision time-table stresses me out, worrying whether I’ve included all the chapters and making sure son is not too stressed out.
I cannot teach Maths…Science can still manage a little. But on the whole, hubby takes over Maths & Science while I do Eng & CL.
Some tutors are horrible…if they know parents depend on them to coach, they will play parents out suddenly. Really have to be on the ball where kids’ education is concerned, so that even if played out, the parent won’t be caught offguard.
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