WHAT SHOULD I DO!

[bigmomma123]

Hi guys,


my 10 year old daughter is in this enrichment center

she has been in it since half a year ago.. basically before she entered the program, she hated math.. now she started enjoying math, BUT her school results have not seen any improvement.

I understand why - the center program is not MOE-aligned.

if u were me, will you pull her out of this class? and enrol her into say, Kumon which drills her in math?

Im worried about her results. at the same time i fear that it will kill her interest in math even if her grades improve.. grades, or interests.. what would u do if u were me?

p.s: i have another 7 year old son who hates math. he is in this center and he loves it. His interest in math has increased many times - i just don't know if I should continue this for him.

HELP HELP HELP!

desperate bigmomma :stupid:

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[addition to earlier post:]
p/s: my dd's results have improved greatly over time at this time of writing, contrary to what i earlier wrote... im deeply grateful to this center and will continue to recommend it to everyone.. (refer to my last post for why)

[sleepy]

bigmomma123:

if u were me, will you pull her out of this class? and enrol her into say, Kumon which drills her in math?

fyi Kumon isn't 'MOE-aligned' either

Perhaps engage a private tutor if she needs more individual attention

[tankee]

i thought enrichment programme usually means not "MOE-aligned"


whereas tuition means "MOE-aligned"

[bigmomma123]

hmm ok i think the point is i have limited time and resources, so should i


1. take her out even though she enjoys it - and checks her into a MOE-aligned center so that her results improves, or

2. continue the status quo even if her results may not change…??

[sleepy]

That depends on your objective.


1. To cultivate love for the subject or
2. Improve grades

Of course ideally can find a single programme that fulfilled both features.

Otherwise you’ve to decide which is more important

[saralim]

Personally, when it comes to academic, I would put results above interest. Music and art is about interest. Academic subjects is all about results at the end. What primarily drives some kids to push themselves to be successful is a need and motivation to do well. Passion or interest may play a part but it is unlikely the primary reason for academic success.


You also have to analyse if your child likes Math Monkey or likes Math. I have a niece who likes solving math puzzles like soduko etc but dislike doing school math. Her school math results is nothing to shout about.

[vlim]

If I were u, I think I will do the following

A) if she wants to remain in the existing enrichment center, u have to monitor her daily school work and let her do assessment at home especially on those topics she is weak at

Or

B) if u have no time to coach her at all and her school result us below satisfactory, then u got to seriously consider changing her to another tuition center tt can help her to improve her maths…

[ANobleNerd]

Interest in a subject would often translate into better grades in the long run.


However, in our \"instant result\"-orientated society, we prefer to see good grades now, whether the child grows an interest in the subject or not.

I think it'll be good to speak to your daughter, her school teacher, and the enrichment centre.

To your daughter, ask why her interest is not translating into better grades. Is it because she still don't understand the concepts taught in her school? Is it because of how the questions are asked? Find out what's creating the learning issue/poor grade instead of just thinking it's about interest.

To your daughter's school teacher, find out what he/she thinks is the issue with your daughter's grades. The teacher is usually able to pinpoint the issue to a certain degree; is it because of her daily work? Her focus in class? Is she usually distracted when being taught?

To the enrichment centre, perhaps you could bring your concern that her interest in Math isn't being translated into better grades. Perhaps her interest in Math is raised by a teacher in the school, and if that teacher speaks to her about her schoolwork, you daughter might be more motivated to do better in her schoolwork? Perhaps the centre might be able to help her see the linkages between her learning at the centre and the curriculum in school?

[bigmomma123]

my girl is practising papers, learning short cuts but not conventional problem sums… thats why while she counts faster, and does mental math much better, she still doesn’t do well at problem sums.


in a conventional tuition center, she will be forced to practice problem sums, hence improve. this is a math enrichment center which aims to teach other things… that’s why.

[sydney]

Almost 10/10 primary school students with challenges in Math is because of problem sums. The problem sums complexity get exponentially more and more difficult from P3 onwards. I used to be able to help him at P3, but when it comes to P4, I am struggling even to understand what the question is trying to ask. When he was in P5, I finally outsourced. There are centres that specialises in problem sums that can help you. Talk to them and choose one that meet your needs.