Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[janet88]

Chenonceau:

pixiedust:

Chenonceau, I am :!: out ! No experience to share at the moment as we are struggling to keep afloat with homewok and in pace with current topics taught in school hence haven't started ANY SA1 papers.


You are referring specifically to Maths ? SA1 includes whole numbers,fractions, area of triangle and ratio, right ? Is it the ratio and fractions in paper 2 that are causing the lost of marks ? Maybe we can analyse together and also draw some experience from other moms here.

I think we have trouble with ratios and fractions. The straightforward sums are ok. He understands the topics but the problem sums are tricky... and he never manages to complete the paper even!! And there were 2 papers that had area of parallelograms and trapeziums. The textbook only documents angles of such four-sided figures.

I tell you... this is super depressing. My poor son. :imdrowning:

I suppose the teacher should be starting (or started) on Area of Triangle...then followed by Ratio before SA1. It's so very very depressing and stressful. I dare not think of these last 2 chapters of Maths yet...doing intensive revision for Whole numbers, Fractions now.

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

Chenonceau:

I'm really depressed. DS scored 90+ for every subject end of last year. We've been working really hard together to cover all the topics in P5, and have just started on the SA1 practice papers. He can do Paper 1, losing 1 to 4 marks... but Paper 2 is horrible. After doing 5 practices, he has failed TWO and the other THREE are borderline.


What are other Mommies' experience please? I'm starting to think that this educational system has bested us and we're really not smart enough as a family to cope in it. :?: :?: :?: :?:

I'm depressed and at the end of my wits. Although my son didn't score 90 last year in P4, he did ok and in Band 2 (up from Band 3). This year, it's a totally different ballgame. Teachers told us P5 is very different from P4, but hey, how much more different can it be ? I'm very stressed and have been neglecting my younger one in P1 (although not crucial but no longer in K2).

Exactly what is the difference, do you know? Is it that the schools give PSLE questions on purpose (topics not covered yet)? Is that the number of questions to be done in the time given has been increased? Is there an effort on the part of the school to apply shock tactics early in P5? Or are we just plain dumb... my son and I?

[pixiedust]

Chenonceau:

I think we have trouble with ratios and fractions. The straightforward sums are ok. .... there were 2 papers that had area of parallelograms and trapeziums. The textbook only documents angles of such four-sided figures...

From what my friends with older children told me, ratio,fraction,percentage are the difficult P5 topics. My guess is he is new to those tricky problem sums so need to practise and practise (probably that's why Brenda also mentioned last year she and dd spent a lot of time on Maths ?). After the practise paper, you can look at problem sums specificially for these 2 areas (Fabian?)

Area of parallelograms and trapeziums ! :!: Can the problems be solved systematically using concepts of area of squares/rectangles/trianges ?

I better kick my own butt and take out all the SA1 papers.

Don't be depressed lah........let's keep charging ahead.............

[pixiedust]

Chenonceau:

Exactly what is the difference, do you know? Is it that the schools give PSLE questions on purpose (topics not covered yet)? Is that the number of questions to be done in the time given has been increased? Is there an effort on the part of the school to apply shock tactics early in P5? Or are we just plain dumb... my son and I?

What I understand :
(1) SA2 in P4, there is subject-based banding so papers tend to be testing more on the basic concepts else it wouldn't be a fair test to sift out pupils who need to take foundation level. Many in better classes will score >95.

(2) P5 Maths follows PSLE format, 2 papers, more questions, 18 problem sums. Count the time the child has been working on the paper when he/she comes to the problem sum. Hence, it is also a test of mental strength.

[Leanne]

Hi Chenonceau,


Just saw this post.

Dont be depressed.In pri five math, u need sometime to get adjusted and the hang of it.Am sure with practise, he will be in the 90s again.

Just to share, ds scored 70 plus in pri four, and now in pri six, so far, it has been in the 95s.Practise makes perfect.


Cheers

Chenonceau:

I'm really depressed. DS scored 90+ for every subject end of last year. We've been working really hard together to cover all the topics in P5, and have just started on the SA1 practice papers. He can do Paper 1, losing 1 to 4 marks... but Paper 2 is horrible. After doing 5 practices, he has failed TWO and the other THREE are borderline.

What are other Mommies' experience please? I'm starting to think that this educational system has bested us and we're really not smart enough as a family to cope in it. :?: :?: :?: :?:

[Chenonceau]

Hmmm… solve the trapeziums with concepts from rectangles and stuff… ok… I go look. Gee… must spend time on math and his Chinese is so poor…


We are in big trouble. Thanks for the moral support though. I didn’t think of the P4 exams in that way either.

[Chenonceau]

Leanne:

Hi Chenonceau,


Just saw this post.

Dont be depressed.In pri five math, u need sometime to get adjusted and the hang of it.Am sure with practise, he will be in the 90s again.

Just to share, ds scored 70 plus in pri four, and now in pri six, so far, it has been in the 95s.Practise makes perfect.


Cheers

Ok... got hope. Need more practice. Thanks much much.

[Brenda10]

Chenonceau:

I'm really depressed. DS scored 90+ for every subject end of last year. We've been working really hard together to cover all the topics in P5, and have just started on the SA1 practice papers. He can do Paper 1, losing 1 to 4 marks... but Paper 2 is horrible. After doing 5 practices, he has failed TWO and the other THREE are borderline.


What are other Mommies' experience please? I'm starting to think that this educational system has bested us and we're really not smart enough as a family to cope in it. :?: :?: :?: :?:

Hi Chenonceau


Don't worry as this will be resolved once your ds grasp the concept, method or strategies after all these practices... Yes, the learning process for Maths is very tough for P5 but sure can overcome. I remember last year we almost everyday also working on maths. Sad to say that we finish the entire set of pass year test paper for maths and the other subject like Science we can only work on MCQ and walked through the open and end questions. As for CL, only manage to do MCQ two days before the exam.

[Brenda10]

pixiedust:

What I understand :

(1) SA2 in P4, there is subject-based banding so papers tend to be testing more on the basic concepts else it wouldn't be a fair test to sift out pupils who need to take foundation level. Many in better classes will score >95.

(2) P5 Maths follows PSLE format, 2 papers, more questions, 18 problem sums. Count the time the child has been working on the paper when he/she comes to the problem sum. Hence, it is also a test of mental strength.

Hi pixiedust

You're right. I also heard this information that the SA2 test for P4 is more on the basic/fundamental concepts for the purpose of subjects banding that why's parent will find the big different when they step into P5.

[ksme]

I am getting worried too. So much to cover to prepare for SA1 and so little time. Some of these difficult topics also not taught yet. Moreover, my kiddo has such long days in school, no time to do any revision. :scared: