Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[Pen88n]

Peony:

That's right, Janet.


Pen88n, I need to print what you wrote about the \"heart attack\" to calm myself. THANK YOU!

People told me that there'll be a 10 marks slide from P4 to 5 but it has been double that for my DD!

From the start of the year, I've had a few heart attacks. The most recent was her compo. 21 out of 40!

She relies on me for help but I really can't - work has been hell. No choice, outsourced to find a tutor.

Is this the school's way of getting parents to push their kids? :stupid:

Peony,

Don't worry too much as yet. I do not know if your DD's school give the CA1 progress report with the class and level High, Low, Mean, that will actually give you a gauge of where your DD stands. I'm sure most schools will give that for SA1 at least.

My DS' school give this report for nearly every CA / SA since P5. I guess it is to inform parents of where the kids stand. From P5 to P6, I can see the Mean has improved after P5 CA1 & SA1. It goes to show that the kids are picking up the pace over the months.

Good Luck and all the Best!

[Peony]

21/40 for E compo!


She did very well last year - high 80s for language subjects and and above 90 for maths and science.

She’s in the best class and I think the school wants them to excel even more and thus SCARE the wits out them.

And YES, 20 marks down from last year.

I’m at the point where I tell myself: heck lah. Just go to the affiliated secondary school. Bigger picture: super PSLE results do not translate to super jobs later. Will settle for good enough. No need to top.

Especially since I know kids who just got their awesome O and A level results. And no, they were not the cream of their PSLE year crop.

[Eddow]

janet_lee88:

Hi Mummies,

I was just told that from P5 onwards, Science CA/SA would include everything from P3.

For DS2 school, every science CA/SA includes Pri3 onwards, since P4 onwards till now in P5 and will still be the same till P6. That's why have to always revise on the lower science topics, else he'll forget.

[janet88]

Eddow:

janet_lee88:

Hi Mummies,

I was just told that from P5 onwards, Science CA/SA would include everything from P3.

For DS2 school, every science CA/SA includes Pri3 onwards, since P4 onwards till now in P5 and will still be the same till P6. That's why have to always revise on the lower science topics, else he'll forget.

Thanks for your reply. Ok, so this means son's school is following the rest.

[tisha]

janet_lee88:

Hi Mummies,

I was just told that from P5 onwards, Science CA/SA would include everything from P3.

Yup, its true.

[tisha]

pixiedust:

I agree with tisha.


ds's school also doesn't use onSponge. We find the branching method faster too, especially when the numbers in the question are hard to divide into number of boxes (big common multiples).

I find it okay to let the kids understand there is more than one method to solve the problem. ds usually tries model first but if the numbers are hard to find common multiples, he'll use branching.

But earlier comment about teachers not understanding branching method is worrying........... :!:

pixiedust,
If you keep PSLE in mind, then there shouldn't be a concern whether branching method will be accepted or not. But yes, for school exams it can be a concern, and I'm not sure how many of us have the time to go and argue with the teacher for method marks or whatever.

I wish some math teacher or tutor could clear this doubt for us.
BTW, a previous comment by a parent on the usage of algebra was that, if the final answer is wrong, no marks will be awarded for the method. So if using algebra need to be 100% sure about the answer.

[Pen88n]

tisha:

pixiedust:

I agree with tisha.


ds's school also doesn't use onSponge. We find the branching method faster too, especially when the numbers in the question are hard to divide into number of boxes (big common multiples).

I find it okay to let the kids understand there is more than one method to solve the problem. ds usually tries model first but if the numbers are hard to find common multiples, he'll use branching.

But earlier comment about teachers not understanding branching method is worrying........... :!:

pixiedust,
If you keep PSLE in mind, then there shouldn't be a concern whether branching method will be accepted or not. But yes, for school exams it can be a concern, and I'm not sure how many of us have the time to go and argue with the teacher for method marks or whatever.

I wish some math teacher or tutor could clear this doubt for us.
BTW, a previous comment by a parent on the usage of algebra was that, if the final answer is wrong, no marks will be awarded for the method. So if using algebra need to be 100% sure about the answer.

Tisha,

I thot the Algebra method marks not awarded if final answer is wrong is only meant for last few years. As of this year, they have introduce Algebra into the syllabus, and the kids are taught Algebra at the start of P6. So, the method marks will be applicable even if final answers are wrong.

Can someone in the known please clarify? Thanks

[wonderm]

Pen88n:

tisha:

[quote=\"pixiedust\"]I agree with tisha.


ds's school also doesn't use onSponge. We find the branching method faster too, especially when the numbers in the question are hard to divide into number of boxes (big common multiples).

I find it okay to let the kids understand there is more than one method to solve the problem. ds usually tries model first but if the numbers are hard to find common multiples, he'll use branching.

But earlier comment about teachers not understanding branching method is worrying........... :!:

pixiedust,
If you keep PSLE in mind, then there shouldn't be a concern whether branching method will be accepted or not. But yes, for school exams it can be a concern, and I'm not sure how many of us have the time to go and argue with the teacher for method marks or whatever.

I wish some math teacher or tutor could clear this doubt for us.
BTW, a previous comment by a parent on the usage of algebra was that, if the final answer is wrong, no marks will be awarded for the method. So if using algebra need to be 100% sure about the answer.

Tisha,

I thot the Algebra method marks not awarded if final answer is wrong is only meant for last few years. As of this year, they have introduce Algebra into the syllabus, and the kids are taught Algebra at the start of P6. So, the method marks will be applicable even if final answers are wrong.

Can someone in the known please clarify? Thanks[/quote]My ds2 took PSLE last year. My impression was that they were only taught simple algebra in P6. I taught him myself how to use simultaneous equations to solve problem sums. He found it easier than using model method for certain questions. The caution is that if he makes careless mistake while solving with simulataneous equation, then method marks will not be given to him. So I told him not to abandon the model method and try using it as much as possible.

Again, that was just my understanding. Maybe you can check with their maths teacher to confirm.

[Chenonceau]

Double post

[Chenonceau]

Tisha, :thankyou: very much for tipping me off to the \"branching method\". I got hold of Visible Thinking 6, and taught my son today. It has made a big difference. I think we just cleared a big hurdle. :dancing: :boogie: