All About SAP Schools

[ChiefKiasu]

MMM:

Actually it's MBS

Really?... that's surprising. Didn't realize Maha Bodhi run its academics so tightly. Luckily didn't send my kid there :).

[Fettuccine]

MMM:

... At P1, the teacher is now exposing them to P2 chinese and also the spelling list is really getting difficult.

Hi MMM,

This is indeed stressful to hear. I think I'm going to borrow old P1 textbooks from my friends who are in Tao Nan and at least show my son whats gonna be in store for him when he goes to P1. MBS was one of my shortlist also, but this year is impossible. Didn't know its so tough in there.

Although we are going to just one of the neighborhood schools, I am still kiasu....

How many words are in the spelling list? Son's currently getting spelling in english and chinese once a week plus all subjects homework twice a week from his kindergarten.

What else can I do to help prepare him for P1?

[ChiefKiasu]

Fettuccine:

...What else can I do to help prepare him for P1?

Fettuccine, have you read http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=117 yet?

[MMM]

I think MBS is really tough on the chinese. On the other hand, my girl don’t really have alot of homework. She says she finishes them in class.

So far she don’t look stress/ feel stress despite that chinese is getting difficult. She seems to be enjoying her chinese class though there 37 of them and a very fierce teacher. But she is probably interested in the language. In fact, I think I am feeling more stressful than her : )

My girl typically has around 10 words in her english spelling on a weekly bassi. In fact, I don’t think it’s difficult as I thot her kinderland spelling for K2 which my son is gg through now is tougher. Eg. A snake slithers, A kangaroo hops… It’s not simple stuff like apple, orange,etc…

For P1 chinese, they typically start with hanyu pinyin so it’s good to expose them first. With Molin, my girl started with very strong in her chinese character rather than hypy but she eventually catch up. Now well into term 3 and the streaming, their weekly spelling is typical around 6 (2 worders with hypy) and then 4 long sentences (at least 10 words each). Also they get mini test from time to time. It used to be weekly when they 1st started. It stresses me out thoroughly to ensure she gets a good score,etc… consistently.

My son is gg to P1 next year. He is of a diff calibre probably being a boy. To prepare him, he has been attending kumon since beginning of the year. He is now able to count to 3000 and also do additions up to 9. Also he has been attending Molin since K1 and also phonics classes. I hope all that will help to prepare him. But again, diff child is diff. Some are self-motivated, some needs alot of pushing,etc…

[Fettuccine]

Thanks ChiefKiasu and MMM,


Have read the thread about preparation. Thank goodness the kindergarten taught some of the things you have listed. Son are learning things in the list except for the multiplication table, picture composition, comprehension. Recently, he was given homework to write a summary about the story of a book he borrowed. He is still not too good with it though, but working on it.

His spelling consist of 10 words too. One example of his recent spelling test:
1) Communication
2) letters
3) postman
4) e-mail
5) snail mail
6) delivery
7) television
telephone
9) radio
10) stamps

One of his recent math questions/homework example:
Cheryl baked 9 muffins. Kalen baked 3 more muffins than her. How many muffins did Kalen bake?

Now I am kancheong about the speed of math and chinese…
My boy needs motivation and has short attention span, while my daughter is independent and observant.

Better play safe, even though his chinese is ok.
Will check for courses in Molin and Kumon soon.

[ChiefKiasu]

Fettuccine:

... One example of his recent spelling test:

1) Communication
2) letters
3) postman
4) e-mail
5) snail mail
6) delivery
7) television
telephone
9) radio
10) stamps

One of his recent math questions/homework example:
Cheryl baked 9 muffins. Kalen baked 3 more muffins than her. How many muffins did Kalen bake?...

Goodness :shock: ... I think your kid's kindy is yet another siao kindy :). These are definitely NOT your usual K2 English and Math sums! If your kid can do them, then he is definitely MORE than ready for P1. Probably can start P2 when he is in P1 :shock: .

[MMM]

For me, my kids are not "grill" on multiplication yet including my P1 girl. For me, I think it’s better to understand the rationale of multiplication rather than some rote learning. I think they would understand better that way. I also don’t like them to over learn as it kills the interest of learning.


Though I think I am kiasu to some extent but I am definitely not those who rush out to buy past year papers to let the kids practise and practise. I bought once but more to know what is P1 std and if my kid is way off. But she never really practise on it. Also I realised diff school has diff focus in their exams.

I think it voice down to individual, I seek more of her ability to cope well, she need not be the best but she must be competent and most importantly, she must enjoy learning and school and they must be self-motivated.

I don’t like/ believe in parents pushing. It’s tedious and it causes a strain on both parties. I always tell them that they are doing it for themselves and not me. I am not gg to be the road sweeper one day as they are the ones who is gg to face it themselves. I do agree that it alittle materialistic sometimes but no choice. Also, it voice down to kid’s calibre again…

Boys are tough. My son is exactly like yours short attention span and it’s also a struggle for us to get him to finish him kumon in a timely manner. My girl on the other hand is more independent. She need 1/2 hour to master her spelling. For my son, I need a couple of days to go through with him… imagine : )

Also, remember that it’s not the one who has the best result/ go to top school who is going to succeed in life. It’s the person with the right attitude, character and I believe strongly fate.

I was a laggard in my studies, going to normal stream, etc… But I went on to do my pte degrees,etc… as I discover my love for learning around sec 3. I feel that for the $ I am paid today, alot of friends who probably did better than me in pri school and went on to top school,etc… probably even hasn’t reach that level. So going to top school doesn’t guarantee anything. If there is a early burn out,etc… which we have heard some many times, the child will fail along the way.

[Fettuccine]

ChiefKiasu:

Goodness :shock: ... I think your kid's kindy is yet another siao kindy :). These are definitely NOT your usual K2 English and Math sums! If your kid can do them, then he is definitely MORE than ready for P1. Probably can start P2 when he is in P1 :shock: .

Gosh :shock: , I thought its like that for the spellings and math in K2 level. But all the while they are really doing this kind of work.
Another time, they spell words about South Korea, and also something like \"furnitures\", \"wardrobe\", \"cabinet\", etc...Maybe next spelling about satelite, etc haha

So far he is coping with spelling, math and chinese. But I hope kumon will speed up on math, and although chinese enrichment may be necessary only if we are going to Ngee Ann Primary...

[Fettuccine]

MMM:

For me, my kids are not \"grill\" on multiplication yet including my P1 girl. For me, I think it's better to understand the rationale of multiplication rather than some rote learning. I think they would understand better that way. I also don't like them to over learn as it kills the interest of learning......

Me too, agree that no need to push them so hard to become top kids. Being my first kid going primary school, I am more or less kancheong.
I definitely don't wanna stress him out by making him the top student or something. Just getting him for ready for P1 is my current focus.

So far his threshold for stress is quite ok, as his kindergarten already training him up in this environment. Even activities like music and taekwondo are his interests, as he had asked to learn. Only thing he is scared of doing is roller blading or cycling with two wheels haha.

He is very outspoken and confident though (i guess a product of Schoolhouse). But my little boy is so small and cute, can't believe he is going to P1 next year!

[agent66]

I am so stressed after reading this post. My gal is only in N2 now.