Preparing kids for P5 in 2011
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Brenda10:
You're right as this approach is also helping them in writing skills. For CL, I just did a word count and realize dd had written 932 words. Heard from dd the teacher will select the best one - two write out and share with the class.[/quote]This detailed description is an effective way to get students to be observant. Your daughter is lucky to have a dedicated teacher...also what has been typed and printed out can use as learning/revision later.Chenonceau:
[quote=\"Brenda10\"]Last night, dd was busy working in the two \"Picture Discussion\" given by EL and CL teacher respectively. She had to type and print out the details that she observed from the picture as part of homework to submit on Monday.
This Teacher sounds like she is really good. It is the only way to make sure her kids get skills practice for oral in the detail. Else, she would need to sit down with every kid in turn and listen and give feedback. Also, in this way, she can give written feedback that can be referred to again later. What a clever strategy!! -
My take on the Top School Exams VS Assessment Books is...
(1) Top School exams are good diagnostic tools to highlight topics we need to cover or strengthen.
(2) Top School exams (in the past 2 years at least) seem to give a good approximation of the level of difficulty of my son's school exams (give or take some)
(3) Assessment books come in useful after the diagnosis. I dun buy any English nor Science assessment books because there are other more fun ways to teach these 2 subjects. For Science, I used to read Horrible Science books with my son... and we indulge in his love for experiments. However, there are drawbacks. Once, he tried to build a mini Tesla coil and almost set our house on fire. Another time, he was studying mould growth on chitin and I found a tarantula in a box all covered with furry fungus. And then there was the time he was breeding mealworm beetles. I strenuously objected when he wanted to see what would happen to his skin if unwashed for 1 month. For English we let him read. He is currently reading a book by Howard Gardner called the Science of Fear... and another book on The History of Money. He also likes Time magazine. Last year, I channelled him to fiction but I realize that PSLE has a fair amount of non-fiction compre-clozes so we've been reading more non-fiction this year. There was a happy side effect too because my boy enjoys non-fiction more than fiction. We only really work hard on compo writing for English. He does one compo every week for me. These methods gave him a good grounding (and all by himself, he had already progressed beyond his level) in P3 and P4 so these 2 subjects worry me least. In a way, he pre-taught himself. All I did was shop for stuff he wanted to buy.
(4) For Math, I had one topical assessment book in P3 and P4. Step-by-step by Simon Eio. Once he has completed the topics required for SA1, I give him Top School papers. This year (P5) we lost our footing because the Step-by-Step Simon Eio book covered the basic topics without the complex skills. I didn't know these complex skills were needed because we had only identified topic gaps when we did a diagnostic earlier this year. So... I now use Onsponge to teach topic and skills. For the moment, I have completely stopped Top School Exams because we already have a diagnostic, and until he has completed Onsponge, he is not ready for exam drills. This is a departure from our normal practice because his work schedule in the past 2 years always involves Top School Exam drills (dry runs that teach him to manage time and exam techniques) 6 weeks before exams. But Top School Exam drills are no point if there are questions asking for stuff he has not been taught. It is demoralizing to do and score exam practices and run into stuff that has not been taught. When he does exam practices, I wanna be sure that he gets a good grade because good grades at exam practices build confidence and gives pleasure (and studying must be pleasurable).
I notice that P5 SA1, P5 SA2, P6 SA1 and P6 SA2 are all of pretty equivalent difficulty. There's no way to do well at any of these practices right now, for us. Hence, I have decided that I won't give him Top School exams to do until he has covered all the topics reasonably thoroughly. Then the drills with Top School Exams will begin. Maybe he'll be ready by Aug this year? I dunno... This PSLE thing has thrown us so many curved balls since the start of the year that I am not sure of myself anymore. That may be good because no matter how experienced the mother, pride goes before a fall... one mustn't believe that one knows everything about motherhood and become complacent. I guess I'll just have to make it up as I go along... and pick up some ideas from parents here.
I really like what Brenda shared about picture discussion. I might try that. -
Brenda10:
dd had written 932 words
:faint: Whoa! I am impressed!! -
janet_lee88:
Same here...trying to get son to finish up as much as possible so that I can sit in front of TV tonight.
Yes, to support Rui En. :rahrah: :rahrah: -
janet_lee88:
This detailed description is an effective way to get students to be observant. Your daughter is lucky to have a dedicated teacher...also what has been typed and printed out can use as learning/revision later.
Yes, Janet. I also think this is more effective and they can absorb better as this is their own ouput.
I do hope the teacher can continuous this exercise and it really benefit all the pupils in the long run. -
Chenonceau:
Hi Chenonceau,My take on the Top School Exams VS Assessment Books is...
(1) Top School exams are good diagnostic tools to highlight topics we need to cover or strengthen.
(2) Top School exams (in the past 2 years at least) seem to give a good approximation of the level of difficulty of my son's school exams (give or take some)
(3) Assessment books come in useful after the diagnosis. I dun buy any English nor Science assessment books because there are other more fun ways to teach these 2 subjects. For Science, I used to read Horrible Science books with my son... and we indulge in his love for experiments. However, there are drawbacks. Once, he tried to build a mini Tesla coil and almost set our house on fire. Another time, he was studying mould growth on chitin and I found a tarantula in a box all covered with furry fungus. And then there was the time he was breeding mealworm beetles. I strenuously objected when he wanted to see what would happen to his skin if unwashed for 1 month. For English we let him read. He is currently reading a book by Howard Gardner called the Science of Fear... and another book on The History of Money. He also likes Time magazine. Last year, I channelled him to fiction but I realize that PSLE has a fair amount of non-fiction compre-clozes so we've been reading more non-fiction this year. There was a happy side effect too because my boy enjoys non-fiction more than fiction. We only really work hard on compo writing for English. He does one compo every week for me. These methods gave him a good grounding (and all by himself, he had already progressed beyond his level) in P3 and P4 so these 2 subjects worry me least. In a way, he pre-taught himself. All I did was shop for stuff he wanted to buy.
(4) For Math, I had one topical assessment book in P3 and P4. Step-by-step by Simon Eio. Once he has completed the topics required for SA1, I give him Top School papers. This year (P5) we lost our footing because the Step-by-Step Simon Eio book covered the basic topics without the complex skills. I didn't know these complex skills were needed because we had only identified topic gaps when we did a diagnostic earlier this year. So... I now use Onsponge to teach topic and skills. For the moment, I have completely stopped Top School Exams because we already have a diagnostic, and until he has completed Onsponge, he is not ready for exam drills. This is a departure from our normal practice because his work schedule in the past 2 years always involves Top School Exam drills (dry runs that teach him to manage time and exam techniques) 6 weeks before exams. But Top School Exam drills are no point if there are questions asking for stuff he has not been taught. It is demoralizing to do and score exam practices and run into stuff that has not been taught. When he does exam practices, I wanna be sure that he gets a good grade because good grades at exam practices build confidence and gives pleasure (and studying must be pleasurable).
I notice that P5 SA1, P5 SA2, P6 SA1 and P6 SA2 are all of pretty equivalent difficulty. There's no way to do well at any of these practices right now, for us. Hence, I have decided that I won't give him Top School exams to do until he has covered all the topics reasonably thoroughly. Then the drills with Top School Exams will begin. Maybe he'll be ready by Aug this year? I dunno... This PSLE thing has thrown us so many curved balls since the start of the year that I am not sure of myself anymore. That may be good because no matter how experienced the mother, pride goes before a fall... one mustn't believe that one knows everything about motherhood and become complacent. I guess I'll just have to make it up as I go along... and pick up some ideas from parents here.
I really like what Brenda shared about picture discussion. I might try that.
Thank you for your details analysis on the Top School Exam Papers vs Assessment Books.
It's really nice to particular in this forum and learns all the different perception and method along the learning journey. :celebrate: -
Chenonceau:
Hi Chenoncearu,Brenda10:
dd had written 932 words
:faint: Whoa! I am impressed!!
Thank you.
The conetent including of introduction, discussion, suggestion and conclusion.
It's take time to gradually reach this stage as the teacher had gone through with them several sessions for all these requirements -
Brenda10:
Yup! You betcha!
Hi Chenonceau,Chenonceau:
My take on the Top School Exams VS Assessment Books is...
(1) Top School exams are good diagnostic tools to highlight topics we need to cover or strengthen.
(2) Top School exams (in the past 2 years at least) seem to give a good approximation of the level of difficulty of my son's school exams (give or take some)
(3) Assessment books come in useful after the diagnosis. I dun buy any English nor Science assessment books because there are other more fun ways to teach these 2 subjects. For Science, I used to read Horrible Science books with my son... and we indulge in his love for experiments. However, there are drawbacks. Once, he tried to build a mini Tesla coil and almost set our house on fire. Another time, he was studying mould growth on chitin and I found a tarantula in a box all covered with furry fungus. And then there was the time he was breeding mealworm beetles. I strenuously objected when he wanted to see what would happen to his skin if unwashed for 1 month. For English we let him read. He is currently reading a book by Howard Gardner called the Science of Fear... and another book on The History of Money. He also likes Time magazine. Last year, I channelled him to fiction but I realize that PSLE has a fair amount of non-fiction compre-clozes so we've been reading more non-fiction this year. There was a happy side effect too because my boy enjoys non-fiction more than fiction. We only really work hard on compo writing for English. He does one compo every week for me. These methods gave him a good grounding (and all by himself, he had already progressed beyond his level) in P3 and P4 so these 2 subjects worry me least. In a way, he pre-taught himself. All I did was shop for stuff he wanted to buy.
(4) For Math, I had one topical assessment book in P3 and P4. Step-by-step by Simon Eio. Once he has completed the topics required for SA1, I give him Top School papers. This year (P5) we lost our footing because the Step-by-Step Simon Eio book covered the basic topics without the complex skills. I didn't know these complex skills were needed because we had only identified topic gaps when we did a diagnostic earlier this year. So... I now use Onsponge to teach topic and skills. For the moment, I have completely stopped Top School Exams because we already have a diagnostic, and until he has completed Onsponge, he is not ready for exam drills. This is a departure from our normal practice because his work schedule in the past 2 years always involves Top School Exam drills (dry runs that teach him to manage time and exam techniques) 6 weeks before exams. But Top School Exam drills are no point if there are questions asking for stuff he has not been taught. It is demoralizing to do and score exam practices and run into stuff that has not been taught. When he does exam practices, I wanna be sure that he gets a good grade because good grades at exam practices build confidence and gives pleasure (and studying must be pleasurable).
I notice that P5 SA1, P5 SA2, P6 SA1 and P6 SA2 are all of pretty equivalent difficulty. There's no way to do well at any of these practices right now, for us. Hence, I have decided that I won't give him Top School exams to do until he has covered all the topics reasonably thoroughly. Then the drills with Top School Exams will begin. Maybe he'll be ready by Aug this year? I dunno... This PSLE thing has thrown us so many curved balls since the start of the year that I am not sure of myself anymore. That may be good because no matter how experienced the mother, pride goes before a fall... one mustn't believe that one knows everything about motherhood and become complacent. I guess I'll just have to make it up as I go along... and pick up some ideas from parents here.
I really like what Brenda shared about picture discussion. I might try that.
Thank you for your details analysis on the Top School Exam Papers vs Assessment Books.
It's really nice to particular in this forum and learns all the different perception and method along the learning journey. :celebrate: -
For Maths in P5, it’s not possible to use just the Maths assessment book as revision like in P4. I printed out 2 Section A/B (no calculator) from 2 schools for him to work on accuracy and then later on print out another 2 schools to test him on speed and accuracy nearer SA1.
English wise, I get him to practice synthesis, comprehension OE, comprehension cloze. -
janet_lee88:
Yikes! I forgot about Compre OE. Aiya! Ne'er mind. We're so close to exams that I dun wanna stress him. I'll stress him after exams. He doesn't study for 2 days before any exam. So today is play day and we'll just :dancing: :boogie: :imcool: 'cos he's worked really so hard that we really need a break so that he can resource his mental energy and tackle the papers.For Maths in P5, it's not possible to use just the Maths assessment book as revision like in P4. I printed out 2 Section A/B (no calculator) from 2 schools for him to work on accuracy and then later on print out another 2 schools to test him on speed and accuracy nearer SA1.
English wise, I get him to practice synthesis, comprehension OE, comprehension cloze.
We'll go play badminton later. Heeeeeeeee! :rahrah:
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