Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[kaka]

tisha:

kaka:

[quote=\"cimman\"]I find that with Science, the key issue is not with understanding the concepts, but with expressing the solution. This involves a pretty good foundation of the English language and a logical mind.

My child just uses key words and the sentence structure is not correct, there are grammatical errors and spelling errors. There are also logic issues, like step 1 should occur first before step 2, sometimes the steps are not in sequence in the explanation.
Anyone knows how to resolve such issues ? anyone here shares the same sentiment ?

I am a science grad and I do not know how answer the questions when I first started to help my kids. I can answer in my way but not the way to score points.

Now I teach my kids to remember all the key concepts of the topics, look at the questions, seach through the concepts and look for the appropriate one to apply. I use thematic maps to help her map the concepts.
If I am not wrong, grammar and sentence structure not important in science (ie marks will not be affected), but for spelling, marks will be deducted for wrong spelling of key words.

Can share more how you got the hang of answering the science O.E. We are still struggling with that part.[/quote]I am still learning, though gain some experience going through PSLE with my Ds last year.

Have a good Science guide book, start with a simpler ones as the concepts might be too much for average kids to remember. Then can proceed to more detailed book (the orange PSLE Science Guide works for me). Focus on revising the questions he/she got wrong till she gets the concept and the process skill the question is looking. Repetitive work helps, like in Maths, untill the concepts are clear and she anwers in the way the question is testing regards to process skills. I learn and look for answers together with my Dd, sometimes we google for answers too.
Now her favourite subject is Science.

[Chenonceau]

Tisha, there is an excellent book by Math Heuristics that addresses this issue of answering OE questions. They have some approach called LiSC… I cannot remember book name because my son does not have problems here, but I remember that it explained the whole process very systematically.


Maybe you can find the book in National Library? No harm looking 'cos this book is at $40.

[Brenda10]

Hi, for your information. 5B Visible Thinking In Mathematics is available now in Popular.

[Peony]

Brenda10:

Hi, for your information. 5B Visible Thinking In Mathematics is available now in Popular.

Have seen... may give it a miss, although I have the 5A, coz DD's teacher is giving LOTS of maths worksheets everyday. My assessment books are untouched...

PLUS realise that the worksheets consists of shamelessly lifted questions from the assessment books I have! The kids are \"smart\" enough to recognise. DD will even \"check\" to see if she has the correct answer!

[tisha]

kaka:

tisha:

[quote=\"kaka\"]
I am a science grad and I do not know how answer the questions when I first started to help my kids. I can answer in my way but not the way to score points.

Now I teach my kids to remember all the key concepts of the topics, look at the questions, seach through the concepts and look for the appropriate one to apply. I use thematic maps to help her map the concepts.
If I am not wrong, grammar and sentence structure not important in science (ie marks will not be affected), but for spelling, marks will be deducted for wrong spelling of key words.

Can share more how you got the hang of answering the science O.E. We are still struggling with that part.

I am still learning, though gain some experience going through PSLE with my Ds last year.

Have a good Science guide book, start with a simpler ones as the concepts might be too much for average kids to remember. Then can proceed to more detailed book (the orange PSLE Science Guide works for me). Focus on revising the questions he/she got wrong till she gets the concept and the process skill the question is looking. Repetitive work helps, like in Maths, untill the concepts are clear and she anwers in the way the question is testing regards to process skills. I learn and look for answers together with my Dd, sometimes we google for answers too.
Now her favourite subject is Science. :D[/quote]Thanks kaka for the tips. Will also get that orange book. We only have some book by EPH they are 4 different booklets(System, Energy, ...)
OK, will practise more.
Good to hear that ur DD likes science. DS also luvs science, (but usually what is not his syllabus) only thing is he answers the OE Q so descriptively that I have to remind him that no one is testing his language skills here. :lol: I understand that the expectation is for succint ans with the right key words.

[tisha]

Chenonceau:

Tisha, there is an excellent book by Math Heuristics that addresses this issue of answering OE questions. They have some approach called LiSC... I cannot remember book name because my son does not have problems here, but I remember that it explained the whole process very systematically.


Maybe you can find the book in National Library? No harm looking 'cos this book is at $40.

Thanks Chenonceau for the tip. $40 :!: will look in nlb first. :lol:

[janet88]

When I get Science assessment books, I refer to answers behind. I usually get those which have answers supporting the option (MCQ).

[Champion]

janet_lee88:

When I get Science assessment books, I refer to answers behind. I usually get those which have answers supporting the option (MCQ).

Yes, agrees! :imcool: - Although my DD1 is only in P3, the Science T expects them to write the explanation for their choice in the MCQ and to discuss it during class lesson.

[JRLam]

Brenda10:

Hi, for your information. 5B Visible Thinking In Mathematics is available now in Popular.

Hi. May I know what's the difference among \"Challenging Maths Problem Made Easy\", \"OnSponge\" and \"Visible Thinking in Mathematics\", where all 3 are from the same author?

Is the \"Visible Thinking in Mathematics\" good?

[Chenonceau]

JRLam:

Brenda10:

Hi, for your information. 5B Visible Thinking In Mathematics is available now in Popular.

Hi. May I know what's the difference among \"Challenging Maths Problem Made Easy\", \"OnSponge\" and \"Visible Thinking in Mathematics\", where all 3 are from the same author?

Is the \"Visible Thinking in Mathematics\" good?

I bought both. Visible Thinking is too easy for us. We prefer Onsponge because if too easy, the practice is a waste of time. And time is so short especially if there is a lot of simple homework too. But I think you need to decide based on how strong your child is at Math already. If your child is pretty weak, Visible Thinking may be better to build confidence before you go on to Onsponge?