Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[Brenda10]

Chenonceau:

Of course, I'm still expecting 90+ in general... but in the specific, every situation requires a different solution - different exams/subjects/time period... and so I am flexible. EVEN THOUGH I make it very clear that 90+ is where he should end up by end-P6.

Hi Chenonceau

I'm sure your ds has no problem to achieve this in end of P6 lah.

In fact, the syllabus for P6 has almost all completed now and understands from her form teacher after SA1 they would just focus on working a lot on oral, compo. practice and pass year paper on class or during supplementary class time.

[jesschan]

Hi! Just thinking aloud - it is possible to gather a few of our P5 kids to organise a 3-day crash course for science during the June holidays?


What I have in mind is to engage an experienced tutor (but don't know from where :)) to do a quick revision covering topics on Systems and Cycles including provision of comprehensive notes and teaching of exam answering techniques. Ideally, the class size should be about 4-5 so that it will not be too rowdy and yet lively enough for the kids to exchange ideas. In order to be effective, I think the kids' standards should be similar and I am looking for kids whose Science results are consistently above 80. In other words, the kids should have a good grasp of the key concepts and this crash course is intended to be brush up on exam techniques - not teaching of basic concepts.

I have this idea because my son's teacher does not teach Science very effectively in his school. She is a good teacher in that she cares for the kids and she attempts to provide the kids with supplementary worksheets. Unfortunately, she is not very good at explaining concepts and perhaps because she is quite old already and her methods are not very er.... up to date... if you know what I mean. I do not wish to enrol him in ongoing classes because his schedule is already very packed, having to stay back in school thrice a week and doing of projects etc....

Let me have your views. If this idea is effective, we can do it on quarterly basis.

[KoalaMummy]

jesschan:

Hi! Just thinking aloud - it is possible to gather a few of our P5 kids to organise a 3-day crash course for science during the June holidays?


What I have in mind is to engage an experienced tutor (but don't know from where :)) to do a quick revision covering topics on Systems and Cycles including provision of comprehensive notes and teaching of exam answering techniques. Ideally, the class size should be about 4-5 so that it will not be too rowdy and yet lively enough for the kids to exchange ideas. In order to be effective, I think the kids' standards should be similar and I am looking for kids whose Science results are consistently above 80. In other words, the kids should have a good grasp of the key concepts and this crash course is intended to be brush up on exam techniques - not teaching of basic concepts.

I have this idea because my son's teacher does not teach Science very effectively in his school. She is a good teacher in that she cares for the kids and she attempts to provide the kids with supplementary worksheets. Unfortunately, she is not very good at explaining concepts and perhaps because she is quite old already and her methods are not very er.... up to date... if you know what I mean. I do not wish to enrol him in ongoing classes because his schedule is already very packed, having to stay back in school thrice a week and doing of projects etc....

Let me have your views. If this idea is effective, we can do it on quarterly basis.

yes, i'm definitely for it. do keep me in mind. tho not sure if place is a concern (i stay in hougang) and is a FTWM.

[JRLam]

janet_lee88:

Hi JRLam,

I set individual subject goal for my boy. Math is his weakest subject, so I don't set a high target...if he passes this SA1, it's calls for celebration. For the other 3 subjects, there is diff target for each subject. I want to see effort put in and it will show if he does.
He is aiming for a Lego toy, so I told him firstly I must see all passes. His school has a fond habit of setting tough papers, I have to be reasonable too...take the EL mock paper, I can't believe he flunk it he was afraid I would be angry but I told him I do NOT want to see this grade again.
No effort, no reward and definitely NO Wii.

What happen if he achieve the goals set partially, eg meet the goal for 2 subjects but not for the other 2?

Because I make sure my son studies for every exam (I am sure every parent does!), so for that matter, the effort is already there. Barring any extraordinary situation, eg an extremely EASY paper yet still get low marks (an almost impossible occurrence since papers just get more and more challenging vis-a-vis what's taught!!!!). Coupled with the fact that I also tried NOT to set TOO challenging goals, we found ourselves 'achieving' them so FAR! So had been CELEBRATING after every exam! I guess it is more of the mummy who wants to take that excuse to relax .. hahaha...

But seriously, if we don't adhere to the goals strictly, sooner-or-later they will know SURE CAN CELEBRATE somehow! HA!

[pixiedust]

jesschan, it’s a nice idea but I think logistically plus finding the right tutor will be a big challenge. If you are game, I am sure getting 4-5 students is not a problem.


I am more interested in Chinese Oral - will be more beneficial if there are more children interacting with each other, rather than tutor-1 child only.

[KoalaMummy]

pixiedust:

jesschan, it's a nice idea but I think logistically plus finding the right tutor will be a big challenge. If you are game, I am sure getting 4-5 students is not a problem.


I am more interested in Chinese Oral - will be more beneficial if there are more children interacting with each other, rather than tutor-1 child only.

wow, Pixiedust, you speak my mind. :hi5:

I was thinking more of this too, when jesschan suggested Science, which is also quite interesting.

I was actually thinking of making 'chinese' a more 'fun' learning by introducing some chinese songs and substituting the lyrics to those words that they are now learning.

Anybody game for this? to meet somewhere near Hougang (if possible).

[jesschan]

Glad to receive some positive comments. I think the location is not very big issue because since this is meant as a short term thingy. It can be held in my house or the tutor’s or the kids can take turns to host. The bigger issue is where to find the experienced tutor who can engage and motivate the kids. So now we have Koalamummy and who else is interested?


As for oral, I think that will be more difficult if the group is too small. And it will probably be more effective to attend ongoing oral classes held by enrichment centres because it is not easy to acquire language efficiency in short periods.

[Chenonceau]

JRLam:

janet_lee88:

Hi JRLam,

He is aiming for a Lego toy, so I told him firstly I must see all passes.

What happen if he achieve the goals set partially, eg meet the goal for 2 subjects but not for the other 2?

The goals are set challenging... bordering on impossible. If I assess that he can get 80+, then I set them at 90+. If he hits the goals, that is reward already. I don't reward goal achievement. If he doesn't achieve the goal, a tension is created and he wants to hit it next time in order to feel the sense of achievement. However, I can do this because my child has been pre-developed in self-efficacy and achievement motivation in P1 to P3... and further enhanced in P3 and P4.

It is not in every situation that you can risk setting quasi-impossible goals. This can be dangerous if parent dunno how to use... and when to use impossible goals. it is safer to set challenging but achievable goals to be safe lah...

Whilst I don't reward goal achievement, I do celebrate effort... and when I see great effort, I will celebrate no matter what the grade. If I see little effort and there is a high mark, there is no celebration. The high mark itself makes him happy, so why bother? I will also warn that the PSLE won't be that easy. However, given the difficulty of the syllabus in primary school, that has yet to happen. Hee!

[Chenonceau]

Brenda10:

Chenonceau:

Of course, I'm still expecting 90+ in general... but in the specific, every situation requires a different solution - different exams/subjects/time period... and so I am flexible. EVEN THOUGH I make it very clear that 90+ is where he should end up by end-P6.

Hi Chenonceau

I'm sure your ds has no problem to achieve this in end of P6 lah.

In fact, the syllabus for P6 has almost all completed now and understands from her form teacher after SA1 they would just focus on working a lot on oral, compo. practice and pass year paper on class or during supplementary class time.

Aiyo... dunno leh... but I take your advice seriously. We now work on oral and compo practice. To save him time, I actually do the easy Math worksheets for him so he has time to practise the challenging sums and also to do Chinese.

[Pen88n]

Chenonceau:

Brenda10:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]Of course, I'm still expecting 90+ in general... but in the specific, every situation requires a different solution - different exams/subjects/time period... and so I am flexible. EVEN THOUGH I make it very clear that 90+ is where he should end up by end-P6.

Hi Chenonceau

I'm sure your ds has no problem to achieve this in end of P6 lah.

In fact, the syllabus for P6 has almost all completed now and understands from her form teacher after SA1 they would just focus on working a lot on oral, compo. practice and pass year paper on class or during supplementary class time.

Aiyo... dunno leh... but I take your advice seriously. We now work on oral and compo practice. To save him time, I actually do the easy Math worksheets for him so he has time to practise the challenging sums and also to do Chinese.[/quote]I do not have the answer but I question parents doing easy Maths worksheets for the kid to save the kid time to do revision / other more challenging questions. Should that be the solution? I am not trying to argue, but can you imagine what chaos it will be if Singapore parents are all doing easy worksheets for the kids just to ensure kids with their limited time can spend time doing more and more challenging questions. What is this education system becoming? Isn't there another solution?