Teach Less, Learn More

[Pen88n]

cwc:

Pen88n:

[quote=\"cwc\"]Hi,

I am very very curious. Saw a mommy using Sec1 compre and cloze passage for her current P4 GEP child. Is GEP really so far ahead? I know they are taught P6 Maths, but Sec 1....gosh.

Is your kid in GEP? From what I know, GEP is using a different syllabus and there is no textbooks for English, Maths and Science, so it is kind of difficult to gauge at what level it is pegged against.

My kid is not in GEP Maybe you are right, since there are no textbooks, it's hard to gauge. I just hope these kids do not get overly stressed :)[/quote]Nowadays, some parents seem to want to \"push\" kids further by prepping them with more advance materials. I know of parents who send kids to P1 tuition classes when they are in K2, and making kids do P1 / 2 assessment books. In short to medium term, this yield good results (in terms of marks).

Personally, I do not subscribe to this method of \"drilling\" higher level materials to prep kids. Over time, the parent and kid will have to keep up with the \"drilling\" and it will get increasingly difficult and stressful for the kid to keep up. If a solid foundation is built for the kid, regardless of what is thrown at the kid, they wil be able to handle without the advanced prep.

[janet88]

What I understand is GEP testing at P3 is quite tough…Eng is P5 standard and Math is not what can be found in textbooks.


I heard from a parent regarding getting kid do assessment book 1 level higher…I cannot subscribe to that bcos it’s too stressful and also very 可怜. This parent finished P1 syllabus before start of school term. For me, I believe in revising what the teacher has taught in school. Solid foundation is important, starting from P1.

[phankao]

Pen88n:

Nowadays, some parents seem to want to \"push\" kids further by prepping them with more advance materials. I know of parents who send kids to P1 tuition classes when they are in K2, and making kids do P1 / 2 assessment books. In short to medium term, this yield good results (in terms of marks). .

Oooh, I am doing that p1 stuff with my 2yo. Hope it works in the long term! Scared off by the older kids' experience liao.

[corneyAmber]

cwc:

Hi,

I am very very curious. Saw a mommy using Sec1 compre and cloze passage for her current P4 GEP child. Is GEP really so far ahead? I know they are taught P6 Maths, but Sec 1....gosh.

Recently I saw a mum buying P6 Oral books for her P3 kid. I am no longer surprised what people do....if they kill the interest with too much too soon, they are answerable to themselves. I have also known a couple of children trying to do Math that is much tougher than their level and the outcome is they dislike Math so much now even at their own level...the saying.... we reap what we sow holds true either way...... :evil:

[phtthp]

pity the children nowadays

[corneyAmber]

phtthp:

pity the children nowadays

Ultimately they are being loved, just loved in different ways. Sometimes I wonder if a child knows no better, he/she may think what the parents do for them is a norm so life goes on....

[Chenonceau]

ksi:

Recently I saw a mum buying P6 Oral books for her P3 kid. I am no longer surprised what people do....if they kill the interest with too much too soon, they are answerable to themselves. I have also known a couple of children trying to do Math that is much tougher than their level and the outcome is they dislike Math so much now even at their own level...the saying.... we reap what we sow holds true either way...... :evil:

That was what my son's partner P the Prefect experienced. Her mom started her on Science Assessment books in Kindy. She HATES Science and would rather copy than do her Science homework.

Ultimately, because the content in school is so challenging and there is so much of it, children who do well need external coaching from people who CAN teach. Not all parents can teach and those who can't and try too much too early kill the child's interest in learning.

One may not wanna TEACH from assessment books. Assessment Books and Top School Exams are drills. Drills can happen AFTER learning has taken place so that the process of learning stays pleasant. The duration of drills should be short and sharp. I only introduce drills 6 weeks before exams on material already learnt. Too many drills over too long a period of time kills interest. Parents can and should expose their kids to elements of Science, English, Chinese and Math in kindy but unless you are desperate (i.e., your child is in P5 and failing) then try to teach such content in a more unstructured and play sort of way. It will work better in the long run, I think.

[Chenonceau]

phtthp:

hi Chenonceau,


Thanks baby, for being so kind and so generous in giving me detailed info so fast !
can i hug you for being so nice, sweetie pie ? Thank you so much

Awwww... hugs back!! Thanks for the effusive thank you! Nice to wake up in the morning and see such a cheerful message.

[janet88]

Chenonceau:

ksi:

I have also known a couple of children trying to do Math that is much tougher than their level and the outcome is they dislike Math so much now even at their own level...the saying.... we reap what we sow holds true either way...... :evil:

Ultimately, because the content in school is so challenging and there is so much of it, children who do well need external coaching from people who CAN teach. Not all parents can teach and those who can't and try too much too early kill the child's interest in learning.

One may not wanna TEACH from assessment books. Assessment Books and Top School Exams are drills. Drills can happen AFTER learning has taken place so that the process of learning stays pleasant. The duration of drills should be short and sharp. I only introduce drills 6 weeks before exams on material already learnt. Too many drills over too long a period of time kills interest. Parents can and should expose their kids to elements of Science, English, Chinese and Math in kindy but unless you are desperate (i.e., your child is in P5 and failing) then try to teach such content in a more unstructured and play sort of way. It will work better in the long run, I think.

Yup...agree. Drills cannot start before the child knows material well or else it will be 'force learning'.
A solid foundation is important for Math...so it's best to get Math assessment which are suitable for the child's level and not 'challenging' ones to drill. That is what I apply to son who is weak in Math this year (P5).

[corneyAmber]

Chenonceau:

That was what my son's partner P the Prefect experienced. Her mom started her on Science Assessment books in Kindy. She HATES Science and would rather copy than do her Science homework.

Ultimately, because the content in school is so challenging and there is so much of it, children who do well need external coaching from people who CAN teach. Not all parents can teach and those who can't and try too much too early kill the child's interest in learning.

One may not wanna TEACH from assessment books. Assessment Books and Top School Exams are drills. Drills can happen AFTER learning has taken place so that the process of learning stays pleasant. The duration of drills should be short and sharp. I only introduce drills 6 weeks before exams on material already learnt. Too many drills over too long a period of time kills interest. Parents can and should expose their kids to elements of Science, English, Chinese and Math in kindy but unless you are desperate (i.e., your child is in P5 and failing) then try to teach such content in a more unstructured and play sort of way. It will work better in the long run, I think.

Agree...my child cannot be drilled too...it will make her completely restless.