Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[ASLMUM]

Does anyone know of any ways to improve English and Chinese? The languages are quite difficult to teach, not like you study will be able to do well. My DD reads a lot, but also do not seems to help with the vocab?


Appreciate if anyone can share how their kids cope with languages and if there are any good enrichment centre to recommend?

Thanks!

[Peony]

ASLMUM,


Did you go through to see which aspect of English?
E.g. my DD needs to work a lot more on compo, compre OE and compre cloze.

And even within compo, need to identify… content? language? etc.

Speaking to the teacher helps to identify the areas and the teacher can also give advice e.g. she told me 2 months ago that DD needed to improve her compo, so I got DD to write extra which the teacher marked and commented.

I’ve also learnt that reading doesn’t do much if the child is not doing anything with it e.g. not identifying new words, not checking meaning.

Show her the way by picking new words and getting her to look up the meaning and using it in a sentence.

[Champion]

Peony:

I've also learnt that reading doesn't do much if the child is not doing anything with it e.g. not identifying new words, not checking meaning.

Show her the way by picking new words and getting her to look up the meaning and using it in a sentence.

Hi Peony,
We meet here again ..Sorry I \"interrupt\" into this forum and chance upon what you have just posted. :hi5:

I had a chance to speak to an educator 2 weeks ago and she also told me the same thing, \"reading doesn't do much if the child is not doing anything with it e.g. not identifying new words, not checking meaning. Worse if the child does not know why and what he/she is reading!\" :nailbite: :shock:

At that moment, I was speechless! I always feel that my DD1 is reading quite extensively but she isn't writing very well in her compo in school. Can you share with us what are the type of books your girl is reading and how to you help her?

:thankyou: :hugs:

[Peony]

Hi Champion,


Glad to meet you here too!

My DD is a bookworm but I’ve learnt that she reads just like the way she speaks - way too fast!!

Educators I spoke to recommend reading classics like the Little House in the Big Woods, Black Beauty etc.

However, my DD’s style of writing does not gel with these books and I do feel that if she has a certain style, she can try to improve on it.

But as I said, my DD has a LONG way to go… but am happy to say we are making some progress.

Back to your question of the books she is reading now… she loves Morris Gleitzman. It is simple but am not going to force classics on her as his books
help in what she lacks - describing. His books are simple, yet engaging. We often tell the kids to "show, not tell" in writing but without interesting examples they can relate too, they will still not get it.

[pixiedust]

ASLMUM, strength in languages needs time to build up and requires a lot of patience and effort - in my opinion. Agree with Peony, need to analyse which area is the top priority.


Peony, Champion - my ds reads a lot too, until his eye-sight is so bad and I had to hide his books. He reads for pleasure and the 'good effect' is really not coming out in his writing or OE comprehension. Agree, reads too fast - I think they are just captivated by the storyline and not fully digesting the grammar/spellling/writing style. My friends consoled me that it is still a better hobby and in the long run, it should still help.

All marks are released and papers will be returned in a day or two. Same trend as before, we spent the most time and effort on chinese and the marks is the lowest of the 4 subjects. Thankfully, I've been to this thread and able to react in a more positive manner. Not sure if I will still be this cool cumber if I see careless mistakes in the papers :xedfingers:

Next step will be post-mortem to analyse the weakness and brain-storm on effective strategies.

Everyone, :celebrate:

[Lynn2]

Hi Pixiedust,


Keep going, dont give up.


cheers
Lynn2

pixiedust:

ASLMUM, strength in languages needs time to build up and requires a lot of patience and effort - in my opinion. Agree with Peony, need to analyse which area is the top priority.

Peony, Champion - my ds reads a lot too, until his eye-sight is so bad and I had to hide his books. He reads for pleasure and the 'good effect' is really not coming out in his writing or OE comprehension. Agree, reads too fast - I think they are just captivated by the storyline and not fully digesting the grammar/spellling/writing style. My friends consoled me that it is still a better hobby and in the long run, it should still help.

All marks are released and papers will be returned in a day or two. Same trend as before, we spent the most time and effort on chinese and the marks is the lowest of the 4 subjects. Thankfully, I've been to this thread and able to react in a more positive manner. Not sure if I will still be this cool cumber if I see careless mistakes in the papers :xedfingers:

Next step will be post-mortem to analyse the weakness and brain-storm on effective strategies.

Everyone, :celebrate:

[Peony]

Pixiedust, your DS sounds like my DD - eye strain. When to to the doctor and she asked if she watches too much TV or play too much computer. Nil for the latter and TV is not often... hence the culprit was reading (near work). Only way to make her read less was to make her sleep early and go out and play - so she's taken up playing badminton. I joke that she's got an Indonesian coach (my helper).


DD has seen most of her papers. Some heartbreaks - when she knew she could have done better e.g. she was penalise for compo. She wrote well but did not use some important elements in the picture... too excited to write! :slapshead:
But no point regretting.

Am going to make an appointment with her teacher to see what we can do to improve further. So far she's talked me out of sending her to \"enrichment\" holiday classes but encouraged me to help DD expand her \"thinking skills\"... anybody has any ideas on that?

[janet88]

Hi Ladies,

This June holidays won't be a complete one for my son. His exam papers have put me on the overdrive...flunk Maths again. Overall, I really need to see what needs to be done to improve his results. Can't blame him entirely bcos the questions are tough. Don't think PSLE is this tough...really :siao:

[Peony]

Hey Janet,

Admire your positivity!! His maths paper sounds like my DD’s school’s English paper. They want to ensure a cohort of A* and As for the subject! Good that you can see things in the right perspective!

[ASLMUM]

Ya this June holidays really need to balance between work and play. One week of hols to Bali, then the rest of the 3 weeks see if can do more Chinese/English, plus prepare for NMOS. Anyone of your kids going for the competition?


Sigh! At a loss at how to improve English and Chinese. I know it’s a slow progress and felt that even sending DD to enrichment classes will not bring much improvement. Need to think of a way…any suggestions? Hope to work towards an improvement in SA2.