Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[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.

[Chenonceau]

We took a break since 1st May. DS was not allowed to study since then till now.


We intend to do very intensive work during the holidays too, starting next Monday. His results have been encouraging even though he only managed one 90+ (above expectations), two 80+ (within expectations), one 70+ and one 65+ (above expectations). No prizes for guessing that the 70+ and 65+ was Chinese and Higher Chinese. He is so very pleased with his marks that I have decided not to celebrate at all. I wanna let him savour his results without adulterating the experience with other happy experiences.

I would have celebrated his hard work at Chinese, if he had failed Chinese… so as to encourage him to persist. So weird right. But he didn’t fail and he can see that his hard work has paid off… and he is happy. So, we’re not celebrating. We will just smile, hug each other and plunge into the Pit of Slavery again.

[janet88]

ASLMUM:

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.

Hi ASLMUM,
Math-wise, I am waiting for tutor to arrange best timing...son definitely needs 1-to-1. We just spoke last night and she has agreed that it's critical to start asap.
For Eng, I wonder if I should start him on P6 assessment book (compre OE and Synthesis) bcos these were the killer sections in his SA paper.
He has been attending enrichment but there is no improvement and a drastic drop.

In a way, I'm glad the parents with P5 children are facing the same stress. So we definitely understand the craziness in front of us.

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

For Eng, I wonder if I should start him on P6 assessment book (compre OE and Synthesis) bcos these were the killer sections in his SA paper. He has been attending enrichment but there is no improvement and a drastic drop.

This is a good idea. I did exactly this. I went straight for the P6 practices and skipped all the P5 ones. I based myself on the PSLE past year papers. I also used the book Comprehension Strategies by Learning Publishers to teach the skills.

Do you have the PSLE Past Year papers? If not, it is a good idea to buy them. I refer to them often to evaluate the appropriateness of the various practices I want to give him.