Preparing kids for P5 in 2011
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HappyFaye:
I DO I DO :imanangel: :evil: :imanangel: :evil:
Frankly, I am anxious about his performance because DS wants to score well in PSLE.
Everyday, there were 2 contradicting voices in my mind.
The kiasu me - 'Today he should do 10 pages of work for 2 subjects'.
The care-free me - 'No, let him rest and relax…'
'but…'
'then….'
:
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Finally, the care-free me asked, 'What if you were going to lose your kid tomorrow due to some mishap? Would you regret for not giving him a quality childhood ?'
There is when the kiasu-me give in…
Even till today, I still struggle in between – to be kiasu or to be care-free.
Whenever I came to this forum, my kiasuism kicked in and I would push DS to do a lot more revision. I found myself comparing more and more and could not stop feeling that I did not do enough to push DS.
Just curious, do any of you feel the same? -
Hi, I have a kid in sec 1 and another in p5 this year so I can understand all the anxieties mentioned.
Linden, I suggest you start by using some the recommended assessments books mentioned to reinforce the concepts. If some questions are similar, pick about 2 to let your kid try. If he gets it correct, there’s no need to do the rest and go on. If he has problem with the questions, do a few more similar ones to practice. Put a tag on these "problematic" ones so that nearer the exams, he can just go through these. Always let him go back to the previous sums which he had gotten wrong. Cover the answers and let him try again. If you are more"on", rewrite the questions changing the names and numbers so that the kid doesn’t do the sum again by memory but doing it based on his own understanding. Once he is ok with the topical sums, go on to the school papers. -
HappyFaye:
I do feel very guilty when I scold him...esp when he has slept, I look at him and ask myself, 'Why are children deprived of their childhood today ? Is it so necessary to make education so tough ?'I tried very hard to push but don’t seem to be very successful.
Everyday, there were 2 contradicting voices in my mind.
The kiasu me - 'Today he should do 10 pages of work for 2 subjects'.
The care-free me - 'No, let him rest and relax…'
The kiasu me - 'No, he can do much better. If he does not work hard now, he would miss the glory of having excellent PSLE results and the chance of going to top 4 schools'.
The care-free me - 'What so big deal about the top 4 schools? Aren’t your boy in neighbourhood school now and he is doing well?
The kiasu me - 'But he can score 260 and above if he works hard…'
The care-free me - “At the expense of his soccer time, computer time, reading, playing with the sisters/neighbours/friends, CCA? Is that worth it?'
The kiasu me - “Yeah, he can then go to top school and skip the ‘O’ Level…”
The care-free me - 'If he is going to the top school, he may be the bottom of 10% of the cohort in view of those 270 and above and those with GEP training. He might be worst of in terms of confidence and self esteem'.
I don't dare to dream of top school, bcos I know my son is not at that level...not that I'm putting him down.
The kiasu me - 'But all other parents are pushing their kid to do their best…their kids are doing hours of revision and worksheets. His friends are going for tuition. It would be a disadvantage for him for not having the exposure'.
The care-free me – 'do you want to have a happy child or academicallly smart by stressful child?'
'but…'
'then….'
:
:
Finally, the care-free me asked, 'What if you were going to lose your kid tomorrow due to some mishap? Would you regret for not giving him a quality childhood ?'
There is when the kiasu-me give in…
Even till today, I still struggle in between – to be kiasu or to be care-free.
Just curious, do any of you feel the same? -
Happyfaye… I feel this way a lot this year, in P5.
P1 to P4, not so bad. This year, I really pity him. I pulled myself into knots to preserve play day, and I allowed play days when I saw that he was really getting tired. If he resists me, I stop pushing. I push as far as he wants to go. The short-term benefits of good grades cannot destroy the long-term curiosity and thirst for learning.
We’re no longer aiming for the top schools either. I’m not willing to pay the price for TOP. -
ksmama:
Hi. Thanks for the suggestions! Have gone thru his maths paper n realized that his concepts are indeed weak. Though I've gone through similar questions before exam, under exam stress he had fumbled and forgotten how to do. Yes will definitely try out your method during the hols to reinforce concepts first before trying any more papers. Thanks again.Hi, I have a kid in sec 1 and another in p5 this year so I can understand all the anxieties mentioned.
Linden, I suggest you start by using some the recommended assessments books mentioned to reinforce the concepts. If some questions are similar, pick about 2 to let your kid try. If he gets it correct, there's no need to do the rest and go on. If he has problem with the questions, do a few more similar ones to practice. Put a tag on these \"problematic\" ones so that nearer the exams, he can just go through these. Always let him go back to the previous sums which he had gotten wrong. Cover the answers and let him try again. If you are more\"on\", rewrite the questions changing the names and numbers so that the kid doesn't do the sum again by memory but doing it based on his own understanding. Once he is ok with the topical sums, go on to the school papers. -
Also not dreaming of top school or 260 aggregate. Hoping for respectable, ie not borderline passes first and probably a second tier secondary school if possible.
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Wow...this thread is moving fast !
Indeed when I come to this forum, I feel more stressed and want to push more. But I see my poor little boy, I relax a little so I think overall effect is still good - moving ahead at our own speed. Important thing is we as parents feel that we have tried out best, the rest is really up to them.
My ds did more-or-less as CA...quite okay by my standard but Chinese is really an area we have to keep working hard on. 260 and top-school have never been my goal, DSA is not in the pipeline either. As long as he has done his best, we'll see where it takes us. Just that in this thread, we parents can share the frustrations and stress...brainstorm a bit on strategies and resouces, pat each other's back and nudge each other forward a little. It is nice to be able to network and share info with each other.
One thing I noticed, whichever area I put priority, ds will do better eg. OE compre, then the previously-ok sections will slip, so end result is the same.....*gek sim* like that Secondary school how ? :stupid: For some of the compre questions - both EL and CL - I feel the paper is set just to 'fry' the kids' brains rather than test their grasp of the language *shake head*.
We will work on half-tank mode this June. P5 has really been tough going so far
Peony - my friend sends her children to Edward Debono 6 thinking hats courses, not sure if that's the kind of thinking courses you are looking for. I don't have first hand experience to share. My initial thought is just poor children of ours this generation, so much is expected of them. -
Chenonceau:
P1 to P4, not so bad. This year, I really pity him. I pulled myself into knots to preserve play day, and I allowed play days when I saw that he was really getting tired. We're no longer aiming for the top schools either. I'm not willing to pay the price for TOP.
From P1 to P4, we did consistent revision and could still hit average-above average for CA & SA. From Jan this year, I could feel the HEAT from P5. Even though revision started like 1 1/2 months before CA and SA, he was no where near average for his subjects...failing Math and near failing for Chinese.
He is tired most of the days after school, partially bcos of the warmer days now...wanting to sleep b4 starting his hw.
I'm relieved to be able to login here to release some stress, vent frustrations and get useful tips from other parents here. :lovesite: -
Just curious, janet_lee88, is your DS in those good school?
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janet_lee88:
You guys keep me sane!! :grphug:Chenonceau:
P1 to P4, not so bad. This year, I really pity him. I pulled myself into knots to preserve play day, and I allowed play days when I saw that he was really getting tired. We're no longer aiming for the top schools either. I'm not willing to pay the price for TOP.
From P1 to P4, we did consistent revision and could still hit average-above average for CA & SA. From Jan this year, I could feel the HEAT from P5. Even though revision started like 1 1/2 months before CA and SA, he was no where near average for his subjects...failing Math and near failing for Chinese.
He is tired most of the days after school, partially bcos of the warmer days now...wanting to sleep b4 starting his hw.
I'm relieved to be able to login here to release some stress, vent frustrations and get useful tips from other parents here. :lovesite:
Pixiedust, that sounds expensive. Had a re-think. Perhaps I ask the teacher what DD could do to improve her thinking skills rather than going for a class.
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