Q&A - P2 English

[optimistforum]

Hi Ridcully


Taking some of your points in turn.

I am English born, and my family are from India. We Anglo/Indians value education, highly - and so have something in common with Singaporeans.

A lot of the UK private sector schools also teach the NC; very few teach an independent curriculum as most follow the NC. Most are not are as good as people may think. DS1 spent one year at a top pre-prep, and we transferred when we found an outstanding state primary - though in retrospect, it is not as good as we were led to believe. So, my issue is with the (lack of) substance offered by the NC - as it will not prepare my DS 1 and 2 with a rigorous foundation in vocab, grammar and problem-solving maths.

I would prefer our NC to concentrate on Eng, Maths and Science as opposed to a broader range of subjects. It explains why our literacy and numeracy levels are low for 16 year olds - as the foundations are stretched in Primary on too many subjects. I think it is only a matter of a few years before we start sitting the more rigorous O’Levels and A’Levels that were sat, pre-1979. I did my O and Levels in 1982 annd 1984, respectively, and mine were comparatively easier - coinciding with the start of the much-vaunted grade inflation (which has shown annual passes in grades growing), and which is now in its 27th year.

My DS starts intensive tutoring with a highly rated sought after tutor, for a 2 year period. This tutor will prepare DS1 for entry to State Grammar and Independent Secondary. You see we are no different to you as we, too, share a prediliction for tutors!

The Singapore books appeal to me as they offer a practical solution to the challenges my children will face when competing against same-age cohorts from Independent Schools.

Shanghai does not appeal to me at this stage, as I neither have the time nor inclination to research it. Anyway, why go for a Ferrari Solution when a Mercedes will do the job!

I am not a parent-governor - does the type of governor have any significance to you!

I was a Community Governor representing the local council; not a parent one as I did/do not have a child at the school. It was a poor performing school (at GCSE-level), where we were able to make demonstrable improvements in English and Maths.

But, the penny dropped quickly enough for me to realise that I would not countenance sending my DS to such a bog-standard comprehensive.

In fact, it was the same secondary school that I attended as a senior; it served and still serves a middle-class and two socially disadavantaged (some would say mostly feral) catchments.

I was fortunate to go on to University and attain a Degree in Chemistry and an MBA, despite constant racist bullying towards me. Some things have not changed at this school. I would never put my DC through this.

Back to the point in hand, I am trying to develop my DC’s inquisitiveness and understanding in the primary years. If fully nutured it could augur well in their later life.

I am sorry to say that I am a middle-class, "sharp-elbowed", pushy-parent.

[ridcully]

Hi optimistforum

Thanks for that reply.

optimistforum:

We Anglo/Indians value education, highly - and so have something in common with Singaporeans.

Valuing education is a mute point. Most British people, and people around the world, value education highly. The issues are the nature of that education and at what cost financially and socially.

May I just expand on two points as Singaporean readers here may not be au fait with the British system, although many are very interested because of the university system in Britain:

optimistforum:

I think it is only a matter of a few years before we start sitting the more rigorous O'Levels and A'Levels that were sat, pre-1979. I did my O and Levels in 1982 annd 1984, respectively, and mine were comparatively easier - coinciding with the start of the much-vaunted grade inflation (which has shown annual passes in grades growing), and which is now in its 27th year.

The private sector in Britain is fully aware of the devaluation of traditional O Levels into GCSEs (especially coursework-assessed) and of terminal A Levels to modular ones (modular is where A levels are split up into individually assessed bite-sized modules rather than having one big assessment at the end of the course; students may retake the modules as many times as they like until the desired grade is achieved). Consequently, many private schools have switched to the IGCSE (the international version which is terminally assessed and is considered much more rigorous), and alternatives to A levels such as the Cambridge Pre-U.

optimistforum:

I am not a parent-governor - does the type of governor have any significance to you!

Yes, you were making an appeal to credentialism rather than on the individual merits of your points.

The joke in many a British staff room is that the only difference between a parent-governor and the tea-lady is that the tea-lady at least knows how to make a decent cuppa.

optimistforum:

I am sorry to say that I am a middle-class, \"sharp-elbowed\", pushy-parent.

As both a parent and a teacher, I prefer to role-model a sense of fair-play, compassion and consideration for others as well as academic rigour when teaching my and other parents' children.

Rgds
R

[optimistforum]

Hi R


I think this exchange, between us, is off-topic from this thread and I will reply via PM.

[poppy15]

can i ask, for P1 composition writing, are they asked to write in sentences or paragraphs?


are there any helping words or pictures provided?

now in K2, DS is asked to write 12 full sentences with the help of 12 different words and he's already stressed up. no picture to help.

eg: helping word is healthy.

can he write: I am healthy.

is this considered a full sentence?

eg: swim

can he write: my mummy brought me for a swim.

without emphasizing where, as in my mummy brought me for a swim at the swimming pool.

DS is very particular. he doesnt & wont write a sentence longer than the given line on the worksheet, even i when say its ok to write slightly below the line. :faint:

[ridcully]

optimistforum:

Hi R


I think this exchange, between us, is off-topic from this thread and I will reply via PM.

Off-topic is not a problem as long as no one complains...

Anyway, I have replied to you via PM.

Rgds
R

[BlurBee]

poppy15:

can i ask, for P1 composition writing, are they asked to write in sentences or paragraphs?


are there any helping words or pictures provided?

now in K2, DS is asked to write 12 full sentences with the help of 12 different words and he's already stressed up. no picture to help.

eg: helping word is healthy.

can he write: I am healthy.

is this considered a full sentence?

eg: swim

can he write: my mummy brought me for a swim.

without emphasizing where, as in my mummy brought me for a swim at the swimming pool.

DS is very particular. he doesnt & wont write a sentence longer than the given line on the worksheet, even i when say its ok to write slightly below the line. :faint:

Maybe different school has different teaching method. My DD was guided to write short sentences with helping words & pics. Then slowly by paragraphs.
I think ur above e.g are ok but later he'll need to elaborate.

JMO.

[smartmummy]

BlurBee:

Maybe different school has different teaching method. My DD was guided to write short sentences with helping words & pics. Then slowly by paragraphs.

I think ur above e.g are ok but later he'll need to elaborate.

JMO.

I agree with BlurBee.
Encourage more books to read.Can buy assessment books for writing sentences with helping words and pictures.Then arrange the number sequence of sentences then they know how to write in paragraph.

[janet88]

My daughter in P1 was taught to write simple compo in Term 2 using 2 pictures. She had to write in a paragraph. Since Parent-Teacher meeting in May, I've yet to spend time coaching her for compo :oops: it's been revising her weak areas for Math and grammar.

There are helping words.

[plum-cake]

In K2 I used the Book of sentences by EPH to teach writing. ( ages 5-6) 2nd half of the book is similar to P1 writing. But her PCF kindy they only ask her to write 5 sentence according to their theme. but her EL teacher (in P2) told my dd to write about 80 words that is about 3/4 of an a4 writing pad.

Yes they give helping words, but it doesn’t means that you have to use all of them…

[poppy15]

WCW:

js llls can liao :evil: :siam:

:offtopic: :spank: :laugh: