All About Preparing For Primary One

[phtthp]

hi kvk,


your current 3 enrichment lessons are reasonable. They are not heavy.

if can, try to incorporate Science enrichment as well. Also some non-academic ones like swimming, gymnastics, music, violin, piano (choose anyone will do, because no time to attend so much).

[SAHM_TAN]

sleepy:

SAHM_TAN:

The non-academic classes are speech and drama and music. The music is the long term one, it's more to \"nourish\" their \"artistic soul\". I'm not intending to use it for DSA. I believe in a person's life, there's a need for art/arts.


Speech and drama, it's more to help them in presentation work. So that will stop latest by P3. I like their speech and drama teacher but too bad he does not take in primary school kids, only kindy and IB students.

Where are your kids taking speech & drama?

I send my girls to speech & drama too. No exam, just to give them opportunity to speak up as they're quite self conscious, you know the paiseh paiseh type

I've yet to seriously think of DSA. Didn't know can use music for DSA. Somehow I've the impression that since so many kids are taking music lessons nowsaday, music is no longer that highly valued as a form 材艺. Perhaps Maths Olympiad would stand a better chance at DSA

They attend the S&D in their kindy. The S&D teacher visit the kindy once a wk. I wanted to follow-up with him after kindy becos I know my DD1 likes his class. Too bad he does not take in primary school kids.

DSA is at the back of my mind but I will monitor my kids' ability. It's not easy to go DSA via academics or non-academic. They need to win competition or exihibit extraordinary talent as compare to their peers. It will be like preparing for PSLE and DSA at the same time. So for now I just want make sure that their foundation is solid for all subjects.

[phankao]

SAHM_TAN:

sleepy:

I've yet to seriously think of DSA. Didn't know can use music for DSA. Somehow I've the impression that since so many kids are taking music lessons nowsaday, music is no longer that highly valued as a form 材艺. Perhaps Maths Olympiad would stand a better chance at DSA

DSA is at the back of my mind but I will monitor my kids' ability. It's not easy to go DSA via academics or non-academic. They need to win competition or exihibit extraordinary talent as compare to their peers. It will be like preparing for PSLE and DSA at the same time. So for now I just want make sure that their foundation is solid for all subjects.

Better just let them do whatever they enjoy. Just support them in what you see can enhance their ability, whether academic or non-academic. Do not hope that any can gain DSA entry. My ds1 had DSA under general domain. My ds2 is a national prizewinner in his musical instrument and leader in his CCA, but we also not sure if have any hopes for DSA - he's now in p6. Best to also keep up in school lah. If they enjoy other pursuits - well and good. If they can excel - good too! Shows they have a life apart from academics.

I have another who will be entering p1 in 4 years' time. Hopefully he'll be fully ready and can relax in lower primary and enjoy lots. ;D My wish (and dream) is that he will have an easy time throughout primary school and thereon too!!!!!! Bc I sure hope I don't have to help him with schoolwork at my old age!

[janet88]

Hi SAHM_TAN,

Using the DSA route for non-academic is as difficult as preparing for PSLE…it’s even tougher…unless the child can bring home medals/trophies for every event. A friend’s son wanted to use sports for DSA…spent 3x a week practicing under the hot sun and in the end still couldn’t make it.
My son is neither good in non-academic stuff and average for his subjects…so I agree with you that strengthening the foundation for subjects is much better than using the DSA route.

[Scary]

i3mum:

Actually there's quite a lot, she is attending English, Maths, chinese for the academic ones. Non academic are art, ballet, swimming & piano. I m in a dilemma on which one to give up. she seems to enjoy all the classes.

sleepy:

What classes is your dd attending now?


Mine is continuing with her arts & music classes. She has been taking these 2 classes since K1 & enjoys them so definitely continuing.
Added English enrichment & speech & drama in the beginning of P1 and Chinese creative writing last month.

Hi,
I have the same dilemma. DS has 9 enrichments. 4 will go off by end of year cos they are conducted in his pre-school after school hrs. The other 5 are umm. . .maybe considered as 2 academic and 3 non-academic. I have yet to start him on swimming and piano. Having a headache in planning his timetable for next year.

Any suggestions in planning since he will be in the afternoon session? E.g if we should put his Berries in the morning or night?

[i3mum]

Hi Scary,


Finally I found someone on \"par\" with me! :hugs: haha mine are all after school hours. It's has been a headache to me, plus I have younger ones who are attending the same classes too, then we have go different days for the same thing.

Piano- I would suggest getting pte teacher so u can save time ferrying around, ESP weekday in morning before going school?

Swimming- if u have a pool down your place, can arrange in the weekday morning too, if the coach do teach?

Berries- if the one which u r attending is near your place, check if u can send on weekday evenings? I think most Berries are open from afternoon onwards on weekdays. Unless send on weekend.

Scary:

Hi,
I have the same dilemma. DS has 9 enrichments. 4 will go off by end of year cos they are conducted in his pre-school after school hrs. The other 5 are umm. . .maybe considered as 2 academic and 3 non-academic. I have yet to start him on swimming and piano. Having a headache in planning his timetable for next year.

Any suggestions in planning since he will be in the afternoon session? E.g if we should put his Berries in the morning or night?

[1amber]

jedamum:

1amber,
don't fret. i survived, so shall you.

hello jedamum,
Thanks for your encouragement!

[jedamum]

i3mum:

Hi Scary,


Finally I found someone on \"par\" with me! :hugs: haha mine are all after school hours. It's has been a headache to me, plus I have younger ones who are attending the same classes too, then we have go different days for the same thing.

Piano- I would suggest getting pte teacher so u can save time ferrying around, ESP weekday in morning before going school?

Swimming- if u have a pool down your place, can arrange in the weekday morning too, if the coach do teach?

Berries- if the one which u r attending is near your place, check if u can send on weekday evenings? I think most Berries are open from afternoon onwards on weekdays. Unless send on weekend.

Scary:

Hi,
I have the same dilemma. DS has 9 enrichments. 4 will go off by end of year cos they are conducted in his pre-school after school hrs. The other 5 are umm. . .maybe considered as 2 academic and 3 non-academic. I have yet to start him on swimming and piano. Having a headache in planning his timetable for next year.

Any suggestions in planning since he will be in the afternoon session? E.g if we should put his Berries in the morning or night?

just a note.
not sure if old wives tales or not, swimming in the morning is not so good for children.
the huge pool of water is left overnight in the cooling night. the next day, it will still remain cool or even cold as the morning sun is not as hot as the afternoon son. to swim in such state may not be advisable for young children.
jmho.
maybe you can consider squeezing enrichment to saturdays.

[glendt]

That’s what I heard about swimming in the pool. My girl used to take swimming lessons in the morning and would fall sick. For me, enrichment such as swimming and ballet are done on weekdays. I try to put them on the non-busy weekdays. Essential enrichment like academic lessons are on weekends. They a pretty packed schedule but because they like their classes, it is not a problem getting them to go. If they can cope with school work, then it is not a problem.

[dimsum]

Are there any parents who have not sent their K1 kids to academic type of enrichment class yet? Currently, my DS has swimming and piano on weekends. With only these 2 classes, DH and I are already finding it a chore and time consuming.