All About Preparing For Primary One

[MMM]

mummyoftrio:

I really dislike those mini tests. It does not take away the stress but makes my DS1 and DS2 and me more stressed. Every 2 weeks one test and they cannot take their foot off the pedal. So what if no more CA, it becomes more stressful with mini tests.

I've a P3 and P4. The CAs and SAs are stressful enough and though it's every quarter but before you know it, it's here again. :yikes:

I've a K2 going to P1 next year and I heard about the bite size test from my cousin who happens to teach in the same school. There are more bite size, more show and tell and other forms of \"rounded\" assessments. Hearing that... I also have the impression that it's going to be worst than CAs and SAs as you need to perform consistently and like you mentioned, you cannot take off the foot off the pedal.

I recalled that when my older kids were in P1 and P2, they only have SAs and some topical test.

[MMM]

1amber:

When your spouse and your age adds up to almost a century old, your perspective of life is different. When your only child currently at only 5, dances around you, will you have the heart to wipe the smile off her face and rob her of her childhood? She is our gift at our old age and we just want to spend the rest of our lives enjoying her, cherishing her.

Was listening to the class 95 this morning where people shared their memory of the \"Old Singapore\". The parting words from the DJs were what would your kids remember of Singapore???

My immediate response to hubby was \"ENRICHMENT CLASSES\" and having to study hard all the time... Sad but true. It's not easy to just let go sometimes which is why it drives everyone (parents and kids) to be so stressed up.

[hquek]

mummyoftrio:

I really dislike those mini tests. It does not take away the stress but makes my DS1 and DS2 and me more stressed. Every 2 weeks one test and they cannot take their foot off the pedal. So what if no more CA, it becomes more stressful with mini tests.

Yes, very true. DS's school is 'kind' enough not to inform parents about such bite sized assessment. I like not knowing about this so it'll be reflective of what he knows/don't know.

But what happens then is that I get a surprise at the end of term when they come up with a score for each subject!

And yes, it makes me feel now that everything has to be perfect - no room for mistakes. Sigh...

[hexagon]

1amber:

Have a balance. That's all I am saying. I don't see a need to cramp P3 things into P1. There is no need to rush. The kids will get there eventually.

:goodpost: Totally agree!.......They will get there eventually. They will learn to read, do math etc. We just have to manage and adjust our expectations accordingly. DS1 loves to read, he devours books by the dozen. DS2 rather kick a ball than read, he can only read independently at the end of P1. Almost sent him to I can read at the start of P1 but i refuse to give in so easily because I believe with enough exposure, every child will be able to read when they are ready (learning disability not withstanding). So with encouragement and exposure (leaving books around the house), he (in P3 now) eventually caught up and is enjoying reading now (Soccer is still his first love though).

As for DS3 who is going to P1 next year, i would say that his kindy did a good job teaching them to read and do some simple math like addition and subtraction, which is enough for them to cope in P1. More importantly, i am glad that he learned alot of other non-academic (or useless, depending on your perspective) stuff like global warming, extinct animals, countries and their culture.

[mummyoftrio]

MMM:

I've a P3 and P4. The CAs and SAs are stressful enough and though it's every quarter but before you know it, it's here again. :yikes:

I've a K2 going to P1 next year and I heard about the bite size test from my cousin who happens to teach in the same school. There are more bite size, more show and tell and other forms of \"rounded\" assessments. Hearing that... I also have the impression that it's going to be worst than CAs and SAs as you need to perform consistently and like you mentioned, you cannot take off the foot off the pedal.

I recalled that when my older kids were in P1 and P2, they only have SAs and some topical test.

The schools were supposed to relax a bit and do less. P1s also should not have test but the PSLE at the end is getting more challenging so in the end the rat race starts from P1. I agree with you, at the end, our kids will mostly remember enrichment classes when they think back of their childhood.

[mummyoftrio]

Hi hquek,


I took my eyes off my older boy, thought maybe can relax a bit when he was in P1-3, turned out his foundation was so weak now I am paying the price so better to pay the price in P1. I only started him on enrichment classes last year and they also did not work out. Now need to look for new ones. While I was happy thinking that my boy’s reading of storybooks was enough, his classmates were all attending lots of outside classes and in the end, he is lagging behind. Not because he is not good in his studies or cannot understand but because the competition has run miles ahead and the std of tests has gone up and his school teachers have not enough time to prepare them for the extremely high stds now.

[hexagon]

mummyoftrio:

I really dislike those mini tests. It does not take away the stress but makes my DS1 and DS2 and me more stressed. Every 2 weeks one test and they cannot take their foot off the pedal. So what if no more CA, it becomes more stressful with mini tests.

Constantly driving on the right lane gives me heart palpitations, i always filter to the middle or left lane to take a breather. :snooze:

[mummyoftrio]

I think I am going to faint from driving on the right lane this year. I got scared when I saw the stds of tests going up…up…up…


During holidays must take a long drive on the left hehe

[hexagon]

mummyoftrio:

I think I am going to faint from driving on the right lane this year. I got scared when I saw the stds of tests going up..up...up...


During holidays must take a long drive on the left hehe

Good idea... take the opportunity to recharge and join the race when school starts again...

[phtthp]

that’s why at the end of the day it’s still advisable to go into an affliated primary school, because at the end of the day, no matter what, got safety net Secondary school to catch them.


then no need to keep driving inside Right lane all the time - keep pressing on oil to acclerate, keep having to catch up. So stressful!

if go to an affliated school - at least can keep to extreme Left lane.