Is your child a failure if he has to do foundation in P5?

[Flowermonaster]

mahes_gopal:

Thanks Thanks Thanks to all the wonderful parents who have responded to my post. I feel much better after all the encouragement. I would to share with you all that my son is very creative and has just won a photography competion. It has booasted his confidence in his ability and aspires to be a Nat Geo photographer in future. Grades are not all that important. I am sure a photographer needs more creativity than sterling grades. Thanks so much all your kind words. :thankyou:

Congratulation to you & your son! :congrats:

I do think having a goal and knowing what you want in life & moving towards it is more important than academic excellent. Really envy you as my DS does not know what is his dream or goal in life! Sigh.....

[smartmummy]

mahes_gopal:

Thanks Thanks Thanks to all the wonderful parents who have responded to my post. I feel much better after all the encouragement. I would to share with you all that my son is very creative and has just won a photography competion. It has booasted his confidence in his ability and aspires to be a Nat Geo photographer in future. Grades are not all that important. I am sure a photographer needs more creativity than sterling grades. Thanks so much all your kind words. :thankyou:

:congrats: He is lucky as he got u as mother.

[sssdarlings]

While the scholarship and other success stories are inspiring, lets be realistic about the numbers who succeed at such level- foundation or not.


If there is some limitation on the child’s part- cognitively or just timing, I rather the child is in a class where concepts are easily understood and work can be completed successfully.

P5 is a very challenging year, no matter the child’s ability. HA students are known to flounder in CA1. Have known number of parents who opt for EM2 (whats the new term now) for the sake of saving face.

Its really sad for children cos most of the time, they are lost, not able to cope with pace and workload. End of P5, they are likely to be channelled to P6 EM3, where parents have no say in the streaming cos results dictate that child cannot be promoted to P6 EM2. A year in a child’s life has just been wasted, filled with uncalled-for failure and misery.

Its not easy to remove stigma even though foundation stream can do a world of good for a child’s learning progress. As parents, its not easy to be cheerleading as I just learnt that even parents are not immune to peer pressure.

[SAHM_TAN]

Niedino:

SAHM_TAN:

I read that if take foundation science, the subject will not be tested in PSLE. So does that mean the child cannot take up science in Sec school? TIA

Hi SAHM Tan,

There are 2 kinds of Foundation Science, one with paper and one w/o paper. The one with paper is recommended for most foundation students. If a child takes the one without paper, they will still do Science at the NT level.

Hope it helps!

Niedino

Thank you for infor

[Strawberry5]

Hi, I’m looking around for tutors who are willing to teach P5 foundation English and Maths. Anyone has good teachers to recommend? Worried for her as next year is PSLE. Any advise, you could pm me. Thanks!

[heim]

my sentiment exactly. i don’t understand why some peoples are so biased of NT or foundation students. They are just bunch of kids who lack of guidance. What they need is lots of encouragement and love esp from parents. Don’t lose heart and always encourage him

[mrswongtuition]

mahes_gopal:

Thanks Thanks Thanks to all the wonderful parents who have responded to my post. I feel much better after all the encouragement. I would to share with you all that my son is very creative and has just won a photography competion. It has booasted his confidence in his ability and aspires to be a Nat Geo photographer in future. Grades are not all that important. I am sure a photographer needs more creativity than sterling grades. Thanks so much all your kind words. :thankyou:

I feel your joy. Discovering a child's inner talent is a very joyful moment. And you must be super proud of your boy right now!

I've worked with many photographers and all of them are earning a good keep, able to provide for a happy family. My regular photographer is a father of four! So don't worry too much, let your son explore his talents.

I would encourage you to join this photography forum called 'ClubSnap'. Many photographers gather there. Keep a lookout during the school holidays, some might look for photography assistants (help them to carry equipment, etc). You might want to let your boy tag along (if the photographers don't mind) to take a look at how photographers work. And it might inspire him further!

Also good to be systematic and help him keep a 'portfolio'. It can be a blog or simply do it in an album on Facebook. Get him to start a simple 'log' on what are the inspirations of his style, what does he see in his photo, etc. Maybe from there he might develop a love for writing too!

I really feel very excited about your son loving photography! Expensive to invest in camera, but always remember: It's not the tools, but the person behind the tools.

And remind yourself and your family: No one is a failure if he/she has tried his/her best. If your boy has tried his best in his studies and have to do foundation subjects, it's alright!

I wish your son all the best in his studies and his new-found love!

Regards,
Mrs Wong
Tuition classes: http://www.mwtuition.blogspot.com
My personal blog: http://www.thelittleonesinmylife.blogspot.com

[Mychildren]

mahes_gopal:

Hi just wanted to find out what other mums and dads think about this. My son is a very smart boy with above average IQ. BUt due a moderate learning disability and being a hands on learner he cannot cope with the high exam standards. After discussing with his doctor we decided that foundation would be best for him so that he can perform better in the less demanding exams and give him the space to bloom on his own. He is ok with it, but his classmates told him foundation is for failures. He still wants to do foundation as he knows his limitations. If a child goes to foundation or Normal technical or ITE is he a failure. What's your stand? Give us some encouragement. :rahrah:

I don't think he is a failure. There is still a long way to go in life.As long as we already did our best and we already tried. Nothing is consider a failure unless we think so ourselves. Life is with lots of ups and downs. Today, you are first doesn't mean you'll be the same tomorrow. Likewise, if you are last now doesn't mean you won't be the top in future. So be positive in life, there are many doors to success. Just know that there are many paths to happiness if you try to look for it. :boogie:

[Pen88n]

mahes_gopal:

Thanks Thanks Thanks to all the wonderful parents who have responded to my post. I feel much better after all the encouragement. I would to share with you all that my son is very creative and has just won a photography competion. It has booasted his confidence in his ability and aspires to be a Nat Geo photographer in future. Grades are not all that important. I am sure a photographer needs more creativity than sterling grades. Thanks so much all your kind words. :thankyou:

:congrats: It's so great that our kid has a talent, and a strong mind and character to know what he wants to do in life. Much better than other kids who are still \"drifting along\" the journey and not knowing their end goals!

[panickymum]

Taking Foundation subject definitely not a failure . My dd Sch principal told us that he got pupils took foundation unit are happier and during PSLE , they did well and manage to get into Express stream in secondary school . This is better than stressing him and he does not enjoy study at all .