Competition among primary schools
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tamarind:
Think most primary schools are teaching their primary ones composition writing. BTPS showcased some of their P1 students' work during the recent Open House. Mine, I'm impressed as the written pieces were completed in May. As I gathered from other forums, composition is included in the exam as well. But the students are given pictures and helping phrases.
West Grove, the school I plan to send my girl to, requires the students to write composition at P1. My girl's PCF will probably only let them write simple sentences by K2. She is attending the \"premium\" PCF kindergarten which costs twice as much as normal PCF kindergarten and her class is of a higher standard than those normal ones. Normal PCF only start to have spelling at K2.
No spelling at my son's kindergarten. But the teachers have been teaching the students to write in sentences since the start of the year. For instance, the recent topic was National Day. So, the kids are told to draw what they thought of National Day and write some sentences about the pictures under the teachers' guidance. -
Chamonix,
My girl's \"premium\" PCF have english spelling as well as Chinese written tests since the first half of K1 ! They have also been taught to draw a picture, then write a simple sentence in K1.
Personally I think that for languages, there is no such thing as \"over prepared\". We should teach the child as much as his/her ability can reach, so long as we are not pushing them like sending them to many enrichment classes and doing tonnes of homework everyday.
If the child can read Charlotte's Web or other literature classics at 5 years old, I don't believe that she will feel bored at P1. Because what she is doing in class, is not something that she has seen before. She will probably find it very easy, but the contents should still interest her.
Well, I have heard of some parents who bought P1 textbooks/assessments to prepare their kids. Such kids will probably feel bored at P1. So I am not going to do that. I only make sure that my kids read at least one page (depending on their ability) and write a few words everyday.EN:
I heard there are parents who make their kids memorize the times table before entering P1. I am more concerned that my girl understands that multiplication is repeated addition. I am not too concerned about whether she can master the times table from 1 to 10, she can do that in P1.Yes. Add, minus, multiply, divide along with problem sum are being taught as early as primary one. They come in problem sums too. Not just 5 X 4 = ?
Some top schools already covered simple fraction in P1.
Yes, it is good just to teach concept & ensure your kids understand it before P1. But if the child has very good ability in picking up math, having the kids master the P1 syllabus in kindergarten & then put them in a school with mixed abilities, the kids will simply waste away while waiting for the rest to catch up. -
chamonix:
Apart from children being over-prepared for P1, I tend to think that P1 is meant for settling children into primary school life. To get used to the routine (perhaps longer hours for some), learning to go toilets on their own, deciding what food to eat during recess, playing with both younger and older children etc ..and last but not least, taking exams.EN:
Have you ever give it a thought that by over preparing your child in P1 & put them in not so stress school, it might be result in kids being bored in school? What will you do then when your kids say, class is boring, teacher keeps on repeating, teacher teach so slowly etc?
Apparently this is a rather common problem in the lower primary. Most kids with good reading foundation can almost sail through Primary 1 and Primary 2 with no problems. I have heard far too many parents complained about their kids' boredom and doing mischiefs in P1 and P2 classes.
However, things will start to take an interesting change when the kids hit P3-P4.
Academic achievement is IMHO the least important concern at this stage of primary school and children are expected to sail through. The screws are only tightened from P3 onwards and from my kids' experiences, they even started to learn (simple) biology in P4 and that forced me to do a desperate revision off the Internet. lol -
tamarind:
I sure hope that's not the only thing you are paying a premium for.Chamonix,
My girl's \"premium\" PCF have english spelling as well as Chinese written tests since the first half of K1 ! They have also been taught to draw a picture, then write a simple sentence in K1.
Incidentally, a few other kids I know have English spelling since the start of K1 too. Another kindergarten has started preparing K1 students on simple comprehension.
IMHO, I'm not sure if Spelling is a good practice to have in preschools and also to what end does it serve to have Spelling at K1. Perhaps to help kids in reading?tamarind:
Even with just parents' coaching alone, there's still risk of pushing and hothousing. It's not easy for a parent to be objective, especially with his/her own kid. That's a constant reminder for myself
We should teach the child as much as his/her ability can reach, so long as we are not pushing them like sending them to many enrichment classes and doing tonnes of homework everyday.
tamarind:
Different parents have different thoughts of preparing their kids. Some kids are packed for P1 preparatory classes at the start of K2.Well, I have heard of some parents who bought P1 textbooks/assessments to prepare their kids. Such kids will probably feel bored at P1. So I am not going to do that. I only make sure that my kids read at least one page (depending on their ability) and write a few words everyday.
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heutistmeintag:
I'm on the same thought too. For me, lower primary is more about learning discipline, respecting others, interpersonal relationships and honing life skills.
Apart from children being over-prepared for P1, I tend to think that P1 is meant for settling children into primary school life. To get used to the routine (perhaps longer hours for some), learning to go toilets on their own, deciding what food to eat during recess, playing with both younger and older children etc ..and last but not least, taking exams.
Academic achievement is IMHO the least important concern at this stage of primary school and children are expected to sail through. The screws are only tightened from P3 onwards and from my kids' experiences, they even started to learn (simple) biology in P4 and that forced me to do a desperate revision off the Internet. lol -
chamonix:
This is the first year that premium PCF starts to have K1 class, so I completely have no idea about their standards before my girl started school. I put my girl there because it includes enrichment classes such as cooking, dancing, junior writing, poetry etc, not because I want her to have spelling in K1.
I sure hope that's not the only thing you are paying a premium for. Incidentally, a few other kids I know have English spelling since the start of K1 too. Another kindergarten has started preparing K1 students on simple comprehension.
IMHO, I'm not sure if Spelling is a good practice to have in preschools and also to what end does it serve to have Spelling at K1. Perhaps to help kids in reading?
I think it is OK to have spelling in pre-school, it will help when the kids start to write in sentences. But it should be limited to 3 letter words, or commonly used words like the, this, that, etc. My girl's K1 class requires her to spell words like \"ambulance\", \"submarine\", etc. I find it funny that the kids know how to spell these words, but don't know how to spell \"the\", \"this\", etc. Or perhaps the teachers expect the kids to already know how to spell these simple words in nursery ?
My girl don't feel stress at all in her K1 class, so I am glad that I have found a suitable school for her. But for my younger boy, I have registered him in a \"normal\" PCF which will suit him better.chamonix:
Actually I was thinking about those kids who feel bored at P1, because they already know everything that the teacher is teaching. It is a result of the parents \"over preparing\" them.
Different parents have different thoughts of preparing their kids. Some kids are packed for P1 preparatory classes at the start of K2.tamarind:
Well, I have heard of some parents who bought P1 textbooks/assessments to prepare their kids. Such kids will probably feel bored at P1. So I am not going to do that. I only make sure that my kids read at least one page (depending on their ability) and write a few words everyday.
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The PCF I paid was slightly less than $100. Besides fully air-con, they have drama (that was the year end performance), music, dance room, computer, science, English, Math & 2nd language. For cooking, creative art work, the parents pay slightly during school holidays. Yes, they cover spelling (not the 3 letter words) & simple writing. What they did not cover is phonic which I think is very important for the children.
Some kids like to be at the top of the game, like Jedamum son (our dream boy!). Some kids have high ability, so repetition is a no no. Some kids with lower ability, will need a lot of helps and guidance. So it all depends on the child & the school they are going to be in. As we know, different schools have different emphasis & different standards. -
Oops, my girl is definitely over prepared
She's one of those advanced Kumon kids. In fact, there are many in the Kumon center she's attending. Like a norm rather than exceptional. Some of the lower primary kids are doing secondary level Mathematics.
I don't think she's bored at all in her kindergarten. She's busy socialising, and there are other topics taught that she doesn't know yet such as sea creatures, farm animals, how the cow get milk. Those that she already knew, I ask her to treat as revision.
I believe it's even more pressurizing & depressing if the child cannot cope
Anyway, P1 & P2 most kids have no problems. P3 onwards is the real test
Oh, just to add, there is no way a child can be over prepared for languages. Chinese is about reading & writing. The richer her vocab, the better. Ditto for English. -
tamarind:
My 5 yr old is definitely very well prepared in this sense. We find P1 Maths syllabus a breeze. Not very different from the concepts kindergartens are teaching. In fact, another 2003 kid has started working on P1 English assessment books too.
Well, I have heard of some parents who bought P1 textbooks/assessments to prepare their kids. Such kids will probably feel bored at P1. So I am not going to do that. I only make sure that my kids read at least one page (depending on their ability) and write a few words everyday.
I am not so worried about him feeling bored in school. Besides academic learning, there are other aspects of school life that he has to learn to manage. -
metz:
P1/p2 are foundational years.
However, things will start to take an interesting change when the kids hit P3-P4.
Real test seep in from end of p2.
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