2013 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[ScaredyMum]

Hi Hi


Glad someone pointed me to this thread!!! The Kiasuism spirit is gearing up faster everyday!

Ok, verysuperkiasu mentioned that CL & EL must be strong. How strong is strong? Is Band 2 btw 75-84 considered weak (to me it is! panic-stricken).

My DS is weak in Compo writing even though he reads alot (dun understand why!). Colleagues say I too kiasu they will eventually catch up in P5/6 but that will be too late. How do you all cope with the tight schedule? Do you all send them to enrichment for all 4 subjects? Plus other enrichment like CCAs, Music etc…???

[Lock]

ScaredyMum:

My DS is weak in Compo writing even though he reads alot (dun understand why!). Colleagues say I too kiasu they will eventually catch up in P5/6 but that will be too late.

It is a misconception to think that when a kid reads a lot, that will translate to good writing. Most kids read for plot, rarely pausing long enough to 'take in' the good phrases/vocab used in the story. Some kids are able to 'pick up' the style of writing and internalise good phrases and vocab as they read widely but from my experience, most kids don't. The 'caught on' theory in language learning, in my opinion, is a fallacy. Techniques of writing and grammar have to be taught specifically. Finally, writing, like learning an instrument, has to be practised. The more you write, the better you get.

[Lock]

ScaredyMum:

How do you all cope with the tight schedule? Do you all send them to enrichment for all 4 subjects? Plus other enrichment like CCAs, Music etc...???

I don't send my dd to tuition for all 4 subjects, only those that she is weak in and can't study on her own, like Maths and CL.

I used to worry about her science when she was in P3, esp in process skills and did send her to Science Buddies for 2 terms. But decided to take her out when the fees became too expensive. Then, from this forum, I found out about Janet Sim and the guide bk 'Ultimate Science'. These proved to be very useful. So, the whole of this year, dd studied on her own using Janet Sim's assessments/worksheets and the Ultimate Science guide. I prefer this arrangement as this frees up her time to do other things and trains her to be independent in her studies. So far, for this yr her Sci results has maintained in the band 1 range But I am keeping my fingers crossed for next yr, since many have mentioned the increase in difficulty level

[8228]

Lock:

ScaredyMum:

How do you all cope with the tight schedule? Do you all send them to enrichment for all 4 subjects? Plus other enrichment like CCAs, Music etc...???

I don't send my dd to tuition for all 4 subjects, only those that she is weak in and can't study on her own, like Maths and CL.

I used to worry about her science when she was in P3, esp in process skills and did send her to Science Buddies for 2 terms. But decided to take her out when the fees became too expensive. Then, from this forum, I found out about Janet Sim and the guide bk 'Ultimate Science'. These proved to be very useful. So, the whole of this year, dd studied on her own using Janet Sim's assessments/worksheets and the Ultimate Science guide. I prefer this arrangement as this frees up her time to do other things and trains her to be independent in her studies. So far, for this yr her Sci results has maintained in the band 1 range But I am keeping my fingers crossed for next yr, since many have mentioned the increase in difficulty level

Who is Janet Sim? What are Janet Sim's assessments/worksheets? :scratchhead:

[8228]

Lock:

ScaredyMum:

My DS is weak in Compo writing even though he reads alot (dun understand why!). Colleagues say I too kiasu they will eventually catch up in P5/6 but that will be too late.

It is a misconception to think that when a kid reads a lot, that will translate to good writing. Most kids read for plot, rarely pausing long enough to 'take in' the good phrases/vocab used in the story. Some kids are able to 'pick up' the style of writing and internalise good phrases and vocab as they read widely but from my experience, most kids don't. The 'caught on' theory in language learning, in my opinion, is a fallacy. Techniques of writing and grammar have to be taught specifically. Finally, writing, like learning an instrument, has to be practised. The more you write, the better you get.

I fully agree that the more you write, the better you get. For both Chinese and English, the kids often write less than 10 compo a year in school. And it is an uphill task to ask them to write more at home. So, is sending them to creative writing class the only way out?

[verykiasu2010]

ah ha, sounds like now more people are realising it : the more you write the better you get


compo or essay writing needs practise, lots of it, so that it becomes natural

there was a period of time my DS’s coach made him write a compo a day, mon - fri, and he realises the effectiveness after a while, a chore becomes a habit

in exam it is all about speed. plot and good phrases and good vocab has to be second nature

not to be mistaken with rot learning or essay memorising

as someone mentioned above, just like playing an instrument, practise makes perfect - same for compo

there are kids who wrote on average 9 to 12 pages and they scored very high for EL, good plot, good writing style, logical flow, flawless grammar, no typo, good climax, good ending …

[Lock]

8228:

So, is sending them to creative writing class the only way out?

I go by the guiding principle that if it's something the kid is able to learn on his/her own, with the help of guidebooks n parents of cos, then there's no need to send them for enrichment/tuition. There are many good resources out there that 'teach' writing.

We shd not rob our kids the chance for them to be independent n active learners. It's similar to the popular saying, \"it's better to teach someone how to fish than to give him a fish.\" that's my opinion. Many centers usually just spoon fed the kids, rarely giving them chance to think n go thru self discovery in learning.

[Chenonceau]

Lock:

8228:

So, is sending them to creative writing class the only way out?

I go by the guiding principle that if it's something the kid is able to learn on his/her own, with the help of guidebooks n parents of cos, then there's no need to send them for enrichment/tuition. There are many good resources out there that 'teach' writing.

We shd not rob our kids the chance for them to be independent n active learners. It's similar to the popular saying, \"it's better to teach someone how to fish than to give him a fish.\" that's my opinion. Many centers usually just spoon fed the kids, rarely giving them chance to think n go thru self discovery in learning.

:goodpost:

[Lock]

8228:

Who is Janet Sim? What are Janet Sim's assessments/worksheets? :scratchhead:

Janet Sim is an author of a series of Science assessment bks n worksheets. I find her bks v useful cos her ans provided for process skills r v detailed wif key words highlighted. My dd learn d 'right' way of answering process skills by studying her ans.

[bestwishes]

yes. she is a math & sc tutor too. Her LB Challenging Science Exam Papers is out now.