2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy
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BeContented:
Kekekekeke!! My DS said he's gonna put in the bank. He's saving to buy a property so he can reach financial independence early in life. He wanna buy a farm in Tasmania and live there.
Chenonceau, DS also receive his long-awaited MOE reward of $400 too
In fact, since P1-P4, both kids receive MOE letters every year but dun qualify. Finally DS got his & even DD's new school has this alumni fund and they actually give a token of $100/$150 to the top 5 I think.
How does your son plan to spend it? Mine is aiming for a football PC game (so ex, >$50) .... but since he worked hard to earn it, guess I can't say no.
We didn't expect the award though. We didn't know there was such an award till the letter came and we googled for what it was. -
I was told by this year's P6 parent that DS school requires the kids to be in early and start classes by 7am at some point during P6. This year's form teacher also told me that Supp classes will be conducted almost everyday! I think my poor kid should be burned out before PSLE!
I still intend to let DS carry on with his Chinese painting, art classes and swimming in the weekends. Hopefully even squeeze in some cycling time with his dad at the bike trails on Sunday mornings.
Actually, I haveto check all DS's school homework after his does it and teach him whatever he doesn't know. The teachers don't really have time to teach them and the answers he copies back as corrections....he doesn't even know how it came about. Sometimes I get him to go ask his teachers again and he comes back and tells me that he still don't understand as the teacher just repeated everything he copied.
So I've given up relying on the school. DS's class had 3 Math teachers and ??? no. of CL teachers this year. His teachers come and go. Many parents are very unhappy too.
In any case, will ask the teachers to pass DS all the supp class work next year. -
fifiyeo:
These too have been my observations. I don't even teach my son. I just give him good resources to learn with and discuss/plan with him how he can manage his own learning... and it is still more effective than school, and less stressful because the focus is on mastery, not competition.I was told by this year's P6 parent that DS school requires the kids to be in early and start classes by 7am at some point during P6. This year's form teacher also told me that Supp classes will be conducted almost everyday! I think my poor kid should be burned out before PSLE!
I still intend to let DS carry on with his Chinese painting, art classes and swimming in the weekends. Hopefully even squeeze in some cycling time with his dad at the bike trails on Sunday mornings.
Actually, I haveto check all DS's school homework after his does it and teach him whatever he doesn't know. The teachers don't really have time to teach them and the answers he copies back as corrections....he doesn't even know how it came about. Sometimes I get him to go ask his teachers again and he comes back and tells me that he still don't understand as the teacher just repeated everything he copied. So I've given up relying on the school. DS's class had 3 Math teachers and ??? no. of CL teachers this year. His teachers come and go. Many parents are very unhappy too.
In any case, will ask the teachers to pass DS all the supp class work next year. -
BeContented:
24th in level or 24th in best class? Either way, I would be happy with those results if it meant that my boy is less stressed. Also, if the Mother did not manage the relationship with T properly, they may have been biased in their marking just to prove a point.
PS : DS school had a boy who was top almost every year....2 years ago, when that boy was in P6, his mom took him out of the supp class against the T's protest. Apparently, the boy hired external tutors. Unfortunately for that boy, he dropped to 24x ..... so sometimes, i also worried, so unless I can hired really good tutors or be one myself, I'll rather fall back on T.....
But then again, like you said, if you can't teach and cannot afford EXCELLENT tutors then might as well leave it all to the school. Probably a safer option, than risk even worse grades. Is it true though... that the 5 top PSLE students this year have stay-at-home moms or moms who work part-time? -
Chenonceau:
That boy mentioned was consistently #1 in his cohort (neighborhood Sch) for years. But come PSLE only 24x, while the other top few students >250/260. So it was a shock to many. Hence I realised, most important is still the child, tutors are not always better than teachers unless the really good ones. But how many really good ones are out there....honestly I dun know, so cannot comment.
24th in level or 24th in best class? Either way, I would be happy with those results if it meant that my boy is less stressed. Also, if the Mother did not manage the relationship with T properly, they may have been biased in their marking just to prove a point.BeContented:
PS : DS school had a boy who was top almost every year....2 years ago, when that boy was in P6, his mom took him out of the supp class against the T's protest. Apparently, the boy hired external tutors. Unfortunately for that boy, he dropped to 24x ..... so sometimes, i also worried, so unless I can hired really good tutors or be one myself, I'll rather fall back on T.....
But then again, like you said, if you can't teach and cannot afford EXCELLENT tutors then might as well leave it all to the school. Probably a safer option, than risk even worse grades. Is it true though... that the 5 top PSLE students this year have stay-at-home moms or moms who work part-time? -
Yes, I can attest to the benefits of starring far. My kids dd 11 and ds 14 and not myopic. I attribute their good eyesight to balance of outdoor activities.
Just to add another starring far poetry, with permission from my dd who wrote this a week ago.
Starry Night
When you look far far away,
on a cloudless night, not day,
don't you feel happy at what you see?
Don't you feel for one moment that you are really free?
When you see the the twinkling stars,
like the lights of hundreds of cars,
don't you feel that the two are different somehow?
Don't you feel that great feeling of \"Now\"?
You don't have to worry about this or that,
about doing your homework or losing your hat.
You just enjoy the present, the now, the here,
the presence of loved ones, of those who are dear.
So next time you leave that starry night,
try to look at the world in a new light.
Don't worry about the future, or grumble about the past,
leave all these things alone, to collect dust.
For remember, these are chains that tie you down,
that make you unhappy, and make you frown.
Hold fast to the present, and those who are dear,
for the most important time is now, and the most important place is here.
Donata, Written on the spot
- Donata - All Rights Reserved - 2011 -
BeContented:
That boy mentioned was consistently #1 in his cohort (neighborhood Sch) for years. But come PSLE only 24x, while the other top few students >250/260. So it was a shock to many. Hence I realised, most important is still the child, tutors are not always better than teachers unless the really good ones. But how many really good ones are out there....honestly I dun know, so cannot comment.
Ohhh... I misunderstood... 24X is the t-score!! Yeah... that must have been a shock. Yeah... tutors are not necessarily better than T. That's why DS has no tuition. I just have to work a bit harder to ensure that he stays motivated and that he has access to good learning resources. -
There should be always a balance of PLAY and STUDY even though there is PSLE next year. 休息是为了走更长远的路。
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just888:
There should be always a balance of PLAY and STUDY even though there is PSLE next year. 休息是为了走更长远的路。
Yes, now we are warming up everyday. With my son, I have to learn how to 'fly a kite'...when to go easy and when to pull string tighter. Which is why I had to seek advice of mummies who have been through this emotional roller coaster. Actual 'marathon' is few days in Sep/Oct but build up is crucial yet cannot burn him. :nailbite: -
I had a friend who once told me this…it happened when his daughter entered JC . They attended the open house was impressed so they picked that JC. But in the first year, they realised that the school could not deliver as presented. His daughter did badly and nearly failed. It devastated her but he told her not to worry. Instead they did some checking around and he hired her some of the best tutors and she aced her ‘A’ levels. So I’ll always remember his advise. If the schools can’t produce the results just look elsewhere and no need to waste time.
What I do feel is really important - Don’t burn out the kids. Burn-out takes a long time to recover even with therapy.
Kids need pressure but they need to be happy.
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