2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy
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Sorry. I kapo come into here. My children are not heading for PSLE in 2012 yet. :torchme:
Yes, Work Smart and Play Hard. This I told my kids: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. :sick: -
Hi alng!
You are too kind; this forum is testimony to lots of parents being "hands-on" with their kids while juggling multiple roles. A round of applause to all please!
I just want to encourage those parents who are thinking of whether they should be more involved with their children’s PSLE journeys that you really should because you really can make a significant difference and the rewards can extend to far beyond a better T-score. -
psle2011mum:
I so agree with you!! Helping my son through his PSLE journey translated into a closer relationship between us. But... I think this may vary from parent to parent. Our journey is full of hugs and kisses, and celebrations of small achievements. I suppose that if one is not careful, the journey may actually degenerate into yelling matches too. :nailbite:
I just want to encourage those parents who are thinking of whether they should be more involved with their children's PSLE journeys that you really should because you really can make a significant difference and the rewards can extend to far beyond a better T-score. -
[Editor's note: Post selected for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/my-psle-journey-my-daughter]
Before you read the rest of this post, please note this Caveat : Every child and every parent is different; it doesn't work the same way for everyone, but for what it may be worth to other parents, the following are some lessons I learnt in my journey with DD in 2011.
These factors probably helped DD achieve EESIS (in no particular order):
a) Being a Reader - the love for reading extends well beyond helping in English; it is the language of understanding [and therefore mastering] for Math and Science too; start the child reading early and watch the rewards multiply
b) Being a girl - sits still better,earlier and for longer; writes more neatly; willing to memorise by rote; willing to practice and re-practice; - all \"advantages\" in our particular education system
c) Being in a strong parent-child relationship - this is necessary so that the journey doesn't become one of a battle of wills - the willingness to accept teaching and correction from a parent will help in the many tough spots along the journey
d) Being sold on the idea of \"deferred gratification\" - we taught this early on [read about this by googling \" Stanford Marshmallow Experiment (1972) by Prof Walter Mischel] and had to recall this lesson countless times throughout the PSLE journey because it was a 12 month marathon for us; and while as adults we may be more \"used\" to it, kids have probably not personally experienced something close
e) Having Good Resources - a lot of time and effort was spent assembling good resources; we were well beyond the \"why can't the textbooks be better\" and the indignation of \" how can they test what they don't teach\" by the time DD was in P4, so our main focus in DD's P5 year was to get the best resources we could and thereafter sort them all out by end of DD's P5 year. If this meant me taking lessons as a parent, I did; if this meant me \"re-writing\" the textbook, I did. I'll share more for each subject's resources in a separate post.
f) Getting your hands dirty - I had to motivate by example; \"Monkey see - monkey do\" -- so while I dictated the work, I worked along side - correcting, working out the answers DD couldn't, researching the answers for Science especially; re-writing the compos if they had been terribly done (so that there was some standard to aspire to); there was really no time to do my own work during this time, so I squeezed my urgent work into the times when DD was in school or asleep
g) Not being attached to the TV or other gadgets - DD played in the park, read and slept in her \"downtime\"; she had no time for TV because of my work schedule and had no access to computers and i-anythings along the PSLE journey
Conclusion: I wouldn't have done it any other way; we learnt so many lessons together, chief amongst them was that DD saw for herself the value of keeping at something even though it was difficult ; I now see a more mature child in her who probably still sighs at the challenges ahead but thereafter will square her shoulders and \"dig right in\" to get the job done without complaint.
It's hard but not impossible -- I believe many parents [especially those participating and silently reading in this forum] are well capable of it; so what are you waiting for? Be that involved parent for your PSLE child; you won't regret the time and effort spent! -
psle2011mum:
:goodpost: This is SUCH a very good post!! I've taken the liberty to highlight some portions because I wanna link some people to this post. Please write more.Before you read the rest of this post, please note this Caveat : Every child and every parent is different; it doesn't work the same way for everyone, but for what it may be worth to other parents, the following are some lessons I learnt in my journey with DD in 2011.
These factors probably helped DD achieve EESIS (in no particular order):
a) Being a Reader - the love for reading extends well beyond helping in English; it is the language of understanding [and therefore mastering] for Math and Science too; start the child reading early and watch the rewards multiply
b) Being a girl - sits still better,earlier and for longer; writes more neatly; willing to memorise by rote; willing to practice and re-practice; - all \"advantages\" in our particular education system
c) Being in a strong parent-child relationship - this is necessary so that the journey doesn't become one of a battle of wills - the willingness to accept teaching and correction from a parent will help in the many tough spots along the journey
d) Being sold on the idea of \"deferred gratification\" - we taught this early on [read about this by googling \" Stanford Marshmallow Experiment (1972) by Prof Walter Mischel] and had to recall this lesson countless times throughout the PSLE journey because it was a 12 month marathon for us; and while as adults we may be more \"used\" to it, kids have probably not personally experienced something close
e) Having Good Resources - a lot of time and effort was spent assembling good resources; we were well beyond the \"why can't the textbooks be better\" and the indignation of \" how can they test what they don't teach\" by the time DD was in P4, so our main focus in DD's P5 year was to get the best resources we could and thereafter sort them all out by end of DD's P5 year. If this meant me taking lessons as a parent, I did; if this meant me \"re-writing\" the textbook, I did. I'll share more for each subject's resources in a separate post.
f) Getting your hands dirty - I had to motivate by example; \"Monkey see - monkey do\" -- so while I dictated the work, I worked along side - correcting, working out the answers DD couldn't, researching the answers for Science especially; re-writing the compos if they had been terribly done (so that there was some standard to aspire to); there was really no time to do my own work during this time, so I squeezed my urgent work into the times when DD was in school or asleep
g) Not being attached to the TV or other gadgets - DD played in the park, read and slept in her \"downtime\"; she had no time for TV because of my work schedule and had no access to computers and i-anythings along the PSLE journey
Conclusion: I wouldn't have done it any other way; we learnt so many lessons together, chief amongst them was that DD saw for herself the value of keeping at something even though it was difficult ; I now see a more mature child in her who probably still sighs at the challenges ahead but thereafter will square her shoulders and \"dig right in\" to get the job done without complaint.
It's hard but not impossible -- I believe many parents [especially those participating and silently reading in this forum] are well capable of it; so what are you waiting for? Be that involved parent for your PSLE child; you won't regret the time and effort spent! -
psle2011mum
:rahrah: Reading your post brought a lump to my throat ! I *saluate* your determination and time management skills for achieving such great results with your dd while juggling a full-time job.
Total agree with fellow comarade, Chenonceau, re: highlighted points in (e) of your posts.
Please drop by here whenever time permits...I am looking forward to your post about resources. Helping the child with time management, balance between work and rest are also topics I am still struggling with.
Mine is a boy but I see HOPE ! -
Hi Chenonceau
Thank you; I’m a great admirer of your many posts and I am sure I speak for many parents [participants and silent readers alike] when I say " thank you from the bottom of our hearts" for your generosity in sharing your experiences. They have benefitted us so much.
You are doing a great job with your DS and while I slowly work through my posts about the resources that helped DD, I would say in the meantime that yes, I totally agree, Potato kids need special ways of learning Chinese ["crutches" like memorising Chinese compos - DD did lots of that too] so from my books, you are right on track!
What I also learnt from the journey with DD was that after some of her hard work paid off and she was scoring better in Chinese compo, it was SHE herself who wanted to keep at the hard work because she had tasted success. My role was then reduced to "testing" , "sourcing" compos for her to memorise and 'analysing" PSLE compo questions to "spot" trends.
Great job Chenonceau and all the best to you and DS in this very special year ahead! -
psle2011mum:
:goodpost: Mine are boys and we had good PSLE journeys for both of them taking similar approach as you described except that I am SAHM which made it easier for me. So your recommendation should work for boys as well.Before you read the rest of this post, please note this Caveat : Every child and every parent is different; it doesn't work the same way for everyone, but for what it may be worth to other parents, the following are some lessons I learnt in my journey with DD in 2011.
These factors probably helped DD achieve EESIS (in no particular order):
a) Being a Reader - the love for reading extends well beyond helping in English; it is the language of understanding [and therefore mastering] for Math and Science too; start the child reading early and watch the rewards multiply
b) Being a girl - sits still better,earlier and for longer; writes more neatly; willing to memorise by rote; willing to practice and re-practice; - all \"advantages\" in our particular education system
c) Being in a strong parent-child relationship - this is necessary so that the journey doesn't become one of a battle of wills - the willingness to accept teaching and correction from a parent will help in the many tough spots along the journey
d) Being sold on the idea of \"deferred gratification\" - we taught this early on [read about this by googling \" Stanford Marshmallow Experiment (1972) by Prof Walter Mischel] and had to recall this lesson countless times throughout the PSLE journey because it was a 12 month marathon for us; and while as adults we may be more \"used\" to it, kids have probably not personally experienced something close
e) Having Good Resources - a lot of time and effort was spent assembling good resources; we were well beyond the \"why can't the textbooks be better\" and the indignation of \" how can they test what they don't teach\" by the time DD was in P4, so our main focus in DD's P5 year was to get the best resources we could and thereafter sort them all out by end of DD's P5 year. If this meant me taking lessons as a parent, I did; if this meant me \"re-writing\" the textbook, I did. I'll share more for each subject's resources in a separate post.
f) Getting your hands dirty - I had to motivate by example; \"Monkey see - monkey do\" -- so while I dictated the work, I worked along side - correcting, working out the answers DD couldn't, researching the answers for Science especially; re-writing the compos if they had been terribly done (so that there was some standard to aspire to); there was really no time to do my own work during this time, so I squeezed my urgent work into the times when DD was in school or asleep
g) Not being attached to the TV or other gadgets - DD played in the park, read and slept in her \"downtime\"; she had no time for TV because of my work schedule and had no access to computers and i-anythings along the PSLE journey
Conclusion: I wouldn't have done it any other way; we learnt so many lessons together, chief amongst them was that DD saw for herself the value of keeping at something even though it was difficult ; I now see a more mature child in her who probably still sighs at the challenges ahead but thereafter will square her shoulders and \"dig right in\" to get the job done without complaint.
It's hard but not impossible -- I believe many parents [especially those participating and silently reading in this forum] are well capable of it; so what are you waiting for? Be that involved parent for your PSLE child; you won't regret the time and effort spent! -
You can try out "The Home Tutor" CDs that are available at popular book store.
I did that for my daughter when she start worrying about her PSLE Science. More important is your kid has made commitment wanting to study all P4 to P6 using the online CDs. -
psle2011mum:
Like your DD, my DS wants to do the memorizing. It isn't pleasant but he tasted success and wants more success.You are doing a great job with your DS and while I slowly work through my posts about the resources that helped DD, I would say in the meantime that yes, I totally agree, Potato kids need special ways of learning Chinese [\"crutches\" like memorising Chinese compos - DD did lots of that too] so from my books, you are right on track!
What I also learnt from the journey with DD was that after some of her hard work paid off and she was scoring better in Chinese compo, it was SHE herself who wanted to keep at the hard work because she had tasted success. My role was then reduced to \"testing\" , \"sourcing\" compos for her to memorise and 'analysing\" PSLE compo questions to \"spot\" trends.
Great job Chenonceau and all the best to you and DS in this very special year ahead!
Thank you so much for validating my approach. I have moments of doubt and when I see him work so hard, my heart hurts and I keep asking myself if there is a less painful way. It's even more painful for us in that we had been goofing off up until P4.
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