Any parents of gifted children here ?

[metz]

tamarind:

Since the GEP test the kids on higher levels of english and maths, it is possible for parents to cram P3 kids with P6 syllabus.

If a P3 kid can finish P6 syllabus effortlessly, then he/she must be exceptionally gifted. School would probably have identified the said child earlier and recommended him/her other alternatives.
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/gifted-education-programme/faq/exceptionally-gifted

So far, I have only heard (in the forum from one ex teacher) of one case where a P1 boy was allowed to skip level. Apparently, the boy scored distinctions for PSLE papers.

[gifted]

There are also all rounder in the GEP class. Some of them still score an average of 80 marks for every subject. Some are also talented in music, sports and arts too.


The basic three subjects that they are taught in school are higher than P6 level. They learnt math topics which are teach in Sec 2 and for English is Sec 1 level. They are required to do reseach and study the topics first before the teacher even teaches them. They are required to attend remedial classes too if they do not do well enough. My girl was make to stay back during recess time for English remedial. It is true that they are less prepared for PSLE, they will only be prepared at the last three month before PSLE started. [/quote]

[tamarind]

lizawa:

Our school's principal advises us against doing any preparation for the GEP tests. Main reason is that, should the kids be selected, not because of his/her own \"giftedness\", then, he / she will suffer in the program.

I agree !

chamonix:

If a P3 kid can finish P6 syllabus effortlessly, then he/she must be exceptionally gifted.

It is possible for a P3 kid who is not exceptionally gifted, but quite clever, to be taught to finish P6 syllabus. It is not that difficult. There are parents who hot house their kids, making them do tons of worksheets everyday. Many parents are sending their kids to Kumon, where they do such cramming.

I know this because I can teach my almost 4 year old boy, who is average, to read english books of about 100 words a page on his own. No drilling, only about 15 minutes of consistent practice everyday. He only learns 2 new words a day. It is all about how much parents teach the kids. But then again, I am not going to do the cramming when they are in primary school.

gifted:

It is true that they are less prepared for PSLE, they will only be prepared at the last three month before PSLE started.

This is quite worrying to me. I think they expect the parents to prepare the kids at home. It definitely will add on to the stress.

[metz]

tamarind:

It is possible for a P3 kid who is not exceptionally gifted, but quite clever, to be taught to finish P6 syllabus. It is not that difficult. There are parents who hot house their kids, making them do tons of worksheets everyday. Many parents are sending their kids to Kumon, where they do such cramming.

I know this because I can teach my almost 4 year old boy, who is average, to read english books of about 100 words a page on his own. No drilling, only about 15 minutes of consistent practice everyday. He only learns 2 new words a day. It is all about how much parents teach the kids. But then again, I am not going to do the cramming when they are in primary school.

Different people will have different views on this. I am not sure a quite clever P3 kid can be drilled to score distinctions in PSLE without breaking down. If it's possible, I think the kid should be more than just \"quite clever\".

Many younger kids have been taught to read by the flashing cards method (no flashcards for me though). Most kids learn well through consistency and repetition. It's great that your consistent effort and patience has paid off

For my gal, I have not taught her consistently or religiously. Been pretty relaxed with her. But she can read quite well by the age of 3. At 3 yr 2 mth old, she found the confidence to complete a 64 pages book (No Monsters For Me) by herself in one seating.

[tamarind]

chamonix,

Many kids in Kumon are doing levels higher than their age should be doing. I doubt that there are so many gifted kids there. There are parents out there who do push their kids near breakdown.

Your girl is definitely way above average

[metz]

tamarind:

chamonix,

Many kids in Kumon are doing levels higher than their age should be doing. I doubt that there are so many gifted kids there. There are parents out there who do push their kids near breakdown.

Your girl is definitely way above average

Kids in kumon may not necessary do well in primary schools, even though they are achieving a much higher level in Kumon. At least for math, my friend was told that the kids will only be drilled in the technical aspect, not concept and word problem solving.

Thanks

[metz]

chamonix:

Kids in kumon may not necessary do well in primary schools, even though they are achieving a much higher level in Kumon. At least for math, my friend was told that the kids will only be drilled in the technical aspect, not concept and word problem solving.

Just to add on -

Read somewhere that the levels in Kumon does not necessary correspond to the local school syllabus. Loosely translated - a 5 yr old may be doing Kumon secondary math but that doesn't he/she can handle a secondary school Math Paper.

Can anybody verify if this is not true?

[tamarind]

Besides Kumon, there are also other learning centres, like the Learning Lab that teach the kids higher level syllabus. Recently I passed by a Kip McGrath Education Centre, saw a notice outside that they can train kids to enter the GEP.


I heard from another thread in this forum, that there are kids who succeeded in entering the GEP through training. But then these kids do suffer in the program.

Whether we like it or not, there are many parents who believe that kids can be trained to get into the GEP, and the current selection process is not good enough to filter out these kids.

[tamarind]

Anyone can suggest a better selection process ? Just for discussion sake.


My idea is that they can let the kids learn something new. For example, give him 1 - 2 days to learn a computer programming language, like C programming, or Visual Basic or Perl. It must be something he has no knowledge of. Just give him a book and a computer with internet connection. No help from any one else. Then see what kind of computer program he can write at the end of the day. There is no need to set a question. He can write a computer program to do anything he likes.

We will see how fast and how well the child can learn. I think it is not important to test how much a child already knows. It is more important to test how easily he can learn something new, and understand a new concept.

Computer programming is not only about learning a language, it requires logical thinking, and a very flexible mind.

[jedamum]

tamarind:

Computer programming is not only about learning a language, it requires logical thinking, and a very flexible mind.

It may be effective for the first few batches of testees, but as time goes by, computer programming courses will crop up and parents will go into a frenzy of sending their kids to programming courses to equip them with such knowledge to tackle the test. Then back to square one.
I guess it doesn't really matter if the kid gets into GEP (or if GEP is a foolproof system or not), so long the parents recognise their talents and help to nurture them.