Parents, not enrichment centres, are key to result
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looking4Tutor:
Did anyone ever suggest all schools are equal? They are NOT for many reasons and one of which is the quality/social economic background of the kids attending the school.
I'm amused, if all schools are equal why parents need to shy away from some.Musings:
This seems to suggest that the success or failure of the child is dependent on whether he/she is in these neighbourhood schools \"feeder schools to Normal/Normal Tech Secondary Schools\". I think this is too simplistic. As many of us know, the success of the child is dependent on a myriad of factors like stability of the home, the diligence of the child, how self motivated the child is.
Take a neighbourhood school ie those schools which parents shun at P1 registration and have plenty of places left for Phase 3 etc, which are filled by children whose parents did not rack their brains to plot a strategy like move house, do PV etc to get into a more popular school. By definition, such parents are less likely to monitor or support the progress/education of the child in primary school hence the potential of the child to shine/succeed has been limited.
I firmly believe children whose parents who support their child's learning (not through monetary means like providing enrichment but through encouragement) and monitor their progress and step in to get help (voice to school) and who are reasonably diligent and intelligent will invariably do well. May not score >250 at PSLE but definitely not Normal Tech etc.
Move house to buy equal right is an expensive games for many.
Some parents need more encouragement than the children.
This vicious cycle will continue till the end of the world.
I'm just pointing out that while a school may appear to be 'lousy' school for not churning out many PSLE kids > 250. We have to look at the demographics of the kids attending the school.
Having a sister who runs a drop in centre for neighbourhood primary kids, we know that as many as 50% of the kids from a nearby neighbourhood school come from broken families and not surprisingly, they all went to Normal Tech if at all. What can the school do when these kids obviously lack home support, stable home environment and money for basic needs? Monetary needs can be addressed through social financial schemes. Lack of foundation can be taught by the school. But no school can replace the parents' role in guiding and providing stable home environment.
There have been kids from this school who have excelled in PSLE and you will find that the critical factor is always having a dedicated adult at home who values education (such as Grandma becos both parents are in jail etc. Grandma can't teach - not educated but encourages) and self motivation (I want to better my lot) translating to diligence. -
deminc:
Because of this pattern in every other subject, my son told me one day very seriously \"Mom, I am not one of the smart ones you know. I'll never be able get above 90 in anything.\"My son is still young, but this much I've found out after one year. Chinese teacher zooms through textbook and skips the enrichment pages. But when it's time for reviews or doing worksheets, the words from enrichment pages will appear as well. Previous to this realization, I wondered why my son was struggling. Was he daydreaming in class? Was he just thick? I began checking in with him everyday for Chinese until I finally realized what was going on. But still, it was hard.
Of course not! He wasn't given material he needs to get above 90 because he had no tuition and I left him all alone. Now that he gets the necessary resources via me. 90+ is easy peasy. -
There are many factors which affect a child’s performance in school. Ideally, a child has a very supportive and conducive home environment to help him in his school work while in school, he is given all the materials and information needed to do well. However, this is seldom the case. Firstly, not all children are born equal in intelligence and I mean, different types of intelligence. Most parents look at academic performance as the measurement of their children’s intelligence. If their child doesn’t score as well as their neighbour’s son, Xiao Ming, alarm bells ring. To a certain extent, this is rightly so. Yet, there are some children who will not perform as well as Xiao Ming despite endless tuition in all subjects. The conclusion? Your child may have a different type of intelligence or talent. He may be musically inclined. He may be the next Olympic champion. Is your child interested in table tennis? If so, are you prepared to engage a coach and train him? Without doing so, there’s no way your child will be chosen to play in his school team. My students have swimming lessons since they are young and take part in every swimming competitions in and out of school. They train almost every day, so much so that without tuition, they will not be able to pass their exams. Parents have to choose between sports (or any other interest) or study cos reality is not many children will be able to cope and perform well in both. Sadly, many parents refuse to let their children take the unbeaten path. This is why year in and year out we talk about PSLE, O level, A level results and count the number of As and A*. There’s no counting how many win medals in sports, music or the Arts. We never seem to hear whose child performs in which concert in the world except for the exclusive few in our country of 6 millions and they come from well to do families whose parents don’t need their children to have a degree to work for the money. I have tutored many children who are very intelligent but perform badly academically. There are also students who are just not interested in their study and no matter how you tried to help them, they just can’t perform cos nothing will register. There again, there are others who know that they are weak and consciously want to try and do better. These are the ones who put in extra effort even though they know that they will never be the top student. From my own experience, I agree that depending on the textbooks is not enough for a child to do well and the system is lacking in many ways. Even with the downsizing of classes, teachers are not able to teach effectively when the class consists of different ability children. What works is to group the children according to their abilities but parents would not accept the fact if their children are grouped in a lower ability class. It’s more a matter of face that all parents refuse to accept the fact that their children are of any lesser ability and to ensure that their children go to EM1 or at least stay in EM2, they pile tuition on their kids. That killed the streaming system - EM1, EM2 and EM3. Now, schools stream subtly. I have had a father screaming at me cos I decided to put his son in a slower class cos his son was not attentive in class and would not be able to cope in the higher ability class, never mind that I teach both classes and pace myself according to the children’s abilities. He decided to pull his son out of my class and good riddance. Another girl decided that she could not cope in the higher ability class and readily transferred to the lower ability class. She was diligent and made such good progress that she was able to join the higher ability class a year later. Education is important but what is its purpose? What is more important - to provide a rounded education with well adjusted and gracious children who will become the leaders of tomorrow or A* students who’s success crazed so much so that they are pressure cooked and burnt out before they step into society? One of my nieces studied triple science and did very well in school. Eventually, she became an accountant. Looking back, she regretted spending so much effort in a triple science class, studying hard for those As that she now have no use of. She could have a much relaxed time and enjoyed those school days more. DS3 just expressed his fears that he might trip up in his O levels and not perform as expected. I told him that as long as he’s consistent in his work there’s no reason that he’ll do badly and if the unexpected happens, he can always try again. His school has put on a stellar performance and everybody is looking at As. This made him nervous. On the other hand, he doesn’t find it necessary to take 10 or 11 subjects and emerge as a top student. In his own words, taking 8 subjects (he’s taking Literature in addition to the usual 7 cos he loves the subject and even though it’s not easy to get A for it, I’m supportive. There’s no need to get A anyway) is more than enough. You only need to score well in L1R5 to get into JC so why give yourself unnecessary pressure to do 10 subjects unless you are sure you like all of them? As parents, we naturally want the our best for our children. The question is, are we doing what make us look good or for our children’s good?
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This is just my opinion.
Don't jump at me like someone who did it.
All child deserves a fair chance. School should do more for the kids.
School should look into the material they give in class.
Are our textbooks good enough ?
Take a look and compare with the PSLE questions.
Crazy!
A world apart. Tuition became a norm now because school is not doing enough .
Schools know that parents are sending the kids to tuition and they just sit back and relax.
Well, all children deserve a fair share in education.
To be frank, all children are smart if we do our part well. You don't have to be a U graduate to help you child but all you need is time and effort . Make a effort to help fix your kids weaker subjects.
If PSLE stays, then , MOE should engage more teachers to the school to help the children. 1:40, not a good idea. 2:40 , that will be a paradise.
Teachers should gather the best material for the children to help them to further excel but sad to say, very very hard to find these days.
As for primary school, we need a vibrant , energetic, passion and patience teachers.
MOE sh consider raising the salary for the primary school teachers and make it a attractive area to work , but sad to say, nothing much has been done.
Package still not attractive enough and good teachers are leaving the school and venture to private tuition ...
Lastly, I disagree to encourage the kids to use sport / art/ to excel over study .
Too young to decide and I believe study is still the most important factor in life.
Don't give up the child just because he did not do well but as a parents we must affirm and encourage them because they are special.
Brain intelligent can be nurture just like sport and art.
Thoughts are very important . We must think positive and believe in our children .
If we believe they are smart , they will be smart and if we think they are stupid, then , of course, they are heading that directions.
Believed in them and help but not criticize and that will kill their striving spirit.
As a parent, we must never give up on them . We must believe because the best is yet to be\"
These are my just my thoughts...
Parents as a career are the most tougher job on earth. -
Lastly, enrichment centre is still a very important place to learn because school is not able to cope with the demands.
1:40 , how to cope?
Teachers also human ..
Subjects learn in school are much much difficult these days.
Our strength are limite and must try to seek help from enrichment centre.
My 3 children love to go to school and of course tuition centers..
They love to play too but they never complain because I always tell them that they are the best..:)
I instill in them positiveness and value in life.
School is their little society and they must learn and deal with it but not to run away.
Then the Real world is ready for them to face and fight .
So, enrichment , home , school ..are 3 important factors in their life now.
Oh， EQ very important.
Mannerlism , greeting to elders .....etc... Very important.
口是心非 要不得
搬弄是非要不得
谦虚，尊重，非常重要。
My children may not be the top in class but they are the best in my heart.
There is a saying , it takes two to tango ,but for me , it takes 3 tango..
School, enrichment, home sweet home. -
Kodomosuki:
:goodpost:This is just my opinion.
Don't jump at me like someone who did it.
All child deserves a fair chance. School should do more for the kids.
School should look into the material they give in class.
Are our textbooks good enough ?
Take a look and compare with the PSLE questions.
Crazy!
A world apart. Tuition became a norm now because school is not doing enough .
Schools know that parents are sending the kids to tuition and they just sit back and relax.
Well, all children deserve a fair share in education.
To be frank, all children are smart if we do our part well. You don't have to be a U graduate to help you child but all you need is time and effort . Make a effort to help fix your kids weaker subjects.
If PSLE stays, then , MOE should engage more teachers to the school to help the children. 1:40, not a good idea. 2:40 , that will be a paradise.
Teachers should gather the best material for the children to help them to further excel but sad to say, very very hard to find these days.
As for primary school, we need a vibrant , energetic, passion and patience teachers.
MOE sh consider raising the salary for the primary school teachers and make it a attractive area to work , but sad to say, nothing much has been done.
Package still not attractive enough and good teachers are leaving the school and venture to private tuition ...
Lastly, I disagree to encourage the kids to use sport / art/ to excel over study .
Too young to decide and I believe study is still the most important factor in life.
Don't give up the child just because he did not do well but as a parents we must affirm and encourage them because they are special.
Brain intelligent can be nurture just like sport and art.
Thoughts are very important . We must think positive and believe in our children .
If we believe they are smart , they will be smart and if we think they are stupid, then , of course, they are heading that directions.
Believed in them and help but not criticize and that will kill their striving spirit.
As a parent, we must never give up on them . We must believe because the best is yet to be\"
These are my just my thoughts...
Parents as a career are the most tougher job on earth.
I am one of those parents who seek help from tuition/enrichment centres just to enhance relationship with kiddos. Most times, teaching kids ourselves are really frustrating and yelling sessions starts. Some relationships turned sour. Its really not worth it just to strain relationship over academics. Learning centres reinforce concepts and parents guide and monitor. Parenting aint easy! sigh... -
Chenonceau:
Why does your son peg smartness to 90+ scores in academic subjects? If your son enjoys so many other things in life, scoring 80+ is also a pleasure and he is already considered smart. If a child enjoys learning and is able to learn to produce >80 marks, my objective as a parent would be met. I read marks as competency in a subject, not a direct measurement of smartness, at least that is how I look at my child.
Because of this pattern in every other subject, my son told me one day very seriously \"Mom, I am not one of the smart ones you know. I'll never be able get above 90 in anything.\"deminc:
My son is still young, but this much I've found out after one year. Chinese teacher zooms through textbook and skips the enrichment pages. But when it's time for reviews or doing worksheets, the words from enrichment pages will appear as well. Previous to this realization, I wondered why my son was struggling. Was he daydreaming in class? Was he just thick? I began checking in with him everyday for Chinese until I finally realized what was going on. But still, it was hard.
Of course not! He wasn't given material he needs to get above 90 because he had no tuition and I left him all alone. Now that he gets the necessary resources via me. 90+ is easy peasy.
Kids who just do the right and right amount of assessment books also can score above 90, I don't think they have any special resources, just assessment books one can find in the market. My friends' kids are like that. -
Kodomosuki:
:yikes: :yikes: we are seriously going in the wrong :censored: direction :rant:
There is a saying , it takes two to tango ,but for me , it takes 3 tango..
School, enrichment, home sweet home.
3 to tango ? imho, Family, Life ( includes play ), Education - in order of priority
My kids will not have tuition/enrichment if I can help it, but HCL boh pian, so they have it only in P6. After that, they learn to pace themselves and do the needful.
Tuition, enrichment as priority ? the problem does not lie with the children....but with the ksp. :slapshead:ksi:
:salute: :salute: :celebrate:I read marks as competency in a subject, not a direct measurement of smartness, at least that is how I look at my child.
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ksi:
This was what I told him too, at that time. But he accused me of being biased. \"You're my Mom. Of course you think I am smart\". Amongst the kids themselves, there are those the kids themselves refer to as the are \"smart ones\" and the \"not smart ones\". Besides, if you're classed as the \"not smart ones\" by the school, you get popped into the bottom classes where you're taught in such a way that really makes you dumb. The child's world is not just the parent. It is made up of Teachers and other kids, who will all define the child's self-concept.
Why does your son peg smartness to 90+ scores in academic subjects? If your son enjoys so many other things in life, scoring 80+ is also a pleasure and he is already considered smart.
I had to sit up and seriously get something done about my son's idea that he was NOT smart, even though I wasn't the one who gave him the idea. I had to start giving him the kind of resources his classmates already were getting from enrichment centres just so that I could prove to him that he wasn't dumber than the next guy. I had only one condition, that it would be HIS effort, not the Tutor's.
If ya wanna be one of the \"smart ones\"... then ya can't do normal assessment books. These are not at the level of difficulty discernment one needs to be in the 90s. The point is, if my son scores 80+ because that's all he is capable of, then it's one thing. BUT, if he scores 80+ because he was over exposed to easy material and not enough exposed to challenging material then that is another matter.
It isn't that he is not capable. He just wasn't taught.
We haven't done a single assessment book for Science and English (in our whole lives). For Math, we ONLY do Ammiel Wan. For Chinese, we haven't touched assessment books either since I took over and his CL has improved in leaps and bounds. At first (in P1 to P3), we had no assessment books because I didn't believe in drilling at lower primary. Now, we have no assessment books because these are often badly written and too easy. Over the weekend, my DS and I went over to Popular to find a book on Circles. He had identified that topic as a weakness. I pulled out about 5 books and DS shook his head each time - too easy... too easy... too easy. In the end, we bought EPH's Book 3 of the Math Olympiad Competition Manual and intend to do only the chapter on Circles. DS said the others were too easy and would be waste of time to do. I dun wanna waste his time. I want him to have time to play.
Doing normal assessment books won't get you better results. It gets you more of the same middling results. And it takes away precious play time. If every other parent is sending children for Olympiad training, the Olympiad performance requirement will come out in PSLE. For this reason, the last 4 to 6 questions of school exams are set at the Olympiad difficulty levels. It is after all, a normed exam.
It is tempting to argue that a child with good internal stuff will naturally know how to do the sums. Research says otherwise. Highly performant individuals in every field dun get there through pure internal good stuff alone. They get there through hard practice and pure internal good stuff. Ya think the Math Olympiad participants dun practice?My DS has the talent (yesterday, his school asked if he wanted to take part in a Math Olympiad... EVEN THOUGH I've never sent him for formal training... we're just doing enough to get by the PSLE because we've Chinese to worry about), and thankfully, he has developed judgment on what to practice on because I always tell him that time to play is precious and he should focus his efforts on what is necessary and gives greatest mileage for time spent. For this, the run of the mill assessment books just won't do.
Where assessment books are concerned... less is more. -
KSP:
wah.. I'm really worried as I read this..
If anyone had read last Sunday Times would have seen their 1/2 page (on 2nd page) ads. Their School Mission is something like : To nurture leaders for the nation. Very similar to top Sec Sch.
What type of leaders? those who say \"No amount of engineering can prevent it?\", or, \"income gap, is it the responsibility of the govt? I do not think so\", or, \"if no retrenchment, then I worry..\", or, someone who judged few months to be 50years?!!??....... \"I don't know what to say\"..........
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