Intellect or Age Peer?
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The link did not work because the closing bracket is missing when you clicked on the link. Here is the new link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifted_Education_Programme_%28Singapore%29 -
I'm not a child psychologist so I know little about other kids... gifted or non-gifted. Let us assume that my 2 are NOT gifted. The kind of highly flexible, student centric teaching and self-directed learning that should ideally bring out the best talents in the gifted child, is also highly effective for non-gifted children, no?
The human spirit takes natural joy in learning and creation. No matter our intelligence, we have a natural curiosity about the world and we form certain emotional chemistries with bodies of knowledge. I know a man with primary school education who formed a deep bond with stone work. He has been at it for 25 years and never stops learning... http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/01/christian-lhermite-stone-cutter.html.
I don't think DS is gifted at all. I think he has strange interests that lead him deep down some learning paths that would bore me to tears but because I taught him by making HIM the centre (not the syllabus), he hops ahead of his peers in exactly these areas... unfortunately, these areas don't count towards grades.
What I want to say is that any child benefits from such teaching... not just the gifted. And I tend to agree with 2ppaamm that there is no way you can teach a truly gifted child. Children like Einstein and Thomas Edison could not abide teaching. They discovered the world on their own, and went down paths that parents and teachers could not follow. In the areas that enthuse my DS (who isn't very bright), he learns and forces me to accompany him... because I HAVE no interest nor aptitude. Even in school subjects like Chinese and Math, I am already far below his capability.
Since my son is just a normal child, he is amenable to teaching by his teachers. It is I who refuse to teach him and force him to discover because these are areas I know little about. See... even a normal child can accomplish quite a bit when made to discover things for himself.
This is the essence of Teach Less Learn More. However, it presupposes a wealth of independent learning materials. If the Teacher does not teach, there must be other material to discover and explore. -
Chenonceau:
I can't agree more with Chen.I'm not a child psychologist so I know little about other kids... gifted or non-gifted. Let us assume that my 2 are NOT gifted. The kind of highly flexible, student centric teaching and self-directed learning that should ideally bring out the best talents in the gifted child, is also highly effective for non-gifted children, no?
The human spirit takes natural joy in learning and creation. No matter our intelligence, we have a natural curiosity about the world and we form certain emotional chemistries with bodies of knowledge. I know a man with primary school education who formed a deep bond with stone work. He has been at it for 25 years and never stops learning... http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/01/christian-lhermite-stone-cutter.html.
I don't think DS is gifted at all. I think he has strange interests that lead him deep down some learning paths that would bore me to tears but because I teach him by making HIM the centre (not the syllabus), he hops ahead of his peers in exactly these areas... unfortunately, these areas don't count towards grades.
What I want to say is that any child benefits from such teaching... not just the gifted.
Ok, found that link on wiki. The history reads:
The Gifted Education Programme was first implemented in Singapore in 1984 amid some public concern. It was initiated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in line with its policy under the New Education System to allow each pupil to learn at his/her own pace. Not true, there's a common syllabus. May be some pull out cases (very few) but the teachers are more concerned with covering the GEP syllabus.
But I respect the noble effort. I believe a child, gifted or not should always be allowed to learn at his/her own pace, at whatever he wills. All kids are curious, all kids want to learn. -
So, in 1984, there was a public concern and MOE put a New Education System in place. Now we have concerns again leh… wonder if a Newer Education System can be put in place.
Look, times have changed. Our country is now richer, with more educated parents and this is the information age, children are knowledgeable, and many more knowledgeable than their teachers. Technology has changed, newer pedagogy have come about and more research has been done. Surely we can come up with a newer system that is better for all our kids? Not just the gifted ones, but everyone. Surely, we have enough reserves to invest in the most important resources of all? -
2ppaamm:
2ppaamm, you are 2ppaamm the Lionheart. I dare not even dream of that day. I feel so prosaic writing next to you because all I dare ask for is better textbooks and other learning resources so that my DS can discover learning at his own pace. Yup... 2ppaamm the Lionheart.So, in 1984, there was a public concern and MOE put a New Education System in place. Now we have concerns again leh... wonder if a Newer Education System can be put in place.
Look, times have changed. Our country is now richer, with more educated parents and this is the information age, children are knowledgeable, and many more knowledgeable than their teachers. Technology has changed, newer pedagogy have come about and more research has been done. Surely we can come up with a newer system that is better for all our kids? Not just the gifted ones, but everyone. Surely, we have enough reserves to invest in the most important resources of all?
:snuggles: :love: -
Chenonceau:
Haha! I am just reading about the article on your blog and I am really impressed, but I am not surprised!
2ppaamm, you are 2ppaamm the Lionheart. I dare not even dream of that day. I feel so prosaic writing next to you because all I dare ask for is better textbooks and other learning resources so that my DS can discover learning at his own pace. Yup... 2ppaamm the Lionheart.2ppaamm:
So, in 1984, there was a public concern and MOE put a New Education System in place. Now we have concerns again leh... wonder if a Newer Education System can be put in place.
Look, times have changed. Our country is now richer, with more educated parents and this is the information age, children are knowledgeable, and many more knowledgeable than their teachers. Technology has changed, newer pedagogy have come about and more research has been done. Surely we can come up with a newer system that is better for all our kids? Not just the gifted ones, but everyone. Surely, we have enough reserves to invest in the most important resources of all?
:snuggles: :love:
I think you can read a bit of my mind. Yes, I am trying to do something about it, and yes, I am trying to gather enough so as to see if I can make a change. And yes, I am looking to gather resources to write some textbooks! And not the normal textbooks, but books that will change the way we educate forever.
But I cannot do this alone. And, I am not interested to get people to just write just textbooks. I want to help children to have their individualized education system. Looking for a solution. If you guys will tell me how, and if you would tell me what you want/need/dream of. -
DS3 shown great interest in learning ever since he could read at 2 years old. He looked forward to going to school so much that whenever he past by his brother's former Kindergarten his eyes would glow. When I refused to buy assessment books for him to do, he would cry. It was only when he was in K2 that I bought them for him to prepare him for Primary school. My reason is simple, I don't want him to move too much ahead of his peers. School work for the first 3 years were too easy for him. I only allow him to do assessments that were a year ahead of his peers; ie. he did P2 assessment when he was in P1. He has no tuition and as assessment books were too easy for him and he got bored subsequently, he spent his time reading. When he made it to the 2nd round of the GEP test, I was pleasantly surprised. He claimed that he's half gifted though he didn't make it to the GEP program. He's been cruising along in his schoolwork and I was only concerned when he needed to take the PSLE. Next year, he'll be sitting for his O levels and I'm now shifting to higher gear by starting to apply pressure on him. Still, DS3 is living a carefree life, doing the minimum and enjoying what he's doing. He could have performed much better in school if I didn't put a brake on his 'progress' but I choose to let him enjoy his childhood rather to stress himself out to be in the top of his cohort. I may sound like a bad mummy but I don't want him to be too 'competitive' and get burnt out in the long run.
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tutormum:
DS3 shown great interest in learning ever since he could read at 2 years old. He looked forward to going to school so much that whenever he past by his brother's former Kindergarten his eyes would glow. When I refused to buy assessment books for him to do, he would cry. It was only when he was in K2 that I bought them for him to prepare him for Primary school. My reason is simple, I don't want him to move too much ahead of his peers. School work for the first 3 years were too easy for him. I only allow him to do assessments that were a year ahead of his peers; ie. he did P2 assessment when he was in P1. He has no tuition and as assessment books were too easy for him and he got bored subsequently, he spent his time reading. When he made it to the 2nd round of the GEP test, I was pleasantly surprised. He claimed that he's half gifted though he didn't make it to the GEP program. He's been cruising along in his schoolwork and I was only concerned when he needed to take the PSLE. Next year, he'll be sitting for his O levels and I'm now shifting to higher gear by starting to apply pressure on him. Still, DS3 is living a carefree life, doing the minimum and enjoying what he's doing. He could have performed much better in school if I didn't put a brake on his 'progress' but I choose to let him enjoy his childhood rather to stress himself out to be in the top of his cohort. I may sound like a bad mummy but I don't want him to be too 'competitive' and get burnt out in the long run.
I admire what you do, and I am sure your DS3 is doing well and enjoying himself. But I am curious why you benchmark him against his cohort and do not want him to be 'too much ahead of his peers'? Why does that matter? By peers we are talking about his age peers. Now, I understand this is like so long ago (more than a decade), but would you have done differently today?
btw, I had the same thinking as you with my older children, and I did also hold them back a few years. My son (who should be a year or two older than your DS3) was held back 3 years before I finally relented and sent him to the university to pursue his passion and dream. Today, he still tells me that was the best thing that has happened to him, to pursue his dreams at a young age, to have friends who understand how he thinks, to discuss with them about issues others find strange. He still keeps his age peers friends, and go out with them, trains with them, and go for overseas trips, and even parties. Now, they are all talking about getting the driver's license and getting prepared for the army next year. -
concern2:
Surely diff GEP parents will have diff wishlist. But so far none has shared here in this thread.
:scratchhead: So it is still about grades?
One thing I'm still not sure is what is tested in the GEP selection. Surely it is not just another IQ test.
I've seen kids with consistently excellent results from from P1~P3 not even making it to the selection when maybe 40~50 qualified, and some multi-talented (academic, performing arts, leadership) missing out on the final selection whe 1-~20 were selected.
I've met some of these kids. Some are really all-rounders....u can put them in any school and they will still excel. There are some who looks like ADD....others in a world of their own...some excellent in science but sux in math or vice versa. They r not an homogenous group of kids.
So my point is, if u r not selected, it does not limit your success academically. Similarly, if u r selected, u r not guaranteed academic success....u r still very much in control of your life, ie, it's still up to u whether u want to succeed or not. -
2ppaamm:
2ppaamm's son went to GEP. He is now in uni at 15.
I was lured to put my son into GEP solely because of that word \"individual\", and I thought he'll be given a chance to inquire, to ask and to grow. I thought people will understand giftedness and differences. I was wrong.
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