Child Underperforms Because Tested Above Cognitive Level

[Chenonceau]

smartmummy, beanbear & psle2011mum… you have PM.

[laughingcat]

This is vicious cycle. No single system or an entity is at fault, rather it is the entire system at fault.


Teachers can’t finish the syllabus because lack of time. Sometime material insuffice. Or worse teachers not trained for that subject are tasked to teach.

During PTA, teachers told parents to be involve. Most times advised parents to bring their child for tuition.

Teachers pass the baton to parents

In a frenzy mode, parents send their children to tuition centers.

Tuition centers competing for reputation. All teach way in advance of the syllabus.

Now isn’t this the fault of the entire system or what?

[corneyAmber]

schweppes:

I recall when dd1 was 4 and during PTA, the teacher commented that she had \"poor\" computer literacy skills.


Dh and I were like :yikes: . She's only 4. :nailbite:

Teacher: yes, but the other kids are very good with the PC. They know how to use the mouse and on/off the PC

Me: But she's only 4! :shock:

Teacher: I know, but she needs to know how to use the PC. Have u introduced her to the computer?

Me: No. I rather she reads, finger paints, play with play doh and engage in imaginative play.

Teacher: Think it's about time she learns the computer. Otherwise, she will lose out to her friends.

Me : But she's only 4!! :lightrod: :faint:

.... and fast forward 10 years later.

dd1 has learned to use the computer, not when she was 4 but in good time. On her own time and pace. In fact, think her computer literacy skills surpasses mine now

This sounded familiar but it was not the teachers telling me since we were from a \"laid-back\" kinda of kindy which I was glad I put my child there. It was my friends sharing how good their kids were with the computer, trying to influence me not to stop my child. Over time, the school exposes my child a little here and there to the computer, I HAD NEVER until iPad came along 2 years ago, she did it on her own. And honestly, there is no rocket science to pick up computer skills, with all the blockage from me, I am really quite surprised what my child can do on the computer, I give credit to the software creators for making everything quite intuitive. So I feel that when they are given enough right foundation to learn, they will learn when the time comes....not everything needs to be taught in a classroom or deliberately force it on them just to gain some head start advantage. Interest drives them further. So schweppes, you were right on track!!

[corneyAmber]

Chenonceau:

Chenonceau:

Irene Tham's article in the Straits Times today got me thinking about the practice in schools of testing beyond the current year syllabus. I understood from the article that...


It's The Parent's Fault
Parents who send kids to enrichment FORCE Teachers to test at ever higher levels.

It cannot be the parents' fault alone when no one is putting a gun to MOE's head to say \"Test beyond the cognitive level or else...\" In fact, again and again, in parliament and in this forum, so many are saying... Don't test beyond cognitive levels... so our kids can have a normal childhood.

No one is FORCING MOE to test high. I am in effect trying to lobby MOE to test reasonably and to NOT follow the bar set by enriched kids.

I agree with you Chenon...when an issue has grown to such a magnitude, it cannot simply be one single entity's fault. It is a chain effect interlocking each other deeper into the issue. In some cases, it was the parents driving the acceleration of curriculum when teachers found that too many can obtain full score. In other cases, it was the teachers driving the majority of the children into an unrealistic realm in an exam that resulted in many flogging to the tuition centres for help. There is contribution from the direction of some principals as well to make this paper chase madder than it should. And certainly MOE not managing the phenomenon and letting it get so out of hand cannot be innocent of this resulting situation as well. So at such a crunch where everyone actually contributed to the problem, then the only one who can pull everyone to their senses again would be the one with the most power and that would be MOE. If PERI has not disbanded, it is probably time for PERI to review and improvise things further.

[schweppes]

ksi:

This sounded familiar but it was not the teachers telling me since we were from a \"laid-back\" kinda of kindy which I was glad I put my child there. It was my friends sharing how good their kids were with the computer, trying to influence me not to stop my child. Over time, the school exposes my child a little here and there to the computer, I HAD NEVER until iPad came along 2 years ago, she did it on her own. And honestly, there is no rocket science to pick up computer skills, with all the blockage from me, I am really quite surprised what my child can do on the computer, I give credit to the software creators for making everything quite intuitive. So I feel that when they are given enough right foundation to learn, they will learn when the time comes....not everything needs to be taught in a classroom or deliberately force it on them just to gain some head start advantage. Interest drives them further. So schweppes, you were right on track!!

Thanks ksi, for the affirmation. :hugs:

[schweppes]

As parents, we all want our kids to do well in school and in life. So, it can be a scary thought / disheartening if our kids are not performing up to mark. Whether it’s a case where parents get caught up with the moment or to keep up with the jones, I can’t help but feel that there’s this sense of urgency where we have to keep up or otherwise lose out.


Earlier on I talked about cultivating mental strength in our kids. Think parents must have the mental strength to understand the limits of our kids and not to over-push our kids too.

It’s tough. I struggle with this all the time.

Wanting my kids to do well. Coz if they do, I feel that I have done a good job being a good parent. Coz if they don’t do as well, then I’m gonna feel real lousy. Wondering where have I failed as a parent. Am I doing enough to help them?

I’m NOT saying that we should settle for mediocrity. Of course not. If my kids can perform well, then I will do whatever I can to help and motivate them to perform their best. But if they can’t perform as well, then I must have the mental strength not to panic. To work on their weaknesses and to remind myself that they have other strengths too.

That sometimes, in the failings, they learn to be resilient and to pick themselves up and strive harder.

[bebe]

schweppes:

As parents, we all want our kids to do well in school and in life. So, it can be a scary thought / disheartening if our kids are not performing up to mark. Whether it's a case where parents get caught up with the moment or to keep up with the jones, I can't help but feel that there's this sense of urgency where we have to keep up or otherwise lose out.


Earlier on I talked about cultivating mental strength in our kids. Think parents must have the mental strength to understand the limits of our kids and not to over-push our kids too.

It's tough. I struggle with this all the time.

Wanting my kids to do well. Coz if they do, I feel that I have done a good job being a good parent. Coz if they don't do as well, then I'm gonna feel real lousy. Wondering where have I failed as a parent. Am I doing enough to help them?

I'm NOT saying that we should settle for mediocrity. Of course not. If my kids can perform well, then I will do whatever I can to help and motivate them to perform their best. But if they can't perform as well, then I must have the mental strength not to panic. To work on their weaknesses and to remind myself that they have other strengths too.

That sometimes, in the failings, they learn to be resilient and to pick themselves up and strive harder.

:goodpost: My dd1 is not a smart learner, but she is diligent. Given that her attention span is short, and she tends to have \"memory lapse\"..sometimes I wish we can have a slower pace in our education system for \"slow\" learner... :sad:

[schweppes]

bebe:

schweppes:

As parents, we all want our kids to do well in school and in life. So, it can be a scary thought / disheartening if our kids are not performing up to mark. Whether it's a case where parents get caught up with the moment or to keep up with the jones, I can't help but feel that there's this sense of urgency where we have to keep up or otherwise lose out.


Earlier on I talked about cultivating mental strength in our kids. Think parents must have the mental strength to understand the limits of our kids and not to over-push our kids too.

It's tough. I struggle with this all the time.

Wanting my kids to do well. Coz if they do, I feel that I have done a good job being a good parent. Coz if they don't do as well, then I'm gonna feel real lousy. Wondering where have I failed as a parent. Am I doing enough to help them?

I'm NOT saying that we should settle for mediocrity. Of course not. If my kids can perform well, then I will do whatever I can to help and motivate them to perform their best. But if they can't perform as well, then I must have the mental strength not to panic. To work on their weaknesses and to remind myself that they have other strengths too.

That sometimes, in the failings, they learn to be resilient and to pick themselves up and strive harder.

:goodpost: My dd1 is not a smart learner, but she is diligent.

Thanks bebe :hugs: Kudos to ur girl for being diligent. That's really half the battle won when the child is hardworking and responsible. :rahrah:

bebe:

Given that her attention span is short, and she tends to have \"memory lapse\"..sometimes I wish we can have a slower pace in our education system for \"slow\" learner... :sad:

Not \"slow\" learner lah. Think most of us have average kids - mine too - living in a very fast paced world. :nailbite: Me also trying very hard to keep up as well. :shock: :roll:

[corneyAmber]

schweppes:

As parents, we all want our kids to do well in school and in life. So, it can be a scary thought / disheartening if our kids are not performing up to mark. Whether it's a case where parents get caught up with the moment or to keep up with the jones, I can't help but feel that there's this sense of urgency where we have to keep up or otherwise lose out.


Earlier on I talked about cultivating mental strength in our kids. Think parents must have the mental strength to understand the limits of our kids and not to over-push our kids too.

It's tough. I struggle with this all the time.

Wanting my kids to do well. Coz if they do, I feel that I have done a good job being a good parent. Coz if they don't do as well, then I'm gonna feel real lousy. Wondering where have I failed as a parent. Am I doing enough to help them?

I'm NOT saying that we should settle for mediocrity. Of course not. If my kids can perform well, then I will do whatever I can to help and motivate them to perform their best. But if they can't perform as well, then I must have the mental strength not to panic. To work on their weaknesses and to remind myself that they have other strengths too.

That sometimes, in the failings, they learn to be resilient and to pick themselves up and strive harder.

I so agree schweppes. :hugs:
Other than expecting the children to learn mental strength, we, the parents also have to exhibit that. I have walked away from many things sold to me eg. like Shicida, Jelic brain training programmes, Montessori method, Glenn Doman......from people like friends and relatives who meant well when my child was as little as 2 months old. They have no ill intentions certainly but only think that I should give my child a head start in life, which every parent should. In fact, until today, I really appreciate them for introducing such things to me, not because I would like to consume them, but made me realise there were so many tempting things to do for my child out there in the flowery world if I am not careful and want to try all, in the name of giving a head-start. It also built up the mental strength in me to say 'no' and moved on a course which I considered more according to what the natural force guided me. In the end, I consumed NONE of those mentioned-above but only used my instinct as a mum to guide my child according to what she is. I also sent my child to a no-brand learning style kindy because the only brand I know of is PLAY as a child, LIVE and LAUGH as a child. :rotflmao: In the end, thank God she is not short-changed academically when she hit P1 and I am still monitoring her progress as the journey goes on.... Preschool days' focus was not academic. Even if it points back to academic excellence today, it is more accidental than deliberate efforts.

It pays if we pay more attention to our motherly instinct in us and be unfazed by all the temptations around us. As I move along with my child, it became clearer and clearer to me that using our motherly instinct as the guiding principle will not go too wrong.....but listening to a lot of external advices especially if one who does not know your child well would sometimes set you a few steps backwards. If your children are watching you in action on mental strength, they will mimic you.

[corneyAmber]

schweppes:

ksi:

This sounded familiar but it was not the teachers telling me since we were from a \"laid-back\" kinda of kindy which I was glad I put my child there. It was my friends sharing how good their kids were with the computer, trying to influence me not to stop my child. Over time, the school exposes my child a little here and there to the computer, I HAD NEVER until iPad came along 2 years ago, she did it on her own. And honestly, there is no rocket science to pick up computer skills, with all the blockage from me, I am really quite surprised what my child can do on the computer, I give credit to the software creators for making everything quite intuitive. So I feel that when they are given enough right foundation to learn, they will learn when the time comes....not everything needs to be taught in a classroom or deliberately force it on them just to gain some head start advantage. Interest drives them further. So schweppes, you were right on track!!

Thanks ksi, for the affirmation. :hugs:

:hugs: