2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[Zekezachzoom]

Just wonder how you guys set a revision time table for your kids. Do you set right to the detail of having which day to cover a subject chapter or just broadly into subjects? How successfully to follow the time table for revision?


I will get my DS to plan out a timetable for revision (likely after April) just want to know how feasible to follow through.

[Pony2129]

I very stressed looking at all the tension but trying to keep my cool. My boy taking his Psle this yr too CA1 will be next week. No tuition for him except math since I don’t know how to teach him. Luckily he is diligent enough to do his revisions but now I am very worried for his Chinese. It’s got really "chim" and I wonder how to help him . Anyone has good recommendation for Chinese teacher in jurong area ? Pl help !

[Chongalicia]

it is definitely impt to do well in PSLE.

[psle2011mum]

Zekezachzoom:

Just wonder how you guys set a revision time table for your kids. Do you set right to the detail of having which day to cover a subject chapter or just broadly into subjects? How successfully to follow the time table for revision?


I will get my DS to plan out a timetable for revision (likely after April) just want to know how feasible to follow through.

We used only a broad stroke time-table ie first carved out the available time slots for revision for each day, then designated the subject for the day but not the topic.For up to the middle of second term, we were largely addressing weaknesses so I would have some vague idea about what weak area we would cover for the subject but not exactly what we would do to the last letter.

We also set some time each day for homework [ about an hour] and we also set some targets for the holiday revision eg finish revising Science P3&4 by [X date] etc but by and large we kept it flexible because homework sometimes spilled over an hour and on some days, in spite of my best intentions, I arrived home late afternoon even though I had taken the whole afternoon off [ so in this case, I would call from office, get DD to complete her homework and start on an English paper [ the one paper she managed well on her own] and then take it from there when I got home.]

By T3, we were practicing papers PSLE style and doing corrections in detail for each completed paper. Sept hols was spent on the Prelim papers for that year and revising our by then \"final/consolidated\" notes.

I think that whatever time table you come out with, it would be helpful; just help your child bear in mind not to feel bad or feel like a failure, if the need arises to change it from time to time.

We kept to about 90% to our broad stroke time table; as with every exam [ what more the PSLE] we always wished we had a week more to revise, but in reality, the kids find it really hard to last that last stretch [ you should see the HMT kids after the Science paper] and come that last week, we were revising at a slower pace and just making sure DD had loads of rest and did not fall sick.

[janet88]

psle2011mum:

Zekezachzoom:

Just wonder how you guys set a revision time table for your kids. Do you set right to the detail of having which day to cover a subject chapter or just broadly into subjects? How successfully to follow the time table for revision?

By T3, we were practicing papers PSLE style and doing corrections in detail for each completed paper. Sept hols was spent on the Prelim papers for that year and revising our by then \"final/consolidated\" notes.

I set him a time-table...just finishing the daily school homework is an accomplishment...no way could he do any revision after the CNY hols. Weekends are spent finishing his school homework given on Friday, Chinese/Math tuition work.
He has Eng homework everyday and the comprehension cloze/synthesis are tough !!! I wanted so much to get him to practise these 2 areas but can't squeeze in any time :nailbite:

[Zekezachzoom]

Thanks psle2011mum for sharing. This gives me an idea how to help him to set a more realistic time table for revision.


Janet, my DS too has many homework everyday especially his hmt. The 听写and 默写is a killer this year. Many chim words and long sentences. By the time he finishes all other homework to learn these, he is already totally exhausted ( he has track training the day b4 the 听写和默写. Usually comes back home around 530pm). Can’t squeeze in time for revision, just remind him to be attentive in class and do his homework diligently. Serious revision will only happen when his national compeition ends in April. Hopefully is not too late ;(

[pixiedust]

Zekezachzoom, we are also faced with killer 默写. Very long and many words. I told ds to do enough just to avoid re-spelling. I think pumping the kids with such 默写 is really crazy, how much can they really retain in long term memory ?


Yes, we are also loaded with a lot of homework, a lot !

[Chenonceau]

We are getting many chim stuff for Chinese too. This makes me glad that I was stubborn in insisting to Grandma at end of P4 that DS HAD to memorise the China PSLE equivalent best compos (pitched at Sec 3 and Sec 4 Singapore textbooks… I stress textbooks only because (as we all know) the real standards of exams are not calibrated to textbooks). That gave us a foundation for remembering new words and phrases. Oh boy am I glad I insisted and insisted and insisted… and finally got it done over end P4 and right through P5.


psle2011mum, you are right. There is no way that someone who is a native speaker of Chinese or who grew up with Chinese as a main language in Singapore, can understand how to teach Potato Kids Chinese. It’s a whole new ball game.

We’ve skipped school since 2nd week Jan. I documented all the work I planned, took pictures of all the resources we were using, explained to the school that DS was stressed, showed the school my NIE certificate stating DISTINCTION pass, explained that I have a PhD… and the school gave my son a 6 week leave of absence.

He has now gone back to school. He is completely unstressed and rested. CA1 is next week.

[pixiedust]

Chenonceau:

...We've skipped school since 2nd week Jan. I documented all the work I planned, took pictures of all the resources we were using, explained to the school that DS was stressed, showed the school my NIE certificate stating DISTINCTION pass, explained that I have a PhD... and the school gave my son a 6 week leave of absence.


He has now gone back to school. He is completely unstressed and rested. CA1 is next week.

Madam, you are really COOL ! :salute:

[janet88]

Zekezachzoom:

Janet, my DS too has many homework everyday especially his hmt. The 听写and 默写is a killer this year. Many chim words and long sentences. By the time he finishes all other homework to learn these, he is already totally exhausted ( he has track training the day b4 the 听写和默写. Usually comes back home around 530pm). Can't squeeze in time for revision, just remind him to be attentive in class and do his homework diligently. Serious revision will only happen when his national compeition ends in April. Hopefully is not too late ;(

Last year, my son had Math hw everyday...but we still managed to get revision for CA/SA done. But this year, Eng worksheets everyday and last night, he had CL comprehension (not one but 2) due today :faint: i cant help much but just accompany him. If I add in anymore, I will be very inhumane. Told him he has to focus in class as there is no time to revise for CA1.