2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[janet88]

mn:

Hi everyone, will the schools conduct any extra classes during the 1 week holidays in September? Thanks.

Not that I know of, so far.
But I heard after the June hols, kids will be staying back almost everyday. So far, supp classes are Tue/Thur...son's teacher told me Wed and Fri as well after that :nailbite:

[fifiyeo]

pench:

anyone of you stop sending your kids to enrichment classes(like music/sports) to prepare for PSLE?

DS still attends swimming, chinese painting and NAFA art over the weekends. I think the kids still need to some form of life besides studying.

[fifiyeo]

I guess it's not easy to take kids out of supplementary lessons or even to skip school altogether. We are one of the only 2 who are not doing supplementary lessons. The rest who wanted to opt out had been pressured to attend. We are the odd ones out.


At least now DS gets his min 9 hours of sleep, has daily exercise time to scooter around the house with his younger brother average 30 - 60 mins. I strongly believe that it's good to get some sun and fresh air everyday instead of sitting by the desk all afternoon.

Yesterday's homework from school-
1 mock Math test paper 2
revise tingxie and English Dictation + Spelling for today
English corrections
Math Activity book 6 pages
Chinese MCQ worksheet

Personal work -
1 CL comprehension

Managed to watch \"Smurfs\" for 1.5 hours before dinner.

It was stressful getting all that packed in, but we won't have been able to do it if we have stayed till 4pm in school.

We are also not doing any CCA this year so far since no teachers got back to us about the choices. I'm hoping CCA has died without cause for us.

When need be, I will also consider taking DS out of school. Some of your posts have provided me this wonderful idea!! :rahrah:

So far we have not gotten any complaints from teachers as DS is keeping up with all his schoolwork + supplementary work, and since I sit down with him every single day to watch him do his work and coach whenever need arise, teachers have nothing to complain as the quality of work produced is there. I think this is better than DS doing the work in school just for the sake of handing it up, getting them all wrong and having to redo them as corrections in school without full understanding. It's a waste of time.

I guess for parents like us who have decided to take our DC out of certain classes, the pressure is definitely there for our kids to perform as we have decided to take things into our own hands and go against the school system. I'm taking a risk since I don't really know what is being taught or not being taught during supplementary lessons.But after seeing how DS was suffering just to keep up with school homework and poor results, I stongly feel it time to step in and put a stop to what is unnecessary.

[PHMummy]

hello bear bear, did not know we can ask to skip the supp class. can tell us how should we do? i feel that the supp class seems only an additional to homework (or maybe I am wrong) and thought to skip it if possible.

[fifiyeo]

PHMummy:

hello bear bear, did not know we can ask to skip the supp class. can tell us how should we do? i feel that the supp class seems only an additional to homework (or maybe I am wrong) and thought to skip it if possible.

You have to write in and be able convince the teachers that your DC can perform better without those classes. My reasons were tired, unable to focus well for such long hours, and can benefit better from 1-to-1 sessions with me/tutor at home. I told the teachers that I will ensure that all supplementary homework will be done and handed up on time.

I haven't tried taking DS out of regular school hours though.

[beanbear]

fifiyeo:

PHMummy:

hello bear bear, did not know we can ask to skip the supp class. can tell us how should we do? i feel that the supp class seems only an additional to homework (or maybe I am wrong) and thought to skip it if possible.

You have to write in and be able convince the teachers that your DC can perform better without those classes. My reasons were tired, unable to focus well for such long hours, and can benefit better from 1-to-1 sessions with me/tutor at home. I told the teachers that I will ensure that all supplementary homework will be done and handed up on time.

I haven't tried taking DS out of regular school hours though.

Hi PHMummy, Yes, I basically told the teachers my child will be having one-on-one tuition. I only didn't say that the teacher is me!! :rotflmao: Teachers told me supplementary classes will cover new materials but to me if my son is half-dead and tired, he can't focus so it's a waste of time. Better to come home, have a good rest and whatever he has missed, I believe he can catch up through the enrichment class or going through with me. As for skipping school, I just tell the school he is staying home to do intensive revision with me. My DS hands up good quality homework and has good behaviour at school - so school has little reason to protest.

[janet88]

PHMummy:

hello bear bear, did not know we can ask to skip the supp class. can tell us how should we do? i feel that the supp class seems only an additional to homework (or maybe I am wrong) and thought to skip it if possible.

Attending suppl classes mean MORE homework. My son attends only Tue suppl classes...if he is asked to attend Wed and Fri classes from term 3, I will definitely object.

[fifiyeo]

What is the format for PSLE writing paper? Do they still have a picture to guide them?


DS's school doesn't really do much composition writing. I really don't know what is happening as far as the writing paper is concerned. As of to date, they have only done 1 situational writing and that is all.

[janet88]

fifiyeo:

What is the format for PSLE writing paper? Do they still have a picture to guide them?


DS's school doesn't really do much composition writing. I really don't know what is happening as far as the writing paper is concerned. As of to date, they have only done 1 situational writing and that is all.

My son has been given several practices for situational writing.
Regarding CL,he was only given 1 命题 type of compo up till now. I told him he CANNOT do such compo because it is beyond him. Even if he cannot score doing a pic type, well at least he won't fail :xedfingers:

[Zekezachzoom]

janet_lee88:

fifiyeo:

What is the format for PSLE writing paper? Do they still have a picture to guide them?


DS's school doesn't really do much composition writing. I really don't know what is happening as far as the writing paper is concerned. As of to date, they have only done 1 situational writing and that is all.

My son has been given several practices for situational writing.
Regarding CL,he was only given 1 命题 type of compo up till now. I told him he CANNOT do such compo because it is beyond him. Even if he cannot score doing a pic type, well at least he won't fail :xedfingers:

If I understand it correctly, hmt will only have 命题作文，no pix. Pix only for 普华.