Child Underperforms Because Tested Above Cognitive Level
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Chenonceau:
Math Olympiad is a CCA? I've never considered that a CCA... together with english literacy club. I wouldn't allow DS to join those because it's like MORE SCHOOL. To me CCA contributes nothing to academic results. If Math Olympiad is a CCA, then my son has 2 now.BeContented:
Hmm. My P6 DS is still attending 2 CCA (maths & sports) + some additional programmes - Eng Literacy Club & Olympiad Maths, W3 cluster etc. and seriously, he's been sleeping after 11pm daily since this month, sometimes after 12am
Tried to persuade him to drop the CCAs but he wants to continue & claim Sch told P6s all CCA will end by term 1 for them. So I endure & monitor for another few weeks.
But I realise my definition of CCA may be too narrow now that I read your sharing.
Ha ha....let me explain....maybe the confusion due to the missing word 'club'
DS has 2 CCA - Sports club and Maths Club which is more into maths games, strategy games etc....more fun than academic
He does have a few other programmes......
English Lit Club, was selected only this year. I din agree to it initially as time already very limited....but since the boy himself wants it, let him be. Anyway, I let him decide when he wants to quit. So far, he likes it and wants to continue beyond term 1.
Maths Olympiad/HAP maths - programme by school for the first 2 class. I didn't wanna pay more $ as DS already with 2 external Maths programme (W3 & MathsHub), but he wanted it. You see, DS likes Maths, and he is aiming for the coming Maths competitions. Since he is fueled by his own interest, I guess I should not deny him the chance. He just have to learn to manage his time properly.
W3 Cluster
There are some non-GEP kids who did well in Maths after GEP round 2. Schools are informed and some resources will be gather to organize some programmes for these kids. In DS case, there is a fully funded Maths programme (~14 lessons) and committment is required. So those few kids from different schools in the same zone will gather at one school for the lessons.
Hence with these 3 prog + 2 CCAs, DS does not come home before 5pm everyday......after that, he has to rush his schoolwork. Frankly, I have yet to let him do any work of mine since school started......
On your note on PSLE resources.....well, I kinda lazy, not really aware of the syllabus :oops: ...basically I read the KSP forum, get some of the recommended guides eg. MC science/ultimate sci etc and I believe those should be sufficient. Anything beyond, I guess if kids read widely, that would be good liao. My kids dun read much and definitely not the types of book/knowledge I hope they will pick up (even all those guides I must 'force') ..... but I guess, as long as they read and absorb ....isn't that knowledge and learning all about? I dun think DS will fail, but whether he can get to the good schools will depend on himself.
I have been telling my 2 kids, I can only provide so much support.....the rest is really still up to you. Your life, your fate....in your own hands. If you choose to fool around/relax/lazy/read but dun bother to remember or absorb/be careless etc.....well, good luck. If you do badly in PSLE, yes I will definitely cry but YOU will cry louder.
Ha ha...DH always comment.....his friend is already preparing their P5 kids for PSLE, how come I seem so relax??
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BeContented:
Ha ha...DH always comment.....his friend is already preparing their P5 kids for PSLE, how come I seem so relax??
Preparing for PSLE has different meaning for diff parents. To alot of parents here, it means PREPARING FOR ENTRY INTO RI/HCI!!! :evil:
Looks like yr son has a pretty list of CCAs....good for DSA! -
Chenonceau:
You chem leh. I borrow those kiddy science books at children section for knowledge and I actually think they should help in one way or another. I really wonder....what exactly are specialised resources for PSLE?
Library resources we use for fun lah... For PSLE need specialized resources which schools should give.BeContented:
Hi Chen, library should have sufficient resources.
My friend has a GEP kid who loves & reads so widely that she knows soooosooooooo much stuff that we adult
. For kids who read so widely & so much, it's almost impossible to provide all the additional resources at such a fast rate. (at least not for me).
And once such specialized resources are provided.....aren't we going through the whole process of ..... kids are tested beyond again? There will always be some tougher questions to sift out the better students.....problem is now, many many parents expect their kids to be able to answer ALL the questions and that's how standards are being driven upwards continuously. I support your cause to provide better textbooks so that the kids can learn properly .... but I think the vicious cycle will never end :faint: -
BeContented:
And once such specialized resources are provided.....aren't we going through the whole process of ..... kids are tested beyond again? There will always be some tougher questions to sift out the better students.....problem is now, many many parents expect their kids to be able to answer ALL the questions and that's how standards are being driven upwards continuously. I support your cause to provide better textbooks so that the kids can learn properly .... but I think the vicious cycle will never end :faint:
Agree wholeheartedly!!! :goodpost: -
janet_lee88:
With one more week to go to prep before CA1, I got DS to stay home with me today so I can teach him and set goals for the CA1. I'm shifting away from specific marks. One part of me is still using the old frame of mind of \"marks\" as the outcome but the other part of me wants to reframe this whole exam thing as an opportunity to see what skills he has learnt in the last 2 months of mummy tutoring him + his hard work and notice for signs of progress.
Yes...same here...tell my son to do what he can for CA1 although this paper doesn't mean much...besides, I know schools will set tough papers to WAKE kids.Chenonceau:
Janet... I know how you feel. CA1's first paper is today. He hasn't touched his books since 13th Feb. I worry but he worries more than me so I had to talk to him last night and tell him that CA1 is a throwaway exam. I don't expect him to do well because he hasn't really had time to sink in what he has learnt. We covered all of P6 syllabus in January but no time to properly internalize. Nonetheless, I believe all of P6 syllabus will be tested.
DS is already so worried that I must pretend that I am NOT AT ALL worried. But I am. :nailbite: :nailbite: A little.
So I'm doing the unconventional - no setting of goals for marks. I'll be asking DS to set goals for what skills & conceptual understanding he wants to demonstrate during the exam. For eg for Maths - it's ok if he didn't get solve an entire Higher-Order-Sum but if he shows his thinking by doing specific steps & use concepts & strategies that he has been taught, that's fine. I'm teaching him specific questioning skills to help him figure out what the exam question is really of him and I'll ask him to write down his responses to his own questions on the paper so that I can see he is demonstrating his thinking on paper. If the exam paper is exceptionally difficult and he can't solve the questions posed to him, that's no big issue if he is on track in his thinking process. Then I'll know how to bridge the gap after the exam. -
Nebbermind:
:hi5: that's what I suspect too
Preparing for PSLE has different meaning for diff parents. To alot of parents here, it means PREPARING FOR ENTRY INTO RI/HCI!!! :evil:
Looks like yr son has a pretty list of CCAs....good for DSA! and not to forget the RGS/NYGS etc etc.
And score <260 is poor ..... kekeke.... 
DSA.....still thinking leh. Need interview leh. Me DS is quite poor in such stuff, not expressive and dun talk much......think got stage/presentation fright too.
Sadly both kids take after me in this aspect..... -
beanbear:
With one more week to go to prep before CA1, I got DS to stay home with me today so I can teach him and set goals for the CA1. I'm shifting away from specific marks. One part of me is still using the old frame of mind of \"marks\" as the outcome but the other part of me wants to reframe this whole exam thing as an opportunity to see what skills he has learnt in the last 2 months of mummy tutoring him + his hard work and notice for signs of progress.
Yes...same here...tell my son to do what he can for CA1 although this paper doesn't mean much...besides, I know schools will set tough papers to WAKE kids.janet_lee88:
[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]Janet... I know how you feel. CA1's first paper is today. He hasn't touched his books since 13th Feb. I worry but he worries more than me so I had to talk to him last night and tell him that CA1 is a throwaway exam. I don't expect him to do well because he hasn't really had time to sink in what he has learnt. We covered all of P6 syllabus in January but no time to properly internalize. Nonetheless, I believe all of P6 syllabus will be tested.
DS is already so worried that I must pretend that I am NOT AT ALL worried. But I am. :nailbite: :nailbite: A little.
So I'm doing the unconventional - no setting of goals for marks. I'll be asking DS to set goals for what skills & conceptual understanding he wants to demonstrate during the exam. For eg for Maths - it's ok if he didn't get solve an entire Higher-Order-Sum but if he shows his thinking by doing specific steps & use concepts & strategies that he has been taught, that's fine. I'm teaching him specific questioning skills to help him figure out what the exam question is really of him and I'll ask him to write down his responses to his own questions on the paper so that I can see he is demonstrating his thinking on paper. If the exam paper is exceptionally difficult and he can't solve the questions posed to him, that's no big issue if he is on track in his thinking process. Then I'll know how to bridge the gap after the exam.[/quote]wow...very admirable the type of dedication mamas have these days, to help kids with CA1. Kids with parents who can and care enough to coach are very fortunate. -
BeContented:
Until I came here, I didn't realise the SAP or mission schools of our time ranked so lowly against THESE schools!!!:hi5: that's what I suspect too
and not to forget the RGS/NYGS etc etc.
And score <260 is poor ..... kekeke....
DSA.....still thinking leh. Need interview leh. Me DS is quite poor in such stuff, not expressive and dun talk much......think got stage/presentation fright too.
Sadly both kids take after me in this aspect.....
Think your kid's resume really a waste if he doesn't try for DSA. If he has been joining this and that, I think he shd be able to cope with the interview lah...after all, there will be many also not comfortable with interview. Anyway, not all schools require interview . -
BeContented:
You chem leh. I borrow those kiddy science books at children section for knowledge and I actually think they should help in one way or another. I really wonder....what exactly are specialised resources for PSLE?
Library resources we use for fun lah... For PSLE need specialized resources which schools should give.Chenonceau:
[quote=\"BeContented\"]
Hi Chen, library should have sufficient resources.
My friend has a GEP kid who loves & reads so widely that she knows soooosooooooo much stuff that we adult. For kids who read so widely & so much, it's almost impossible to provide all the additional resources at such a fast rate. (at least not for me).
And once such specialized resources are provided.....aren't we going through the whole process of ..... kids are tested beyond again? There will always be some tougher questions to sift out the better students.....problem is now, many many parents expect their kids to be able to answer ALL the questions and that's how standards are being driven upwards continuously. I support your cause to provide better textbooks so that the kids can learn properly .... but I think the vicious cycle will never end :faint:[/quote]They test anyway. Might as well provide the resources so I dun have to look for them... and kiddies whose moms don't look can have.
It might never end even if we make noise. But if we don't make noise, it WILL never end.
Actually ah... if your school is the sort that tests reasonably and you are quite relaxed, that's nothing wrong. Or if your kid has done English or Math as CCA, and cluster whatever, then also no need worry... that should be enough enrichment-cum-CCA, and it'll help in PSLE
In due time, your kid will be ready for more ready for PSLE than we were because we didn't do CCA-cum-enrichment. DS flunked early last year some parts of the exams. Just count your blessings lor... that you made these CCA choices for your DS. We each make our choices. Sometimes, I do think I was stupid to insist that I wanted DS to take a sport to balance out the academic so even when he asked, I said no to Math Olympiad till this year, when the school asked again. There was also some literary club that he liked but I said no too and insisted on a sport. -
doodbug:
It's actually 'cos beanbear's kid flunked Math all of last year.
wow...very admirable the type of dedication mamas have these days, to help kids with CA1. Kids with parents who can and care enough to coach are very fortunate.
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