2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[softcoach]

Hi


I have a problem. My DD2 is in P6 and has lots of daily homework (approx 5-8 worksheets/papers a day) since begining of this year. She sleeps after 11pm each weekday and gets up at 6am to prepare for school. Since she is weaker in Math and Chinese, she attends MT and Maths tuition. She continues with her tons of school homework on weekends too. She has hardly any play time. CA is this week and she doesn’t seem to have the time to revise the worksheets/notes that she has done. Quite worried for my DD2. Thus really appreciate advice on how to revise for CA/SA when there is so much homework & supp classes/CCA (she stays 3x a week till 5pm). Thank you so much!

[whitety]

My dd is busy practicing for SYF, no time to revise for CA1. So take it easy. But at the same time, worry how she’s going to cope with the CA1 without revision.

[beanbear]

beanbear:

I sense many of us are really struggling with prioritising the time for our children in this critical year. I'd like to share what I've tried to do with DS this year.


I asked myself: What's really my priority for my child? I used to procrastinate making decisions about the use of my son's time until the cost was too high. I just allowed the school to determine how my son's time is used. My son was staying back in school 4 times a week for supplementary & CCA for 3years from Pri 3-5. On top of that, he had enrichment classes for Maths, Science & English Compo. Plus he had flute lessons. What was the result last year at P5 SA2? He failed Maths miserably, was borderline for English & Chinese. Science was in 70s range. His confidence was shaken and I felt terrible about not monitoring him close enough and observing the warning signs earlier.

Last year before school reopened, I spoke with DS about the plan for this year and we worked out a schedule for this year based on his time commitment for school and a timetable for homework, revision, playtime.

My TOP priority was building DS confidence in his own ability. Where there were gaps in terms of knowledge or skills, I personally observe how he does his work and analyze where is he struggling with. If he already has the knowledge & skills, then it's critical to PRACTISE to ensure what he has learnt is committed into long-term memory. I now monitor every piece of homework my DS brings home, makes sure he does every piece of work with quality. This has made a huge difference because every piece of work has been marked so far DS makes very few mistakes and he has won praises from his teacher for good work and he now feels more confident. I feel really happy that these 1.5 months of effort has paid off. My belief is my child must experience SUCCESS in order to feel confident. Tasting SUCCESS in the short term will motivate him to study. We need to build momentum towards the PSLE. Each piece of homework is treated as opportunities to build strengths and plug gaps.

2nd TOP Priority - Time to Relax, Play and Minimum 8 hours of sleep every night. DS gets to play 45mins of computer once a week, 45mins of iphone or ipad once per week. He gets 30mins TV about 4 times a week. Exercise/playground time - 45mins at least 4 times a week. Brain research has shown children who exercise & sleep adequately think and learn better so I'm totally committed to this. I also believe Play is rewarding for my child and I want him to feel happy doing what he enjoys.

How did we manage to do all this in a regular week? Firstly, I made a FIRM decision - DS only stays back ONCE a week this year. This one day is his CCA & supplementary class day. He's supposed to stay back on 2 other days but I've told the teachers he will not attend. Freeing up this time has made it possible for DS to achieve all this. It's worked for 1.5 months so far. He looks happy, tired on a couple of days but most days, he is able to focus and pay attention and we manage to squeeze in revision on 2 days of the week. I don't aim to do alot - sometimes it's just 2 problem sums from a past exam paper, sometimes it's 3 pages from a Science exam paper, sometimes, it's 2 pages of cloze passage, etc. It's bite-size revision. I aim for 30mins or 45mins and I give him dedicated teaching and focused skills. I spend alot of time just observing him doing the work because I pick up alot of information about where he is struggling and what help he really needs.

Dear Softcoach,

I've pasted my previous posting for your consideration. I would suggest you think about this questions carefully : \"What's my priority for my child right now?\" \"Where does my child need to spend their time on?\" \"Will what they spend their time on bring them the results we hope to see?\" Consider how you want to take back control over your child's time. What can you exercise control over and what you can't? Time is a limited resource but there are many choices about how to spend that time - what choice will you make on behalf your child so that your child reaps the benefit YOU want, not what the school wants. Who bears the consequence if you allow the school to make the choice over the use of YOUR child's time?

[Peony]

softcoach:

Hi


I have a problem. My DD2 is in P6 and has lots of daily homework (approx 5-8 worksheets/papers a day) since begining of this year. She sleeps after 11pm each weekday and gets up at 6am to prepare for school. Since she is weaker in Math and Chinese, she attends MT and Maths tuition. She continues with her tons of school homework on weekends too. She has hardly any play time. CA is this week and she doesn't seem to have the time to revise the worksheets/notes that she has done. Quite worried for my DD2. Thus really appreciate advice on how to revise for CA/SA when there is so much homework & supp classes/CCA (she stays 3x a week till 5pm). Thank you so much!

My DD faced this situation last year and I \"battled\" this last year.
Towards the end of the year, I laid down MY RULES.
Sleep by 9.45 pm. I forbid any homework beyond 9 pm.
If need be, I'll write to the teacher.

I already prepared myself to reinstate the rules this year and skip at least a supplementary class, but I find my DD coping better this year, and hence no need to skip.

For homework, I already set a rule: not useful, too easy, too difficult (not taught yet, but given), don't do.

Perhaps I made enough noise last year. Homework load is manageable and she has enough time to even revise on her own nightly.

But if I were in your shoes, I'd do what I'd planned too. As a stressed child will not be able to cope well.

[Peony]

janet_lee88:

Hi Mummies,

Are you taking it easy for CA1 ?

I want her to give her best for each test/exam as the more she does now, the lesser \"catch up\" she has to do later.

And \"catch up\" is very stressful. I want less stress for her, not more.

[linden2000]

janet_lee88:

Hi Mummies,

Are you taking it easy for CA1 ?

Trying to prepare myself mentally for chinese red marks again in CA1. Thought son had improved away from the fail zone since last year. Then they did practice paper before CA1 which he failed miserably. Cloze passage was extracted from a newspaper article and my potato son could not read quite many words. Compre passage questions require the child to make inferences. He could barely read it, let alone infer. So he was demoralised and so was I, though I tried to reassure him that psle is not going to be as tough. But actually i really don't know if psle is going to be any easier. What to do, just have to try my best to guide him along and hope for the best.

Also struggling with finding time to revise after school. With supplementary, homework and CCA, just have no time left to revise, other than to 'eat' into playtime during weekends. Tried to get out of supp n had teacher calling me to say that it's compulsory and no exemption. Son was worried about getting into the teacher's bad books and so in the end, I relented. Intend to continue to monitor the situation and take a firm stand if things continue to worsen.

[usaik]

linden2000:

usaik:

Hi dear mummies and daddies,


I referred to the English PSLE paper format in the URL link below http://www.seab.gov.sg/psle/2012_PSLE_Subject_Info/0001_2012.pdf

and would like to seek your clarification whether for paper 1 Writing format :- Is a child expected to do BOTH part 1 (situation writing) and part 2 (continuous writing) OR the child is expected to do EITHER part 1 (situation writing) OR part 2 (continuous writing) ?

Appreciate your kind advice? Thank you.

Hi. Have to do both parts 1 and 2. Situational writing 15 marks, continuous writing 40 marks.

Hi linden2000,
Thank you so much for your kind advice!!

[softcoach]

beanbear:

beanbear:

Who bears the consequence if you allow the school to make the choice over the use of YOUR child's time?

Wow, beanbear... :thankyou:
so much for your advice and detailed sharing. It has really changed the way I see things -- I hv never questioned teachers' rights to dictate the use of my child's time to do homework, attend supp classes, go back on weekends etc....However, I may not have the guts or energy to do half the things you do.. you are a good mum! :goodpost:

[softcoach]

Peony:

softcoach:

Hi


But if I were in your shoes, I'd do what I'd planned too. As a stressed child will not be able to cope well.

Thank you so much for sharing Peony. Appreciate your and all other parents' help here. :lovesite:

[pixiedust]

Me too - thanks to all for sharing - especially beanbear, Peony ! Gives me courage to go against the 'compulsory' !!! I must admit it is tough, I don't know why but I feel guilty ! Why ? This is my child, his time, our consquences to bear.


Why is it the schools are reacting this way ? Fear that the whole class will follow suit ? Fear that the parent is not able to \"teach as well as the teacher\" ? I just don't get it or maybe they just need to follow the routine to express disapproval ?

Like Peony, we are trying out best to avoid catch-up stress hence moving full-steam ahead for CA1.