2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[junrahmat]

Dd attends supp class 3X a week on top of sports CCA 2X a week, which falls on 2 of the supp class days. That means dd would go for CCA straight after supp class which also means that on these 2 days, she would be in school from 7am-6.30pm. On top of that, she would come home with tons of hw, and she's not coping well, struggling to keep her eyes open just to try to finish her hw. Most time, she couldn't


Got dh to write in to form teacher to excuse her from one of the supp classes. Her reply was that the supp class is used to give pupils extra help to further understand the syllabus better. I don't understand how this is going to help when the child is already very tired; and why can't they do this during curriculum time. If they really want to help, I think a remedial class would be better off than a supp class. She also said that she would need to get clearance from her hod first. But dh and I are pretty adamant about this and will still pull dd out of one of the supp class irregardless of what the hod is going to say. I'm not interested in your KRA, I'm only interested in my child's well being!

[beanbear]

softcoach:

She is alone at home till abt 6.30-7pm on weekdays as hubby & I work and DD1 is in sec school till quite late in the evening. She usually completes less than 1/3 of her HW before I return (I don’t think she does any of her HW at school). She starts getting kan cheong and rushes thru her school work only after dinner. Even then, I literally have to sit next to her to ensure that she focuses on her work.


I feel so bad because DD2 and I have had so many heated discussions regarding the need for her to be more focused and work on her time management skills. Both of us are so frustrated and upset after these sessions. I can see that she seems to sian and tired of doing the endless pile of worksheets from her teachers. She also tends to get many questions wrong due to untidiness, carelessness, teacher never teach concept yet, wrong way of answering science questions, high HMT/EL compo standard, etc.. Thus, she has the added burden of doing tons of corrections, in addition to her tons of HW. Seems like a vicious cycle of mounting corrections and HW. However, what I don’t understand is that she usually does pretty ok for her exams (she even received the 5% edusave sch award for P5 last year). But her HW standard now is in quite a bad shape. I don’t wish for her to start to losing her confidence for PSLE (frankly I feel so bad that secretly, I think I may doubting her abilities too…)

Dear softcoach, I'd like to share what HW system I've used for my 3 older children (P1, P5 & P6). My system involves the use of a digital timer and consistent follow-through.

First I establish the system when I am physically around first so that I can ensure the children understand how the system works. My timetable builds in work-time, breaks, snacks. For eg, a lower-primary child will do work in timeslots of 30mins followed by 15 mins break time/snacks then followed by another 30mins of worktime. I tell them what I expect in the 30mins of work. They sit in a specific place, have all stationery & water in front of them. They cannot move once the timer begins and they complete what is achievable in 30mins. The 15 mins break is also timed. I write the timeslots like 9.30am - 10.00am - Work, 10.00-1015am - Break - Free play, 10.15-10.45 - work. They must use a timer. These are examples for weekend timetables. For weekday timetables, the timetable must be customized for the specific child from the time they return from school. The schedule will follow from the time they reach home until they go to bed. Once the system is in place, they naturally know what to do without having to keep checking the schedule on the paper.

They are rewarded for every piece of work done via star stickers. If they don't follow through, there is immediate \"discentives\" eg shorter break, deprivation of TV time, etc.

Once the children understands how the system works, I enforce the system when I'm away from home. Before I leave the house, I talk with the child about the timetable, explain again the rules of using timer, doing work at a specific place continuously without interruption, rewards & discentives.

I leave the home and then I call back later to check if they are following through with the system. If they didn't, immediate discipline is taken when I return eg No tv, no computer, etc. I then reinforce the system again when I'm physically around and try again when I'm absent.

Once the child \"gets\" your system, it's really automated. These days, my 3 primary school going children follow my system very few issues. There's the occasional hiccups but Parental follow-up is important. The key is follow-though. You must check that they follow your system exactly. If you have maids, maids must use your system. My maids & husband copy my methods & rules exactly. So there is consistency The use of the timer and immediate reward/discentives are key to success.

Be clear what you want and create a system for compliance. My children actually finds security in having this system because they know what's expected of them and when they can achieve it, they feel good about themselves.

My DD2 has ADD and dyspraxia which means she has short attention span and generally poor organizational skills. We accomodate by making sure her HW timeslots are 30-45mins long and she gets to do something physical like bouncing balls, chew gum, jump for 5mins before she starts on the next segment of HW.

If you notice that your child has persistent issues with time management and carelessness, you may need to find out whether there is a learning difficulty somewhere.

[Chenonceau]

Beanbear… you’re amazing!! The idea is simple but the implementation is challenging. It’s impressive that you were able to carry this off.

[fifiyeo]

Hi Beanbear, always tot that I was the only mad person around setting timers for kids, rules and regulations with conditions attached. My ILs always feel that we were "crazy" too rigid with the kids and never respected our methods. So glad to know that I’m not "insane".

[janet88]

fifiyeo:

Hi Bearbear, always tot that I was the only mad person around setting timers for kids, rules and regulations with conditions attached. My ILs always feel that we were \"crazy\" too rigid with the kids and never respected our methods. So glad to know that I'm not \"insane\".

Hi fifiyeo,
My schedule for son this year is hardly followed...no thanks to the crazy load of homework given. But on certain days when there is little hw, I will squeeze in 1 practice like cloze or comprehension. Since I have tutors, I should have faith and trust.

[fifiyeo]

Hi Janet_lee88,


I don’t follow to a study plan as we have to flow along with the HUGE amount of homework from school. Wish I can though.

But I do put on the timer and set DS to complete task within given time and then like Beanbear’s DD, my DS gets to scooter around the house or play during the interval break time. I make DS put the timer in his pocket during his break and come back to the room to continue his work when the timer sounds. I feel it works well as he can free his mind for a short while and focus better.

[Zekezachzoom]

I set a routine for my DS since young. As I was working and traveling extensively during their younger days, I set some rules for them to follow. That is, homework has to be done before mummy comes back home. No tv on weekdays. Teach them delayed gratification, they know from young that they will be rewarded playtime when homework is done. Take small breaks in between works.Once practised and followed through, it will become part of them. My DS knows when to work and when to play. They even feel guilty when daddy allowed them to play during their homework time

[Zekezachzoom]

Finally… DS finished his last paper for CA1 today! One down before the big one. Not sure what to expect for his CA results though ;(

[Chenonceau]

zekezachzoom… my DS is starting only next week leh. Yours is so fast! We’re gonna start work again on the day after exams.

[beanbear]

fifiyeo:

Hi Beanbear, always tot that I was the only mad person around setting timers for kids, rules and regulations with conditions attached. My ILs always feel that we were \"crazy\" too rigid with the kids and never respected our methods. So glad to know that I'm not \"insane\".

Hi fifiyeo, Yah me also - thot I was nuts to do this. But then I was tearing my hair out when my kids first started primary school and found it too exhausting to keep running after the kids to do their homework. SO i said to myself - there must be a self-automating system!!! :evil:

Our parents' generation or even our peers who have a more \"laid-back\" parenting style may think we're like control freaks but they may not understand that structures actually create freedom. That's the paradox. Freedom without rules lead to chaos. Boundaries create sanity & security.

Incidentally, my DD's form teacher called me up about her how to get DD to stay on task in class and I told her to use a timer and provide clear structures in terms rules, consequences & rewards. Form teacher tried it out and now she's able to manage my DD well in class and DD is also happy in class.