2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[Champion]

janet_lee88:

Essential:

Hi anyone here to share science tutor or enrichment centre for p6 beside newton apple as is FULL

Have you checked out this centre called bumblebee ? Someone called me yest...but i am not very keen. Don't know exact name of centre though. Heard newton apple science is full as principal himself and other senior teachers are teaching. Maybe you can also check out science buddies.

Janet,
Is this the one that you referring to?
http://www.bee.com.sg/
Bumble Bee Learning Hive is a certified service provider of the People’s Association (PA) and our courses are conducted by our Ministry of Education (MOE) certified teaching faculty to ensure that your child receives the best-quality learning experience possible.

[beanbear]

24hr_mum:

How you make your child to follow your schedule closely.
I also prefer to sit by my dd side to observe what she is doing bcos I can pick up where she is weak in. Since begining of this year she refuse to let me sit by her when she is doing homework.

Hi 24_mum, Yes, when I'm not working, I do sit next to DS to observe him doing his work so that I can see his thinking process. I would look through the homework first to see whether there's a need for me to sit next to DS. If it's straight-forward, I don't sit next to him. I sit next him if I'm teaching - ie I'm demonstrating a method or giving him tips on how to do a certain task eg composition. After observing a while, I leave DS to do the work himself. I believe children want a sense of independence also.

What do you think caused the change in your DD's attitude? Does she want to be more independent? Does she feel \"intimidated\" by your presence?

My children comply with my schedule because my parenting style is very much based on setting Clear Expectations, Clear Rewards, Clear Consequences. It's not just a schedule alone but also a whole approach/system that I set in place. Once the child knows how the system works, why the system is there, what happens if they comply or don't comply, it's quite easy to get it going. But a lot of discipline is required from the parents. It's about consistency and follow-through. Because the system also incorporates the \"fun\" and \"relaxation\" stuff, children comply because they see it's a fair system. I always tell my children, I always give them uninterrupted playtime, tv time, computer time, etc. I deliver on my promises of fun hence I expect them to deliver on their commitment to work.

I also work although my work is flexible but there are weeks where I'm out of the house the whole day just like other regular working parents. During those times, I rely on my maids to follow-through on my system. Children and maids are briefed on what's expected. When I return from work, I hold maids & children accountable for the work to be done. If work is not done, consequences are meted out immediately. Rewards are also given immediately if children have complied.

[Edureach]

I am now recalling the times my 2 kids took their psle exams in yrs 2005 and 2006. Comparing to most parents here, i think i wasn’t half as devoted.


I am amazed parents here are paying much attention to the details in their kids’ psle preparations.

Can’t help but expect many of your kids to do well.

[fightingmom]

beanbear:

24hr_mum:

How you make your child to follow your schedule closely.
I also prefer to sit by my dd side to observe what she is doing bcos I can pick up where she is weak in. Since begining of this year she refuse to let me sit by her when she is doing homework.

Hi 24_mum, Yes, when I'm not working, I do sit next to DS to observe him doing his work so that I can see his thinking process. I would look through the homework first to see whether there's a need for me to sit next to DS. If it's straight-forward, I don't sit next to him. I sit next him if I'm teaching - ie I'm demonstrating a method or giving him tips on how to do a certain task eg composition. After observing a while, I leave DS to do the work himself. I believe children want a sense of independence also.

What do you think caused the change in your DD's attitude? Does she want to be more independent? Does she feel \"intimidated\" by your presence?

My children comply with my schedule because my parenting style is very much based on setting Clear Expectations, Clear Rewards, Clear Consequences. It's not just a schedule alone but also a whole approach/system that I set in place. Once the child knows how the system works, why the system is there, what happens if they comply or don't comply, it's quite easy to get it going. But a lot of discipline is required from the parents. It's about consistency and follow-through. Because the system also incorporates the \"fun\" and \"relaxation\" stuff, children comply because they see it's a fair system. I always tell my children, I always give them uninterrupted playtime, tv time, computer time, etc. I deliver on my promises of fun hence I expect them to deliver on their commitment to work.

I also work although my work is flexible but there are weeks where I'm out of the house the whole day just like other regular working parents. During those times, I rely on my maids to follow-through on my system. Children and maids are briefed on what's expected. When I return from work, I hold maids & children accountable for the work to be done. If work is not done, consequences are meted out immediately. Rewards are also given immediately if children have complied.

:goodpost:

[Chenonceau]

Edureach:

I am now recalling the times my 2 kids took their psle exams in yrs 2005 and 2006. Comparing to most parents here, i think i wasn't half as devoted.


I am amazed parents here are paying much attention to the details in their kids' psle preparations.

Can't help but expect many of your kids to do well.

DD took her PSLE in 2005. It was almost a non-event for us compared to what I am going through now. Her syllabus was much less challenging... her exams were much less challenging... her school did not expect parents to take an active part in teaching.

Schools these days organise talks to teach parents how to help their kids with PSLE requirements at home... the system has gone out of control. I just discovered today that DS' Teacher marked his CA1 \"formal letter\" writing without picking up on the lack of a proper format. DS got 13/15 for this part of the paper when he should have barely passed because he had failed to format the letter properly and use the proper language register.

If I don't teach my son, he will be penalized at PSLE.

[HAPPYH]

Chenonceau:

Edureach:

I am now recalling the times my 2 kids took their psle exams in yrs 2005 and 2006. Comparing to most parents here, i think i wasn't half as devoted.


I am amazed parents here are paying much attention to the details in their kids' psle preparations.

Can't help but expect many of your kids to do well.

DD took her PSLE in 2005. It was almost a non-event for us compared to what I am going through now. Her syllabus was much less challenging... her exams were much less challenging... her school did not expect parents to take an active part in teaching.

Schools these days organise talks to teach parents how to help their kids with PSLE requirements at home... the system has gone out of control. I just discovered today that DS' Teacher marked his CA1 \"formal letter\" writing without picking up on the lack of a proper format. DS got 13/15 for this part of the paper when he should have barely passed because he had failed to format the letter properly and use the proper language register.

If I don't teach my son, he will be penalized at PSLE.

:yikes: What happens if the parents' english is not good?

[janet88]

Edureach:

I am amazed parents here are paying much attention to the details in their kids' psle preparations.

Can't help but expect many of your kids to do well.

There wasn't so much hype back then for PSLE...no so much emphasis in crash/intensive courses, remedial during holidays etc etc. Definitely not so commercialized as compared to now. I cannot bring myself to ignore PSLE and the importance of it. But i must remember not to push him over the cliff.

After my son's PSLE this year, I would have gained some experience what to expect when my younger one sits for it in 4 years time. But I will be facing double stress as one will sit for PSLE while the olde one has O levels.
But in meantime, focus on older one first.

[Chenonceau]

HAPPYH:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"Edureach\"]I am now recalling the times my 2 kids took their psle exams in yrs 2005 and 2006. Comparing to most parents here, i think i wasn't half as devoted.


I am amazed parents here are paying much attention to the details in their kids' psle preparations.

Can't help but expect many of your kids to do well.

DD took her PSLE in 2005. It was almost a non-event for us compared to what I am going through now. Her syllabus was much less challenging... her exams were much less challenging... her school did not expect parents to take an active part in teaching.

Schools these days organise talks to teach parents how to help their kids with PSLE requirements at home... the system has gone out of control. I just discovered today that DS' Teacher marked his CA1 \"formal letter\" writing without picking up on the lack of a proper format. DS got 13/15 for this part of the paper when he should have barely passed because he had failed to format the letter properly and use the proper language register.

If I don't teach my son, he will be penalized at PSLE.

:yikes: What happens if the parents' english is not good? [/quote]I almost overlooked this actually. He was scoring so well for Situational Writing that I did not bother to look. I asked DD to look through his CA1 paper and she made the comment that it was strange how his CA1 formal letter has no format.

I looked at it, then I checked that PSLE requires letter format with address and date at the top etc... Then I went to Popular and realized that Situational Writing includes
- Instructions
- Review
- Postcard
etc... and my son had only learnt a half-baked no format letter writing in school. CA1 is suppose to be marked according to PSLE standard right... well, Teacher did not pick up the lack of format so we also didn't know.

Lucky I was DD for her opinion!!

[PiggyLalala]

Chenonceau:

DD took her PSLE in 2005. It was almost a non-event for us compared to what I am going through now. Her syllabus was much less challenging... her exams were much less challenging... her school did not expect parents to take an active part in teaching.

Schools these days organise talks to teach parents how to help their kids with PSLE requirements at home... the system has gone out of control. I just discovered today that DS' Teacher marked his CA1 \"formal letter\" writing without picking up on the lack of a proper format. DS got 13/15 for this part of the paper when he should have barely passed because he had failed to format the letter properly and use the proper language register.

If I don't teach my son, he will be penalized at PSLE.

:yikes: What happens if the parents' english is not good? [/quote]

I almost overlooked this actually. He was scoring so well for Situational Writing that I did not bother to look. I asked DD to look through his CA1 paper and she made the comment that it was strange how his CA1 formal letter has no format.

I looked at it, then I checked with someone I knew who knows TLL and she said that TLL requires letter format with address and date at the top etc... Then I went to Popular and realized that Situational Writing includes
- Instructions
- Review
- Postcard
etc... and my son had only learnt a half-baked no format letter writing in school. CA1 is suppose to be marked according to PSLE standard right... well, Teacher did not pick up the lack of format so we also didn't know.

Lucky I was DD for her opinion!! [/quote]

Hi Chen, I have the impression that for psle English letter writing, they do not need to follow the format anymore or they have a simplified format. I kind of remember there was a thread discussing about the format before. Other p6 parents please comment on this too as I could be wrong. Somehow when yr age hits the magic number, u don't seem to able to trust yr memory anymore.

[Chenonceau]

PiggyLalala:

Hi Chen, I have the impression that for psle English letter writing, they do not need to follow the format anymore or they have a simplified format. I kind of remember there was a thread discussing about the format before. Other p6 parents please comment on this too as I could be wrong. Somehow when yr age hits the magic number, u don't seem to able to trust yr memory anymore.

Oooooooh Piggy! Thanks! Do you know anything about the...
- Review
- Instructions
- Postcard etc...?

RGPS is still teaching the letter format and the review blah blah... my friend say one.