2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[janet88]

fightingmom:

janet_lee88:

PSLE is so tough now...is the objective of MOE to allow bonding with kids ?

This year is madness for both kids and parents. Will it get better when they go to Sec 1?

I have friends with kids in secondary schools .. no tuition and their kids seems to have a whale of time especially the first few months in Sec 1.

Well, that's a relief. After this year, I need a break from books.
Whale of a time...hmmm...a friend of mine told me her son had to support his classmates for competitions. Lots of projects too.

[Peony]

beanbear:

Yes I totally agree with this idea about doing little things to perk up & cheer up our stressed out children. We should continue doing the little things beyond PSLE year too, otherwise our kids will think we only take special care of them during PSLE & not other times.


I tried out taking DS to the club to do revision on Sunday. We would do a few math sums, then he took 5mins break to play one arcade game, then came back to another few sums. We shared an apple pie & tea together. A heartwarming moment that I treasure. I asked DS if he enjoyed the revision session and he nodded. Right after revision, he jumped into the pool straight away and we ended the day with a family game of table soccer. After that wonderful Sunday, I've decided to do more of such sessions.

I have been doing this since DD was in lower primary. I realise that such sessions are more productive and it counters stress.

[august24]

beanbear:

Some children may look like they are not panicking or have a sense of urgency about studying or revision. It may just be they feel alot and prefer to avoid feeling stressed and they mask it by looking \"cool\" or \"bo-chap\" or \"unmotivated\".

I checked with ds yesterday whether he and his classmates were stressed by the oncoming SA1? His reply was \"No, we are pretty cool about it.\" In my heart I was thinking, this is bo-chap, not cool. Hmm.. maybe like beanbear said, they are really showing signs of stress? :skeptical: But my ds really look more bo-chap than stressed out! He would give a blur look when asked where's the workbook that is supposed to be done (did not bring home!), forgot to learn his 默写 as previously only given 听写 etc. :frustrated: But then, I really should give him a pat for his \"willingness to do extras\" this year. Whenever he thought he is done with hw, I would say still need to do this & that. He will say ok, I rest 10 min first can? :please: But then, I really must be with him to nudge him before he know what to do.

[HAPPYH]

beanbear:

Yes I totally agree with this idea about doing little things to perk up & cheer up our stressed out children. We should continue doing the little things beyond PSLE year too, otherwise our kids will think we only take special care of them during PSLE & not other times.


I tried out taking DS to the club to do revision on Sunday. We would do a few math sums, then he took 5mins break to play one arcade game, then came back to another few sums. We shared an apple pie & tea together. A heartwarming moment that I treasure. I asked DS if he enjoyed the revision session and he nodded. Right after revision, he jumped into the pool straight away and we ended the day with a family game of table soccer. After that wonderful Sunday, I've decided to do more of such sessions.

This year is certainly more stressful than other years in Primary School and this could also be the year we create more meaningful rather than painful memories with our children. Many times, I felt more stupid not being able to do Primary 6 work, and it's such a great contrast to how successful I feel in my corporate work. It's humbling for me to learn P6 work alongside with DS. He sees I struggle to learn and when he wants to give up finding solutions to sums he can't do or to avoid doing things that he's not excelling, I find it's my role to show him it's ok to struggle, Mummy also don't know many of these P6 stuff and I'm an adult!! What's important is we must persevere to find the answers and to know why we don't know.

There were also moments when I feel so \"sian\" about learning P6 work that I find myself wanting to walk away. These are moments when I realize I need to have a life besides living the PSLE life. I decided I'll do stuff that engages me the adult too, read other things besides PSLE guide books, watch a movie, get a massage, etc. Parents really need to take of themselves so that our children who see us taking care of ourselves will in turn learn to take care of themselves and learn to relax.

Some children may look like they are not panicking or have a sense of urgency about studying or revision. It may just be they feel alot and prefer to avoid feeling stressed and they mask it by looking \"cool\" or \"bo-chap\" or \"unmotivated\". If they've had a series of failures and not been performing well, it's easy to feel demoralized and talk themselves into being bo-chap. These are the kids who really need parents to give them experiences of success at home because the official exams at school will set them up for failure and we know that strategy is damaging. Hence we need to create a reality at home where our kids experience success, joy & encouragement.

:goodpost:

[HAPPYH]

janet_lee88:

PSLE is so tough now...is the objective of MOE to allow bonding with kids ?

This year is madness for both kids and parents. Will it get better when they go to Sec 1?

My friend told me that not that stressful. Quite managable and the children can manage their studies on their own. I hope the situation won't change when our time comes :xedfingers:

[janet88]

I was told that when boys are stressed sometimes, they imagine they are superheroes defeating enemies…see mine doing that when he plays with his toys.


Anyway, he is resting at home today. Has a sore throat and headache. Since orals next week, better let him rest.

For 听写/默写 this Fri, I tell him to go through…this is small thing lah. Next week’s orals more impt.

[Chenonceau]

I find this year much less stressful too. DS seems to know exactly what to do. Very very independent now. Last year, I had to analyze homework for appropriateness. This year, he has developed a sense. Last year, I planned his weekly schedule. This year, he plans and I approve. Then on a daily basis, he will eyeball his homework load and decide


(1) Which one of Mom’s work should I drop? He knows the rules for this. If T gives compo, then delete one of Mom’s compos from the Home Schedule.

(2) Which piece of homework do I need an excuse letter for? He also knows the rules for this. If the homework does not value add AND I must stay up after 8pm to complete it AFTER doing Mom’s work, then an excuse letter is to be written up.

Last year, I did all his filing. This year, he does all his filing. Last year, he marked everything and I checked his marking. This year, he marks everything and I don’t check. I still have to mark Science open-ended, CL Compo&Compre and EL compo&compre though. Last year, we had to cover syllabus. This year, it’s only practice. Last year, we had to memorize-recite the Beijing compos. This year, he can read the Beijing compos without the help of the auditapes because instead of 50% unknown words, each compo now contains 5 unknown words. Last year, I had to develop Standard Operating Processes for each different Paper and since I was also feeling my way, this took time to develop. Now, all the SOP are in place. He knows exactly HOW to revise for each section of each paper.

This year is much easier on me compared to last year. Still, the fact remains that if I had left him to the school, he wouldn’t have come this far at all.

[Peony]

Am the most hands-off than I’ve ever been.


Last night she came to me with a geometrical qn and I told her, "sorry, I can’t help you". It was too tough for me. She looked stunned for a moment and then retreated back to her room. She then texted her teacher for help.

Maybe I’m more hands-off as I see her being more independent and focused. Plus she has awesome teachers this year.

Chenonceau, I taught it was a girl thing until you wrote about your DS.

[Chenonceau]

Peony:

Am the most hands-off than I've ever been.


Last night she came to me with a geometrical qn and I told her, \"sorry, I can't help you\". It was too tough for me. She looked stunned for a moment and then retreated back to her room. She then texted her teacher for help.

Maybe I'm more hands-off as I see her being more independent and focused. Plus she has awesome teachers this year.

Chenonceau, I taught it was a girl thing until you wrote about your DS.

We've the same Teachers as last year. Sob! We still have to rely on external resources because though the school gives more, it is not enough. We also have to rely on a Home Practice Schedule because the school cannot assign as many practices as are ideal. Teachers will die marking if they gave every student the same volume of practice my son plans for himself.

I think the important thing is that we've come to a stable state. The syllabus is all there and covered. SOP are there. Unless they change the format of the PSLE, it's now just a matter of putting in consistent daily work.

[Champion]

Chenonceau:

I find this year much less stressful too. DS seems to know exactly what to do. Very very independent now. Last year, I had to analyze homework for appropriateness. This year, he has developed a sense. Last year, I planned his weekly schedule. This year, he plans and I approve. Then on a daily basis, he will eyeball his homework load and decide


(1) Which one of Mom's work should I drop? He knows the rules for this. If T gives compo, then delete one of Mom's compos from the Home Schedule.

(2) Which piece of homework do I need an excuse letter for? He also knows the rules for this. If the homework does not value add AND I must stay up after 8pm to complete it AFTER doing Mom's work, then an excuse letter is to be written up.

Last year, I did all his filing. This year, he does all his filing. Last year, he marked everything and I checked his marking. This year, he marks everything and I don't check. I still have to mark Science open-ended, CL Compo&Compre and EL compo&compre though. Last year, we had to cover syllabus. This year, it's only practice. Last year, we had to memorize-recite the Beijing compos. This year, he can read the Beijing compos without the help of the auditapes because instead of 50% unknown words, each compo now contains 5 unknown words. Last year, I had to develop Standard Operating Processes for each different Paper and since I was also feeling my way, this took time to develop. Now, all the SOP are in place. He knows exactly HOW to revise for each section of each paper.

This year is much easier on me compared to last year. Still, the fact remains that if I had left him to the school, he wouldn't have come this far at all.

Dear Mummy Chenonceau :salute: :salute:
:goodpost: :hi5: :celebrate: I admire you for your dedication and :love: for your children. I read all the posts here by you and other parents and all I have to conclude is ALL of you with child(ren) in P6 this year are awesome! :hugs:

:offtopic: wanna to have some chwee kweh for breakfast / tea-break?