2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[fightingmom]

beanbear:

Just to share some strategies for spelling. I had a few spelling bee practice sessions with my DS & DD past 2 weeks. We managed to get something like 600 words. Each time, I only gave them 10 mins to learn as many as 50 words. Under the time pressure, they had to quickly focus on common patterns, use association strategies. We had different types of lists to learn. Some lists would have certain word patterns/rhymes eg words with \"eous\" vs \"ous\" endings vs \"ious\" endings, or \"ence\" endings vs \"ance\", \"ie\" vs \"ei\". We also had a list of double consonants - \"ss\", \"mm\", \"cc\", \"tt\" such as committee, accommodation, etc.


We also had word \"demons\" list - highly difficult words like diarrhoea, haemorrhage, debris - which are not in our kids' common vocabulary but you will find in the editing or vocabulary cloze passages.

I tried to make it fun & motivating by giving star points for every correct word spelt and along the way find new strategies to remember the spelling either using mnemonics or making funny pronunciation of the words.

thanks for sharing ... gives me some idea how to go about improving DD's vocab and other weaker section for English paper.

:thankyou:

[pertunia]

Thanks for all the information. Anyone else care to share their experience? I would really like to learn more so that I can help my son. I am tutoring my son in all his subjects. Really driving me crazy sometimes, especially when I have another one in P3 this year and the school’s upping their exam standards!

[janet88]

pertunia:

I am tutoring my son in all his subjects. Really driving me crazy sometimes, especially when I have another one in P3 this year and the school's upping their exam standards!

Wow, you are indeed one brave woman to coach your kids in all the subjects. Totally emphasize your situation especially when there is a younger one and high exam standard...triple torture. Wish you could split yourself into 2 or perhaps clone.

Son's Eng teacher said must learn 2 new words everyday...get as many synthesis questions done as possible bcos any type of connectors can be thrown in. Read the newspapers everyday. It's almost like anything under the scorching sun can be tested :imdrowning:

[8228]

Peony:

I bought it from Bras Basah Complex. Quite a number of shops sell it.

Thanks Peony.

[pertunia]

Well, I am at ease with teaching Maths and Science and phonics (for dyslexics). I am alright with teaching Chinese but not as good with English. So I am still exploring ways to teach the various sections of the English paper so that his standards can be improved.


The challenge is to find enough time to coach at home. Anyone teaches their kids themselves? Do you stipulate a time table for the "home tuition"? So far my tutoring has been more ad-hoc but I think structured tutoring cannot wait any longer. (Btw my elder son is in P5 but I believe the battle for PSLE starts in P5 and not P6).

[janet88]

pertunia:

The challenge is to find enough time to coach at home. Anyone teaches their kids themselves? Do you stipulate a time table for the \"home tuition\"? So far my tutoring has been more ad-hoc but I think structured tutoring cannot wait any longer. (Btw my elder son is in P5 but I believe the battle for PSLE starts in P5 and not P6).

The battle for PSLE starts at P5. It's too late at P6. I am facing that situation now. P4 to P5 IS a big change. At P5, if the child can master P6 stuff, then the P6 year itself will not be such a torture bos the child can spend the PSLE year doing revision. With the first child, it is trial and error for parents. So, we cannot make the same mistake with younger one. Start early.

[psle2011mum]

I feel this is worth repeating.


a. Schools do set \"killer papers\" which they justify by saying \"it's a wake up call\". That grade you see - ask yourself if your DC is responsible for that or is the school.

b. That kid that is sitting for PSLE this Sept - he/she is just that a kid - all of 11 years old; most can't last a gruelling pace till Sept;

c. Exams should be rounding up and the June hols upcoming; this period can be as long as 1.5 months; this is an excellent time to focus with your DC - not to merely do for the sake of doing more, but to work through weak areas thoroughly, if need be slowly; learn it once, learn it well and that knowledge will forever belong to your DC;

d. Reading (b) and (c) together means : there is still some time - time which shouldn't be wasted; just because the school has \"written off\" your kid with a poor grade - should you?

\"When the world says, \"Give up,\"
Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.' \"
~ Unknown
e. Imagine the child with a poor haul of grades for this exam; he/she is getting the message \" you are not good at [subject]\"; repeated once too often, the child believes it and gives up. Yet you know the system is not about ability per se, it has become one where the \"enabled\" forge ahead. Will you stand in the gap to enable your child?

\"Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, `Grow, grow.'\"
~ The Talmud

[fightingmom]

psle2011mum:

I feel this is worth repeating.


a. Schools do set \"killer papers\" which they justify by saying \"it's a wake up call\". That grade you see - ask yourself if your DC is responsible for that or is the school.

b. That kid that is sitting for PSLE this Sept - he/she is just that a kid - all of 11 years old; most can't last a gruelling pace till Sept;

c. Exams should be rounding up and the June hols upcoming; this period can be as long as 1.5 months; this is an excellent time to focus with your DC - not to merely do for the sake of doing more, but to work through weak areas thoroughly, if need be slowly; learn it once, learn it well and that knowledge will forever belong to your DC;

d. Reading (b) and (c) together means : there is still some time - time which shouldn't be wasted; just because the school has \"written off\" your kid with a poor grade - should you?

\"When the world says, \"Give up,\"
Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.' \"
~ Unknown
e. Imagine the child with a poor haul of grades for this exam; he/she is getting the message \" you are not good at [subject]\"; repeated once too often, the child believes it and gives up. Yet you know the system is not about ability per se, it has become one where the \"enabled\" forge ahead. Will you stand in the gap to enable your child?

\"Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, `Grow, grow.'\"
~ The Talmud

:goodpost: thank u for your sharing again!

[Honey]

Do you all subscribe to any Prelims papers & if so from where or which site? Thanks for sharing.

[fightingmom]

Just register as a member at this website, it is free and you can get all the elite schools exam papers.


http://test-paper.info/filemgmt/viewcat.php?cid=73