2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[janet88]

Everyday, I am looking at son's July-Sep time-table and wondering how to squeeze in time to revise :frustrated: ...esp after the Prelim. Feeling like some celebrity's nanny as I'm liaising with one tutor or another to rearrange. CAN'T WAIT FOR OCT 2 !!!

[janet88]

slmkhoo:

janet_lee88:

Everyday, I am looking at son's July-Sep time-table and wondering how to squeeze in time to revise :frustrated: ...esp after the Prelim.

I feel sure that what the school and his tutors are doing is all preparing him for PSLE, so you can just focus on the parts that aren't being covered (shouldn't be much) or need more repetition.

What am I saying :slapshead: :stupid:
Actually, I'm trying to see how to allocate time to get homework done and to rest. I've got to hands-off coaching him bcos he is well covered.

[tclhub]

Hi just curious, anyone’s DC preparing for PSLE has rest on the weekends? My DD now even weekends has tuition, ballet on Sat, church then tuition on Sunday. After that, she just continues with doing past year papers. Feel so guilty but child very motivated to work hard this last semester for PSLE. Think will get burnout with no rest for the next 11 weeks or so?

[CDE]

tclhub:

Hi just curious, anyone's DC preparing for PSLE has rest on the weekends? My DD now even weekends has tuition, ballet on Sat, church then tuition on Sunday. After that, she just continues with doing past year papers. Feel so guilty but child very motivated to work hard this last semester for PSLE. Think will get burnout with no rest for the next 11 weeks or so?

You're not alone. Dd started weekend tuition since jun hol. Weekday occupied with hw & supp class.

She also stops her piano lesson June hol, to focus on psle. If she continue piano, she still has to practices which will be v taxing...so might as well rest totally from lesson, only play a leisure piece or two for breaks between revision, no commitment no burden.

Since June hol, revision aft revision...boring :sad:

[tclhub]

You're not alone. Dd started weekend tuition since jun hol. Weekday occupied with hw & supp class.


She also stops her piano lesson June hol, to focus on psle. If she continue piano, she still has to practices which will be v taxing...so might as well rest totally from lesson, only play a leisure piece or two for breaks between revision, no commitment no burden.

Since June hol, revision aft revision...boring :sad:[/quote]

But DD enjoys ballet as a passion and finds it relaxing. But ya, weekdays supp till 4+, then lots of hw. Weekend hw almost twice the normal load. Thanks for assuring me I am not alone.... I will get brands essence kids version. Does it really help?

[Zekezachzoom]

CDE:

tclhub:

Hi just curious, anyone's DC preparing for PSLE has rest on the weekends? My DD now even weekends has tuition, ballet on Sat, church then tuition on Sunday. After that, she just continues with doing past year papers. Feel so guilty but child very motivated to work hard this last semester for PSLE. Think will get burnout with no rest for the next 11 weeks or so?

You're not alone. Dd started weekend tuition since jun hol. Weekday occupied with hw & supp class.

She also stops her piano lesson June hol, to focus on psle. If she continue piano, she still has to practices which will be v taxing...so might as well rest totally from lesson, only play a leisure piece or two for breaks between revision, no commitment no burden.

Since June hol, revision aft revision...boring :sad:

My DS too. He is staying back in school everyday until 5pm. He has his supplementary until 330pm and his HMT teacher giving them extra practices on oral everyday. Concurrently, there is also a \"study clinic\" on 2 weekdays supervised by subject teachers for all the P6sers. These are non compulsory but just the teachers chipping in to help them for this last lap my DS' weekend is full of homework... If I am lucky, I may get him to give me half a sunday to go through some of his weaker topics. He is totally drained by 10pm every night... Poor thing.

[janet88]

tclhub:

Hi just curious, anyone's DC preparing for PSLE has rest on the weekends? My DD now even weekends has tuition, ballet on Sat, church then tuition on Sunday. After that, she just continues with doing past year papers. Feel so guilty but child very motivated to work hard this last semester for PSLE. Think will get burnout with no rest for the next 11 weeks or so?

My son has no rest on weekends this year...saturdays back to back. Sunday mornings can wake up little later but have to get tuition work done followed by English tuition. We go put for lunch to relax a little. No choice...it's very crazy nearing PSLE.

[tclhub]

janet_lee88:

tclhub:

Hi just curious, anyone's DC preparing for PSLE has rest on the weekends? My DD now even weekends has tuition, ballet on Sat, church then tuition on Sunday. After that, she just continues with doing past year papers. Feel so guilty but child very motivated to work hard this last semester for PSLE. Think will get burnout with no rest for the next 11 weeks or so?

My son has no rest on weekends this year...saturdays back to back. Sunday mornings can wake up little later but have to get tuition work done followed by English tuition. We go put for lunch to relax a little. No choice...it's very crazy nearing PSLE.

Yes, crazy schedule - applies to everyone it seems.
All the best to all P6ers. And to us parents as well. I feel like I am also taking PSLE! :slapshead:

[beanbear]

We really need to monitor our children’s health and how many hours they are putting in to work. They are also picking up habits that will take them to secondary school and beyond. I’ve always advocated a balance of play, work and rest.


I’m fortunate that my work is flexible and my kids see me work from home. When I’m tired, kids see me take afternoon naps. There are days I feel so torn about whether to go for my exercise workout or to do revision with DS. I decided to just go and exercise and take care of myself. I try to model what I preach to my kids. So DS has breaks in between his revision. By 8.30pm or 9pm, it’s strictly no more work. Right now, DS has 3 days a week where he has no tuition and he does revision with me or self-revision. On these days, he goes to the playground, sweat it, plays his flute, watches TV in the evenings. He does work only in the afternoon up to 5pm and then maybe 1 hr in the evenings after his dinner. He sleeps by 9.30pm every night. On a rare occasion, when there’s plenty of homework, he sleeps latest 10pm.

To boost his immunity, my kids take Sambucus, Multi-vits and DHA. Fortunately, DS takes lots of fruits, lots of water and has sound sleep at night.

My intention for this final lap is to give DS lots of emotional support and monitor his physical health. I surprise him with little treats eg he got Famous Amos cookies the other day and we ate them in the car together and just have a casual chat. We go for special lunches too. These are memories I want to have with DS in his final year of Primary school. I still plan to take him swimming once in a while just to have fun. I believe all these things will sustain his motivation and break the monotony of revision.

At night before DS sleeps, I hug and kiss him and just have a nice cuddle. I want to able to do this while he still wants to. I’m not looking forward to the day, he finds it embarrassing for his mummy to kiss and hug him. We hold hands while walking to the car and I think these are precious moments. Next year, he turns 13, officially a teenager. In the midst of all this exam studies, I remind myself to pause and notice little moments I treasure with DS.

[tclhub]

Hi bean bear, thanks for the advices. I like your comment about surprising your DS with little treats, think it helps a lot, will implement this to keep DD motivated. My worry is burnout. As I always believe, PSLE is part of the learning journey, it is not a destination. Thanks for all the tips here to keep us sane!