All About GEP

[jtoh]

Nebbermind:

jtoh:

Yes, I suppose there are slackers who'll do poorly not because they are less capable but bec of attitude. But if they're showing consistently below baseline results from P4-P6, likelihood is they will score <255 in PSLE unless they buck up in the final sprint. And likelihood they may not get COs to their dream school.

Not everyone's expectation and dream school are the same!!!

We only asked for 250 from our boy and encouraged him to better that so he can get better choice of 3rd lang. :evil:

To us, GEP is just a Godsend enrichment class. Juz go there and enjoy the process. As long as he put in enough effort n not fall so far behind the cohort, it's OK coz eventually also take the same PSLE. Since it is known that some of the things are beyond their yrs, we accepted that there will be a % of math qns which he will not be able to do...just go and get solution from teachers...why lose sleep over it or die-die must have tuition?

Think he cleared baseline most of the time....not important now...only remember he even volunteered for remedial but rejected.

Does not reflect well on school and teachers? Nah...that's the least of our concern....our boy has to enjoy his time there...he shd not be the justification of the teacher/school KPI.

Yes, not everyone's expectation is the same. Your son is lucky he has supportive parents like you. Unfortunately some kids want to go to the same school that all their friends are going to and their parents expect them to. These are the ones who'll get demoralized.

[Nebbermind]

jtoh:

Yes, not everyone's expectation is the same. Your son is lucky he has supportive parents like you. Unfortunately some kids want to go to the same school that all their friends are going to and their parents expect them to. These are the ones who'll get demoralized.

Well, I'm sure there were those who did very well in their prev schools and somehow couldn't keep the pace in GEP and hurt their self esteem.

IIRC, in the earlier parents briefing, the school always emphasized on home support for the kids. Not so much that the cirriculum is alot more difficult. Rather, they will be put thru a process that requires higher maturity level, esp in P4 when many of them were still very clueless.

Another thing is that girls are probably quite different...they r usually deemed as more matured at the same age....but more fragile too.

[jtoh]

Nebbermind:

jtoh:

Yes, not everyone's expectation is the same. Your son is lucky he has supportive parents like you. Unfortunately some kids want to go to the same school that all their friends are going to and their parents expect them to. These are the ones who'll get demoralized.

Well, I'm sure there were those who did very well in their prev schools and somehow couldn't keep the pace in GEP and hurt their self esteem.

IIRC, in the earlier parents briefing, the school always emphasized on home support for the kids. Not so much that the cirriculum is alot more difficult. Rather, they will be put thru a process that requires higher maturity level.

And then you have parents who take the advice to the core and give home support by doing their kids' homework and projects for them. Hahahahaha!!! :rotflmao:

[Nebbermind]

jtoh:

And then you have parents who take the advice to the core and give home support by doing their kids' homework and projects for them. Hahahahaha!!! :rotflmao:

Like I said before, it's an enrichment process. If your kids gained from your intervention, or in that process, u triggered his/her interest in certain areas, it's still win-win.

[jtoh]

Nebbermind:

jtoh:

And then you have parents who take the advice to the core and give home support by doing their kids' homework and projects for them. Hahahahaha!!! :rotflmao:

Like I said before, it's an enrichment process. If your kids gained from your intervention, or in that process, u triggered his/her interest in certain areas, it's still win-win.

My tongue-in-cheek statement was about parents who literally do their kids' homework and projects for them. Maybe not 100%, but significant. Or outsource them to tutors/lecturers to do.

[Lynn2010]

jtoh:

Nebbermind:

[quote=\"jtoh\"] And then you have parents who take the advice to the core and give home support by doing their kids' homework and projects for them. Hahahahaha!!! :rotflmao:

Like I said before, it's an enrichment process. If your kids gained from your intervention, or in that process, u triggered his/her interest in certain areas, it's still win-win.

My tongue-in-cheek statement was about parents who literally do their kids' homework and projects for them. Maybe not 100%, but significant. Or outsource them to tutors/lecturers to do.[/quote]I'm very sure the parents/tutors helping happens. I remember DD told me that a few of her classmates hand-in perfect work. No ned for 2nd or 3rd draft. \"Unfortunately\" I always asked my dd to do the assignment on her own, and if she had to do a 2nd or 3rd draft, so be it. At least she is learning, the dos and donts.

Not fair leh, all these assignments are graded. But what to do, I O Sim. Must fall then she can learn how to stand, i cant hold her hand forever!

[ForumWriter]

jtoh:

GEP does keep a close eye on the centres and the students.

Too true. I still get those survey letters from MOE, reminding me that they're still stalking me.

[ForumWriter]

Lynn2010:

I'm very sure the parents/tutors helping happens. I remember DD told me that a few of her classmates hand-in perfect work. No ned for 2nd or 3rd draft. \"Unfortunately\" I always asked my dd to do the assignment on her own, and if she had to do a 2nd or 3rd draft, so be it. At least she is learning, the dos and donts.

Not fair leh, all these assignments are graded. But what to do, I O Sim. Must fall then she can learn how to stand, i cant hold her hand forever!

That is correct. Some parents are very proactive in their kids' work so that they can get high marks, even until secondary school.

We once had to create a Rolling Ball Sculpture as a group assignment. I was amazed at the complexity and automation of some groups' RBS. I couldn't imagine that kids would have the resourcefulness and ability to stake out hardware shops, purchase motors and other construction materials and even program the entire system! Definitely lots of parental help there.

I've observed that they mostly come from the same socioeconomic group too, and their mothers mostly hold the same jobs.

[jtoh]

Lynn2010:

I'm very sure the parents/tutors helping happens. I remember DD told me that a few of her classmates hand-in perfect work. No ned for 2nd or 3rd draft. \"Unfortunately\" I always asked my dd to do the assignment on her own, and if she had to do a 2nd or 3rd draft, so be it. At least she is learning, the dos and donts.

Not fair leh, all these assignments are graded. But what to do, I O Sim. Must fall then she can learn how to stand, i cant hold her hand forever!

My philosophy is the same as yours. Let them do it on their own and take ownership of their projects and homework. GEP is a learning process and the skills they take away from doing projects on their own will serve them well in future.

[Nebbermind]

ForumWriter:

That is correct. Some parents are very proactive in their kids' work so that they can get high marks, even until secondary school.


We once had to create a Rolling Ball Sculpture as a group assignment. I was amazed at the complexity and automation of some groups' RBS. I couldn't imagine that kids would have the resourcefulness and ability to stake out hardware shops, purchase motors and other construction materials and even program the entire system! Definitely lots of parental help there.

I've observed that they mostly come from the same socioeconomic group too, and their mothers mostly hold the same jobs.

But that's a fact of life, ya?
There are many parents here who can teach or tutor their kids, some even accelerate the school curriculum by a yr or 2. Unfair advantage?

As parents, we must also be cautious. We can bring our kids to a certain destination. But if he is not able to advance from there...or worse, cannot even replicate the original journey, then he is in BIG trouble.