Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary

[janet88]

Jennifer:

janet_lee88:

I understand there is a change of syllabus for sec school English. Add on to that, literature is no joke. Wait, I have to forget about sec school in the meantime and focus on task at hand now.

All the best to PSLE.

Thanks Jennifer

[Jennifer]

Joyfulhands:

Jennifer:

I am glad I sent my elder boy for enrichment EL during his lower pri years.

I am regretful I did not follow the same for my younger boy.

Jennifer, can share why do u think it's better to send for enrichment in lower pri & why too late in p4/5?
I'm trying to delay introducing EL & Maths enrichment to my DD as she has other non-academic classes to go.

IMO lower pri enrichment = strong foundation, then no need to worry in upper pri lvl. Somemore, lower pri lvl only has 3 core subjects, unlike upper pri lvl has HCL, NC and Sci, topped with supplementary lessons, less time in a week, can only sign up for weekend classes- more expensive and eats into family rest day.

Upper pri lvl= supposedly more stressful, non-academic enrichment can come in as stress reliever. Like my elder boy who attended badminton coaching in P4 to P6- an avenue for him to release tension after sch hours.

[Jennifer]

FQW:

Joyfulhands:

[quote=\"Jennifer\"]
I am glad I sent my elder boy for enrichment EL during his lower pri years.

I am regretful I did not follow the same for my younger boy.

Jennifer, can share why do u think it's better to send for enrichment in lower pri & why too late in p4/5?
I'm trying to delay introducing EL & Maths enrichment to my DD as she has other non-academic classes to go.

I know, I know. It's bcos her std is bery high.

Her ds2 oredi qualified for TTLT in both Eng and Math. :siam:[/quote]Qualifying for sch TTLT Eng n Maths is not a good guide as to how the child will perform in exams lah.

My younger boy's Star Reading results are very good, at least 2 lvls higher. BUT he is not clearing his open ended compreh and his compo style is still very raw.

Throw him some out of the box Maths qns, he will be stumped.

[Trapwithin]

Joyfulhands:

Jennifer:

I am glad I sent my elder boy for enrichment EL during his lower pri years.

I am regretful I did not follow the same for my younger boy.

Jennifer, can share why do u think it's better to send for enrichment in lower pri & why too late in p4/5?
I'm trying to delay introducing EL & Maths enrichment to my DD as she has other non-academic classes to go.

Sorry to jump in.
It is always good to start language early, because it is not something like Maths that you can \"drill\", \"learn\", etc and still perform well. Languages usually requires a lot of consistent work, particularly compositions. In addition, IMHO ... Language is best learn in group due to interaction and group work. Kids tends to remember vocab faster while learning in group setting.

For MA and Sci, I know Jennifer is not a believer in Advanced learning.
Advanced learning is ok, if you start early and the child is able to understand the concepts. BUT if the child is trying to cope with the current syllabus, then it would be UNWISE to do advanced learning. It depends a lot on the child.

[janet88]

I agree with Trap. The younger our kids are exposed to languages, esp English, the better. Though Eng is not mother tongue, it’s a language which determines pass or fail. Science and Math is a big play of words now, so if English foundation is good, the child will be able to understand what the question is all about.


Reading books and comprehending the passage is what I’m doing with my daughter now.

[JoeeYee]

I thought we should start on Chinese before primary school to reduce resistance to learning Chinese later on. Then during k1/2 gradually moves to introduce EL.


Also to update on another water sport : someone in phpps represented the school in the inter primary diving competition held just last Sunday. But I do not know the result.

[Joyfulhands]

Jennifer:

IMO lower pri enrichment = strong foundation, then no need to worry in upper pri lvl. Somemore, lower pri lvl only has 3 core subjects, unlike upper pri lvl has HCL, NC and Sci, topped with supplementary lessons, less time in a week, can only sign up for weekend classes- more expensive and eats into family rest day.

Upper pri lvl= supposedly more stressful, non-academic enrichment can come in as stress reliever. Like my elder boy who attended badminton coaching in P4 to P6- an avenue for him to release tension after sch hours.

Jennifer, thanks for sharing your perspective.
I do agree that a strong foundation is necessary. If tuition for lower pri is to build a firm foundation, that leads me to wonder if the school is not teaching enough to meet the same objective? It's a strange phenomenon that the enrichment centres teach, the schools test. I haven't come to terms with that.

I suppose I the child is enjoying an non-academic enrichment, it acts as a outlet to destress. Does your son train to play competitively?

[Mrsbongz]

Term 4 timetable is out.. so are the exams dates

[Trapwithin]

Joyfulhands:

If tuition for lower pri is to build a firm foundation, that leads me to wonder if the school is not teaching enough to meet the same objective?

Lower primary cohort is a challenge for school to teach. Some kids start P1 with foundation while some start school without any foundation at all. The school will have to cast the net wide to cover all students so that no one is left behind.

Previously with streaming after P1 exam, school can use different teaching methodology for different students with different depth. But now they have to use the same methodology across whole cohort till P2 before they are stream in P3. Thus some kids find it hard to cope and some find it bored.

Currently in PHPPS, the weaker students in P1 and P2 are pull out of class to go for special enrichment class to build their foundations. Similarly HCL class are banded so that all the students need can be met.

Tuition centre do not have this issue because parents will do the moderations and adjustment. If this centre is not good enough for their strong/weak kids, they will find a suitable one. That's also the reason, why I mentioned in previous posting that no centres are suitable for all kids. Each serve a different need.

This also applies to the different assessment book in the market. Some are tough and challenging; while some are design to \"drill\".

[Trapwithin]

Mrsbongz:

Term 4 timetable is out.. so are the exams dates

Thanks .. have been waiting for it so that I can start planning.
Not for exam .... but holidays