Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary

[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

[Jennifer]

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?

He now plays for leisure only. Recently he teamed up with a JH3 classmate to compete in a sch badminton event. Lost to a pair of JH2 who (according to my boy) are trained professionally.

I feel that to expect lower pri pupils to pay 100% attention during lesson is unrealistic. The teacher might have taught, but the child did not listen or did not understand or did not retain. Then when the child goes home, he tells his parents \"teacher did not teach this'.

I am saying this becos I have heard from my boys this sentence, only to hear a different story the next time \"oh, this looks familiar. I think Ms.xxx told us in class last time.\"

To me, enrichment lessons are to make up what my children missed in class or what the teacher could not cover in class due to time constraints or what the teacher chose not to teach in order to cater to the majority pupils' ability.

I sent my elder boy for enrichment in his lower pri lvl becos the school he was attending then (BPPS) did not stream the pupils. He was not challenged. Everyday, he came home with no homework as he was able to finish them in class.

I do not agree that enrichment centres are to teach, schools are to test.

[Joyfulhands]

Trapwithin:

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.

No prob to jump in to comment, in fact I'm happy to hear your views.
Thanks for sharing that group settings facilitate language learning

My DD goes for HCL enrichment which teaches the textbook lessons in advance. I find it advantageous that the content is repeated to her in school subsequently. It's like 1st time she didn't get it, still got 2nd chance to learn again in school

[Joyfulhands]

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\".

Perhaps then it's better to phrase that lower pri sch education lays only the very basic foundation while the enrichment centres strengthen that esp for the better performers.