2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[balu_priya]

My DD is always getting high A or low A star for math,English and science.I have no idea what I can do so that DDs marks improve.Oh, I do not know if this would help, but DDs compre cloze is not very good. What can I do to help? This kiasu mummy wants DD to go to her dream school but has no idea what to do. Why am I so blur? :stupid:

[Chenonceau]

Hi Balu_Priya, apologies… I can’t type out my son’s Paper 2 Math questions because it’s as good as revealing to the world which school DS goes to. Very very sorry. Next, I am afraid there is not much academic strengthening you CAN do at this late stage. To tackle compre cloze, I started DS in early P5 on a regime of non-fiction readings…

- Time
- Newsweek
- National Geographic
- Readers’ Digest
- History

Right now, I have switched my focus away from academic strengthening and managing more his emotional state. No panic. No fear. Just keep up the gentle practice to keep the brain toned up. Eat well. Play more. Rest enough. Stay in good health.

[Peony]

Chenonceau:

Hi Balu_Priya, apologies... I can't type out my son's Paper 2 Math questions because it's as good as revealing to the world which school DS goes to. Very very sorry. Next, I am afraid there is not much academic strengthening you CAN do at this late stage. To tackle compre cloze, I started DS in early P5 on a regime of non-fiction readings...

- Time
- Newsweek
- National Geographic
- Readers' Digest
- History

Right now, I have switched my focus away from academic strengthening and managing more his emotional state. No panic. No fear. Just keep up the gentle practice to keep the brain toned up. Eat well. Play more. Rest enough. Stay in good health.

My dear, I'm on the same page as u... As in the focus is on emotional & mental well being. Tough to keep off the \"push\" factor from external sources.
Everyone's revving up and I'm asking her not to.

Just read your blog and am trying to comprehend it but it's so cheem :sad:

DD loses a lot of marks to carelessness and that's my biggest worry. Is making her \"happy\" partly a reason why? Based on your blog, it seems to be. Especially when she is less careless after I'm harsh with her. But I've been a \"zen\" mum as I thought that's what I have to be this year.

[Chenonceau]

Peony... heh! Experimental lab studied show that people perform better at analytical/logical mental tasks when their emotions have been primed to be SAD (i.e., watch a sad movie). People perform better at creative tasks when their emotions have been primed to be HAPPY (i.e., watch a funny movie).


Paper 1 needs our kids to be logical and careful.
Paper 2 needs our kids to be creative.

I'm not sure of how effective it is to get DS to be sad in Paper 1... and then happy in Paper 2. Sometimes, the application of research to real life can completely foul things up. The blog post was just some musings. Don't take it too seriously. I haven't messed around with this particular notion enough to be able to recommend anything to anyone. It's just me thinking out loud and experimenting with an idea to see how it can work in real life.

Seriously though... I can just see how some people will think I am :siao: to even suggest to DS that he should...

(1) be sad in Paper 1
(2) be happy in Paper 2

DS himself said \"Mom, you are trying to make me into a cuckoo? It will be so odd for me to swing from sad to happy in the 30 minutes break between Paper 1 and Paper 2.\"

And ummm... he is right. :rotflmao: This PSLE is driving me psycho too.

[Peony]

Er... I try everything... From music to whole brain methods etc. so I don't find you :siao: lol!


If anything, am game to trying new strategies especially when it comes to overcoming her carelessness.

What u say makes sense coz she does better (less careless) when she's anxious for maths and science but not for compo. Her best compo was written when she was calm & happy.

I discussed this with her and she said \"I'm happy when the qns are easy\". Hence the reason why she's careless? :slapshead:

I always thought it was coz she goes too fast when doing an easy qn.

Thanks so much for sharing so much. :udawoman:

[balu_priya]

Chenonceau:

Hi Balu_Priya, apologies... I can't type out my son's Paper 2 Math questions because it's as good as revealing to the world which school DS goes to. Very very sorry. Next, I am afraid there is not much academic strengthening you CAN do at this late stage. To tackle compre cloze, I started DS in early P5 on a regime of non-fiction readings...

- Time
- Newsweek
- National Geographic
- Readers' Digest
- History

Right now, I have switched my focus away from academic strengthening and managing more his emotional state. No panic. No fear. Just keep up the gentle practice to keep the brain toned up. Eat well. Play more. Rest enough. Stay in good health.

Chenonceau, you have a point there.DD reads a lot of fiction materials but not non-fiction. I will get her to read the materials you suggested. :thankyou: for your suggestion! And Chenonceau, you might consider PMing me with the names in the questions changed, but it is perfectly alright if you cannot do so. :thankyou: once again for all your help! :snuggles:

[fifiyeo]

Chenonceau, I think we all need to be treated for PSLE burn out after all this!

[janet88]

Hi mummies,

I seriously wonder what kind of rehab therapy we need after PSLE.
Not retail though. It’s just a temporary relief until Nov when results are released…but then, what’s done is already done.

With just 24 days before PSLE English, my son’s math 2011 papers are the ones mostly done as well as science. Exposure to diff phrasing of questions is crucial now. My son has this mental block when he sees tough questions…sometimes they are not tough, but the way it is phrased scared him off. He has to overcome this ASAP.

Reminding him to read ST everyday.

[underthesea]

my dd has been very "slack" after the prelims. Not sure is it burnt out. Keep reminding her the big war is not over, she said she know but…

[Chenonceau]

underthesea:

my dd has been very \"slack\" after the prelims. Not sure is it burnt out. Keep reminding her the big war is not over, she said she know but...

Give a her 3 days break? Fill the 3 days with FUN and FOOD... long walks... leisurely meals... cycling... NO COMPUTER GAMES BECAUSE THESE USE UP COGNITIVE ENERGY.

Do this quick (like starting tomorrow?) so that she can recharge... then maintain a soft training schedule from now till PSLE. Keep her humming... not revved up. I teach a course on Burn Out and Stress at the uni... so... I do know what I am talking about.

But well... Mommy knows best. Just my suggestion.