Why screen kids in P1?

[Chenonceau]

Funz:

Whatever the reason for the screening, it is only right to inform the parents of the intent. If it is to identify at risk kids, I think the teacher's observation will be more important than any adhoc tests. And the first steps to be taken should be to work with the parents.


I am glad that they stopped the test. If it is really to help slower kids, I hope they adopt a more personal approach.

:goodpost:

Thank you for saying this. If I say... sure kena flamed.

[verykiasumummy]

teachers may not be skilled enough to identify all of them, especially those borderline cases… a test like raven does the job…


but i still agree that parents should be informed… afterall they are all our kids, not the teachers’…

[verykiasumummy]

but i must say, parents’ feedback have a great impact in deciding what the school does to their children… i believe there would be parents who might think that the school is not doing enough tests and so on… there is always personalities of different extreme ends…

[Funz]

verykiasumummy:

teachers may not be skilled enough to identify all of them, especially those borderline cases... a test like raven does the job...


but i still agree that parents should be informed.. afterall they are all our kids, not the teachers'...

It is especially the borderline cases that such tests will not be able to do the job. A borderline kid's inability to perform in school may not have anything to do with their IQ, could be environmental factors, could be that on the day that the test was done the kid was not well, could be a whole host of issues.

[verykiasumummy]

Funz:

verykiasumummy:

teachers may not be skilled enough to identify all of them, especially those borderline cases... a test like raven does the job...


but i still agree that parents should be informed.. afterall they are all our kids, not the teachers'...

It is especially the borderline cases that such tests will not be able to do the job. A borderline kid's inability to perform in school may not have anything to do with their IQ, could be environmental factors, could be that on the day that the test was done the kid was not well, could be a whole host of issues.

totally agree with u... i heard that borderline kids that are suspected will go for another round and under extra observation by the teacher i/c...

regardless of what methods and formula, there is no one test that tells it all... they are different beings in the first place...

[Melodies]

I remembered there is 1 report (something like individual details report) to capture student particular such as age, birth cert no, home address, parents name and contacts and also GEP indicator. I received it every year since pri 1 from my dd's school for my confirmation of all particulars. Once confirmed, I will sign and then return back. I have been wondering what is that GEP indicator since pri 1 and now I'm able to relate this to screening now! Yes, there is an indication in that report and I can't help to think that every teacher can access the information.

:skeptical:
Do you have the similar particular report for your dc? have u noticed?

[kwcllf]

verykiasumummy:

as the usual saying, early detection is better than cure... i also feel that if the primary motive was to detect weaker students, there is nothing to complain about... schools may not want parents to worry unduly over the test or worse, made advance preparation to their children to acheive better results that may not be true..


parents should be informed just before or just after the test to show respect that the school has done such things to their children, but not totally unsaid... i'm not sure of the article if the Mr Whoever is upset that he wasnt informed in time or the school has no intention of informing at all..

My two kids are from neighbourhood school. IMHO, it is necessary to identify weaker students and I support MOE for doing so. Why? Becos in neighbourhood schools, students come from all sorts of background compared to some schools in or near higher income estates.

Once, my DD's teacher told me that in her previous school where it is in a better off area, the quality of students are very different from the neighbourhood school. I think the reasons are clear.

In fact, I was quite concerned that by lumping all the children together, irrespective of their intellectual ability, it does neither good to both acadmically better students and academically weak students.

The teachers would have a hard time accomodating both sets of students - to go faster or slower! If the students' academic ability are identified and grouping them separately, the school or the teachers can tailored the pace of teaching to suit them best.

In fact, I have written to MOE on this concern. Seriously, I don't see anything wrong with what MOE has done. I don't think they are trying to test the children's IQ or whatever, especially since they already has the GEP screening when the children reached P3.

[Mychildren]

kwcllf:

My two kids are from neighbourhood school. IMHO, it is necessary to identify weaker students and I support MOE for doing so. Why? Becos in neighbourhood schools, students come from all sorts of background compared to some schools in or near higher income estates.

Once, my DD's teacher told me that in her previous school where it is in a better off area, the quality of students are very different from the neighbourhood school. I think the reasons are clear.

In fact, I was quite concerned that by lumping all the children together, irrespective of their intellectual ability, it does neither good to both acadmically better students and academically weak students.

The teachers would have a hard time accomodating both sets of students - to go faster or slower! If the students' academic ability are identified and grouping them separately, the school or the teachers can tailored the pace of teaching to suit them best.

In fact, I have written to MOE on this concern. Seriously, I don't see anything wrong with what MOE has done. I don't think they are trying to test the children's IQ or whatever, especially since they already has the GEP screening when the children reached P3.

:goodpost:

kwclf,
Yes, my kids also from neighbourhood school, I saw some of the kids reaching school earlier for some kind of programme because they are weak in certain subjects. The school is doing something to help these kids so that they'll be able to catch up with the rest. From one of the kid I know, he don't have any tuition at all & his mum cannot teach him while his dad needs to work.

[DesertWind]

Nebbermind:

jtoh:

Why would the doctor suggest sending your son for an IQ test? In my books, IQ tests are only necessary if you suspect that your child has some form of learning disability or exhibits unusually high giftedness which you might need early intervention for. Otherwise, to test just to determine if your child has a high IQ is an exercise in vanity.

me thinking same thing :hi5: but couldn't bring myself to probe!!

Thanks for your consideration, Nebbermind!
My boy has speech delay and is only now speaking more. Whatever it is, I don't see the need to do the IQ test now. He may fail in which case I think it will be unfair to him. Or he may pass and then why bother to do in the first place? Don't think it will turn out to be a gifted result. Certainly not testing for vanity purposes. I think my boy is just fine and I love him for who he is. I believe the very area of his weakness (speech) will be his greatest strength in time to come! :love:

[Chenonceau]

DesertWind:

Nebbermind:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]

Why would the doctor suggest sending your son for an IQ test? In my books, IQ tests are only necessary if you suspect that your child has some form of learning disability or exhibits unusually high giftedness which you might need early intervention for. Otherwise, to test just to determine if your child has a high IQ is an exercise in vanity.

me thinking same thing :hi5: but couldn't bring myself to probe!!

Thanks for your consideration, Nebbermind!
My boy has speech delay and is only now speaking more. Whatever it is, I don't see the need to do the IQ test now. He may fail in which case I think it will be unfair to him. Or he may pass and then why bother to do in the first place? Don't think it will turn out to be a gifted result. Certainly not testing for vanity purposes. I think my boy is just fine and I love him for who he is. I believe the very area of his weakness (speech) will be his greatest strength in time to come! :love:[/quote] :love: :love: