Recommendation of changes to reduce Stress for PSLE

[verykiasumummy]

Chenonceau:

beanbear:

I suspect some teachers give up teaching the kids to think for themselves and succumb to efficiency mode. Memorising. When i sent my ds to an intensive revision class with a gd ex-teacher, i noticed the difference in the way he grasped what the questions are asking and was able to formulate the answer for himself. This teacher helps kids to interpret qns, and then ensure the answer is complete and using scientific terms. I remembered when he sat for his sa2 exams some of his self formulated answers were quite long 3-4 lines for 2mark qn but the marker commended his answers. The school's answer key is certainly shorter but ds answer is still considered good. So my take is good teaching still trumps everything else.

I concur with beanbear's thoughts in red above. Below are my own thoughts.

Mastery of key words is an important skill in scientific study. One of 1st year medical students' earliest exams consist of being able to accurately name (within time limit) every muscle in the fore arm... every single one. Science requires precision and specificity. The terms we use when referring to specific notions, principles cannot be ambiguous. Mastery of key words is an important foundational piece in scientific inquiry... BUT many schools teach key words AS IF these are ALL there is. There are OTHER important scientific inquiry skills to layer upon the \"key word\" skill.

This said, my heart goes out to MMM. It's not her fault she thought it to be rote-learning. When the teacher does not know how to teach, the easiest thing to do is to make kids memorize. It is not the syllabus that is at fault. It is the HOW the child is taught. I too faced MMM's problem when DS was in P4. The school tested these critical skills of scientific inquiry (LiSC) but only started to teach them in April of P6. I also stumbled along but I have an advantage MMM does not have. In the course of my PhD, I received training in Epistemology. Thus, I could recognise the scientific inquiry skills when I saw them in my son's exams. I bought the LiSC book in early Primary 5 and DS was at least top 3 in every Science exam. Another good resource for scientific inquiry is this - http://www.amazon.com/Things-Future-Mathematicians-Scientists-Rarely/dp/0967991544.

Otherwise, do like Becontented, get your child a good tutor who CAN teach these skills.

Once you master the skills of scientific inquiry, you will realise that there is no need for rote learning in the present PSLE science syllabus. All the best to you MMM... all the best. :snuggles:

making kids memorise the answers are jus irresponsible...

u can watch a 100 episodes drama series and understood how the story goes, but u certainly cant remember every single word that the actors say...

ridiculous way of teaching..

[MMM]

Chenonceau:

Once you master the skills of scientific inquiry, you will realise that there is no need for rote learning in the present PSLE science syllabus. All the best to you MMM... all the best. :snuggles:

Thanks for the recommendation and well wishes, Chenonceau.

I have ordered the Lisc book that you recommended. Science is the toughest subject for us because both dh and I hated science when we were young.... To coach the kids, I must first overcome my barrier towards science , read up the textbooks, Lisc and see how I can guide him in a effective manner. But having said that... the textbook as some parents had mentioned makes things seem so simple and easy in comparison with the exam papers. :shock: During CA2, I recalled that I had to cross reference between assessment, ultimate science guide and text book and trying to formulate a chapter summary for ds so as to keep him focus on key concept, key words, etc...

Frankly, hearing the feedback from my kids, their science teachers (school + enrichment classes) have recommended them to memorise key words and standard answers. So for my p5 dd who is able to do it, she is able to score in science. But for my p4... this has become very challenging and I actually find it very worrying for him... because if he don't grasp it well, it will only get more difficult from P5...

[BeContented]

Chenonceau:

beanbear:

I suspect some teachers give up teaching the kids to think for themselves and succumb to efficiency mode. Memorising. When i sent my ds to an intensive revision class with a gd ex-teacher, i noticed the difference in the way he grasped what the questions are asking and was able to formulate the answer for himself. This teacher helps kids to interpret qns, and then ensure the answer is complete and using scientific terms. I remembered when he sat for his sa2 exams some of his self formulated answers were quite long 3-4 lines for 2mark qn but the marker commended his answers. The school's answer key is certainly shorter but ds answer is still considered good. So my take is good teaching still trumps everything else.

I concur with beanbear's thoughts in red above. Below are my own thoughts.

Mastery of key words is an important skill in scientific study. One of 1st year medical students' earliest exams consist of being able to accurately name (within time limit) every muscle in the fore arm... every single one. Science requires precision and specificity. The terms we use when referring to specific notions, principles cannot be ambiguous. Mastery of key words is an important foundational piece in scientific inquiry... BUT many schools teach key words AS IF these are ALL there is. There are OTHER important scientific inquiry skills to layer upon the \"key word\" skill.

This said, my heart goes out to MMM. It's not her fault she thought it to be rote-learning. When the teacher does not know how to teach, the easiest thing to do is to make kids memorize. It is not the syllabus that is at fault. It is the HOW the child is taught. I too faced MMM's problem when DS was in P4. The school tested these critical skills of scientific inquiry (LiSC) but only started to teach them in April of P6. I also stumbled along but I have an advantage MMM does not have. In the course of my PhD, I received training in Epistemology. Thus, I could recognise the scientific inquiry skills when I saw them in my son's exams. I bought the LiSC book in early Primary 5 and DS was at least top 3 in every Science exam. Another good resource for scientific inquiry is this - http://www.amazon.com/Things-Future-Mathematicians-Scientists-Rarely/dp/0967991544.

Otherwise, do like Becontented, get your child a good tutor who CAN teach these skills.

Once you master the skills of scientific inquiry, you will realise that there is no need for rote learning in the present PSLE science syllabus. All the best to you MMM... all the best. :snuggles:

:?
I believe you are referring to Beanbear instead? She mentioned her ds went to a good ex-teacher who taught well....

[janet88]

verykiasumummy:

i think releasing stress can be very simple like this.. no matter how bad psle is, that's over and we parents should look ahead and not back...

Agree 100%.
As parents, what we want to see is effort put in. Once that is achieved, we should give our kids a pat on their backs for a job well done.
Let's move on.
Btw, Happy Children's Day. :rahrah:

[Peony]

Sorry ah… Going off topic a bit.

Thanks to the LiSC book Chen recommended, my DD found the PSLE science paper easy. Imagine if teachers taught kids the right skills too?

P5 was the only time my DD was stressed. That was because she had an FT who was teaching her E, M & sc… or rather NOT teaching. That was the year we really needed tutors for her.

To me, what is taught in school is a little, but what is tested is A LOT. Who fills the gap?

What happens if this gap is not addressed? A generation of haves (tuition) and haves not (no tuition) who are both frustrated. In this case, yes, parents who have to pay for lessons and those who cannot afford to.

I used to think that kids who do well are those who have SAHMs to watch over them. Now I think it’s those who have access to information or techniques to acing exams.

So I really feel for those children whose parents do not support them the way we do here…

[Chenonceau]

Peony:

Sorry ah... Going off topic a bit.

Thanks to the LiSC book Chen recommended, my DD found the PSLE science paper easy. Imagine if teachers taught kids the right skills too?

P5 was the only time my DD was stressed. That was because she had an FT who was teaching her E, M & sc.. or rather NOT teaching. That was the year we really needed tutors for her.

To me, what is taught in school is a little, but what is tested is A LOT. Who fills the gap?

What happens if this gap is not addressed? A generation of haves (tuition) and haves not (no tuition) who are both frustrated. In this case, yes, parents who have to pay for lessons and those who cannot afford to.

I used to think that kids who do well are those who have SAHMs to watch over them. Now I think it's those who have access to information or techniques to acing exams.

So I really feel for those children whose parents do not support them the way we do here..

:goodpost: Good to see you back here again.

[Peony]

Chenonceau:

Peony:

Sorry ah... Going off topic a bit.

Thanks to the LiSC book Chen recommended, my DD found the PSLE science paper easy. Imagine if teachers taught kids the right skills too?

P5 was the only time my DD was stressed. That was because she had an FT who was teaching her E, M & sc.. or rather NOT teaching. That was the year we really needed tutors for her.

To me, what is taught in school is a little, but what is tested is A LOT. Who fills the gap?

What happens if this gap is not addressed? A generation of haves (tuition) and haves not (no tuition) who are both frustrated. In this case, yes, parents who have to pay for lessons and those who cannot afford to.

I used to think that kids who do well are those who have SAHMs to watch over them. Now I think it's those who have access to information or techniques to acing exams.

So I really feel for those children whose parents do not support them the way we do here..

:goodpost: Good to see you back here again.

:snuggles: :thankyou:

[janet88]

Peony:

P5 was the only time my DD was stressed. That was because she had an FT who was teaching her E, M & sc.. or rather NOT teaching. That was the year we really needed tutors for her.


To me, what is taught in school is a little, but what is tested is A LOT. Who fills the gap?
What happens if this gap is not addressed? A generation of haves (tuition) and haves not (no tuition) who are both frustrated. In this case, yes, parents who have to pay for lessons and those who cannot afford to.

I used to think that kids who do well are those who have SAHMs to watch over them. Now I think it's those who have access to information or techniques to acing exams.

So I really feel for those children whose parents do not support them the way we do here..

As a SAHM, I have not been of much help to my son...maybe can still fill in the gap for my daughter in P2, but when she moves up, I doubt I can follow.

[Peony]

janet_lee88:

Peony:

P5 was the only time my DD was stressed. That was because she had an FT who was teaching her E, M & sc.. or rather NOT teaching. That was the year we really needed tutors for her.


To me, what is taught in school is a little, but what is tested is A LOT. Who fills the gap?
What happens if this gap is not addressed? A generation of haves (tuition) and haves not (no tuition) who are both frustrated. In this case, yes, parents who have to pay for lessons and those who cannot afford to.

I used to think that kids who do well are those who have SAHMs to watch over them. Now I think it's those who have access to information or techniques to acing exams.

So I really feel for those children whose parents do not support them the way we do here..

As a SAHM, I have not been of much help to my son...maybe can still fill in the gap for my daughter in P2, but when she moves up, I doubt I can follow.

You are amazing, Janet! You identify your children's needs and do your best to fill the gaps.

Not all parents do that for their children.

[janet88]

Peony dear,

I don't have a choice. Since I can still understand what is in the textbooks (no matter how pathetic), I try to do my best. But my hands are really tight. Syllabus is getting tougher :nailbite:

SAHMs now seem to be getting less useful. :sad: