Put PSLE behind us let's prepare our kids for Sec 1

[janet88]

I’ve dumped all my son’s school worksheets, prelim papers, lousy notes into incinerator (well, indirectly) long time ago…should have used them to start fire for BBQ. I badly want to move on and forget all the unhappiness and bitterness…the crap I put up with his teachers this year and also being ostracised by his form teacher. When I stepped into his school to collect the cert yesterday, all these sh!@ came back to me.

[rains]

Hi Janet,


I’ve always appreciated your generous and candid sharing. The pain would linger for a while. Psle and t-scores will soon be over in a couple of weeks. Kids will exchange scores for the first few weeks and they will realize there are many who are like them, or have similar scores as theirs. He will get over this very quickly when he knows he is not alone. A few months down the road and no one will care how you did at psle.

[janet88]

rains:

Hi Janet,


I've always appreciated your generous and candid sharing. The pain would linger for a while. Psle and t-scores will soon be over in a couple of weeks. Kids will exchange scores for the first few weeks and they will realize there are many who are like them, or have similar scores as theirs. He will get over this very quickly when he knows he is not alone. A few months down the road and no one will care how you did at psle.

Hi Rains,
I sincerely believe you know how I feel.
Thank you for your encouragement...I appreciate.
I thought the pain is over...but when I collected his cert, that bitterness came back. Bitter bcos I felt that the 6 years was wasted...being accosted by teachers and questioned whether he had tuition and being ostracised by his form teacher was the hardest to accept.
What the bloody hell is this supposed to mean? Sorry I am very pissed.

[rains]

janet_lee88:

Hi Rains,
I sincerely believe you know how I feel.
Thank you for your encouragement...I appreciate.
I thought the pain is over...but when I collected his cert, that bitterness came back. Bitter bcos I felt that the 6 years was wasted...being accosted by teachers and questioned whether he had tuition and being ostracised by his form teacher was the hardest to accept.
What the bloody hell is this supposed to mean? Sorry I am very pissed.

Nothing in life is truly wasted. The six years he spent in his school are not just about a 3-digit score. I'm sure he has built very dear friendships and has a couple of teachers he likes. Our primary school years have lots of fond memories we draw on later in life.

My kid didn't have exactly a smooth primary school life either, but on reflection, my not-so-friendly correspondence with some of the teachers must have contributed to the teachers' harsh treatment on her.

She had an especially harsh form teacher at p5, whom she said admonished her,\"Your life is in a mess!\"

I thought it would be good to find out from the teacher what made her say that but unfortunately, the teacher couldn't recall herself saying that.

I think issues with teachers have to be resolved asap. Ultimately, our kids are under the teachers' charge. Our children are at the losing end if we 硬碰硬 with the teachers.

[mummy so kiasu]

janet_lee88:

I thought the pain is over...but when I collected his cert, that bitterness came back. Bitter bcos I felt that the 6 years was wasted...being accosted by teachers and questioned whether he had tuition and being ostracised by his form teacher was the hardest to accept.
What the bloody hell is this supposed to mean? Sorry I am very pissed.

I feel sorry for what you & your son have gone through this year. I sure that he has learn a lot from this tough journey & it will help him to grow stronger.

An inspiring teacher does make a lot of different. Not all schools are good schools? Not all teachers are good teachers? No wonder parents need to invest so much money on tuition.

[janet88]

I am learning to let go and move on.


In the meantime, I have shifted my focus to my daughter’s work whom I have neglected for 2 years. Once bitten, twice shy. I have to build her foundation even though she is going to P3…the first jump from lower primary.

For son going to Sec 1, he is still rather bochap…very much in la-la land. Don’t know what to expect when school reopens. The thought of managing 8 subjects in the same frame of time in a week is worrying. History, literature and geography are completely new.

[ks2011]

janet_lee88:

I am learning to let go and move on.


In the meantime, I have shifted my focus to my daughter's work whom I have neglected for 2 years. Once bitten, twice shy. I have to build her foundation even though she is going to P3...the first jump from lower primary.

For son going to Sec 1, he is still rather bochap...very much in la-la land. Don't know what to expect when school reopens. The thought of managing 8 subjects in the same frame of time in a week is worrying. History, literature and geography are completely new.

Sec 1 is manageable. Be prepared to see some grades drop badly. I don't think tuitions are very helpful (my view). The child needs to be disciplined and start making his own notes.

[janet88]

ks2011:

janet_lee88:

Don't know what to expect when school reopens. The thought of managing 8 subjects in the same frame of time in a week is worrying. History, literature and geography are completely new.

Sec 1 is manageable. Be prepared to see some grades drop badly. I don't think tuitions are very helpful (my view). The child needs to be disciplined and start making his own notes.

For humanities subjects, I want son to learn to make notes and ask questions if he doesn't understand. With such a tight schedule, he has to learn time management too. Thanks for letting me know what to expect.
It's a whole new world for him next year.

[germum]

mummies that have started your kids on Eng tuition, care to share whether you go for private or centre? if centre, where?

TIA

[julialai]

During this holidays, I sent my DS for an intensive Math course which covers Sec 1 and 2 syllabi, as I don't think he'll have time to sustain weekly Math lessons when school re-opens. The course gives a bird's eye view of the curriculum, not delving really deep but more like skimming through the basics, so now he knows what to expect and has gained some confidence, especially with algebra. I also got him to read his Lit texts, which he enjoyed tremendously. Other than this, he has been slacking and snacking and loving it (and also putting on weight!). Soon his carefree days are coming to an end :evil:


Just want to thank all you wonderful KSP who have shared generously your invaluable advice and humour as I walked this youngest one through PSLE. The DSA thread was particularly helpful, as during my two elder DD's time, I didn't even have to consider the DSA option, due to their affiliation advantage. I also remember the night just before the PSLE results were released. We had fun teasing one another and trying to make light the anxiety which was mounting by the hour!

So yes! PSLE is history and Sec 1 beckons! :boogie:

May all of you have a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!