2013 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[ngl2010]

BeContented:

ngl2010:

Thank you for all the advice.


I think at this moment we have chosen piano exam over CA so we will stick to it otherwise DS will feel overwhelmed and stressed.

The school has also recently chose him to represent the school in the debate competition and it requires him to attend training 4 hours a week in school.

We have accepted the possibility that he won't do well in CA. We also have given up on DSA as realistically it is not possible to get DSA as the chance is extremely low.

All the best to the P6 kids!

Hi,
For DSA, my DS tried and personally, I think no harm trying. As some people (parent/kids) do get stressed over DSA, maybe limit to 1-2 schools for experience.

We decided to go to DSA last minute and since we thought not much chance and also think DS may not get in via PSLE, we cast our net wide ie. 4 schools.
Surprisingly, he bagged 2 CO & 1 WL ... ie. rejected by top choice

The whole DSA experience (from application to tea session) actually changed our perception and preference. We accepted one. Tho eventually, DS did do well enough to enter his top choice, I guess that's fate, it's not his to be Note that once the DSA is accepted, no appeal or transfer is allowed after PSLE.
Currently, DS is happy in his school :love:

Hi. 

Thank you for the advice. I guess we will think about the DSA nearer to April/May. When I learned about DSA a couple of years ago, I thought we should try using his piano (he will pass Grade 8 this month) for DSA. However, reading KSP forum destroyed my hope as it appears that getting a grade 8 cert won't be enough because the school requires him to have competed nationally or internationally.

His best subject is Maths but he did not win anything in maths olympiad competition. He loves Science the best but I don't think there is Science domain for DSA. And now he is in his school's debate team which I think won't help him in any DSA but he insisted that we allow him to join (he made his teacher personally called me to persuade me in allowing him to attend the trainings. I and DH think he does not have what it takes to be a debater but how to crash a child's hope?)

There it is. My son is a generalist. How I wish that he has a specific talent e.g. Music so it is clear that he will be either a performer or a teacher. Now everything is half baked. We don't even know what domain he should apply should we decide to apply for DSA   :?

[Mama Mania]

ChiefKiasu:

ngl2010:

My son has not been revising or doing any assessment books or top school papers to prepare for his CA1 next week because he is preparing for piano exam.


I would have panicked if I don't keep telling myself what Janet has been sharing in this forum that the BIG picture is PSLE. Thank you, Janet!

While it is true that PSLE is the key exam, getting good grades for CAs and SAs is important for confidence building. Otherwise, the grades must be taken as a wake-up call. You don't just spend the last month studying for PSLE. You have to start NOW.

Remember also that performance in school exams can also be used in appeals to Secondary schools in case the child falls sick on exam days. So for all those taking PSLE this year, please take your CAs and SAs seriously.

Yes, getting good grades for CA/ SA / prelim is important but just as what Janet_lee 888 puts it that \"this 'wake up' call by schools to set tough papers doesn't always motivate kids\". I think it is very important to manage this wake up call if they don't do as well as it really can be served as a motivational factor or a de-motivational factor. I have seen kids who tried so hard and because of CA/SA/prelim results, parents' expectations and scoldings thereafter, lost confidence in the subject and on day of the big picture, they panicked and performed badly in PSLE. There are also those who did very well, became over confidence and did not do as well in PSLE.

As for my DD, knowing her character, if this CA sees her grades plunge, it will truly be a wake up call to her. Actually I have been stressing to her it's not the end result of the PSLE that I care so much but it is the whole process of her preparing for it. What is upsetting to me is her time management and lack of effort. If I see her efforts and hard work put into it, whatever her results, good or bad, is a call for celebration. That was my message to the elder one 2 years ago too and I remembered being so super calm on the day the results were released as I had seen how driven and hard the poor child had worked in preparation of her PSLE.

[janet88]

QUOTE:

What Chief has mentioned is very true.
Whether is confidence building or a wake-up call, key is to start earlier & be consistent. Dun get complacent, dun panic, dun burnt-out. And of course, understand your child & do set the right expectation & accept them. They will feel the stress/disappointment/happiness through us.
For me, I believe knowing the Sch usual standard will help in some way too.
:goodpost: :goodpost:
DS took his PSLE last year.....since his school was pretty relax & he wasn't that ambitious, I pushed/nag him a little more.
DD will be doing hers this year.....besides the Sch pushing hard, there's expectation from teachers & herself. So on my part, I could not bear or dare to push much. What is PSLE if the child is to suffer a breakdown?? Hence for DD, I'm more wary of her stress level.....

So all the best to those doing PSLE 2013.

it's hard to find that balance between too much and too little.
after june, schools push past year paper one after another as homework...on our part, we have to assess kids' stress level.

[lurline]

Hi ngl2010,


Some schools accept Science as a domain for DSA. DHS and VS etc

My friend’s ds applied thru science domain at VS and got in.

[ngl2010]

lurline:

Hi ngl2010,


Some schools accept Science as a domain for DSA. DHS and VS etc

My friend's ds applied thru science domain at VS and got in.

Thank you, lurline. We will check them out

[buds]

ngl2010:

Thank you for all the advice.

Ermmm mine wasn't exactly advice. :oops: It was more of a sharing. Sharing what little my dd and i can manage. I've (once too many) been told by others (friends, cousins, relatives and even my mom!) to send her for external lessons (ie. tuition). I suppose by their standards, the girls need it?

ngl2010:

I think at this moment we have chosen piano exam over CA so we will stick to it otherwise DS will feel overwhelmed and stressed. The school has also recently chose him to represent the school in the debate competition and it requires him to attend training 4 hours a week in school. We have accepted the possibility that he won't do well in CA. We also have given up on DSA as realistically it is not possible to get DSA as the chance is extremely low.

I think your boy will do just fine. After reading your sharings about him being strong in Math and Science AND already now attempting Grade 8 piano exam on top of wanting to be a part of the school's debate team.. :salute:.. honestly, I think your boy has got the chops to do just fine. The school would not go to the extent of calling you if your son wasn't any good. I'm thinking he must be quite stellar.. perhaps a hidden talent you have not uncovered? :evil:

Violin in DD's case is more for aesthetic reasons than anything and a good avenue for release and also creativity. Should she wish to pursue music as a career in future (for real or for back-up) we hope she has something to lean on. My dd is a below-average student. We are only aiming to pass. She may have some learning disability we may not know of because we care not about all those 'labels' and neither do we have extra financial resources to get it looked into. She processes information slower than most and tends to be forgetful which we just put it as more to just a trait of hers that we can perhaps work on or in eventuality just understand her limitations and let it be. :xedfingers:

ngl2010:

Hi. 

Thank you for the advice. I guess we will think about the DSA nearer to April/May. When I learned about DSA a couple of years ago, I thought we should try using his piano (he will pass Grade 8 this month) for DSA. However, reading KSP forum destroyed my hope as it appears that getting a grade 8 cert won't be enough because the school requires him to have competed nationally or internationally.

His best subject is Maths but he did not win anything in maths olympiad competition. He loves Science the best but I don't think there is Science domain for DSA. And now he is in his school's debate team which I think won't help him in any DSA but he insisted that we allow him to join (he made his teacher personally called me to persuade me in allowing him to attend the trainings. I and DH think he does not have what it takes to be a debater but how to crash a child's hope?)

There it is. My son is a generalist. How I wish that he has a specific talent e.g. Music so it is clear that he will be either a performer or a teacher. Now everything is half baked. We don't even know what domain he should apply should we decide to apply for DSA   :?

There's no way we are trying for DSA of any kind. DD does not have the makings for ambitious routes. We are happy as long as she can pass. Going to express would be a bonus. As both DD and her sister are polar opposites, their best efforts towards their academic achievements have always been our priority and as much as possible we try (hard and forget some times but must really try) to remind ourselves that their best IS good enough... for if we observe the work they put into their extra time, we will know they have put in their best foot forward. Some kids despite putting double the work can still only achieve slightly more than usual or the same... you know that's where their best is. As such, we are realistic not to set expectations on her and hope P6 can be a year she can have fond memories of school and teachers and friends. We are also not looking at top sec schs.

Is the piano exam before CA1 or after? If it's before CA1 exam, mebbe still have some time to chiong? Aniwaes, CA1 covers lesser topics and mainly more from revision of P5. I'm sure your son will do very well. :celebrate: DD's violin exam is after CA1 so she has a lil bit more time to chiong sight reading! Heng-arh.. :faint:

[buds]

Good luck all DC (dear children) for CA1! :rahrah:

[TheAnswer]

I think that as long as the kids try their best. It’s more than enough for me. Realistic expectations. All the best for those taking CA1!

[ngl2010]

Buds,


I always enjoy reading your posts and admire your time management in handling 4 kids. :udawoman:

My son's piano exam is after CA. We will just leave CA to his fate. If he doesn't do well in CA, let it be a reminder for him that he needs to work hard to get good results.

All the best to your DD's CA and violin exam!

[janet88]

TheAnswer:

I think that as long as the kids try their best. It's more than enough for me. Realistic expectations. All the best for those taking CA1!

as a parent, i need to have realistic expectations when son took his psle.
i saw his hard work, stress over 9 months and honestly, i prayed hard he did not suffer a burnt out.