2013 Sec 1 Discussions

[vinegar]

wonderm:

Just to share what I observe, in Sec school (since this is a Sec school thread):


School teachers do teach although some teachers teach better than others. I think this is expected, no different in any other industries.

While teachers teach, the students are also expected to do self learning to cover more breath and depth. This may be more so for some schools and some classes. In general, the stronger (in academics) the students, the more they are expected to do self learning.

Tuition is NOT a MUST although some students do need and have tuitions. The best students (in academic) usually are the ones who do not have any tuition. Those who do have a lot of tuition do not always perform well.

I think to do well in studies, the child's learning ability and learning attitude count much more than whether they have tuition or not, more so as they move up to Sec and JC and beyond.

u r right. My DH said the same thing too. He advised me to hand off totally,if not,he forever won't learn.
Now i slowly teach him how to study by himself independent.Start by teaching him to capture notes during lessons,highlight the impt words,search information by himself.
I realise this was how we learnt in the past coz my mum is illiterate n dad busy in work.

[janet88]

wonderm:

Just to share what I observe, in Sec school (since this is a Sec school thread):


School teachers do teach although some teachers teach better than others. I think this is expected, no different in any other industries.

While teachers teach, the students are also expected to do self learning to cover more breath and depth. This may be more so for some schools and some classes. In general, the stronger (in academics) the students, the more they are expected to do self learning.

Tuition is NOT a MUST although some students do need and have tuitions. The best students (in academic) usually are the ones who do not have any tuition. Those who do have a lot of tuition do not always perform well.

It is not possible to have tuition for all 7-8 subjects at secondary level...for humanities subjects, I told son he has to read and study in-depth on his own...especially literature. Geog and history hubby and I can explain but studying them is still his responsibility. Time is very tight and precious at secondary level...so I have to limit what tuition he needs badly.

[fifiyeo]

wonderm:

Just to share what I observe, in Sec school (since this is a Sec school thread):


School teachers do teach although some teachers teach better than others. I think this is expected, no different in any other industries.

While teachers teach, the students are also expected to do self learning to cover more breath and depth. This may be more so for some schools and some classes. In general, the stronger (in academics) the students, the more they are expected to do self learning.

Tuition is NOT a MUST although some students do need and have tuitions. The best students (in academic) usually are the ones who do not have any tuition. Those who do have a lot of tuition do not always perform well.

I think to do well in studies, the child's learning ability and learning attitude count much more than whether they have tuition or not, more so as they move up to Sec and JC and beyond.

I agree. Tuition does help those who need it. DS no.1 needs a lot of 1-1 coaching, DS no.2 left on his own clocking less hours at the study desk does better than the brother. I guess learning ability and attitude counts.

[mummy so kiasu]

fifiyeo:

wonderm:

Just to share what I observe, in Sec school (since this is a Sec school thread):


School teachers do teach although some teachers teach better than others. I think this is expected, no different in any other industries.

While teachers teach, the students are also expected to do self learning to cover more breath and depth. This may be more so for some schools and some classes. In general, the stronger (in academics) the students, the more they are expected to do self learning.

Tuition is NOT a MUST although some students do need and have tuitions. The best students (in academic) usually are the ones who do not have any tuition. Those who do have a lot of tuition do not always perform well.

I think to do well in studies, the child's learning ability and learning attitude count much more than whether they have tuition or not, more so as they move up to Sec and JC and beyond.

I agree. Tuition does help those who need it. DS no.1 needs a lot of 1-1 coaching, DS no.2 left on his own clocking less hours at the study desk does better than the brother. I guess learning ability and attitude counts.

My boy does not have tuition since last year September, a month before PSLE. We have given him the option, to have or not to have tuition. He prefers to do self study & go without tuition, due to his heavy CCAs commitments. Will see how he copes first then decide whether tuition is needed.

[kwcllf]

janet_lee88:

Rhyll:

I agree with Janet that tuition is a MUST. And yes, the sch always teach the basic of a topic BUT will test them on diff or complex questions which the students have never seen. REASON : To sieve out the better students. BUT the truth is, they are not the BEST students but the well-prepared-by-tuition-centers students.

So those who are lucky to find the right tutor or tuition centre will be the BEST students.

Though son's teachers are teaching more, I still dare not let go of my tutors...it is because of the back up of tutors which helps my son understand what they are being taught in school. Yes, Rhyll...you are right. Questions tested during tests/questions are difficult. Tutors provide a backup as they will guide son in areas he has difficulty in. Secondary English is no joke.

My DS has tuition for maths with the same tuitor since Primary School. He enjoys going to tuition as the tutor is good and has good rapport with them.

And as Janet_Lee88 said, I let my DS continue as a backup although I can see him doing alot of independent study. So, to have tuition or not, it depends on many factors, not just whether a child is academically strong or not.

And on the subject on whether school teachers are teaching more of less, I think it depends on individual teachers and their attitude. For Literature, my DS just told me over the weekend that the whole class asked whether their English Language teacher can teach them Literature instead as their current teacher is really BORING.......just reading and reading and then do some worksheets all the time. However, their English teacher said she cannot accede to their request as this was planned by the school.

My DS said the Literature teachers in other classes have made the lessons so much more interesting by getting the students to act out and participate interactively.

But his Geography teacher is different and good. My DS told me once that when they were taught about the Earth and its core, the teacher gave them each a Ferrero Roche chocolate. He used it to demonstrate how the earth is made up with different layers. At the end of it, they were told to eat up the chocolate.

They were so amused and they thoroughly enjoyed the lesson. Unfortunately, not all teachers are like that! Some, like their Literature teacher just go through lessons in a deadpan manner and I am really worried about how he can cope with the subject as he has already shown disinterest after such a short time.

[mummy so kiasu]

kwcllf:

And on the subject on whether school teachers are teaching more of less, I think it depends on individual teachers and their attitude. For Literature, my DS just told me over the weekend that the whole class asked whether their English Language teacher can teach them Literature instead as their current teacher is really BORING.......just reading and reading and then do some worksheets all the time. However, their English teacher said she cannot accede to their request as this was planned by the school.


My DS said the Literature teachers in other classes have made the lessons so much more interesting by getting the students to act out and participate interactively.

But his Geography teacher is different and good. My DS told me once that when they were taught about the Earth and its core, the teacher gave them each a Ferrero Roche chocolate. He used it to demonstrate how the earth is made up with different layers. At the end of it, they were told to eat up the chocolate.

They were so amused and they thoroughly enjoyed the lesson. Unfortunately, not all teachers are like that! Some, like their Literature teacher just go through lessons in a deadpan manner and I am really worried about how he can cope with the subject as he has already shown disinterest after such a short time.

It is almost impossible to have good teacher for every single subject, especially when there are so many subjects in sec school. You son is consider lucky to have quite a no. of good teachers. The other class might get good literature teacher but their Geography teacher might not be as good.

[sharonkhoo]

Another way of looking at things is that it is part of the child’s learning process to deal with bad or less than ideal teachers. It may mean poorer marks initially, and may mean needing to find help from other sources, but it can help make a child more resourceful and more accustomed to independent learning, all good skills in the long run. In some of the top universities in the world, the staff are actually very poor teachers (they are usually good researchers), and students often learn despite their teachers, not because of their teachers. I am not advocating only hiring poor teachers, but since not all teachers can be good, there is some value in learning how to cope without good teachers.

[janet88]

Son just passed first Literature common test…16/30…combined with the class test earlier, he got a B. It’s not really about the child being academically strong or not…at sec 1, my boy needs guidance as everything is new. At the end of the day, he still needs to learn how to study independently.


Hey kwcllf,
Using Ferrero Roche chocolate to teach geography…that sure spices up the lesson. The teacher really put in effort to make the lesson interesting.

Interesting lessons and pretty teachers…that play a BIG part in my dear son’s life in secondary school.

[mummy so kiasu]

slmkhoo:

Another way of looking at things is that it is part of the child's learning process to deal with bad or less than ideal teachers. It may mean poorer marks initially, and may mean needing to find help from other sources, but it can help make a child more resourceful and more accustomed to independent learning, all good skills in the long run. In some of the top universities in the world, the staff are actually very poor teachers (they are usually good researchers), and students often learn despite their teachers, not because of their teachers. I am not advocating only hiring poor teachers, but since not all teachers can be good, there is some value in learning how to cope without good teachers.

When my boys was in P6 last year, his former school principal changed his strategy by putting the HOD & subject heads in 6B to 6D. None of them took 6A, which was supposed to be the best class. However 6A produced the best results in PSLE & the over all performance of the school also turn out to be the best in school history. It shows that self motivation is more important than good teachers. Top students are usually self motivators and they do a lot of research & self study. My boy is still far from that. Just hope he can better manage his time & organize his stuffs.

[fifiyeo]

DS super happy yesterday. He said he was 3rd in class for his Georgraphy test (75%). CL also got 72.5%. Can't say the same for his Math but I am happy.