Less Teaching, More Learning?
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caroline3sg:
Actually, teach less learn more can be done for Maths & Science as well, mainly, but not only through discovery. But teachers themselves need to have a very in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and be creative in their teaching.
Teach less learn more is not for Maths. And for Science, you need structured sentence for answer. This CAN BE taught. But are sch teacher teaching & stressing as such? If you get good teacher, yes.sunflower:
Basically, teach less is to spoon-feed less, but students have to learn more, so teachers need to think of innovative ways for children to learn by discovery, hands-on experimentation, research, group discussion, dramatisation/role-playing etc etc so that knowledge gained is not just superficial. Outcome is so that in-depth understanding and application of knowledge can be attained.
Teachers need to know how to facilitate the class in order to draw out and consolidate knowledge learnt and acquired by students, which is not an easy task and not all teachers are able to do it effectively.
This teaching approach actually takes up a lot of time in the classroom. Under immense time pressure to complete syllabus and to \"perform\", it's quite difficult to implement effectively in our classrooms. Also, it requires a lot of work as teachers need a lot of time to prepare good and effective lesson plans, materials/worksheets etc, so most do not, or are unable to do it. In fact, many teachers do not know how to conduct such lessons mainly due to lack of training/resources in the more creative teaching methodologies. And yes, good teachers will try to implement and teach to the best of their abilities. -
caroline3sg:
Actually hor, one of the best teachers in dd's pri school, teaching higher primary, although not very young, but she is not old too and has no children of her own. She very kan cheong, passonate in teaching, good classroom techniques. Her students tend to dislike her in the beginning but love her in the end. She simply knows how to handle them. There is another parent here who's child, so coincidentally also taught by this teacher, share the same feeling as me too.last time our teachers were middle age type, all had passion.
now the teachers very young one, no children of their own, so not kan cheong if students don't do well.
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caroline3sg:
Very sad. I guess that's the difference between elite and neighbourhood schools. I think my girl's neighbourhood school's teachers are overworked.
How to ask teacher? Basically no time. Teacher never teach, just give worksheets to students and the next day, teacher write answer on board and ask students to copy. Mind you, it is elite sch hor.
I think elite school's teachers should pull out those students with no tuition for extra classes. Perhaps your girl got an irresponsible teacher, unfortunately.
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When my kid started Pr.1, some parents asked me if I sent my kid for tuition. Pri. 1 Tuition? :? must be kidding...
I look around, all kids in the neighbourhood attending kid's school got tuition. Our kiasuism has created a secondary market for tuition. Tuition teachers earning 5 digits pay.
We earning so low still tekan by bosses...
very chamm u know?
Pri sch should be teachers giving tuition..... no extra $$$ :x
One day, there will be Higher Maths, Higher Science if we continue to be kiasu.... teachers only do simple problems.
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Donkey Kong:
... One day, there will be Higher Maths, Higher Science if we continue to be kiasu.... teachers only do simple problems.
Dear Donkey Kong, your over-generalisation of our teachers' efforts in teaching our children is giving the wrong impression of what is really happening in schools. I have personally come across totally dedicated teachers that really care and do many extra miles just to help their students manage their schoolwork. If anything, teachers are sandwiched between the official government policies set by MOE, highly expectant parents, and the need to help their schools achieve greater milestones. There is little left time over for themselves. Let us not add to their stress by demoralising them even as they try to help our kids. -
caroline3sg:
Wow!!!this sounds familiar.I also find that those supp and remedial classes are a waste of time.They just go through motion,at the end is the tutor is the one drilling them.My ds's teacher even best,they marked their own worksheets and even activity books!!!!I checked through them,some were marked wronly :x so they learn wrong thing too :stupid:last time our teachers were middle age type, all had passion.
now the teachers very young one, no children of their own, so not kan cheong if students don't do well. Don't tell me KPI. There are bound to have students who are good and some who are weak in the same class.
Even though they go to their respective band class, the teacher wouldn't be labelled as no good by Principal or MOE as the students are already labelled as weak. -
caroline3sg:
Agree that most teachers would think those who need remedial are those with weak foundation, so they tend to drill more on that. Most do not handle complex questions in remedial, unless they see majority of the students' weaknesses require them to conduct such remedial. Yes, you're right, no need to send your daughter to the remedial class and waste time.
my conclusion: teacher already have mind set that weak students can't handle complex question, so hands off. -
caroline3sg:
I don't quite agree with the outside tuition teacher's way of teaching Science. The child will lose interest in Science. I feel that learning the thinking process is more important than memorising standard answers. My girl's school teacher teaches them thinking skills in answering Science questions and I find it to be really useful. The teacher encourages the students to do mind maps and concept maps, but says these are not the only ways. She doesn't just dish out mind maps.
Only P6 Science teacher is good. She gave whole stack of mind maps for all topics (she did herself) for each of the students. However, it was outside tuition teacher that stresses the need to memorise standard answers which my girl hated / have difficulty. -
It’s actually very easy to say teach less, learn more, but to truly implement it takes up a lot of time in the classroom. The whole education system would have to be revamped: the syllabus, class size, teacher training, school set-up and resources etc etc. We may even have to do away with the PSLE and implement a whole new and different set of system for assessment.
Under the current immense pressure of students having to take the PSLE and the syllabus requirements, teach less, learn more is easier said than done. Many interpreted it the wrong way and I would say it’s not quite suitable for our current system.
I do see some positive changes recently in the teaching at the lower primary level. But reality sets in in the upper primary level and most teachers are compelled to just throw idealism out of the window. -
sunflower:
The outside science tuition teacher was formerly teaching catholic high. She is very confident that students under her can jump from C to A*. Actually not apple to apple comparison coz prelims is raw marks and PSLE is moderated score.
I don't quite agree with the outside tuition teacher's way of teaching Science. The child will lose interest in Science. I feel that learning the thinking process is more important than memorising standard answers. My girl's school teacher teaches them thinking skills in answering Science questions and I find it to be really useful. The teacher encourages the students to do mind maps and concept maps, but says these are not the only ways. She doesn't just dish out mind maps.caroline3sg:
Only P6 Science teacher is good. She gave whole stack of mind maps for all topics (she did herself) for each of the students. However, it was outside tuition teacher that stresses the need to memorise standard answers which my girl hated / have difficulty.
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