2011 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[Tinkerbelle]

Brenda10:

Tinkerbelle:

Hi Brenda,

I know what you mean about CL compo. 30-34 is usually DD's norm for CL compo. Her teacher said she always loses marks for \"cuo bie zi\" :slapshead: On bad days, she can even score 28!! :yikes:

Hi Tinkerbelle,

That why's hopefuly they do well in paper 2 to cover up for the CL compo.

Meantime, I just take out her compo. book and ask her to read and editing by good ci yu or phrases and hopefully she can do better in this coming PSLE!

Hi Brenda,
Yes....I also told DD to try to excel in Paper 2...just in case she doesn't perform well in CL compo. Sometimes she's very 'lor saw' and get too carried away with her grandmother story...then no time left to conclude. :evil:

Let's jia you together! :celebrate:

[PiggyLalala]

Tinkerbelle:

PiggyLalala:

[quote=\"Tinkerbelle\"]Hi PiggyLalala,

When I attended DD2' parents' briefing last yr....was told by the teacher that models are actually a pictorial form of algebra.....so it's easier for pri sch kids to understand.

Personally, I feel that models do have their merits for kids that can visualize the question better with diagrams. Furthermore, some questions can be solved quicker with models. At the end of the day, it really depends on which method the child feels most comfortable with. Knowing different methods also provides avenues for the pri sch child to use alternative methods should he/she have problems solving the question with their usual method.

However, having said that, I was told that in sec sch, models are no longer used and algebra is more commonly used so in this aspect, knowing how to do simultaneous equations have its advantages in sec sch. Just my 2cents worth.

Thanks for sharing again. Yes, models are pictorial algebra and that in secondary schools, models are no longer used and instead students are expected to solve using algebra.

The difficult part of model, I feel is, to tranform the key information in the word problems into models. For some more complicated questions, it is just so difficult to draw the corret models and 'practice made prefect' does not seem to work in model drawing.

Ya, I agree that models can be confusing at times, especially for the challenging questions. Probably that's the reason why it's not popular among students. Is your DD/DS in P6 this year? [/quote]Nope. My ds1 is already sec1 this year. But i have another ds2. Being kiasu, I am interested to find out how other schools teach to solve the word problems. I am also looking at the best way to coach ds2 when he is in P5 in the next few years.

[Pen88n]

Tinkerbelle:

Brenda10:

[quote=\"Tinkerbelle\"]Thanks Brenda....I think you're right. They test beyond the textbook to sieve the cream of the crop out.


理解问题 is tough these days. DD finds it difficult to score. Hopefully MT won't pull her PSLE T-score down too much. :nailbite:

Hi Tinkerbelle,

Agree!

Beside 理解问题 , another problem is the CL compo.. DD still cannot write well during the prelim and score 32! :scared:

Hi Brenda,
I know what you mean about CL compo. 30-34 is usually DD's norm for CL compo. Her teacher said she always loses marks for \"cuo bie zi\" :slapshead: On bad days, she can even score 28!! :yikes:[/quote]Hi Tinkerbelle,
30-34 for CL compo is already very good. My DS is doing at 27-30 range only, unless with a title he has done before, he may then hit the 30-34 range. He has even gone \"out of context\" before, and ended up with 8 marks only :shock: :yikes:

[Tinkerbelle]

PiggyLalala:

Tinkerbelle:

[quote=\"Brenda10\"]Hi Tinkerbelle,


Agree!

Beside 理解问题 , another problem is the CL compo.. DD still cannot write well during the prelim and score 32! :scared:

Hi Brenda,
I know what you mean about CL compo. 30-34 is usually DD's norm for CL compo. Her teacher said she always loses marks for \"cuo bie zi\" :slapshead: On bad days, she can even score 28!! :yikes:

Hi tinklebelle,
I would say to be able to score 30-34 in CL compo is considered to be very good. My ds1 will usually score around 28 to 30. I think he managed to hit 32 only once. Did your dd attend any creative chinese class?

All the best to her PSLE. :)[/quote]Hi PiggyLalala,
keke...thanks but that's only on good days la. DD's CL compo marks can be quite unpredictable sometimes. Her classmates can score 35-38. :shock:
No, DD doesn't attend any CL creative writing class. Maybe need to next yr in view of her Chinese standard..keke.
Does your DS go for CL creative lesson?

[Tinkerbelle]

Pen88n:

Tinkerbelle:

Hi Brenda,

I know what you mean about CL compo. 30-34 is usually DD's norm for CL compo. Her teacher said she always loses marks for \"cuo bie zi\" :slapshead: On bad days, she can even score 28!! :yikes:

Hi Tinkerbelle,
30-34 for CL compo is already very good. My DS is doing at 27-30 range only, unless with a title he has done before, he may then hit the 30-34 range. He has even gone \"out of context\" before, and ended up with 8 marks only :shock: :yikes:

Hi Pen88n,
27-30 is not too bad la, considering our kids are more 'jia kantang' type these days...keke. Furthermore, it seems harder to score well in compo these days. Need a lot of good phrases plus cannot write out of context.

Just curious, when you said your DS scored 8 marks for out of context compo....did he not answer the question or did he side-track? I'm sure your DS learnt something valuable from this experience and will not let it happen again.

All the best to your DS in his PSLE. Hope he strike Toto and get a topic he has done before. Jia you!

[Tinkerbelle]

PiggyLalala:

Tinkerbelle:

[quote=\"PiggyLalala\"]
Thanks for sharing again. Yes, models are pictorial algebra and that in secondary schools, models are no longer used and instead students are expected to solve using algebra.

The difficult part of model, I feel is, to tranform the key information in the word problems into models. For some more complicated questions, it is just so difficult to draw the corret models and 'practice made prefect' does not seem to work in model drawing.

Ya, I agree that models can be confusing at times, especially for the challenging questions. Probably that's the reason why it's not popular among students. Is your DD/DS in P6 this year?

Nope. My ds1 is already sec1 this year. But i have another ds2. Being kiasu, I am interested to find out how other schools teach to solve the word problems. I am also looking at the best way to coach ds2 when he is in P5 in the next few years. :)[/quote]Wow....you are so 'on'....keke.
When exactly is your DS2 going to P5? Maybe kor-kor can help teach also.

[Brenda10]

Pen88n:

Hi Tinkerbelle,

30-34 for CL compo is already very good. My DS is doing at 27-30 range only, unless with a title he has done before, he may then hit the 30-34 range. He has even gone \"out of context\" before, and ended up with 8 marks only :shock: :yikes:

Hi Pen88

Just curious was that 命题作文 ?

DD teacher advise them to go for picturing 作文 instead of 命题作文 for normal CL!

[Leanne]

Hi Tinkerbelle,


Have to come out some idea to destress and amuse ourselves in the midst towards psle.

DS1 makes a good teacher the other day, esp for English.Not sure cos was he trying to escape from work so esp nice to ds2.He complained that ds1 is short attention span.I was like, says who.

Math

Ok, back to math model vs algebra.

DS1 is pretty good in model drawings.I suggest to him the other day, to pick up algebra, so that, in certain situation, he is able to use it and take it as one way to check the answer.He just refused.He told me all his friends merely memorise algebra to do a question, sometime work and sometime doesnt.I am not sure how true it is.

Of course, beside algebra and model, there are still other way to solve the same math question.Bottom line, which method the kid feel most at ease with.

Chinese Compo

It takes a lot of practise and practise, just like math.DS1 has the prob tas in ,write too lengthy compo and ended up story line too lop sided.His starting of the compo is always quite good, comes to the end, due to the constraint in time, so ended quite abruptly at times..Good time he can hit around 36.Alot of hard work , for someone that is anti chinese.
He always tells me that English compo has got better chance to score well, which is true.I did see perfect score for english compo, but, not for chinese as yet.

Cheers,
Leanne

Tinkerbelle:

Leanne:

Hello Tinkerbelle,

Am in the same shoe as you, much attention is focus on ds1 and neglected ds2.

I never sent him to any enrichment except for chinese.Was coaching him while ds1 is taking a break.All the chinese words that he is learning definately is of higher std than yester years.

Dont think will send him to any enrichment.Will make ds1 to be his personal tutor after his psle.Mummy will be the supervisor then.Its time for him to pay back.
Cheers,
Leanne

Hi Leanne,

:rotflmao: That sounds like a great idea....So Mummy gets promoted to be a Supervisor. Can 'kiao ka' already...keke. Mmmm...maybe I should ask DD1 to coach DD2 during the sch holidays too. :idea:

Actually, I don't wanna send DD2 for enrichment classes yet as I do not want to stress her out too much yet. Still want her to have some pleasant childhood memories. Will see how she goes next yr with another subject.

[Brenda10]

Tinkerbelle:

Furthermore, it seems harder to score well in compo these days. Need a lot of good phrases plus cannot write out of context.

Hi Tinkerbelle,

Yes, somebody had told me to have min. 8 good phrases in the CL comp. so as to stand a chance for getting above 32 marks!

So hopefully they can complete 5 - 10 minutes earlier and have time to scan through and add in the appropriate phrases to pull up the grade!

[Pen88n]

Brenda10:

Pen88n:

Hi Tinkerbelle,

30-34 for CL compo is already very good. My DS is doing at 27-30 range only, unless with a title he has done before, he may then hit the 30-34 range. He has even gone \"out of context\" before, and ended up with 8 marks only :shock: :yikes:

Hi Pen88

Just curious was that 命题作文 ?

DD teacher advise them to go for picturing 作文 instead of 命题作文 for normal CL!

Yes, it is 命题作文. He misinterpreted the title and wrote something \"out of point\". I understand from the teacher if \"out of point\", regardless of your language etc., you can only earn <10 marks.