P1 workload
-
[quote]Her school has only SAs no CAs, don't know whether is it a bad thing?[/quote]
Good thing ... My son school have no CA1, CA2, SA1 and only have SA2. This will avoid the exam stress on him as well parents. Will allow them to learn at their own pace. The school told us that eventhough no CA1, CA2, SA1, they will measure performance by class tests and periodically report to parents.
HW - My son so far did 3 maths, 2 Eng and some coloring. Eng spelling list given and starts from 3rd week. -
I think opinions really vary la.
Last time, my students who have CAs and SAs fared so much better than students who only have the final year end exam. It created alot of stress (and sometimes shock) for the parents after the final year when their children are not performing to their expectations.
But of course, parents who have all the CAs and SAs complain about the stress that they have throughout the year. But they were happy, when the children are able to perform. -
caroline3sg:
Mine P1, neighbourhood sch, since last week, everyday 2 pages of homework, either eng or maths. This week, either 4 pages maths or eng. Maths so far easy, have completed p16 of activity book. Eng, last night, vocab (picture matching with words, vocab cloze) words: pupils, neighbour, classmates, classroom, teacher, computer, friends, school, count, read, together, write, uniform.
Yesterday first chinese spelling: the 5 han yu pin yin
Next week first eng spelling
wow !!!! So much homework for first 2 weeks ???
* jaw dropped *
DOesn't sound v \"neighbourhood\" lei. -
My Boy P1 had his first spelling yesterday… Homework - Eng Topic about Farm & Animals… His school teacher is strict with his handwriting.(eg: small letter ( i ) he like to put like upper commas iso a dot and leave big gap in btw the words…which got him all wrong.Chinese tingxie start in feb… Maths - with simple calculation…
-
[Moderator's note: Topic selected for Portal publication.]
Heyya guys,
I gotta agree with winth..
Children who have CA and SA tend to fare
better cos they're more prepared for the big
exams.
My kiddie's sch no CA as well.
Then came SA1 straight away mid of the year.
Parents have no grounds to base their expectations
on their children. Nor do they know whether their
children are \"really\" prepared. For stay-home-
parents, we can supplement their study time with
relevant assessments and activities to ensure no
SA stress when it comes. After school and before
school care helps for working parents. For children
cared for by grandparents, can ask children to do
up a couple of assessments that parents will check
and follow up with them.
Schools with CA has gradual progress for parents to
observe what their children can do or needs improvement
in,and since the small tests like CA has prepared the
children and parents of the exam nature, when it comes
to SA both parties are more prepared.
My kiddie's school though no CA, the form teacher hands
out mock test papers for the children to do in school and
at home. When in school, the form teacher practises the
one and a half hour time frame (for example) for Maths
Paper 2, simulating a real exam situation so that in a way
helps a bit and we're grateful for. Parents can observe the
exam format as well through this kinda effort.
When such mock test papers are given for homework, me
and hubs reinforce the time frame observation too and gauge
if kiddie can finish the paper on time.... AND must have time
to check their answers. Thats also important.
For Maths paper, always encourage working to be done.
Even if answer is not exactly accurate, marks are given
for workings and those little diagram drawings that the
children do by the side.
As for P1 homework this is what school gave in the first month.
>Spelling list for whole term English and Mother Tongue
>One page homework from school activity books
(commencing from third week onwards)
>One page Mother Tongue worksheet homework
(commencing from third week onwards)
>One problem a day booklet for Maths
>Colouring activities related to first term topics.
Just for sharing sake, i received many requests from parents
after SA (like a stream of it!) for Phonics for their P1 kiddies
after receiving results from their SA1 exam. They claimed they
were informed or they just realised that their children cannot
read. Or can read but not fluent enuf. Or can totally read but
doesn't understand hence unable to do exam efficiently.
As usually classes for Reading Programme are for N2 K1 and K2,
i usually acceed to one-to -one or two in a group if they're from
same school or are siblings. These older children hardly benefit
following a younger age-group class.
Once they're more efficient in their reading, i add in Creative
Writing with their Reading programme to ensure they can cope
with their P1 workload.
A handful of parents also complain that the child has not benefitted
from project work or learn through play based curriculum, cause
the child was weak in their subjects as it is. And if told to learn on
their own, it is not helping child improve academically at all.
Opinions do vary. Agreed.
Whatever it is, parents MUST make effort to help provide gd foundation
for their children to ensure they're prepared for Primary 1 education.
In current academic context, there is no way any parent can leave
it simply to the school to teach. Parents still have to monitor their
children development from the first school their child attends.
Cos some childcares only babysit and does not have curriculum to
prepare for Primary 1. Hence, when pre-school shopping big question
to ask is, by K2 what would my child have learnt in your centre, and
would you be able to affirm that what has been taught will make my
child ready to enter Primary 1, cos my purpose of sending to a child
care centre is reali because both parents work full-time...
Just sharing my thoughts, k.
Cheers. -
BTW how do u ppl know whether ur kids school having CA or SA? I dont even know whether mine has or not!

Homework wise, nil, except for spelling and hanyu pinyin lists. And mine is elite school. -
Luanee:
Luanee,BTW how do u ppl know whether ur kids school having CA or SA? I dont even know whether mine has or not!

i explored the school's website and refer to their Calendar of Events for 2008 to see if CAs are required for P1s. -
Heyya Luanee,
P1 orientation for parents they do inform.
If they don't parents can also ask.
Likewise with jedamum, my kiddies school
also has the calendar of activities for parents
to view to keep up with the on-goings of the
school.
Mebbe, since your child is in elite school no need
for homework... perhaps.
Aniwaes, if school doesn't give homework...
Parents can give. -
luanee
You didn’t ask me before?? cfm no CA from P1 to 6.
jedamum/luanee
when I was sch hunting for P1 registration last yr, having no CA is one of my criteria. My son’s sch has CA from P3 but today I found out from sch website that this is first yr for P3 & 4 to abolish CA (2009 P5 has CA2). Last yr pilot to replace CA with regular assessment. I guess maybe my son when in P3, should be same, no more CA. -
caroline3sg:
Ha caroline no, this concept of CA and SA only came up to me recently when I see the other mummies' posts, hee..luanee
You didn't ask me before?? cfm no CA from P1 to 6.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login