Coping with Primary 1
-
nms1:
:goodpost: I agree with you but would like to add something - I feel that healthy competition is good. It might also be useful that we know how our kids perform in certain areas compared to their peers. For example, if many kids do not do well for an area, we need not be overly concern about it and rather take a longer term view on preparing them. E.g., during early months of P1, I saw comprehension's open-ended inference questions when my ds brought his school work home for parents' signature and revision. I used my own judgement and decided this \"skill\" can wait until he is ready. It helps to know that he is performing very well compared to his peers and I need not think that it is \"normal\" to handle comprehension's open-ended inference questions at such an early stage. On the other hand, I could be making the wrong judgement if it is an area that most of his peers already master.
:goodpost: This is the point - the tests are there to see what our children do & don't know and address that, not as some kind of competition or comparison, not to see how high you can score. They are the means to an end (i.e. helping us & the teachers to help our children) not the end in itself....at least until PSLE!coast:
I am supportive of taking away P1 & P2 exams. For my ds's school, there are mini-tests (about 4 to 6 per Term for each core subject) so I will be able to gauge his competency in various areas (oral, reading, show & tell, comprehension, ... etc). Unlike CA/SA, we do not have to spend time on revision for topics that were taught months ago. He just need to spend a little bit of his time for each test. Majority of his time outside school are spent on non-academic activities that he enjoys (sports, playing, reading, music, …). They are still 6 - 7 years old kids and should enjoy their childhood. -
Need some feedback from parents with lower pri sch kids. Are there a lot or compulsory activities in your kids’ sch for pri 1 and 2
- on saturdays?
- after sch hours on weekdays?
Need parents’ sharing so that I can plan my kid’s enrichment lessons going forward. I am wondering if there is a need to avoid lessons on sat mornings in case sch has extra activities? -
DD1 is in morning session. When she had enrichments in P1, most were on wkdays. The only drawback is if there’s homework and tests, then timing will be a bit tight. But dd1 completes most of her work in school and we planned for revision. So no issue in P1.
Occasionally, school will organise talks on Sat and PSG organise events on wkends too. Dd1’s PTMs are always on wkday but I do not know abt other schools. PTMs should be fr morning to late afternoons, so you should be safe.
Now in P2, I’ve stop most of her enrichment.
Why I stopped? Becos tired liao and also I’m using resources recommended by parents here. Plus, it’s rather tiring for her and I want to give her more time to do the things she want. -
Imami,
Try to go for those enrichment which allows make up lessons and those make up lesson slots that you can attend, if you are looking at long term enrichment. Popular centres may not have weekend slots when you go up the level, so if possible, try to find a slot that can last you a long time. My kids saturdays for lower primary, sometime has school optional programme. Compulsory one was the orientation. -
Most schools don’t have exams in P1 and many not in P2 either. They may still have a test around the time of SA2 exams but it will only count for 10-20% of the total for the year.
-
My son just started P1 this year - so far he’s been ok, but he mentioned that he cried during Chinese lesson. He says the lesson is very long and he doesn’t like it, compared to his kindy Chinese lesson which is comparatively shorter. This "dislike" has caused him to misbehave during his Chinese tuition at home and his tutor complained that she can’t handle him as he is unwilling to listen to her. Any tips from mummies out there who have faced a similar issue with their kids? Really stressed on this now. Thanks in advance!
-
lynettewoo:
My son just started P1 this year - so far he's been ok, but he mentioned that he cried during Chinese lesson. He says the lesson is very long and he doesn't like it, compared to his kindy Chinese lesson which is comparatively shorter. This \"dislike\" has caused him to misbehave during his Chinese tuition at home and his tutor complained that she can't handle him as he is unwilling to listen to her. Any tips from mummies out there who have faced a similar issue with their kids? Really stressed on this now. Thanks in advance!
He's just tired and needs time to adjust to the longer day and longer lessons. Give him time to unwind after school, and don't push too hard for now. He needs time to build up his stamina, especially in lessons which he finds less interesting or more difficult. -
Yes, we have not been doing any additional work at home since he started p1 and I’m glad the school has also not given any homework thus far. We’ve also piled on the praise and encouragement but he seems to dislike his Chinese lessons. I’ve bought Chinese storybooks with interesting tales too to read with him at bedtime. Any tips on how to interest him further? I’m Chinese but my husband is not and we speak mainly English at home.
-
my gal enjoys her P1 but she is having problem in sleeping. She cannot take the long hours whithout sleeping. Good to hear that there are no exams in P1 & P2.
-
Do you all wash your child’s school shoes? how long does it take to dry? Any good solutions are welcome because my gal’s shoes are taking so long to dry.
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