Teach Less, Learn More

[JRLam]

insider:

The first time I came across using models to solve maths was about 17 years ago when my eldest nephew began his primary school. I learnt the 'new' maths during that 6 years while coaching him in his studies (he stayed in my house taken care by my parents).


I don't remember teaching him unit transfer at that time, but when my daughter and son were in primary school (graduated 7 years and 5 years ago respectively), both definitely been through the 'unit transfer' system coz my daughter 'taught' me this first that later I taught my son.

So I think maybe is some schools teach and some schools don't...

Yes, I am sure some Ts teach these 'extra but very efficient methods' in more details than others, who may not teach them at all. As per every other topics, Ts are also fighting against time to finish teaching everything before exam. However, these extra methods are NOT that straightforward to comprehend, or at least, the questions could be designed in many different ways that just pure comprehension of the concept is just INSUFFICIENT to tackle all questions. So, yes, we are talking about to have enough time for TUTORIAL practices here, which sadly, is hardly there.

I must say for those cleverer/higher IQ students, or those who can grasp concepts very well + apply them, the short amount of time spent in teaching by their Ts is probably sufficient. Pity those who are the slightly above average, average or below average kids (anybody who is not GEP or in top 1-2 classes in the sch, or maybe 80% of total cohort!) TOTALLY catch no ball and even worse when there's insufficient time to practice :stupid:

[sleepy]

Chenonceau:

Should we now become a nation of homeschoolers because parents need to learn so we can teach? What are schools for?


For me, this is a hot election issue. Whichever the politician can relate to this, has my vote. The system cannot assume that kids have help from parents/tutors. Smart kids from poor families with uneducated parents will no longer have their ticket out of poverty.

:goodpost:

[Chenonceau]

Sun_2010:

Chenonceau:

Mine only did 4. Worse, the compo comes back without marks for English... And without comments for Chinese. He doesn't know what he did wrong or can improve.

Chenonceau, but just wanted to comment on this as it may be the reason too
DD'd teacher would do this too. No marking for compos done at home. The reason being - there are some who take generous help from tutors, some who take their own sweet time to do etc. So marking would not be a proper reflection.

Maybe you followed up with the teacher...

Hey... thanks for your perspective. I didn't think of this. So I worried. You have really helped set my mind at rest.

[Chenonceau]

JRLam:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"smurf\"]Hi Chenonceau,


Very well said. I hope the people (gar men) get to read your post. You write really very well.

HaHa, Can u represent us to put our view across to who-and-who in MOE? What is the lady MP's name who is chairing the topic about reviewing school education system?

You have the best EL to put across the points clearly. We will be more than willing to sign the petition![/quote]Hah... really ah... But I very chicken one leh... Only can write. Can't do much else... Need to consider this a bit.

[hometutors.018849sg]

janet_lee88:

Finally a parent has spoken out on the policy of Teach Less, Learn More in schools.


To quote what was mentioned, \"It has led to the expectation that pupils supplement their learning after school with their parents or in tuition classes...the tests and exams have not been adapted to reflect MOE's new approach, and pupils are not equipped to answer the questions based on what they learn in school alone.\"

I certainly agree with this. Science, esp is one subject which students have problems with. The information in the textbook is so pathetic, but yet students are expected to answer tough questions set by the school. How can students possibly prepare for these open-ended questions when they have not been taught in class ?

Well agreed.

That is why more and more parents are hiring private tutors for their children.

Students who are not prepared to put in extra efforts outside school hours will most likely struggle and be left out of the race.

[Pen88n]

Chenonceau:

insider:

When my daughter has her own kid going to primary school, the maths are likely to be taught in a different pattern again. She just has to re-learn and then move on instead of thinking about 'why so different from my time', 'why so drastic changes' and 'why so difficult'. Kids are getting smarter and so the difficulty level may also therefore increase.

Ummm... we pay taxes. Taxes fund schools. If standards go up, then MOE needs to up the standards of pedagogy. Why should it be acceptable that parents pick up the slack to bridge the difficulty levels? Of course... we can do it. I have no doubt that our family can manage Math... not sure about Chinese but we will try. We help him... it can be done. But not every daddy or mommy is educated enough to pull this off. Schools must pick up the slack, not parents. Else, it won't be a level playing field.

Should we now become a nation of homeschoolers because parents need to learn so we can teach? What are schools for?

For me, this is a hot election issue. Whichever the politician can relate to this, has my vote. The system cannot assume that kids have help from parents/tutors. Smart kids from poor families with uneducated parents will no longer have their ticket out of poverty.

Yep, this is no longer a level playing field. The rich can afford to send their kids to all kinds of expensve enrichment / tutors to expose kids and provide the learning that the school is not covering; the poor will have no means (financially and even educationally) to provide this type of coaching for their kids be it personally or thru' tutors or enrichment centres.

When you have a primary education population whereby large percentage (I don't know the percentage, does anyone have? I venture a guess of at least 80%?) of students are having external tuition, something is very wrong with the school teaching system.

[Funx3]

Pen88n:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"insider\"]When my daughter has her own kid going to primary school, the maths are likely to be taught in a different pattern again. She just has to re-learn and then move on instead of thinking about 'why so different from my time', 'why so drastic changes' and 'why so difficult'. Kids are getting smarter and so the difficulty level may also therefore increase.

Ummm... we pay taxes. Taxes fund schools. If standards go up, then MOE needs to up the standards of pedagogy. Why should it be acceptable that parents pick up the slack to bridge the difficulty levels? Of course... we can do it. I have no doubt that our family can manage Math... not sure about Chinese but we will try. We help him... it can be done. But not every daddy or mommy is educated enough to pull this off. Schools must pick up the slack, not parents. Else, it won't be a level playing field.

Should we now become a nation of homeschoolers because parents need to learn so we can teach? What are schools for?

For me, this is a hot election issue. Whichever the politician can relate to this, has my vote. The system cannot assume that kids have help from parents/tutors. Smart kids from poor families with uneducated parents will no longer have their ticket out of poverty.

Yep, this is no longer a level playing field. The rich can afford to send their kids to all kinds of expensve enrichment / tutors to expose kids and provide the learning that the school is not covering; the poor will have no means (financially and even educationally) to provide this type of coaching for their kids be it personally or thru' tutors or enrichment centres.

When you have a primary education population whereby large percentage (I don't know the percentage, does anyone have? I venture a guess of at least 80%?) of students are having external tuition, something is very wrong with the school teaching system.[/quote]The way that this is progressing ....
We R No Different from the Japanese Education System Soon ....

Straight from Sch to Cram Sch Everyday ....
Kiddy Attempting Suicide coz Result No Good .... :!: ( NEVER NEVER HAPPEN HERE ....)

Very Sobering Thought, Right?

[smurf]

Actually hor, I think it’s the tuition centre fault!!!


I know some tuition centre keep setting very high standard, and they DO NOT accept students with average result to join them. They ONLY want above average calibre students. Students who manage above 80 or 85, then they will accept them into their centre. I mean, tuition centers are to help students right? Not to teach them more things beyond their level. P5, you go and teach p6 thing, not right mah! Then again, these tuition centers will say, it’s the parents who want them to do that, coz otherwise, they will go to other tuition centers. Then, these students will feel bored in sch because they are already at p6 level, so teachers will push them to higher level, give them more challenging works lor!

So you tell me leh, who’s fault???

[Funx3]

smurf:

Actually hor, I think it's the tuition centre fault!!!


I know some tuition centre keep setting very high standard, and they DO NOT accept students with average result to join them. They ONLY want above average calibre students. Students who manage above 80 or 85, then they will accept them into their centre. I mean, tuition centers are to help students right? Not to teach them more things beyond their level. P5, you go and teach p6 thing, not right mah! Then again, these tuition centers will say, it's the parents who want them to do that, coz otherwise, they will go to other tuition centers. Then, these students will feel bored in sch because they are already at p6 level, so teachers will push them to higher level, give them more challenging works lor!

So you tell me leh, who's fault???

Sometimes I Wonder, Can't we Let Kids be Kids and Study things that R their Level? Thought Sch Pace is Already Fast Enough.

Even My Gal Noticed the Trend and Commented About this to Me last year, \"Of Course So-and-So is Good in this, Becoz they Learn P5 Maths / Sc / etc last year in their Tuition Already! Does Not Necessarily Mean that they R Smarter .... \" But She steadfastly Refuse to Go for Such Kind of Tuition, Preferring to learn at the Same Pace as Sch ....

As Long as she could Cope, Making Some Mistakes Here and There in the Process of Learning is OK with Me. We Don't Expect Perfection in the Process of Learning.

Our Formula : Learn New Stuff, Practice, Make Mistakes, Correct It, Lesson Learnt, Don't Commit Similar Mistake Again.
So Far it works for both of us Marvelous-ly. My Gal Happy, Mummy Happy. Minimal Stress.
:lol: :lol:

[Funx3]

insider:

smurf:

So you tell me leh, who's fault???

The fault lies with human's hearts...the common weakness of unable to resist herd instinct...

Maybe I can give one example and ask parents here how would you decide.

Child A - average ability, PSLE score 228 with no tuitions at all but with some coaching at home on things that he doesn't know.

Child B - average ability, tuition from P1 to P6 for all four subjects, Learning Lab included, with a total tuition fees of more than $20,000 for those 6 years, PSLE score 242.

The difference is 14 points.

Would you go the Child A's path or Child B?

I am OK with Child A of course...

ME TOO ....
Think we R Rare Breed Here ....
Or Soon To be Extinct Species?
Hee Hee ....