2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy
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august24:
For science, you can roughly expect energy and interactions (P6) as well as all p3-5 topics. Chinese would be whole of 6A book. For math, my son will be tested on whole numbers, algebra, angles in geometric figures, nets, fractions, ratio, percentage, speed & circles.janet_lee88:
Are the kids REALLY ready for SA1 ?.
Ds topics & exam t/t not even out yet, I like kan jiong spider everyday ask for it! -
whitety:
I told dd to go sleep early but dd said cannot as teacher will scold for not completing hw even when i told her i will write a note or call the teacher. So how?
Write to the teacher about the problems you are facing, and that there will be times when your DD really can't finish her work and you want her to go to bed by a certain time to get enough rest. The teacher will definitely reply and I doubt she/he will ever say \"no\" in an official note to you though they might ask you to try your best to ensure that all the HW is done. You can always decide when to draw the line and how much is enough.
Then show your DD the reply from the teacher to reassure her that the teacher will let her off if mommy or daddy puts in a note for her. -
whitety:
I told dd to go sleep early but dd said cannot as teacher will scold for not completing hw even when i told her i will write a note or call the teacher. So how?
What dear children we have... so conscientious and good.
With classes of 40, homework cannot be customised to the specific level of the child. Last year, I reviewed each day's homework and identified those that I FORBADE DS to do because...
(1) too easy (masses of easy math worksheets that look NOTHING like exams)
(2) no learning value ( writing assignments like \"Write 5 sentences about...\")
I didn't give DS a choice. The homework was not worth the time used to do it so I said \"Cannot do!\". Got extra time, go play. It was either Mommy scold or Mommy write Teacher a note. Teachers weren't happy but they couldn't argue with the poor quality of the homework given and had no case. To save face, they said that it was homework appropriate to other kids. That may be so... but it wasn't appropriate for mine, and on that technicality I managed to get my DS excused.
This year, the homework given is of much better quality. Instead of giving \"Write 5 sentences on...\" Teacher is giving more English Compo Practices. Instead of easy math questions, the Math worksheets are more challenging.
This year, things are better. DS has learnt to sieve his homework and he makes it a point to complete all the easy worksheets in school before he comes home (prolly to prevent me from forbidding him from doing them
)... and in the rare cases when he considers the work too easy (usually from the official Workbook), he will ask me to write a note.
He has also learnt to manage his own practice schedule... plan his At-Home-Work, clear the plan with me, mark his work and then leave on my table for random checking. He has become so independent that I have a lot more free time than when he was in P5.HAPPYH:
This sounds sooooooooooo familiar!!
I think you talk to the teacher. The teacher may probably say that everybody is doing that, must know how to manage time, PSLE is critical, bla bla bla. :slapshead: That is what happend to my friend when she tried to talk to the teacher. My friend also complained that sometimes the quality of HW is not acceptable too. He prefers to choose the appropriate topics for his child rather than school give the bulk but majority may not help the child. But the teacher refused to accept.whitety:
I told dd to go sleep early but dd said cannot as teacher will scold for not completing hw even when i told her i will write a note or call the teacher. So how?
Yes... when PSLE standards are so high, kids have no time to do inappropriate homework. It has to be highly customised. In the past, we had time to do inappropriate homework because the difficulty of exams were lesser and our kids didn't have to learn so much in so little time. -
Hi folks
I'm back! Moved in and counting on 2 weeks being the maid while juggling work - tired but coping
Just wanted to share my 2 cents about \"Inappropriate Homework\" and how I dealt with it.
I tried \"giving feedback\", \"convincing\" but later realised that for various reasons the teacher couldn't come right out to say \"ok\" even if they agreed with me; so I sent a \"general\" email and \"informed\" them of my decision to take charge of DD's PSLE revision and hence, apologised in advance in case DD was not handing in home work on time. I undertook to supervise/mark DD's work and ensure that her files were neat and in order if anyone was interested to check.
Since the email called for no response from the teacher [ as it was just by way of information], they didn't respond; but my decision was on record. I think the school also knew me well enough to know that if they raised an issue with this, I would press my point home and make it into an issue, so they judiciously kept quiet [most times] and so did I. I didn't tell the other parents what we were doing either -- how to? I was undertaking a huge risk as it was, taking full responsibility for DD's PSLE ...
The one instance when the HOD \"replied\" with a long explanation of why DD should be attending supp classes, I responded to thank her, expressed my appreciation for all the school was doing to support the children but informed her once again that my decision remained. Since no response was called for, the issue rested there and DD came home to revise with me.
You know your child best; it is frustrating dealing with the 'system' but banging our heads against it mostly ends up with us/our precious ones 'hurt\". Understand the situation the teacher/school is in [they are employees answering to a Boss too], try to see the issue from their perspective and look for a way which is less confrontational - that was what worked for me. -
janet_lee88:
For science, you can roughly expect energy and interactions (P6) as well as all p3-5 topics. Chinese would be whole of 6A book. For math, my son will be tested on whole numbers, algebra, angles in geometric figures, nets, fractions, ratio, percentage, speed & circles.
Thanks Janet_lee88. Will plan revision based on these topics first, other than circles which they have yet to touch on. -
casamia:
Hi,Mayl:
Wondering anyone will be sending kids to attend the PSLE Mother Tongue (Chinese) talk organised by Thumbs up which the speaker will focus on oral & composition writing skills and tips on score well for Chinese?
The details for the talk you can refer to Thumbs Up no. 12 issued.
Mayl,
can you provide the details of the talk? or the website?
googled but can't find...
thanks.
I tried many rounds to upload the details but not successful
. Thus, may you pm me your email address in order me to forward you details.
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august24:
No sweatjanet_lee88:
For science, you can roughly expect energy and interactions (P6) as well as all p3-5 topics. Chinese would be whole of 6A book. For math, my son will be tested on whole numbers, algebra, angles in geometric figures, nets, fractions, ratio, percentage, speed & circles.
Thanks Janet_lee88. Will plan revision based on these topics first, other than circles which they have yet to touch on.
...although diff schools have different syllabus, this year being p6, I guess SA1 topics wil be quite a handful. I really wonder how my son will fare in this SA when there are so many more new topics. His Math paper is on 8 May.
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fifiyeo:
Spoken to teachers during parent meeting session. They said situation should improve after syf which my dd was involved.whitety:
I told dd to go sleep early but dd said cannot as teacher will scold for not completing hw even when i told her i will write a note or call the teacher. So how?
Write to the teacher about the problems you are facing, and that there will be times when your DD really can't finish her work and you want her to go to bed by a certain time to get enough rest. The teacher will definitely reply and I doubt she/he will ever say \"no\" in an official note to you though they might ask you to try your best to ensure that all the HW is done. You can always decide when to draw the line and how much is enough.
Then show your DD the reply from the teacher to reassure her that the teacher will let her off if mommy or daddy puts in a note for her.
I have no complains on the standard and quality of hw. They are really good, just that the quantity should be reduced. -
Wondering how many are going away this June hols with Prelims being just 2 mths away ā¦ should we or should we not?
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Honey:
Wondering how many are going away this June hols with Prelims being just 2 mths away ............ should we or should we not?
We are going away.
We've worked very very intensively for 1.5 years. Need to give DS a break or he might get burnt out.
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