2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[fightingmom]

its888me:

My child's school has 2 mock + 1 prelim exams this year. I almost had heart-attack on the result of the 1st mock exam, ie. low 70s for 3 out of the 4 subjects. The worst result that is in the history. My child also seems to lose his motivation since P5 and it's the worst this year. Anyone has experienced this and can provide advice....?

First of all , you have to understand by checking with the FT how is the whole cohort of p6 did for the 1st mock. If overall are getting low 80s and 70s, then your child is ok ... Probably the school set very difficult papers to wake the pupils up.

However if majority are gettings high 80s or 90s for the cohort, then you have to step in to check what's is the area that your child is weak at. Try to fill in that gap by either do more similar questions or maybe go back to basic - is it the concept or it is the answering technique that is wrongly applied. sometimes it could be time management problem, that is, your child has no time to finish the paper or no time to check thus made some careless mistakes. Then you step up on by timing him to finish the paper within the time frame with at least 10 mins to check. Buy a timer if you need to. For maths, in general, 3 marks question should use about 3 mins, 5 makes questions about 5mins to solve.
Find time to speak to the respective subject teachers to find out more.

Celebrate small wins too. If he can manage to solve certain questions or say get 35/40 MCQ for Science Section A, give him a big hug, maybe go out for an ice-cream treat. Encourage positive attitudes.

Encourage your child. Remind him that the past does not equal to the future. He still has Prelim before PSLE so still have time to work towards getting good grades. Every child needs affirmation.

All the best ! :rahrah:

[its888me]

My child knows the strategies and technique. Somehow he is not motivated but just thinking about play and play and still play. He even claimed that he is doing a lot whereas others are not (?!)


I don't think the papers are difficult as I heard some children got A*. It's his problem per se.

Giving him confidence? With this kind of result, he still has not learnt but still thinking of playing.... Thus, if I give him confidence, it's like encouraging to relax more...? no?

Really at a lost. :?:

[fightingmom]

its888me:

My child knows the strategies and technique. Somehow he is not motivated but just thinking about play and play and still play. He even claimed that he is doing a lot whereas others are not (?!)


I don't think the papers are difficult as I heard some children got A*. It's his problem per se.

Giving him confidence? With this kind of result, he still has not learnt but still thinking of playing.... Thus, if I give him confidence, it's like encouraging to relax more...? no?

Really at a lost. :?:

Just a suggestion:

Maybe you should really sit down with him to have a good heart to heart talk. Tell him you understand his desire to play and have fun , everyone loves to have fun. However, since Prelim and PSLE is near, you just need him to commit to you and himself 2 months of solid revision and study. Just 2 months only. Get him to own that responsibility and tell him he owe it to himself because it is his future that we are talking about.

Talk to him gently and not talk down to him. Hopefully that will wake some sense into him. I did that pep talk to my nephew too and it worked then. hope it helps !

[janet88]

its888me:

My child knows the strategies and technique. Somehow he is not motivated but just thinking about play and play and still play. He even claimed that he is doing a lot whereas others are not (?!)


I don't think the papers are difficult as I heard some children got A*. It's his problem per se.

We are in the same boat. He has been playing with his toys a great deal of late :faint: beyblade etc etc. The other day, he told me his friend went to Universal Studios...why can't he ???

[its888me]

Thanks all for the advice.


When he got back his result last night, I tried to have a good talk with him and he told me not to mention anything anymore, he knows what to do. Then he went into his room doing his school work (??) and half-way he told me he wanted an album for his playing card (!!!)

I’ve tried many methods, but none is working. Perhaps I should really hands off and let him fail his PSLE and really learn a lesson…? However, it’s so difficult for me to let go…

[mummy so kiasu]

its888me:

My child knows the strategies and technique. Somehow he is not motivated but just thinking about play and play and still play. He even claimed that he is doing a lot whereas others are not (?!)


I don't think the papers are difficult as I heard some children got A*. It's his problem per se.
Giving him confidence? With this kind of result, he still has not learnt but still thinking of playing.... Thus, if I give him confidence, it's like encouraging to relax more...? no?

Really at a lost. :?:

Your child is a smart boy & he can perform better if he is motivated. Your son mentioned to you that he did a lot & his friends did not. At this age, they tend to compare themselves with their friends & get influence by their friends easily. If his best friends are playful ones, most likely he will end up playing too. You have to find out what motivates him which is very critical. Reward system only works if you have the right \"carrot\" & the target set must be realistic & attainable.

[fightingmom]

its888me:

Thanks all for the advice.


When he got back his result last night, I tried to have a good talk with him and he told me not to mention anything anymore, he knows what to do. Then he went into his room doing his school work (??) and half-way he told me he wanted an album for his playing card (!!!)

I've tried many methods, but none is working. Perhaps I should really hands off and let him fail his PSLE and really learn a lesson....? However, it's so difficult for me to let go....

Oh dear ! does he listen to you more or your hubby ? or maybe get a 3rd party's help? Like my nephew, he was very resistant to his parents' advice. He kind of close to me so when I had a heart to heart talk with him then, he listened and shared his frustrations or helplessness at the result he was getting then. We analysed his \"problem\" area and then I feedback to my brother and SIL and they took over from there.

Communication is very important.

Don't give up on reaching to him. lots of :grphug:

[mummy so kiasu]

its888me:

Thanks all for the advice.


When he got back his result last night, I tried to have a good talk with him and he told me not to mention anything anymore, he knows what to do. Then he went into his room doing his school work (??) and half-way he told me he wanted an album for his playing card (!!!)
I've tried many methods, but none is working. Perhaps I should really hands off and let him fail his PSLE and really learn a lesson....? However, it's so difficult for me to let go....

I have a friend with similar problem. The P6 son keeps playing computer games & watching TV programmes. Both of the parents are working. The maid & grandma are with him in the day. The mother told the father that maybe they should let the son learn the hard way. She said the son will \"wake up\" when he gets into the normal stream. I know she don't mean what she said. Nobody wants to see her kids fall or bear to let go? After all, they are too young to know the consequences. Not easy to be parents. :nailbite:

[HAPPYH]

its888me:

Thanks all for the advice.


When he got back his result last night, I tried to have a good talk with him and he told me not to mention anything anymore, he knows what to do. Then he went into his room doing his school work (??) and half-way he told me he wanted an album for his playing card (!!!)

I've tried many methods, but none is working. Perhaps I should really hands off and let him fail his PSLE and really learn a lesson....? However, it's so difficult for me to let go....

Do not give up. Have a heart to heart talk. They are so young to know the consequences. We can not let them just go and learn the lesson just like that.

[BeContented]

HAPPYH:

its888me:

Thanks all for the advice.


When he got back his result last night, I tried to have a good talk with him and he told me not to mention anything anymore, he knows what to do. Then he went into his room doing his school work (??) and half-way he told me he wanted an album for his playing card (!!!)

I've tried many methods, but none is working. Perhaps I should really hands off and let him fail his PSLE and really learn a lesson....? However, it's so difficult for me to let go....

Do not give up. Have a heart to heart talk. They are so young to know the consequences. We can not let them just go and learn the lesson just like that.

Sometimes we do need to let kids learn their lesson and about consequences. However, IMO PSLE may not be one of these lesson......while it's not end of the world, it's definitely gonna impact him emotionally if he sees his friends moving on while he stays back. Try your best.....at least, at the end of it, you know you have tried and as for your son, even if he did not do well, he will know that you did not give up on him.