2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[janet88]

Hi Tankee,

Thanks for moving the P6 2012 discussion to one thread...otherwise it will be repetition.

My son's FT completed algebra within 2 days. Homework should start to come in today. No time to waste and perhaps the 2 days of CNY is the ONLY other break for P6s. March, June and Sep are PSLE intensive preparation periods :frustrated:

Mummies, can you advise what other 'carrots' to motivate the kids pls ?
I only have 2 in my mind:
*Mcdonald Frappe
*His favourite Aston western

[mrswongtuition]

Based on feedback from my students, it seems like some schools have started to push the P6 kids while some are still on 'settling admin matters'.


I think it's good to get their engines running now, even if the school has not started to push the kids.

Setting expectations, providing support and being there for them is the key for parents to help their child.
If your child is not self-motivated, then you will probably need to step in and be the disciplinarian - for the benefit of your child.

Play a more active role in your child's studies, rather than wait for the school teachers to do something. Even if you are not able to help with academic work, your child can feel your love and support too.

I hope all our children will mature this year and push themselves to achieve their best.

Regards,
Mrs Wong
http://www.mwtuition.blogspot.com
http://www.thelittleonesinmylife.blogspot.com

[mrswongtuition]

janet_lee88:

I feel that SUPPLEMENTARY lessons should not be teaching from syllabus but doing worksheets prepared by HODs/P6 teachers. Shouldn't this be the case ? :scratchhead:

Teachers are NOT teaching students how to answer questions for comprehension OE or cloze for eg...most schools just throw the worksheets to the kids. The exam papers of some schools are so 'impressive' with difficult compre passages beyond P6 standard. But are the kids taught how to handle ? No, the exam papers is to show other parents that the school standard is high. PERIOD.

Janet, I totally agree.
However, being an ex-school teacher, I also understand how the teachers feel.

The teachers are the also 'victims' trapped in a vicious cycle.
Management wants 'results'. They stress teachers to teach well. But they also give teachers so much 'other work' that the teacher doesn't have time to sit down and properly think through lesson planning or create great worksheets. So the teacher rely on textbook/workbook which do not have adequate practice and exposure of questions. Then some nice teachers will try to obtain other school's papers for students to practice, however, they may not have time to mark or go through the questions with the students.

Given the limited time in school (factoring in time for movement, settling down, admin matters, disciplining the children, school functions, etc etc), the teachers can only use supplementary class after school to continue with lessons.

While some teachers have fantastic time management and classroom management, not all teachers have cooperative students.

I agree that supplementary lessons should be spent teaching 'extras' like exam techniques, how to identify key points, etc. But parents have to understand the limitations of a school teacher.

And yes, schools come up with such difficult exam papers to 'show' others that their school standard is though. However, their students have not been taught to handle such high standards. Pretty unfair to the students.
All I can say is, not all schools do that, so parents with preschoolers, do check carefully before enrolling your child in a certain primary school.

If your child is already in P6, then there's no other way but to just help our children as much as we possibly can. I believe that our positive thoughts will rub off on the kids. So throw aside the negative thoughts and put in positive vibes.

If school teachers don't teach, it's alright. Mum/Dad will teach.
If Mum/Dad don't know how to teach, it's alright. We've got KSP forum to turn to.
If Mum/Dad still can't help, it's alright. We'll get a tutor or sign up for tuition classes.

It's not the end. It's just the start of a wonderful learning journey with your kids. Chin up, smile and enjoy!

Regards,
Mrs Wong
http://www.mwtuition.blogspot.com
http://www.thelittleonesinmylife.blogspot.com

[Zekezachzoom]

tankee:

Mod's Note


Dear All

I will be merging this thread with 2 others on similar topic, later this evening.

The new thread will be called http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24263,

and will be moved to http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewforum.php?f=69

Kindly continue your discussions there.

Great! Been waiting for that. Is troublesome to jump from thread to thread of similar topics

[Zekezachzoom]

janet_lee88:

Hi Tankee,

Thanks for moving the P6 2012 discussion to one thread...otherwise it will be repetition.

My son's FT completed algebra within 2 days. Homework should start to come in today. No time to waste and perhaps the 2 days of CNY is the ONLY other break for P6s. March, June and Sep are PSLE intensive preparation periods :frustrated:

Mummies, can you advise what other 'carrots' to motivate the kids pls ?
I only have 2 in my mind:
*Mcdonald Frappe
*His favourite Aston western

My son's favorite is not about food but \"screen time\". So I use it randomly to reward him with good work or good score in practice papers. I will usually limit him to at most an hour. He is mostly motivated by that and most of the time will churn in good work for me. However, I would not advise to use often though

[Flowermonaster]

fifiyeo:

Hmmm......psle2011mum, I agree that the kids seem to use correction tape alot. Are they allow to use those friction pens whereby they can erase their mistakes?? A thought that just popped up after reading your post.

Hi Fifiyeo, I have checked with my DS's FT on friction pen be allowed to use in PSLE & he said MOE did not mention anything on that so can. My DS has been using it since early last year so far so good. I have even bought him a box of refill.

[pixiedust]

Thanks Chenonceau for bringing this up - yup, confusing to have several threads.


Hi tankee, thanks for helping to tidy and merge the threads.
The problem is there is a Primary 6 in the 'Academic Preparation & support' and a 'PSLE & Secondary Schools selection' so the P6/PSLE discussions were spread over two sections. If there is no clearer ONE place for this topic, I think there will still be duplicate threads on this in future.

re: friction pen
I remember reading a thread last year that a parent tested the friction pen and the ink faded under heat. Do a search. I rather not take the risk.

[Chenonceau]

pixiedust:

re: friction pen
I remember reading a thread last year that a parent tested the friction pen and the ink faded under heat. Do a search. I rather not take the risk.

I wanted to post this but couldn't for the life of me remember where I learnt this.

[Chenonceau]

pixiedust:

Thanks Chenonceau for bringing this up - yup, confusing to have several threads.


Hi tankee, thanks for helping to tidy and merge the threads.
The problem is there is a Primary 6 in the 'Academic Preparation & support' and a 'PSLE & Secondary Schools selection' so the P6/PSLE discussions were spread over two sections. If there is no clearer ONE place for this topic, I think there will still be duplicate threads on this in future.

Actually, it as tankee's idea... I merely helped out by posting here to get a sort of sensing what other Mommies think.

[pixiedust]

I see I do think having several threads is confusing but one long thread then it is difficult to plough through (for those who came in late but I guess they got to pay their \"dues\" ).


Tankee - in the \"Primary 6\" there's also the Q&A and stuff for PSLE. How about either (1) remove all the PSLE from the 'secondary school selection', and use the P6 for P6 and PSLE or (2) move the P6 to the 'PSLE and secondary school selection'. Either way, just one place for P6 AND PSLE.
Just my 2cents worth.

Okay I found fiction pen post.
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=394304#p394304
It is a informative, useful thread. I suggest to read through it and start your pen and correction tapes searching and experiments ! :rotflmao: