GEP Preparatory Program
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Nebbermind:
So you don't agree that the GEP classes are given more of a free rein?
Believe discipline problem exist everywhere and not just gep. Jus that these kids are supposed to be the cream of the crop, that's why people judge them very differently.Kiasucy:
Heard the GE classes are very noisy and some have discipline problem too, fight with teachers when being punished or just walk out of classroom, but then medal winners you know when comes to competition.
(Fwiw, I don't believe all 11 yo GEPpers are 14 yo in terms of maturity. I am sure the majority of them are just 11 yo kids, with perhaps above-average processing power.) -
nansk:
So you don't agree that the GEP classes are given more of a free rein?
Believe discipline problem exist everywhere and not just gep. Jus that these kids are supposed to be the cream of the crop, that's why people judge them very differently.Nebbermind:
[quote=\"Kiasucy\"]
Heard the GE classes are very noisy and some have discipline problem too, fight with teachers when being punished or just walk out of classroom, but then medal winners you know when comes to competition.
(Fwiw, I don't believe all 11 yo GEPpers are 14 yo in terms of maturity. I am sure the majority of them are just 11 yo kids, with perhaps above-average processing power.)[/quote]not sure how is having a free rein related to having discipline problem.
:scratchhead: -
nansk:
So you don't agree that the GEP classes are given more of a free rein?
Believe discipline problem exist everywhere and not just gep. Jus that these kids are supposed to be the cream of the crop, that's why people judge them very differently.Nebbermind:
[quote=\"Kiasucy\"]
Heard the GE classes are very noisy and some have discipline problem too, fight with teachers when being punished or just walk out of classroom, but then medal winners you know when comes to competition.
(Fwiw, I don't believe all 11 yo GEPpers are 14 yo in terms of maturity. I am sure the majority of them are just 11 yo kids, with perhaps above-average processing power.)[/quote]I don't know about other classes, but my ds's teachers seem to be quite strict. They spent a good deal of time talking about class rules! -
Nebbermind:
not sure how is having a free rein related to having discipline problem.
So you don't agree that the GEP classes are given more of a free rein?nansk:
[quote=\"Nebbermind\"]
quote by \"Kiasucy\":
Heard the GE classes are very noisy and some have discipline problem too, fight with teachers when being punished or just walk out of classroom
Believe discipline problem exist everywhere and not just gep.
(Fwiw, I don't believe all 11 yo GEPpers are 14 yo in terms of maturity. I am sure the majority of them are just 11 yo kids, with perhaps above-average processing power.)
:scratchhead:[/quote]What I meant is that, from what I have heard, GEP teachers tolerate and/or encourage their students to speak up more, express themselves freely, move about in the classroom, etc. These activities typically will generate more noise than traditional, sit-down-and-listen-to-lecture classrooms will.
But of course, re-reading Kiasucy's post, I cannot imagine any mainstream class teacher allowing students to 'fight' or 'walk out of the classroom'. I meant that I suppose the GEPpers have more freedom of expression. -
nansk:
Err…free rein also needs the right kind of students to participate. Sometimes in a mainstream classroom, teacher asks questions but get no response from students! Everyone just stares at the teacher, either not knowing the answer, too shy/scared to answer or expecting teacher to dish out answers. How to have lively discussions like that?What I meant is that, from what I have heard, GEP teachers tolerate and/or encourage their students to speak up more, express themselves freely, move about in the classroom, etc. These activities typically will generate more noise than traditional, sit-down-and-listen-to-lecture classrooms will.
But of course, re-reading Kiasucy's post, I cannot imagine any mainstream class teacher allowing students to 'fight' or 'walk out of the classroom'. I meant that I suppose the GEPpers have more freedom of expression. -
Yes from my discussion with GEPper parents the kids tend to be able to express an opinion and most are not shy. The GEPpers have different strengths but the majority appear to be good in Maths. A fair bit are usually good in Science and/or English but MT seems to be a difficult hurdle for quite a few.
So the GEPpers tend to be capable of speaking out. -
One of the academic components is oral communication where the kids are expected to engage in critical discussions of issues, and to present their thoughts with precision and clarity. Towards that end, the teachers encourage meaningful feedback to class discussions; they would want to see (hear) the width and depth of the students’ thoughts. So that’s where the ‘speaking up’ part comes in.
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HVR:
Since the program will select the top 1% of the cohort, in a sense this is 'relative', isn't it?chopin123:
i used to have the same conviction
now ..., i feel that i am \"wavering\". why? simply cause it isn't an absolute scoring - eg, you score >X%, you will get in. rather, it is RELATIVE to your peers. putting financials & extremely \"gifted\" kids aside, i feel that one will be put in an advantageous position if one has been exposed to some of the questions type.
(i feel the name of the program is somewhat \"misleading\" - a more accurate one would probably be \"high ability / advanced\" program / students.)
having said all the above - all compliments to students in the GEP program ... it isn't an easy program and you are top1% of your cohort. being top1% in any context is in itself very outstanding!
can anyone describe the Pri4 GEP program in a typical term (for example) ?
Seriously, I think parents should not send their children for any preparatory program. Even if your child is not selected due to lack of 'exposure to the question type', if he/she is truly gifted/high ability, he/she will definitely shine through eventually. Case in point, not all top and sucessful scholars are from GEP.
Take heart, if you read thru the forum here, you will find many parents have shared that they did not send their children for any GEP prep class and yet, their children surprised them and were selected for GEP. Cheers!
haha, its not right!
some of my friends sent their kids to those preparatory program \"secretly\", they still said \" I didnt prepare...\" until today even we found out later stage! -
mama_10:
Since the program will select the top 1% of the cohort, in a sense this is 'relative', isn't it?HVR:
[quote=\"chopin123\"]i used to have the same conviction
now ..., i feel that i am \"wavering\". why? simply cause it isn't an absolute scoring - eg, you score >X%, you will get in. rather, it is RELATIVE to your peers. putting financials & extremely \"gifted\" kids aside, i feel that one will be put in an advantageous position if one has been exposed to some of the questions type.
(i feel the name of the program is somewhat \"misleading\" - a more accurate one would probably be \"high ability / advanced\" program / students.)
having said all the above - all compliments to students in the GEP program ... it isn't an easy program and you are top1% of your cohort. being top1% in any context is in itself very outstanding!
can anyone describe the Pri4 GEP program in a typical term (for example) ?
Seriously, I think parents should not send their children for any preparatory program. Even if your child is not selected due to lack of 'exposure to the question type', if he/she is truly gifted/high ability, he/she will definitely shine through eventually. Case in point, not all top and sucessful scholars are from GEP.
Take heart, if you read thru the forum here, you will find many parents have shared that they did not send their children for any GEP prep class and yet, their children surprised them and were selected for GEP. Cheers!
haha, its not right!
some of my friends sent their kids to those preparatory program \"secretly\", they still said \" I didnt prepare...\" until today even we found out later stage![/quote]LOL! If you want, you can PM me for GEP preparation classes. I know of a place which conduct GEP preparation classes
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Aside from commenting on how disappointed I am that the chain of quotes couldn't be continued (max is 3 per post or something), I have something else to say.
As a student in the P6 GEP, I think preparatory classes for GEP are ineffective. GEP is meant to test the 'gifted-ness' of a child, so it is near impossible to prepare for it. Also, I have heard more than once that attempting to 'prepare' your child for the GEP would have backfiring results: should xe (he/she) get in only because of the preparatory courses, then xe will struggle to keep up with xir (his/her) peers and fall behind. Not only will this be bad academically, it's also a negative influence on a child's emotional health which is just as--if not more--important. Falling behind and feeling inferior is not at all pleasant.
@chopin123;; P4 GEP is a honeymoon year compared to P5, as I was told by my teachers when I first joined the GEP program (and it is completely true).
The first day would be the teachers (well, most of them I think) being extremely nice and conducting icebreaker games and that stuff. Also they may (or should) take you around the school since those that transferred there and would be unfamiliar with the school grounds. In Rosyth, we have a buddy program where P5 GEPers take P4 GEPers around. Extremely awkward but quite useful. Unfortunately in my case, when I was in P5, my P4 buddy was the one bringing me around since we had moved to a new campus of which I was unfamiliar with.
Afterwards, there is a huge (or not so huge) number of projects but quite manageable. Homework load is not very heavy but be warned that grades may drop from high 90s to 70s due to difficulty of the exams. 70 is the 'benchmark' (a.k.a. passing mark) while 80 is 'quality pass'--i.e. if you pass 80, you're doing well. Math is still easy for most students and in P6, some still score full marks. Overall, the curriculum is more fun and enriching.
Finally, allow me to add to this extremely long-winded unspoken speech by mentioning that amongst my friends and classmates, going for GEP preparation classes are frowned upon as GEPers should be 'true GEPers'.
Hope I helped
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