Is GEP really necessary?
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Melodies:
Ksi and dear other GEPpers' moms, sigh..I'm not here to bash up 1% of the children, I'm here to have a constructive discussion on GEP program/system/process and compare GEP program and treatment with mainstreams. Please try to see this point and please don't be so emotional about it so that you will have a clear mind to discuss. While you think that GEP program is benefited to your ds/dd and your ds/dd deserved to have this, there are thousand others shared the same view for their ds/dd. What make you think that your ds/dd are more equal than others? Like Pam, I have seen many others I think they should be selected but they are not but I was surprised with many admitted one. Because of one selection, their fate is set. Do you dare to say it is a fair selection? For those selected pupils, they may be think that it is very fair system。 But, what make them think so? 我是以事论 事， 不是针对人。
Mind you share how many Geppers do you know totally who surprised you by getting in?
How many in a given year?
And how well do you know them?
Just trying to see how you come to this conclusion.. -
If you believed \"drilling\" is the only way to do well in PSLE, by all means. I strongly believed that drilling can only bring you up to a certain level. Worst still, you may lose your 'creativity'. I don't do that even when I was young. I asked my dd to read a lot. Due to the limitation of time (spent in school and CCA) and may not have time to read widely, I enrolled her to TLL so that she will get the state of art materials for reading and then free up the time to read something else.
PiggyLalala:
[/quote]Melodies:
Aren't these projects/assessments providing you a lot of training for nurturing the GEP pupils to develop intellectual; depth and higher-level thinking? I'm speechless here. Do you know that I have to send my dd to TLL to get this type of training? I have to sources all types of materials for dd in the hope of developing her intellectual; depth and higher-level thinking so that she is well equipped to be able to answer those high-thinking questions! I know that there are many GEPpers attending TLL as well. There is one mum said that she is grateful that there is guided in GEP classess and the GEPeprs teachers also marked and feedback for a few rounds after the GEPpers have done a few drafts for their English composition. I'm so envied with this as you can only dreamed on in the mainstreams! Think about that, mainstreams have to take a few miles than GEPpers (attending tuition and also researching themself) in order to score well in PSLE. After all these aids, advantages and training, why you still think that they are not trained to do well in PLSE for GEPper?
Hi, i dont think you need to be envious of the GE program. Let me tell you what are the common practises in the mainstream but not the GE program that may put the GE kids at a disadvantage during PSLE. Unlike the mainstream English paper, the GE Engish paper usually comprises of only 2 components, cloze and comprehension. This means that the GE students have limited practice on Grammer Cloze, Synthesis ( 10 marks, 2 marks for each question ), Grammer, Vocab and editing, Punctuation, Graphics Stimulus. Add up all the marks and you will know how scared I was when my ds sat for PSLE 2 years ago. ( if you are aiming for A*, tell me how many marks can you lose in Paper 2. ) I believe your child has not been through the PSLE before. You have not understood the meaning of 'drillings'. You are not aware of how well prepared some GOOD schools are in preparing the mainstream students for PSLE.
I do not see the link how doing SS projects can help the GEP pupils to develop intellectual; depth and higher-level thinking necessary in PSLE. I can only say they can do a better research and write a better report maybe.
The Maths project that my ds did is on a topic that you can never see in PSLE.
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Melodies:
NO I never say that drilling is the only way to do well in PSLE. I believed it is BOTH intelligence + hard work( Drilling) is the way to get mid A* or high A*. Very few pupils can achieve high A* with intelligence alone. You need to expose to as many types of questions that are likely to be asked in PSLE. You need to have the speed and accuracy in order to do well.If you believed \"drilling\" is the only way to do well in PSLE, by all means. I strongly believed that drilling can only bring you up to certain level. Worst still, you may lose your 'creativity'. I don't do that even when I was young. I asked my dd to read a lot. Due to the limitation of time (spent in school and CCA) and may not have time to read widely, I enrolled her to TLL so that she will get the state of art materials for reading..
What I have written in my earlier posts is to explain why some GE pupils scored did not do well in PSLE. -
2ppaamm:
My son drew a cartoon when I asked him to draw something depicting DSA when he was P6. He drew a boy on the starting mark, and then a teacher kicking this boy at his butt, with 10 doors to clear, each marking the schools' names, and finally the PSLE. Wished I kept that cartoon. It depicted the many tests and exams students had to go through for DSA and then the PSLE... hahaha!comfy:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"] My other better suggestion is, just get rid of that PSLE! Saves all these trouble.
Just thinking, instead of that suggestion, how about besides the PSLE score, all the IP schools (that have SBGE programme) requires all candidates to go for a special entrance test ( to see whether they are suitable for the programme )? Is this consider more fair, Melodies? I think it will benefit the students as well. I don't know what the gep/non gep parents think though.
But seriously, it is a great idea, but I'd say forget about the PSLE, and the schools have their proprietary tests, each school is different and they can choose their own students accordingly, and if a GEPper has better knowledge in the area the school is looking for, and tests well, they deserve the place, ditto for a mainstream kid. Just make sure the criteria is the same. They can even set their test skewed towards the GEP subjects and I don't think anyone should complain if they have a preference for students already familiar with GEP syllabus.[/quote]Wow! Thanks 2ppaamm for saying that. I was sort wondering whether I will get an avalanche of questions from you. But then the schools might run like private ones, don't know whether MOE or government will like/approve that. -
Through my own families/ relatives/friends/school parents/colleagues' children /My husbands contacts (like Pam, he is in academic-line) . You talked to them and the GEP teachers even the schools teachers, they have the same comments every year.......n I am hearing all these every year.....
Sun_2010:
Mind you share how many Geppers do you know totally who surprised you by getting in?
How many in a given year?
And how well do you know them?
Just trying to see how you come to this conclusion.. -
Can anyone download youtube on ‘ENDLESS LOVE’ song for this topic
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2ppaamm:
I know. Ds1 loves English the most because he says dont need to do work, just need to read. However, to those who are weak in English, reading more does not = do better in test. I think exposing them to the various types of connectors or rules may help them to do better in synthesis. ( Just my own views )
But you don't need to be drilled to be good in grammar, synthesis, punctuation etc! You just need to read.
And reading goes a long, long way compared to those grilling... 
As for the SS... taxi drivers know the answer to quote Sir Nebbermind... your kid is targeted for higher things, my friend. 
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2ppaamm:
Actually, if we cannot change anything, this is really true. In the local unis, there is no difference between the GEPpers and non, in terms of treatment, performance and everything.
Believe that once u get into one of those good sec school, u already can't tell whether it's a GEPpers or not. Everyone would be equally bright. And whatever EESIS they enjoy will be reviewed every yr.
GEP will only help you in some ways to open the next door and not beyond that...or that's what I believe
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You need some practices but not drilling You have sufficient time to do the practice for PSLE if I recalled what you have said before. GEPpers can start prepare PSLE in mid May/June.
PiggyLalala:
NO I never say that drilling is the only way to do well in PSLE. I believed it is BOTH intelligence + hard work( Drilling) is the way to get mid A* or high A. Very few pupils can achieve high A* with intelligence alone. You need to expose to as many types of questions that are likely to be asked in PSLE. You need to have the speed and accuracy in order to do well.Melodies:
If you believed \"drilling\" is the only way to do well in PSLE, by all means. I strongly believed that drilling can only bring you up to certain level. Worst still, you may lose your 'creativity'. I don't do that even when I was young. I asked my dd to read a lot. Due to the limitation of time (spent in school and CCA) and may not have time to read widely, I enrolled her to TLL so that she will get the state of art materials for reading..
What I have written in my earlier posts is to explain why some GE pupils scored did not do well in PSLE. -
Melodies:
Ksi and dear other GEPpers' moms, sigh..I'm not here to bash up 1% of the children, I'm here to have a constructive discussion on GEP program/system/process and compare GEP program and treatment with mainstreams. Please try to see this point and please don't be so emotional about it so that you will have a clear mind to discuss. While you think that GEP program is benefited to your ds/dd and your ds/dd deserved to have this, there are thousand others shared the same view for their ds/dd. What make you think that your ds/dd are more equal than others? Like Pam, I have seen many others I think they should be selected but they are not but I was surprised with many admitted one. Because of one selection, their fate is set. Do you dare to say it is a fair selection? For those selected pupils, they may be think that it is very fair system。 But, what make them think so? 我是以事论 事， 不是针对人。
Sorry Melody, as far as I know what I have written, it was purely to dispel the misnomer of what a GEP child is and is not. I am not sure where the ideas came from all those discussions so far but I finally feel compelled to speak on behalf of these children who indeed deserve some different attention. There is nothing emotional about it. Also, if we cannot trust parents who know their children have gifts, what more about using eyes to see as 3rd party.
I do not rule out the trained GEP students without the calibre or the group that are borderline with the HA kids but those cannot be the majority.
As for the fate is set, that is far from true. GEP is only a 3 year programme and only affects 1%, the entire education journey is about 15 years long assuming a 3-yr uni programme, up to P6 only 6 years are covered, 9 more years..... If we feel life is so bleak, we will make it bleak for our children....come on brighten up Melodies! We have 2ppaamm to share the paths of alternatives so all is not lost.
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