Corporation Primary
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Yup, it is a very debatable Q indeed. In the papers, in KS forum, everyone is discussing all these issues. It's good, discussion is always good.
How to start... sigh. this is such a long topic that I could go on and on.
Ok, our time as students were different. Last time, I felt that it was pretty relaxing. We loved going to school, even though there was a lot more rote learning and teachers were fierce and could cane anyone. But there was hardly much exam stress, yet it was fairly easy to score, just study what teacher taught, will get by smoothly.
So I'd never questioned the need for exams and tests, a lot of them, cos it was just something we took in our stride, we still managed to have an enjoyable life, playing, going out...
But now, I notice a trend. Exams seem to be more and more difficult. Stuff learnt at higher levels last time are now studied at lower levels. Everything is brought forward. Kids who are younger are supposed to have a carefree childhood. They are supposed to have time to play and run around and basically not do anything structured. That's how they learn best actually.
It's very unhealthy for young kids to sit down and do work for long periods of time. This is the reason why I feel there should not be rigid tests at the lower levels. Exams that have high percentages and emphasis attached to them is just wrong at the low levels. This makes everything hinge on that exam.
Having been through NIE, and then becoming a teacher, it did change my perspective a little. The proper training opened my eyes to how important assessments are. When we teach a topic, how do we evaluate pupil learning? Did they learn and acquire the concepts effectively? We need to assess.
However, I disagree that the only way to assess is via the pen and paper tests. So I am all for the alternative modes of testing. Those take up some percentage of the final mark and it is especially good for boys and students that have multiple ways of learning. Because at the young age, boys tend to lose out if exams are solely pen and paper type. They, for one, do not sit still as long as girls, and may not focus as well.
Show and tell, projects, all these are good for varied types of learners.
I am told listening and oral skills are assessed too, and count towards the final scores.
ok, how the schools carry out the alternative modes of assessment and how effective they are, let's not discuss that, cos it is out of our control.
My students are those preparing for the A levels. They are the creme de la creme in Singapore. Looking at them, how they study, how they cry when they receive their results, how they break down sometimes, right before a test... It pains me. It makes me think, is all these good and necessary?
I have students who come to me after the prelims, right before the A levels, telling me they don't have the confidence to sit for the A levels, can they pull out, can they drop out? I have to spend time counselling them.
These kids, when they get the A level results, they score string of As, distinctions in S paper, clinch overseas scholarships, go to Ivy League colleges. Yet, they still feel so tense and nervous before the exams. It's unhealthy. They lose their self confidence sometimes, even though they are all very smart and great kids.
It is easy to talk to them though. They are young adults. After some pep talk, they are ok, and are back to the grind. But for young kids? I am afraid for them. That they would burn out early, that they would lose the love for learning at a young age. That would be quite sad, isn't it?
However, now as a parent, my views are yet again modified.
What you say is true Champs... If the system is not tweaked, having these alternative forms of assessment is meaningless if ultimately, the PSLE is just a series of pen and paper tests. Like what Chenonceau mentioned too, if pupils are kept fitted onto a bell curve, then the competition would keep getting stiffer too. Because there wouldbe a \"quota\" of high scorers... There is no end to the stress on the kids nowadays, isn't it?
So what should happen is that the PSLE is also changed to have less weightage on just the pen and paper segment maybe. But as an educator, I know how difficult it is to implement all these. SEAB will have a big headache.
Already at the JC level, when we introduced the SPA assessments for science, there was so much fuss and we needed so many hours of training and re-training on how to mark, how to assess, how to carry out the tests. There needs to be moderation too, across schools, for such tests. Same for Project Work at JC level, for which I was also the assessor before.
So well, I don't know, it is quite hopeful to have some changes now though, don't you think? With a whole new team in the MOE, perhaps there would be radical changes?
The new leadership seems very receptive to the people's opinions, let's hope something can be done so our kids need not suffer?
For now, I am scared by what you say, Champs... I hope my boys can keep up..
However, for the P1 parents, just to share, my P2 ds also has tests that are the same timing as the CA and SA, just that they are not called that. They are called \"bite-sized\" assessments. Hmm, well, the teachers still make the kids revise for the tests and they also record the marks and it is counted towards the final percentage at the end of the year. It doesn't seem very different from CA and SA right? So I think that eases them into P3?
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that our kids will benefit from whatever changes there be to the system ya? -
personally i am studying there n i feel that it is a wonderful school. it has nice teachers n in 2010 the top student for the school in PSLE scored an aggregate of 270(including HMT additional marks)
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hi kiasuadult,
why you call yourself an adult if you’re studying in CPS?
anyway, welcome to this thread! we welcome all kinds of input, from parents, students, alumni… -
hi champion, lkvm and others, i will be away for a month or so. Starting to get very busy cos the month of hols are looming.
i am sure you all have plans for the kids too?
i won’t be signing the kids up for any enrichment, cos single income, cannot afford all those camps and such though they sound really nice.
however, the Children’s Season and the museums having free admission and Open House are all very exciting. will bring the kids to the zoo and parks more too.
all these mean a lot more work for me and then after the outings, I have to rush my household chores at night, so i think i must take a break from my online activities!
see ya in July! or at the PTM next fri! -
sorry idk wat to name myself so i anyhow put
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hi kabalevsky form teachers usually change every year however there can be exceptions just like how my p1 tr applied to teach us again bcause she like us a lot
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KiasuAdult:
hi kabalevsky form teachers usually change every year however there can be exceptions just like how my p1 tr applied to teach us again bcause she like us a lot
wow, she's so attached to you all? nice to hear.
just teasing u abt your username, don't mind me.
ask your seniors to come back and contribute to this forum again. otherwise some readers think we're all the same person.
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Champion:
sorry but it should be 270 because the top scorer took HCL n he got a distinction so 267 must plus another 3 marks for distinctionHello All!
Just read from the PSLE result forum that Corporation Primary School the highest PSLE score is 267! Congratulation to CPS! :celebrate: The national standard highest is 282 from Rosyth Primary School.
Just a bit side track - A friend's child is with West Grove and the highest score is 268 so CPS \"lost\" to West grove by a mere 1 mark only :lol:
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KiasuAdult:
Hi, thanks for the clarification
sorry but it should be 270 because the top scorer took HCL n he got a distinction so 267 must plus another 3 marks for distinctionChampion:
Hello All!
Just read from the PSLE result forum that Corporation Primary School the highest PSLE score is 267! Congratulation to CPS! :celebrate: The national standard highest is 282 from Rosyth Primary School.
Just a bit side track - A friend's child is with West Grove and the highest score is 268 so CPS \"lost\" to West grove by a mere 1 mark only :lol: ....
Would you like to share a bit more about your school life with CPS? Which level you are studying in? -
ExpatMom:
hi! sorry but students will not be able to use lockers although the school have them as the school used to allow the use of lockers but many students keep losing their keys so the school decided not to use. however teachers will usually keep most of the books in the classroom.Hello again.
They sent home a list of what books needed to be packed during the first week of class. Do most of those books get left in a locker at school? Is that why they are to bring different books every day?
@tjm - I checked out the Deuter backpacks. They are definitely good quality bags, so I think I'll take your advice and just let him pick out the color. With all of these books, you're right. Function definitely needs to outweigh form.
P.S. students can only use the lockers only they have valid and urgent need to use them
hope i helped!
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