KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

To all 2010 PSLE Parent:

What are the lessons learnt from the past year in preparation for the PSLE?

What books did you find most helpful?

mzdc wrote:To all 2010 PSLE Parent:

What are the lessons learnt from the past year in preparation for the PSLE?

What books did you find most helpful?

1. consistent daily work

2. start revising P3 science as early as possible, then go on to P4, P5, etc

3. start your preparation of the above at beginning of P5

Past year's Test papers can help for a firm foundation .....but the students need to read a lot to gain GENERAL KNOWLEDGE especially when it comes to SCIENCE & for improving Mother Tongue and ENGLISH. So start watching informative TV pgms, daily news on TV & newspapers, read a lot of GOOD ENGLISH fiction & non-fiction books, etc.

Make your own time-table to suit your schedule(School + Home + CCA etc)

Make your own notes, mind-maps etc

and

Do not compare yourself with others. You give in your BEST efforts, keep brain-washing yourself that YOU CAN DO IT....ALWAYS AIM HIGH!

P.S: This list is incomplete....hope the rest of the experienced ones wd add in

Make sure your child gets at least 8 hours of good sleep. This may sound odd when everyone tells about studying harder and harder.

But in my experience I found that my DS was able to 'retain and recall' better when his sleep hours were not reduced. I think some parents, in their anxiety to get top results, overlook the role of sleep.

Thanks and Regards.

Thanks to all who provided w their precious advice. Here's a summary I gathered from the posts so far (hope this helps psle 2011 parents n look forward to more advise from 2010 parents):

1. Consistent daily work
2.  Positive thinking i.e. If u think u can, u can!
3.  Make study time-table around school, home n cca commitments
4.  Do past year test papers for a firm foundation
5.  Make your own notes or use mindmaps
6.  Read widely to get good general knowledge e.g watch informative tv programs, daily news on tv n newspapers n good selection of fiction n non-fiction books
7.  Revise p3 science as early as possible then go on to p4,p5 etc
8.  Start preparation at beginning of p5
9.  Make sure the psle warrior has enough sleep - this is to ensure max. Retention n recall.

Hi Jade

Thanks for summarising !

U r welcome verykiasu2010.
I am "making notes" at the same time trying to help. Hope to hear more tips from parents.

maybe just 1 more point:
don't overwork the child or some kids push themselves so hard that they lose steam after the sch prelims. This was seen in my friend's very hardworking and self-motivated child. That's why for my dd, consistent work with a good balance of time to relax.

good tips...but ...i believe the best advice i can give..is to spend more time with them..do not always ask them to revise their work...set a home timetable for them..pls do bring them out on weekends..they need to de-stress also...the more they spend time with you...i'm sure u have no problems in asking them doing revision...

1. Consistent daily work
2. Positive thinking i.e. If u think u can, u can!
3. Make study time-table around school, home n cca commitments
4. Do past year test papers for a firm foundation
5. Make your own notes or use mindmaps
6. Read widely to get good general knowledge e.g watch informative tv programs, daily news on tv n newspapers n good selection of fiction n non-fiction books
7. Revise p3 science as early as possible then go on to p4,p5 etc
8. Start preparation at beginning of p5
9. Make sure the psle warrior has enough sleep - this is to ensure max. Retention n recall.


hmm...gd general tips.. but how to prepare for individual subjects?
can i share a few tips?

I'm more specialise in EL ... here's what i share with my pupils yearly


here are the basic components for psle

paper 1 - situational writing and composition ( picture and open ended )
paper 2 - main paper
paper 3 - listening comprehension
paper 4 - oral

paper 1. - situational writing
possibilities of format
1. email
2. letter
3. post card

normally 5-6 points...get the pts correct ..and the rest is just how to structure the points...

composition-
picture - sorry but i normally train my pupils to tackle open ended..they are much pretty safe..picture to be used for EMERGENCY use only..

open ended - best of all to me..so many ways you can end the compo..some pupils can write around 400 words easily...to score better..u need to brush up your vocabulary ...use bombastic words..use words that makes teacher use a dictionary to find the meaning ..

paper 2- main paper...
1. synthesis is one of the main problems
2. vocab and grammar usage..
3. comprehension - this needs practice..and u need to understand the passage fully before attempting the qns...pls read the comprehension twice at least

paper 3 - LC

- nothing on this...just listen and don't fall asleep while the cd is being played

paper 4 - oral

1. reading - this should not be a problem
2. picture discussion - avoid using " the picture on the right shows" ...

basic start ups example... this picture depicts at a shopping centre... there is a man with a little girl walking beside a shop.. I think the man is the father of the girl as he is holding her hands ( own opinion is VERY important ) ...oh yeah...all in PRESENT TENSE please...

3. conversation - just talk your hearts out..the eamxiner won't eat u up..in fact they just want to talk...


just my 2 cents of sharing ....