KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Gisten wrote:Hi botakgundul!

Actually I don't have special techniques in coping the stress brought by academic part. What I usually do is I set 3.30pm-6.30pm as homework/revision time. So during this time my boy will do his homework, learn his spelling/dictation, and I'll go through his work and revise through what is being taught in school. After 6.30pm he is free to watch TV or do what he pleases. A week before exam, revision will continue after dinner for about an hour. Teachers usually give adequate amount of homework, not too overloading like the mainstream. However, the amount of homework also quite depend on which class your child is in. For the better classes, do expect more homework than those of slower pace. So far all these years my boy is in the average class, so that's why I say it's still manageable.

I'll adopt your approach. Thanks for sharing.

Is your son able to do his homework independently now?

Is there different type of classes in PL? May I know what are they?

Did you enroll your son to any tuition center?

So sorry for posting so much questions.

Gisten wrote: Hi botakgundul!

I'm blessed in the sense that my boy is happy-go-lucky type. So his results are also of average, or sometimes below average. But whenever he fail, he'll say to me,"Mummy, don't be angry. I'll try harder next time!"

You know your child best, and I'm sure along the way you'll find the best method to help your child in coping the stress.

Your son is so sweet!

Thanks for your encouragement.

botakgundul wrote:
Is your son able to do his homework independently now?

Is there different type of classes in PL? May I know what are they?

Did you enroll your son to any tuition centre?

Yes, he is able to do his work independently both in school and at home. In fact he does not like me to sit beside him when he is doing his homework. He prefers me to check through his work after he is done. What I usually do is, I'll put a dot against the questions that he gets wrong, then later will go through his mistakes with him and he'll change the answers accordingly.

Usually those classes with fewer number of pupils, eg 8 pupils, are of slower pace. The school won't tell you which classes are of the more high functioning and independent ones, but with info sharing among parents, you'll somehow know. Eg. My boy's P3 class didn't have math mental sums drill but another class had it. My boy's class didn't have to write that many journals or compo but some classes had them on more frequent basis. My boy's class was only learning at unit 2 while some classes were already 2 units ahead. These are just some tiny details how we parents pick up and thus know which classes are the "top" classes.

Yes, my boy does have an English tutor. Actually it didn't started off as tuition. The tutor is actually his early intervention therapist whom my boy has been with since 6 yrs old. In the younger days, it was more on speech therapy and training on his focus attention and breaking his rigidity. Then when my boy started attending PL, academic was then slowly introduced in the session. Until now, it becomes 100% tuition. However, I requested that only to pay full attention in English as this is his weakest subject, while I'll coach him in Math and Science.

Gisten wrote:
Yes, my boy does have an English tutor. Actually it didn't started off as tuition. The tutor is actually his early intervention therapist whom my boy has been with since 6 yrs old. In the younger days, it was more on speech therapy and training on his focus attention and breaking his rigidity. Then when my boy started attending PL, academic was then slowly introduced in the session. Until now, it becomes 100% tuition. However, I requested that only to pay full attention in English as this is his weakest subject, while I'll coach him in Math and Science.

Gisten

The therapist has been with you for the past 5 years or so? If you don't mind, could you pm me the contact, as I am currently also looking for an educational therapist that could help my doter in her school work.

TIA.

tabgha wrote:
Come up with your own social stories to prepare your child.

Make your own drawings and stories using jotter books or sketch books. Some themes:

preparing for school
making friends in school
recess
listening to teacher/ paying attention
asking questions in class
going to the toilet/ asking permission to go to toilet
….


This is a wonderful milestone for your girl and your family. Enjoy the moment

Thanks tabgha for the pointer. I realize that I have become too focused that I have forgotten about the obvious ...

Wow nice to see so many mummies here! Hello to all!

I reckon my boy's curriculum will be intensive as he has 2 years to catch up.. So will see how it goes. Hopefully he's able to follow the curriculum and brush up his verbal skill. I'm really interested to see what will the curriculum be!

ImMeeMee, you are right to say that PL is always willing to try new things as they don't have to open a special program just to suit kids like my boy. A lot of resources will be needed but they still go ahead to try it out.

I still remembered what Denise Phua said during our briefing on this special program..she said," I'm not sure if it works but I will try my very best to make it work." The parents were very touched upon hearing this.

Thks Gisten for all the info ....

It's really informative n useful as it prep us what to expect in PL. Can pm me the contact of ur eng tutor as well ? Its very difficult to look for a good special ed tr.

Thks ImMeeMee n tabgha for some of the ideas. Yes I can try some social stories to prep my boy for schooling. My boy has speech therapy since 4 yo. Not sure if should let him continue on or go on to more academic tutoring? Any advice? His social com stil has room for improvement but I tot academic also impt.

Gisten wrote: Usually those classes with fewer number of pupils, eg 8 pupils, are of slower pace. The school won't tell you which classes are of the more high functioning and independent ones, but with info sharing among parents, you'll somehow know. Eg. My boy's P3 class didn't have math mental sums drill but another class had it. My boy's class didn't have to write that many journals or compo but some classes had them on more frequent basis. My boy's class was only learning at unit 2 while some classes were already 2 units ahead. These are just some tiny details how we parents pick up and thus know which classes are the "top" classes.

Hi Gisten,



I better not knowing all these. There must be a reason on why the school doesn't want to disclose it.

Thks Gisten for all the info ....

It's really informative n useful as it prep us what to expect in PL. Can pm me the contact of ur eng tutor as well ? Its very difficult to look for a good special ed tr.

Thks ImMeeMee n tabgha for some of the ideas. Yes I can try some social stories to prep my boy for schooling. My boy has speech therapy since 4 yo. Not sure if should let him continue on or go on to more academic tutoring? Any advice? His social com stil has room for improvement but I tot academic also impt.

JWL wrote:Thks Gisten for all the info ....

It's really informative n useful as it prep us what to expect in PL. Can pm me the contact of ur eng tutor as well ? Its very difficult to look for a good special ed tr.

Thks ImMeeMee n tabgha for some of the ideas. Yes I can try some social stories to prep my boy for schooling. My boy has speech therapy since 4 yo. Not sure if should let him continue on or go on to more academic tutoring? Any advice? His social com stil has room for improvement but I tot academic also impt.

JWL, my humble opinion is that SLT may bring your son more mileage in the long run as a functional skill than academics. It also helps that verbal skills will facilitate stronger social skills.

I have come to learn that survival skills are more important than academics, especially more so for ASD children, and I use that as a rule of thumb to help me make decisions. Then again, it also depends on your specific context and you would be in a better position to decide.

JMHO.