Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[janet88]

tinkfirst:

Thanks so much for all the tips given by parents. Yes, I agree with janet that Maths is the toughest among all. Can make careless mistakes easily if not careful enough.DD always have the tendancy to tranfer wrong figure from Qn and does her working even tho working is right.

My son has new Maths 'problems' every year...either copying the wrong figure to work from question, or else copying wrong number from calculator. Now, he transfers figure from next question to work on present question. I don't know what's next.

Hi Brenda,
Science CA1 will be tested on reproduction in animals/humans, water, and from P3/4. There was a question in his worksheet which I'm desperately trying to find an answer to...related to life cycles but combination of P4/5 in his Science reference books. Despite having many resources, I can't seem to find an answer.
Sometimes, it's really true that 花多眼乱. If the compo had been done in school, there wouldn't be so much headache/time spent referring to this and that book.

[Peony]

janet_lee88:

Hi Brenda/Peony,

I got this title 'Zoom in Vocabulary for Creative Writing'. It consists of different themes, has power words as well as exercise on the model passage. Rather disappointed themes covered didn't include normal scene like 'park', 'supermarket'. Also got this title 'Write Your Way to an A' by SAP publications. When desperate, nothing seems to be somewhat related to compo.

For writing I find Amanda's tips very useful. She's phppsmss...
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15606&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

What she says makes a lot of sense i.e. it's very hard to predict scenes/situations but all scenes/situtions will require \"feelings\". So instead of focusing on teaching DD what to write based on settings, I'm getting her to practise describing feelings e.g. when a character is happy, sad etc.

But I have to go back to basics first as her plot is a mess. She plans one thing but writes another. :stupid:

[janet88]

Peony:

janet_lee88:

Hi Brenda/Peony,

I got this title 'Zoom in Vocabulary for Creative Writing'. It consists of different themes, has power words as well as exercise on the model passage. Rather disappointed themes covered didn't include normal scene like 'park', 'supermarket'. Also got this title 'Write Your Way to an A' by SAP publications. When desperate, nothing seems to be somewhat related to compo.

For writing I find Amanda's tips very useful. She's phppsmss...
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15606&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

What she says makes a lot of sense i.e. it's very hard to predict scenes/situations but all scenes/situtions will require \"feelings\". So instead of focusing on teaching DD what to write based on settings, I'm getting her to practise describing feelings e.g. when a character is happy, sad etc.

But I have to go back to basics first as her plot is a mess. She plans one thing but writes another. :stupid:

Talk about plot, my son here got so fed-up he can't find a pic somewhat related in the guide books and just wrote something to pass up. Don't want to get involved as it was close to 11pm already.

[pixiedust]

Ladies, seriously I am glad that I am not alone ! (not that I am glad that you all are stressed too)


Brenda, thanks for dropping here to give us tips and encouragement, it really help !

HW: The HW really kills. There's English Mock paper twice this week, EL compo and we had to give up one Maths question because we are just too tired. I posted in the Maths thread, if anyone can help, I would appreciate.

For doing compo at home : I use a timer since in exam conditions, he'll have only 50mins. Most of the time the compo will be completed on time but not ideal. If there's time, I'll go through with him and he decides if he writes a 2nd draft, else just hand-in. I feel this way, he (and I) can guage his performance in exam conditions. I use the MExxi compo phrases book recommended by VanillaCake earlier on. I find it good.

assessment books/guide books : Also fully agree no time to do assessment books. I forsee will have lots of left over at end of this year (so will keep for P6 revision). For Science, it was necessary to have several guides because some answer is found in one and some in another. Our table is like war-zone when it comes to HW time.

@Janet : I don't have any ONE jumbo EL assessment book too. Wanted to do past year papers already no time.

SCIENCE REVISION: this is the one I am worried ! little time left but we haven't revise P3/P4 topics yet.

[Peony]

For science: I got DD to read My Pals Are Here PSLE guide for a quick recap. There’s no time to do 2010 top schools CA1 paper at one sitting, so she’s been doing a few pages each time. Till now, have not managed to complete even one entire exam paper!


Am hoping to use the "result" to see which P3/4 topic to brush up on. She uses the Renee Chong book for P5 topics and that seems to help.

[pixiedust]

We also have no time to do the past CA1 paper in 1 sitting, also doing few pages each time. We only managed to finish 1 maths paper so far.


For science, we are doing similar as you - I am hoping it is enough and CA1 questions will not be too difficult.

[Brenda10]

pixiedust:

We also have no time to do the past CA1 paper in 1 sitting, also doing few pages each time. We only managed to finish 1 maths paper so far.


For science, we are doing similar as you - I am hoping it is enough and CA1 questions will not be too difficult.

Hi, some suggestion. If really no time, tear down the answer key from the assessment book and get them run through the questions and see how to answer with appropriate key words. More or less it will help to absorb some to the brain.
Just my 2 cents thought

[Peony]

Brenda10:

pixiedust:

We also have no time to do the past CA1 paper in 1 sitting, also doing few pages each time. We only managed to finish 1 maths paper so far.


For science, we are doing similar as you - I am hoping it is enough and CA1 questions will not be too difficult.

Hi, some suggestion. If really no time, tear down the answer key from the assessment book and get them run through the questions and see how to answer with appropriate key words. More or less it will help to absorb some to the brain.
Just my 2 cents thought

That's a GREAT idea! Thanks, Brenda!!

[janet88]

pixiedust:

For science, we are doing similar as you - I am hoping it is enough and CA1 questions will not be too difficult.

A mummy said her daughter's teacher (same school as son) wrote down what will be tested for CA1 Science. Honestly, I'm still very much at a loss and VERY WORRIED.
P5: Water and its stages
P4: Cycles (life cycles of animals/plants)
P3: Living & non-living things

Really have no idea what will be tested.... hard it won't be too difficult bcos from past year records, son's Science exams are out of this world.

[livewith_vanilla]

janet_lee88:

pixiedust:

For science, we are doing similar as you - I am hoping it is enough and CA1 questions will not be too difficult.

A mummy said her daughter's teacher (same school as son) wrote down what will be tested for CA1 Science. Honestly, I'm still very much at a loss and VERY WORRIED.
P5: Water and its stages
P4: Cycles (life cycles of animals/plants)
P3: Living & non-living things

Really have no idea what will be tested.... hard it won't be too difficult bcos from past year records, son's Science exams are out of this world.

I remember my Science papers in primary school once tested us on our logic and science application instead of the theory. I would suggest revising the topics that are tested, make sure to have good foundation. Then look out for tricky, 'special' or challenging science questions. These are some questions that one can try and attempt and study.
All the best.