Express or Normal stream

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

mrswongtuition:

Atutor, I previously thought that it'll be a miracle to be able to tolerate those kids. But from real life experience, they are not brainy but they are full of heart. They're your 'kampung kids' who are caring (though sometimes quite rough) and friendly (though they can get quite vulgar). They don't bear grudges like more intelligent kids. They seldom think of revenge or are resentful (those that are usually come from a complicated family). Although teaching them academically is very draining, it's very rewarding when they come to you at the end of the day to say 'Thank you'. Their results may not be perfect, but you know that their appreciation really comes from their heart.


I love interacting with them and getting to help them non-academically. Counselling them, chatting about career options, listening to their frustrations, sharing jokes, etc. What they really need is someone who can listen to them sincerely. Usually once they 'let go' what they need to say, they start to pick up academically.

Well said mrswongtuition. The normal kids were my friends outside of school. Yes, very caring, can be rough, friendly and vulgar. Another thing is there's no hypocrisy among them. They don't like you, they tell you off right on the face. No back stabbing, no bad mouthing.

I agree too. If my niece is given a choice, she better be in express stream. A serious normal stream student is hard to come by.

[caroline3sg]

mrswongtuition & atutor2001

Thank you for sharing.

I have not seen NA classes from good schools. I don’t believe St. Margaret’s is like this. Same for chinese origin schools like Chung Cheng (Yishun), Bukit Panjang Govt High. I don’t think going to open house, I am able to see what both of you describe.

Perhaps you can pm me which are these schs.

[mrswongtuition]

caroline3sg:

mrswongtuition & atutor2001

Thank you for sharing.

I have not seen NA classes from good schools. I don't believe St. Margaret's is like this. Same for chinese origin schools like Chung Cheng (Yishun), Bukit Panjang Govt High. I don't think going to open house, I am able to see what both of you describe.

Perhaps you can pm me which are these schs.

As I said before, I previously taught in a 'not so neighbourhood' type of school (it's autonomous). Most parents don't even consider that school a neighbourhood school!
However, the NA stream kids there, though slightly better than real neighbourhood schools, they are still very distracting & not able to focus in class.

P/S: You can't see much during open house either. The 'best' way to see the real situation is to volunteer your services to the school. Volunteer to bring them on excursion, or help out at school events. That's when you see the 'true colours' of the kids. During open house, the kids are briefed & warned to behave. Plus, they usually get the 'better' kids to stay & help. The usual trouble makers are usually not given the task of helping at open house.
It's like when guests come to your house, you'll naturally quick go hide all the things that will give your guests bad impressions.

And another thing to note is the CCA in the school. What is their niche area? Is your child interested in those CCAs? Cos CCA is compulsory & you'll want your child to be in a CCA he/she loves, plus be able to rise up to leadership positions. If the CCA is not the school's niche area, they usually get very little FUNDs plus very little recognition.

[caroline3sg]

mrswongtuition

Thank you. Major things I look at are:
1) sch vision/mission
2) character/academic award
3) banding for ‘O’ levels

CCA, either Chinese Dance or Choir, not a major criteria.

[rains]

caroline3sg:

mrswongtuition

Thank you. Major things I look at are:
1) sch vision/mission
2) character/academic award
3) banding for 'O' levels

CCA, either Chinese Dance or Choir, not a major criteria.

Aiyo, caroline, don't be deceived lah. Sch vision and mission are crap. Any school can give grand and great-sounding vision and mission. I haven't seen a negative vision and mission.

[mrswongtuition]

caroline3sg:

mrswongtuition

Thank you. Major things I look at are:
1) sch vision/mission
2) character/academic award
3) banding for 'O' levels

CCA, either Chinese Dance or Choir, not a major criteria.

Skip #1.

Can also just glance at #2 but don't take it to heart. It's all about PAPERWORK & awards chasing. Would you want the school teachers to be busy preparing lessons or busy preparing reports to chase for awards?

#3 is rather important. Another thing to look out for is VALUE-ADDED. This means the school's students outperform what MOE predicted based on their PSLE scores. Which also translates as based on the PSLE scores of their students, they should be getting worse results through MOE's prediction system. But they scored better, so it's worth looking at.

[serangoonist]

now new headache…weighing express in Bartley or normal in Zhonghua

also the big risk of only able to opt for one, means 1st is normal in Zhonghua then 2nd is must normal for Bartley though able to do express
pls your kind opinion, 1yr waste or not is absorable, cheers

[concernedmother]

My son did not do well in his PSLE exam and can only qualify for NA. I understand from the some of the students that the school will upgrade from NA to Express if the first year result is good. How true it is?

Should I choose him a better school where is at the lower end of the cut-off or a normal school where he is at the higher end of the cut-off so that he stands a beter chance of upgrade?

[jedamum]

mods,

pls merge with http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5882&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45
TQ.

concernedmother,
i would go down to the schools of choice and gauge which school give me a better feel in terms of peer influence. cos regardless of the aggregate your kid has now, whether he will make it to Express after in NA will also depend on peer influence. JMHO.

[DCparent]

:? Express or Normal????

My son got 2A and 2B but the T-score is only 192, should I choose good school NA or average school Express. Is Kent Ridge, Tanglin, Fuchun, Teck Whye, Boon Lay ok school? :?: