2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[csc]

[quote]Some of these kids are not confident, not articulated, not well read, does not like reading (which is a norm among truly gifted kids)...
[/quote]I know a handful who are like that...but guess they are exceptionally good in Maths or Science and weaker in languages. That explains the lack of confidence or articulation.

To me, 'balance' is the key. I'd rather my child not turn out to be an extremist but an all-rounded individual, ie have more EQ than IQ.

[tony]

2centsworthy:

I totally agree with all of you. At the end of p6, we are asked to give feedback. I put mine in a sealed... STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL envelope... all crossed to ensure none in my school would get to read it first...


I requested that MOE re-look into the screening. I highlighted the FACT that many of these kids are being tuitioned for ALL subjects right before being selected thru p4 to p6. If they go for one subject say Maths... fine .. afterall they were selected based on Maths, English and General Ability. BUT all subjects... my goodness! I am sure some of the kids who are not in the program, can't even afford tuition, and they are doing well enough and have a life.

Some of these kids are not confident, not articulated, not well read, does not like reading (which is a norm among truly gifted kids)...

Its so interesting that someone told me that MOE die die will not admit they are wrong. So they came out with DSA to help these kids who would not perform well in PSLE to get a foot in first. Does any one know how true this is?

I read somewhere in the blog someone said that last year's batch a kid got 220. In fact, in the beginning of the year when the Asst Director GE branch came to the school for the parents teacher meeting, she told us about it and also that he actually ranked 35 during time of screening. My friend in NUS High told me he is from St Hilda's. What is going on with our education system? Is it only based on getting into the elitist group... or once you are DSA-ed then don't bother... or whatever? The message from MOE GE during the meeting was that the child has to be responsible for his education... I think parents play an important part. It is not very important to be gifted or being TOP in the school or cohort but it is so very important to have character.... the right values.

Quite shocked and saddened by your revelations. It makes a mockery of the programme. But yes, my chief disagreement is with the lower cutoff for GEP kids via DSA. What are we teaching our kids? That it's alright not to work once you \"make it\" to some elitist group? I asked MOE and their reply was \"these kids CAN make it easily, but some won't\". If they won't then they shouldn't benefit, right? What better way to make them responsible for their education - by making them live the consequences of their true efforts?

Maybe if schools impose their individual cutoffs on all kids, then a lot of the reasons for training for GEP will disappear, and this national obsession will cool down...?

I thoroughly believe in differentiated instruction for gifted kids, but I just don't buy it that we have to reinforce this idea of elitism by giving them a discount to get into top schools!

[MdmKS]

2centsworthy:

Its so interesting that someone told me that MOE die die will not admit they are wrong. So they came out with DSA to help these kids who would not perform well in PSLE to get a foot in first. Does any one know how true this is?

.

A friend of mine who has kid like that : lazy to read through out his primary school year but very good in Maths. He got thru the 1st round but not the 2nd round in his GEP selection test some years back. He then got into a top IP school through DSA Maths domain. If he were to depend on PSLE result he would miss the top school cos English no good T-score got dragged down. Now in the IP programme his is English has improved a lot thru the language art programme, forced to read now mah. So I think the DSA thingy is helpful for kid like this since the GEP selection benefit kids who are not just smart but also must be good in English.

[Neko]

Today is dd’s official last day in the current school (tmr is prize giving ceremony). Her friend’s mum said her friend cried for very long last nite. I hv always thought dd wld finish her primary sch education there … and then GEP just fell into our lap.


Oh my, this will be the last time I am driving to that sch. and I won’t be seeing the now familiar faces at the sch gate anymore. feeling a bit sad

hmm … i seem to be more sentimental than dd who is only ‘a bit sad’.

[syshi]

Not for me though… my DD will still be studying there as Rosyth did not commit to accept DD if DS go there… so end up DS choose CH instead…

[acforfamily]

blur-daddy:

I asked my son to quote me a question from 2nd round, and the example he gave is \"name the similarity between punch and a container?\" And guess what the answer is? BOX!

My son quoted the same question, later I found out from him that it is an example that was given, not a question itself.

[cluelessmama]

Neko:

Today is dd's official last day in the current school (tmr is prize giving ceremony). Her friend's mum said her friend cried for very long last nite. I hv always thought dd wld finish her primary sch education there ... and then GEP just fell into our lap.


Oh my, this will be the last time I am driving to that sch. and I won't be seeing the now familiar faces at the sch gate anymore. feeling a bit sad

hmm ... i seem to be more sentimental than dd who is only 'a bit sad'.

:grphug: I feel the same. Baking stuff to share with kid's friends and mummies later.

[Fairy]

2centsworthy:

Those of you staying near Rosyth should go to Success Learning centre and find out.... I was told many of the GEPers are there for the gifted stream classes.... am sure some of them will share.


Many years ago, I was told that NYPS has outside vendor doing some number sense classes for the lower primary... my friend said that it was some form of preparation for GEP. Another friend said that if you send your child to Learning Lab from Pri 1 onwards.... English and Math... apparently before the screening (don't know which round) Learning Lab gives some other worksheets to help these kids to get into GEP. I was also told that almost all of these kids will clear round 1... and a high number clear round 2. Don't know how true?

um.... I am therefore not aware of any such preparations. My kid's cousins were there since P1. I ever asked them if their school had prepared them for the GEP test. They were not aware of any such 'preparations'.

Sometimes, I wonder if such heresays are just some parents' imaginations. Perhaps, if the school really did prepare the kids, it has to be for the top classes only lor. Speaking from an insider's experience, I was actually quite disappointed that the school did not prepare them for PSLE as ernestly as some of the other top schools like Nan Hua and other neighbourhood schools like Rulang, Yew Tee & etc. I got chances to speak to some of these schools and realised that the teachers/school did a lot more for the students in comparison.

One thing I am certain. Many of their students are at LL, particularly the GEPers! :? The teachers are aware of the high-end tuition the kids are getting. I believe this scenario is not only perculiar to to NY or any top school. It's in all schools, elite or neighbourhood. The difference is in the number, the proportion of the school population. In a neighbourhood schools where the majority of the students are HDB dwellers, the teachers will be more motivated to make a difference for the students whom they think are not getting help somewhere..My kids don't have the luxury of such tuitions. So, I'm actually quite envious of those students whose school is doing so much more for them.

[Zann]

2centsworthy:

Here's what I was told by my Rosyth friend....


...in p6 year they were pulled out after Term 1... else Learning Lab will list child's name on the board after PSLE results.

Just wondering how Learning Lab know the child's PSLE results? If the child only attend English class there, it does not make sense for them to publish their PSLE result as part of their advertisement, does it?

[Full.010894Cream]

Zann:

If the child only attend English class there, it does not make sense for them to publish their PSLE result as part of their advertisement, does it?

Makes no sense but sure make MONEY!!!