All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:33:40 GMT

lilytan0355 — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:33:40 GMT

I think sometimes finding a god tutor/mentor can help too. My son used to score AL5 to AL6 range, there was once science was AL 7, which came as a huge shock. I also came to believe he was at most poor to average in his studies. My husband says that maybe studying is just not his cup of tea. Took a few tries but finally found a good tutor that encouraged him. First time see him wanted to study on his own and get better. I thought P5 his results confirmed drop, took me by surprise when he got AL2 for the first time.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:26:20 GMT

yangtien — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:26:20 GMT

Allow me to offer a different take towards this matter on kids who are disinterested in studies .

Find out holistically what might they be interested in. Some effort might be needed. Sometimes we are so caught up with PSLE that so much time was spent preparing for that we neglect the other developmental needs of kids. The kid finding out what they are interested in is very important because you can develop lifeskill through learning anything.
Chill over studies for the time being if needed. When they find themselves and their purpose through an interest, they can develop good lifeskills and self confidence through that with good coaching. With that, motivation to study will kick in at some point.
There is plenty of time to catch up at studies once the motivation and self confidence are established.

Another possible thing to explore with the child is the diversity of study path and career options. Try to understand what excites the child. If a method already doesn't work, why continue doing it? Why not change the approach until you find something that clicks? Success in life comes in so forms. Good teachers will understand how to guide the kids focusing on growth rather than about the grades of particular subjects. Weak teachers will just stress the child and the parent up by over emphasising the need to perform in their subject.
Growth in a person can come in many forms. Many-a-times we helplessly emphasise on the study because we missed paying attention to the growth (which is much larger than just academic study).

Just my 2 cents from some of my experience of having guided many struggling kids excel in their lives. Happy to share more.

Tien
http://bit.ly/mugenartstudio

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sat, 21 Oct 2023 06:37:08 GMT

gsgs1300 — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 06:37:08 GMT

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2121054\" time=\"1697730799\" user_id=\"162894:

Just saw this newly posted video and thought it serves as a timely reminder why \"失败是成功之母\" may not be as simple/straight forward as it seems and why it's important to celebrate small success and help children develop growth mindset.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBz7iUJu9UM]

Very helpful! Thanks for sharing!

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:39:35 GMT

liferina — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:39:35 GMT

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2121054\" time=\"1697730799\" user_id=\"162894:

Just saw this newly posted video and thought it serves as a timely reminder why \"失败是成功之母\" may not be as simple/straight forward as it seems and why it's important to celebrate small success and help children develop growth mindset.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBz7iUJu9UM]

Very good and informative! Will share this to hubby he needs it

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Fri, 20 Oct 2023 02:07:15 GMT

zac's mum — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 02:07:15 GMT

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2121054\" time=\"1697730799\" user_id=\"162894:

Just saw this newly posted video and thought it serves as a timely reminder why \"失败是成功之母\" may not be as simple/straight forward as it seems and why it's important to celebrate small success and help children develop growth mindset.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBz7iUJu9UM]

Thanks for sharing!

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:53:19 GMT

chenlaoshi — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:53:19 GMT

Just saw this newly posted video and thought it serves as a timely reminder why \"失败是成功之母\" may not be as simple/straight forward as it seems and why it's important to celebrate small success and help children develop growth mindset.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBz7iUJu9UM]

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:20:54 GMT

passingonly — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:20:54 GMT

pamelakoh\" post_id=\"2112873\" time=\"1688887272\" user_id=\"202129:

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I understand that there needs to be a transition but I think the problem is the learning attitude. She was in a Singapore primary before we relocated due to my work, so I did not expect that she would have any problems except possibly for Chinese. I will be trying the tips and advice given here.

It's great that you're open to trying out different suggestions. Now, about the learning attitude, you know, it's quite the key. Encourage her to embrace the new learning environment. Maybe relate her new lessons to things she loves. And don't forget, Chinese might be a little tough, but it's like building resilience - step by step. With your support and her effort, she'll do just fine.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:51:12 GMT

sharonkhoo — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:51:12 GMT

pamelakoh\" post_id=\"2112873\" time=\"1688887272\" user_id=\"202129:

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I understand that there needs to be a transition but I think the problem is the learning attitude. She was in a Singapore primary before we relocated due to my work, so I did not expect that she would have any problems except possibly for Chinese. I will be trying the tips and advice given here.

How long were you away? Two transitions within a few years can be quite difficult for a child as they can't remember all that much of the past, and what they remember gets outdated very fast as they grow and school expectations change.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sun, 09 Jul 2023 07:21:12 GMT

pamelakoh — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 07:21:12 GMT

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I understand that there needs to be a transition but I think the problem is the learning attitude. She was in a Singapore primary before we relocated due to my work, so I did not expect that she would have any problems except possibly for Chinese. I will be trying the tips and advice given here.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sun, 09 Jul 2023 07:03:31 GMT

Vevey — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 07:03:31 GMT

pamelakoh\" post_id=\"2112783\" time=\"1688743333\" user_id=\"202129:

I am deeply frustrated and angry. DD and I returned to Singapore for her to start secondary school, sec 1. I am a single parent. Since January, she has been failing every single test and we are asked to see the school head and form teacher during the parent teacher meeting. Unfortunately, I need to make ends meet and have to work long hours in my job. Each time, I ask her if she has revised and she said yes. yet, she made the same mistakes over and over again, and refused to consult the teacher. She only wanted to check with her friends. She does not revise. Whcih is like the blind leading the blind. I engaged tutors for some of the weakest subjects, changed many tutors but of no avail. Now the school tells me that if she continues, she will probably fail sec 1 and be retained, which means that she will lose her current friends. I have screaming matches every night. Help!!

There might be a learning gap and adjustment to Singapore's tougher educational system?

Perhaps can explore with school to downgrade her stream to match her learning pace?

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sun, 09 Jul 2023 05:50:10 GMT

MrsKiasu — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 05:50:10 GMT

Ah chief..that is a truly a nice surprise. Can I also hope for it

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sun, 09 Jul 2023 05:06:50 GMT

ChiefKiasu — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 05:06:50 GMT

I did have the same kind of problems with my child when he transited to Secondary 1. Maybe it was because I was too busy with my work to really mind his schoolwork, or he was too busy exploring the exciting life of secondary school. I was at my wits end until I somehow met with an ex-trainer of MindChamps, who had retired to give private tuitions to students. I don't think tuition was the answer and that it was more important to teach him and give him the confidence to tackle his schoolwork. So we worked together and I sent him to her place, every week, on the pretext that he was getting literature tuition, even though he doesn't really require it. It was not cheap; I think I paid a few thousands for a year, can't remember the exact figure. But at the end of the year, he scored 9 points for his O-Levels when I was expecting him to get like 20+ points. Of course he got a strong A for his literature .

So I guess it really depends on the tutor. If the tutor can motivate the student to somehow do well, not only for the subject that was being taught, and what is being taught continues for the rest of his life, then it's money well spent.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sun, 09 Jul 2023 03:15:10 GMT

lee_yl — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 03:15:10 GMT

pamelakoh\" post_id=\"2112783\" time=\"1688743333\" user_id=\"202129:

I am deeply frustrated and angry. DD and I returned to Singapore for her to start secondary school, sec 1. I am a single parent. Since January, she has been failing every single test and we are asked to see the school head and form teacher during the parent teacher meeting. Unfortunately, I need to make ends meet and have to work long hours in my job. Each time, I ask her if she has revised and she said yes. yet, she made the same mistakes over and over again, and refused to consult the teacher. She only wanted to check with her friends. She does not revise. Whcih is like the blind leading the blind. I engaged tutors for some of the weakest subjects, changed many tutors but of no avail. Now the school tells me that if she continues, she will probably fail sec 1 and be retained, which means that she will lose her current friends. I have screaming matches every night. Help!!

Sec 1 is a year of transition. I recall just 4 months into sec 1, my eldest daughter’s form teacher called me to say she had problems coping. From 4 subjects in Pri sch to 8 subjects in sec 1, the kids need time to adapt.

You can change tutors but not so frequently because it takes time for a tutor to know your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

Constant screaming matches will only lead to further deterioration of mother and child relationship, what is the point? Instead of spending time screaming why not spend 1hr to sit down and go through the queries she encountered in her homework? If for her last test she scored 54 marks and next one she scored 56 marks, praise her for the incremental improvements. Slowly work upwards. So long she could be motivated to do better or work harder, her results will definitely improve.

Say things that can motivate her. Tell her if she doesn’t not want to lose/leave her current friends, work hard so she and her current group of friends can promote to sec 2 together and still stay as a group next yr.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:32:50 GMT

sharonkhoo — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:32:50 GMT

pamelakoh\" post_id=\"2112783\" time=\"1688743333\" user_id=\"202129:

I am deeply frustrated and angry. DD and I returned to Singapore for her to start secondary school, sec 1. I am a single parent. Since January, she has been failing every single test and we are asked to see the school head and form teacher during the parent teacher meeting. Unfortunately, I need to make ends meet and have to work long hours in my job. Each time, I ask her if she has revised and she said yes. yet, she made the same mistakes over and over again, and refused to consult the teacher. She only wanted to check with her friends. She does not revise. Whcih is like the blind leading the blind. I engaged tutors for some of the weakest subjects, changed many tutors but of no avail. Now the school tells me that if she continues, she will probably fail sec 1 and be retained, which means that she will lose her current friends. I have screaming matches every night. Help!!

She may have other more pressing concerns than schoolwork. Transitioning to a different culture can be very emotionally difficult, and having to make new friends, adjust to a new culture, etc. can make it really hard for such \"third culture kids\" or \"cross-cultural kids\" to focus on schoolwork. You don't mention how long she lived overseas, and why you have moved back to Singapore - if it was sudden, or if the reason was difficult for her, that could raise issues too. Schoolwork is an easily observed surface issue, but the underlying issues may be the real cause.

Perhaps you could read up a bit on third culture kid issues and see if you can try to talk to her about them, and maybe that will help? Or find a counsellor who understands these issues? Here's a good website which explains some of the issues, and if you google, there's a lot online.

https://www.crossculturalkid.org/who-are-cross-cultural-kids/

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Fri, 07 Jul 2023 22:36:40 GMT

zac's mum — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 22:36:40 GMT

The potential loss of her current friends (whom she seems close to) should be sufficient driving factor for her to buck up. Let her manage it. May I suggest you be kinder to yourself. The transition has not been easy. This is her problem, not yours. You have already done what you can do.

Repeating Sec 1 is not detrimental in the long run anyway.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:22:13 GMT

pamelakoh — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:22:13 GMT

I am deeply frustrated and angry. DD and I returned to Singapore for her to start secondary school, sec 1. I am a single parent. Since January, she has been failing every single test and we are asked to see the school head and form teacher during the parent teacher meeting. Unfortunately, I need to make ends meet and have to work long hours in my job. Each time, I ask her if she has revised and she said yes. yet, she made the same mistakes over and over again, and refused to consult the teacher. She only wanted to check with her friends. She does not revise. Whcih is like the blind leading the blind. I engaged tutors for some of the weakest subjects, changed many tutors but of no avail. Now the school tells me that if she continues, she will probably fail sec 1 and be retained, which means that she will lose her current friends. I have screaming matches every night. Help!!

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:55:59 GMT

zac's mum — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:55:59 GMT

https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/people/mint-lim-school-concepts-cartier-womens-initiative-236681?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_17062023_cnaluxury

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:55:38 GMT

sharonkhoo — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:55:38 GMT

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2110864\" time=\"1686785265\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2110864 time=1686785265 user_id=53606]
One generation ago, most of our parents were busy working and handling their own stuff, just give birth and then let school teachers do their education role (parents don’t teach or monitor any hw). But some kids still found their way to success. How? They had their own self-motivation to study hard, parental non-involvement notwithstanding.

Perhaps when this child is old enough to understand, you could speak to him and encourage him to strive harder (on his own). If normal intelligence, the learning support from school should be of help. The difference in the case of my son’s peer is that there was insufficient internal motivation (academic wise).[/quote]

Unfortunately, some learning disabilities are comorbid with that lack of internal motivation (e.g. executive function issues). There needs to be some pushing and encouragement from outside as the child just cannot strive harder. It's like asking a person without legs to run - they just can't.

What has changed since the \"old days\" is the school dropout rate. Now, almost all kids that don't have learning disabilities, and quite a few who do, complete sec education, and even vocational education. Even in my day (in the 70s), I recall girls vanishing from school along the way during pr school - often they were the ones who had been struggling all the way. No school-based learning support then, or recognition of learning disabilities, and tuition was rare in pr school.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 23:46:20 GMT

sharonkhoo — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 23:46:20 GMT

manorway\" post_id=\"2110858\" time=\"1686754317\" user_id=\"9303:

ET recommended special school but parents refused. Insisted on mainstream. Kid just got in through normal Pri 1 balloting to the most popular and academically competitive school in their neighbourhood. Kid is in learning support for all 3 subjects in P1. Parents admitted teachers expressed concern but apparently teachers and ET cannot force, ultimately it is up to parents to accept that kid need to go to a slower-paced school. Kid tested IQ before and tested to be within normal range. Sometimes when I think more about this sweet kid, I get angry at the parents because I still think the parents can change the outcomes for the kid now.

It's unfortunate in some ways, but parents have the final say as to these choices. Unless it is regarded as abuse, I don't think any organisation can intervene forcibly. Since the child's IQ is in the normal range, it is possible that there are learning disabilities that remain undiagnosed and undealt with. It sounds as if the parents are in denial - knowing that there is more that can/should be done can be a burden and responsibility they are unwilling/unable to face. Yes, I understand how angry you must feel, but I don't see what else can be done if the school is already giving him learning support and has spoken to the parents. It's the parents that need to come to terms with reality.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 23:27:45 GMT

zac's mum — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 23:27:45 GMT

manorway\" post_id=\"2110858\" time=\"1686754317\" user_id=\"9303:

ET recommended special school but parents refused. Insisted on mainstream. Kid just got in through normal Pri 1 balloting to the most popular and academically competitive school in their neighbourhood. Kid is in learning support for all 3 subjects in P1. Parents admitted teachers expressed concern but apparently teachers and ET cannot force, ultimately it is up to parents to accept that kid need to go to a slower-paced school. Kid tested IQ before and tested to be within normal range. Sometimes when I think more about this sweet kid, I get angry at the parents because I still think the parents can change the outcomes for the kid now.

One generation ago, most of our parents were busy working and handling their own stuff, just give birth and then let school teachers do their education role (parents don’t teach or monitor any hw). But some kids still found their way to success. How? They had their own self-motivation to study hard, parental non-involvement notwithstanding.

Perhaps when this child is old enough to understand, you could speak to him and encourage him to strive harder (on his own). If normal intelligence, the learning support from school should be of help. The difference in the case of my son’s peer is that there was insufficient internal motivation (academic wise).

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:02:41 GMT

MrsKiasu — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:02:41 GMT

Mainstream itself maybe stressful already…now more competitive school, difficult to imagine to stress level.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:51:57 GMT

manorway — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:51:57 GMT

ET recommended special school but parents refused. Insisted on mainstream. Kid just got in through normal Pri 1 balloting to the most popular and academically competitive school in their neighbourhood. Kid is in learning support for all 3 subjects in P1. Parents admitted teachers expressed concern but apparently teachers and ET cannot force, ultimately it is up to parents to accept that kid need to go to a slower-paced school. Kid tested IQ before and tested to be within normal range. Sometimes when I think more about this sweet kid, I get angry at the parents because I still think the parents can change the outcomes for the kid now.

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:21:16 GMT

MrsKiasu — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:21:16 GMT

I agree with slmkhoo. It is something much serious than initially thought so maybe other type of school will be more suitable. If with intervention, getting zero or 1 marks, I feel nothing much can be done even if parents take initiative to teach coz it is another type of problem? I wonder if the school makes any suggestion?

Reply to All About Working With Children Who Are Weak Academically on Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:12:26 GMT

zac's mum — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:12:26 GMT

manorway\" post_id=\"2110845\" time=\"1686745879\" user_id=\"9303:

Yes, popular school where 29 out of 30 kids in average class can read fluently at P1. This is a kid who cannot even SAY 2 sentences at P1, let alone read. How can kid feel confident?

The child is unlikely to make it to Express. At the rate the kid is going, it is either G1 or G2 at best. I am just worried that he will end up failing in the end when parents just need to do something now and kid will at least make it to G1 or G2.

But yah, I should just let it go and channel my energy elsewhere.

I know a child (my DS’ peer) who could not read at P1 because the single parent was too busy with work + his siblings + own social life. The school noticed and flagged him out for LSP (aka extra coaching with phonics & reading during recess and after school). He caught up in a few months because quite smart. Exited the program subsequently. But because parent essentially hands-off on all academics (no tuition, no assessment books, no hw supervision, just let the student care teachers give spelling & Tingxie), child never did well, coasted thru barely passing till P6. Now in G1 stream in affiliated secondary.

Child is happy as far as I can see (no stress). Enjoying the active social life that the parent includes the kids in. What I wanted to say is, it is not necessarily a bad life or bad prospects for the kid. Some ppl just dun want to join the rat race & just content with an overall happy existence. Of course, not in a competitive school where teachers may put down underperformers. They don’t, and are generally just supportive but don’t force extra work.