At the start of the year, my eldest daughter moved up to Primary 6. As if nothing else is important, her teachers, not to mention us parents, are already focusing and worrying about the very important activity at the end of the year - PSLE.
And with that, her Chinese teacher urged her to tell us to apply for her exemption from Chinese mother tongue. This we have done one time when she was still in P4, and it was rejected - approval in principle withheld pending offering of a different foreign language.
So from that time on, we already thought of enrolling her to take up French language.
Time dragged on, until she went up to P6, and that is when we only arranged for everything. We filled up the application for exemption form another time, and sent it to the school's admin office. And her registration for French class only happened later, so we again got a rejection from the Ministry, with the same status: approval pending offering of a different foreign language.
Well, we already sent in a copy of the French class registration form, and we called up the school's admin office to check if they have received the copy, and there were some miscommunication and misunderstanding in the process, but things were ironed out.
Cutting all the long twists and turns, we got the approval from the Ministry, and now, our eldest child is religiously attending her French class every Tuesday evening. And the very thing that I told her is that, now with Chinese class out of the way, there is no more reason, and no excuse, why she should not excel in Science, Maths and English. Previously, the dip in her grades is due to her performance in Chinese language. It was understandable, since we are a non-Chinese family, and no near relatives or friends are Chinese.
Also this year, I let my kids go, three of them, all of them. I don't sit with them anymore when they do their homeworks. I deemed that it is already time for my daughters to stand on their own feet. Well, actually, IT IS for my eldest daughter, and the younger two were receiving the treatment earlier in their life. But as "ta jie" learns to be on her own, she is also able to guide and mentor her younger sisters. A bonus for the two!
What's more, with Chinese out of her mind and thoughts, she has time to concentrate on the other subjects, focusing on what really matters, at the same time, not letting her French language learning slip. They were 'threatened' of being kicked out of the French language center if they don't do well. I know, it was a bluff, but we inculcate in her mind that she has to do equally well, as she will still continue her French language studies come secondary school.
And now, we did observe one thing: she is doing well, even better.
Way to go, Ate!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Exampted from Chinese, excelling in Maths
At the start of the year, my eldest daughter moved up to Primary 6. As if nothing else is important, her teachers, not to mention us parents, are already focusing and worrying about the very important activity at the end of the year - PSLE.
And with that, her Chinese teacher urged her to tell us to apply for her exemption from Chinese mother tongue. This we have done one time when she was still in P4, and it was rejected - approval in principle withheld pending offering of a different foreign language.
So from that time on, we already thought of enrolling her to take up French language.
Time dragged on, until she went up to P6, and that is when we only arranged for everything. We filled up the application for exemption form another time, and sent it to the school's admin office. And her registration for French class only happened later, so we again got a rejection from the Ministry, with the same status: approval pending offering of a different foreign language.
Well, we already sent in a copy of the French class registration form, and we called up the school's admin office to check if they have received the copy, and there were some miscommunication and misunderstanding in the process, but things were ironed out.
Cutting all the long twists and turns, we got the approval from the Ministry, and now, our eldest child is religiously attending her French class every Tuesday evening. And the very thing that I told her is that, now with Chinese class out of the way, there is no more reason, and no excuse, why she should not excel in Science, Maths and English. Previously, the dip in her grades is due to her performance in Chinese language. It was understandable, since we are a non-Chinese family, and no near relatives or friends are Chinese.
Also this year, I let my kids go, three of them, all of them. I don't sit with them anymore when they do their homeworks. I deemed that it is already time for my daughters to stand on their own feet. Well, actually, IT IS for my eldest daughter, and the younger two were receiving the treatment earlier in their life. But as "ta jie" learns to be on her own, she is also able to guide and mentor her younger sisters. A bonus for the two!
What's more, with Chinese out of her mind and thoughts, she has time to concentrate on the other subjects, focusing on what really matters, at the same time, not letting her French language learning slip. They were 'threatened' of being kicked out of the French language center if they don't do well. I know, it was a bluff, but we inculcate in her mind that she has to do equally well, as she will still continue her French language studies come secondary school.
And now, we did observe one thing: she is doing well, even better.
Way to go, Ate!
And with that, her Chinese teacher urged her to tell us to apply for her exemption from Chinese mother tongue. This we have done one time when she was still in P4, and it was rejected - approval in principle withheld pending offering of a different foreign language.
So from that time on, we already thought of enrolling her to take up French language.
Time dragged on, until she went up to P6, and that is when we only arranged for everything. We filled up the application for exemption form another time, and sent it to the school's admin office. And her registration for French class only happened later, so we again got a rejection from the Ministry, with the same status: approval pending offering of a different foreign language.
Well, we already sent in a copy of the French class registration form, and we called up the school's admin office to check if they have received the copy, and there were some miscommunication and misunderstanding in the process, but things were ironed out.
Cutting all the long twists and turns, we got the approval from the Ministry, and now, our eldest child is religiously attending her French class every Tuesday evening. And the very thing that I told her is that, now with Chinese class out of the way, there is no more reason, and no excuse, why she should not excel in Science, Maths and English. Previously, the dip in her grades is due to her performance in Chinese language. It was understandable, since we are a non-Chinese family, and no near relatives or friends are Chinese.
Also this year, I let my kids go, three of them, all of them. I don't sit with them anymore when they do their homeworks. I deemed that it is already time for my daughters to stand on their own feet. Well, actually, IT IS for my eldest daughter, and the younger two were receiving the treatment earlier in their life. But as "ta jie" learns to be on her own, she is also able to guide and mentor her younger sisters. A bonus for the two!
What's more, with Chinese out of her mind and thoughts, she has time to concentrate on the other subjects, focusing on what really matters, at the same time, not letting her French language learning slip. They were 'threatened' of being kicked out of the French language center if they don't do well. I know, it was a bluff, but we inculcate in her mind that she has to do equally well, as she will still continue her French language studies come secondary school.
And now, we did observe one thing: she is doing well, even better.
Way to go, Ate!
Singapore Kindness Movement to spread message to homes, offices
Just as it is again the hot topic in the news, in the dailies, and even in the ministry itself, the kindness and courtesy campaign is again coming into the forefront.
There has been some articles in Today paper (I've not been looking at the myPaper daily lately) about the courtesy observance in other countries, and here in Singapore as well, and as they compare how kindness and courtesy is practiced here and in other countries, and there are varied opinions.
Take for example, the previous topic of caning in the schools, in every student's sight. Some say it is actually detrimental to the student's psychological wellness, but others say that it is more on imparting a warning signal, and is therefore, a deterrent to further misbehaviours.
What do I say? As a father, I say that kindness and courtesy can only be acquired; it can be learned, maybe. But as the saying goes, "values are caught, not taught", which means that similar to "mother tongue", caught by the child, and naturally spoken without any physical or mental wrestling and incapacity, courtesy and kindness also starts from home.
I have seen so many old folks, who, when offered seats, are able to accept the offer with gratitude, whether by plain gesture, or by expressing it, although sometimes we don't exactly understand the language by which they speak, or to decline the offer yet graciously at that.
And equally, I have seen locals who ignore you totally, especially parents who are with their small kids.
This observation confirms that saying - it all starts from home.
As for the news, you can read it here.
There has been some articles in Today paper (I've not been looking at the myPaper daily lately) about the courtesy observance in other countries, and here in Singapore as well, and as they compare how kindness and courtesy is practiced here and in other countries, and there are varied opinions.
Take for example, the previous topic of caning in the schools, in every student's sight. Some say it is actually detrimental to the student's psychological wellness, but others say that it is more on imparting a warning signal, and is therefore, a deterrent to further misbehaviours.
What do I say? As a father, I say that kindness and courtesy can only be acquired; it can be learned, maybe. But as the saying goes, "values are caught, not taught", which means that similar to "mother tongue", caught by the child, and naturally spoken without any physical or mental wrestling and incapacity, courtesy and kindness also starts from home.
I have seen so many old folks, who, when offered seats, are able to accept the offer with gratitude, whether by plain gesture, or by expressing it, although sometimes we don't exactly understand the language by which they speak, or to decline the offer yet graciously at that.
And equally, I have seen locals who ignore you totally, especially parents who are with their small kids.
This observation confirms that saying - it all starts from home.
As for the news, you can read it here.
Singapore Kindness Movement to spread message to homes, offices
Just as it is again the hot topic in the news, in the dailies, and even in the ministry itself, the kindness and courtesy campaign is again coming into the forefront.
There has been some articles in Today paper (I've not been looking at the myPaper daily lately) about the courtesy observance in other countries, and here in Singapore as well, and as they compare how kindness and courtesy is practiced here and in other countries, and there are varied opinions.
Take for example, the previous topic of caning in the schools, in every student's sight. Some say it is actually detrimental to the student's psychological wellness, but others say that it is more on imparting a warning signal, and is therefore, a deterrent to further misbehaviours.
What do I say? As a father, I say that kindness and courtesy can only be acquired; it can be learned, maybe. But as the saying goes, "values are caught, not taught", which means that similar to "mother tongue", caught by the child, and naturally spoken without any physical or mental wrestling and incapacity, courtesy and kindness also starts from home.
I have seen so many old folks, who, when offered seats, are able to accept the offer with gratitude, whether by plain gesture, or by expressing it, although sometimes we don't exactly understand the language by which they speak, or to decline the offer yet graciously at that.
And equally, I have seen locals who ignore you totally, especially parents who are with their small kids.
This observation confirms that saying - it all starts from home.
As for the news, you can read it here.
There has been some articles in Today paper (I've not been looking at the myPaper daily lately) about the courtesy observance in other countries, and here in Singapore as well, and as they compare how kindness and courtesy is practiced here and in other countries, and there are varied opinions.
Take for example, the previous topic of caning in the schools, in every student's sight. Some say it is actually detrimental to the student's psychological wellness, but others say that it is more on imparting a warning signal, and is therefore, a deterrent to further misbehaviours.
What do I say? As a father, I say that kindness and courtesy can only be acquired; it can be learned, maybe. But as the saying goes, "values are caught, not taught", which means that similar to "mother tongue", caught by the child, and naturally spoken without any physical or mental wrestling and incapacity, courtesy and kindness also starts from home.
I have seen so many old folks, who, when offered seats, are able to accept the offer with gratitude, whether by plain gesture, or by expressing it, although sometimes we don't exactly understand the language by which they speak, or to decline the offer yet graciously at that.
And equally, I have seen locals who ignore you totally, especially parents who are with their small kids.
This observation confirms that saying - it all starts from home.
As for the news, you can read it here.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Chapter I: Twitter. Chapter II: Blogs
Kids, check this out. There's a proposal to change the school curriculum, with 'updated' subjects. Read on.
From TODAY, World
Thursday, 26-March-2009
British Curriculum
Proposal to shift primary education towards newer trends
LONDON — Children in Britain will no longer have to study the Victorians or the Second World War under proposals to overhaul the primary school curriculum.
According to the draft plans, children will be required to master Twitter and Wikipedia and teachers will be given far more freedom to decide what youngsters should be concentrating on in classes.
The proposed curriculum, which would mark the biggest change to the country's primary schooling in a decade, strips away hundreds of specifications about the scientific, geographical and historical knowledge pupils must accumulate.
It emphasises traditional areas of learning — including phonics, the chronology of history and mental arithmetic — but includes more modern media and Web-based skills as well as a greater focus on environmental education.
The plans have been drawn up by Sir Jim Rose, former chief of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, who was appointed by ministers to overhaul the primary school curriculum, and are due to be published next month.
Based on draft plans seen by The Guardian, the proposals require children to be familiar with blogging, podcasts, Wikipedia and Twitter as sources of information and forms of communication. They must gain "fluency" in handwriting and keyboard skills, and learn how to use a spellchecker alongside how to spell.
Children should also be able to place historical events within a chronology, as listed in the proposals. Each child would learn two key periods of British history but it would be up to the school to decide which ones.
Mr John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said: "It seems to jump on the latest trends such as Wikipedia and Twitter. Then it has very traditional descriptions of chronological teaching of history. It seems to be about trends on the one hand, then political pressure on the other hand — the government didn't want to look like it is scrapping traditional education."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families issued a statement on the report, saying: "Pupils in primary school will learn about major periods including the Romans, the Tudors and the Victorians and will be taught to understand a broad chronology of major events in this country and the world."
Meanwhile, the British government is considering plans to monitor Facebook, Myspace and other networking sites in an attempt to tackle crime and terrorism. The Home Office is thinking of requiring such sites to hold data about their users' movements to thwart criminals who use them to communicate.
THE GUARDIAN, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Chapter I: Twitter. Chapter II: Blogs
Kids, check this out. There's a proposal to change the school curriculum, with 'updated' subjects. Read on.
From TODAY, World
Thursday, 26-March-2009
British Curriculum
Proposal to shift primary education towards newer trends
LONDON — Children in Britain will no longer have to study the Victorians or the Second World War under proposals to overhaul the primary school curriculum.
According to the draft plans, children will be required to master Twitter and Wikipedia and teachers will be given far more freedom to decide what youngsters should be concentrating on in classes.
The proposed curriculum, which would mark the biggest change to the country's primary schooling in a decade, strips away hundreds of specifications about the scientific, geographical and historical knowledge pupils must accumulate.
It emphasises traditional areas of learning — including phonics, the chronology of history and mental arithmetic — but includes more modern media and Web-based skills as well as a greater focus on environmental education.
The plans have been drawn up by Sir Jim Rose, former chief of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, who was appointed by ministers to overhaul the primary school curriculum, and are due to be published next month.
Based on draft plans seen by The Guardian, the proposals require children to be familiar with blogging, podcasts, Wikipedia and Twitter as sources of information and forms of communication. They must gain "fluency" in handwriting and keyboard skills, and learn how to use a spellchecker alongside how to spell.
Children should also be able to place historical events within a chronology, as listed in the proposals. Each child would learn two key periods of British history but it would be up to the school to decide which ones.
Mr John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said: "It seems to jump on the latest trends such as Wikipedia and Twitter. Then it has very traditional descriptions of chronological teaching of history. It seems to be about trends on the one hand, then political pressure on the other hand — the government didn't want to look like it is scrapping traditional education."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families issued a statement on the report, saying: "Pupils in primary school will learn about major periods including the Romans, the Tudors and the Victorians and will be taught to understand a broad chronology of major events in this country and the world."
Meanwhile, the British government is considering plans to monitor Facebook, Myspace and other networking sites in an attempt to tackle crime and terrorism. The Home Office is thinking of requiring such sites to hold data about their users' movements to thwart criminals who use them to communicate.
THE GUARDIAN, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friendship Day
I got this nice picture of an MnM chocolate mascot, and as it said in the mail, here goes:
Happy Friendship Day!
Friendship Day
I got this nice picture of an MnM chocolate mascot, and as it said in the mail, here goes:
Happy Friendship Day!
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