Primary 5 is an important year for your child because that is when schools will start to consolidate and reinforce the concepts, strategies, topics and answering techniques needed for the PSLE.
A child who has built up a strong foundation in his or her examinable subjects in Primary 3 and 4 will hold a big advantage, as he or she will be dealing with an increased workload in the form of more homework and more supplementary lessons in school.
At this critical stage, parents often ask themselves whether tuition is necessary for their Primary 5 child, and if so, how much tuition is appropriate.
The short answer is: it depends.
Firstly, it depends on a child’s performance across his or her various subjects. Secondly, it depends on the goals and expectations of both the child and his or her parents, and how far away the child is from these goals.
Here at The Learning Lab, we do not prescribe a fixed approach for our students, but evaluate each child on a curated case-by-case basis when making recommendations to parents.
With finite energy and time at our disposal, which are the areas that your child most needs to focus on for the PSLE, and how would tuition help your child improve?
We know that PSLE preparation and the subject of tuition will be on the minds of many parents with Primary 5 or Primary 6 children. That’s why we decided to ask former actress and radio deejay Jamie Yeo for her thoughts on these topics, as her daughter Aly is in Primary 5 this year. Here is what Jamie had to say:
It has never been my intention to inundate my kids with lots of tuition. But after a tumultuous 2020 marked by lockdowns and online learning, Aly fell so much behind in school that we have had to sign her up for more classes at TLL this year.
People often say that kids these days need to be guided more and are generally more playful than those from previous generations. I don’t know how true that is really, but I know it has always been a challenge to motivate her to study independently.
Thankfully, after last year’s poor end of the year showing, it seems like Aly has had a change of attitude this year, and she is now actually making more of an effort to self-study.
I have also noticed that her school has been quite aggressive in providing remedial classes and assessment tests to gauge what level of understanding the students are at, and so I’m thankful for that too.
Personally, I think teachers should be strict and firm with their students because the kids tend to listen to their teachers more when it comes to schoolwork than their parents.
I had a really strict form teacher when I was in Primary 5 and 6, and I think she alone helped my Primary 6 class as a whole do extremely well for the PSLE.
Along with regular updates from her school, I have also been having regular chats with Ms Liyena from TLL about Aly’s progress there.
There was one occasion when Aly logged off 15 minutes earlier than expected due to battery problems with the iPad, and I was alerted by Ms Liyena about it after. It’s a good thing that I get updates like that because, to be honest, I am too busy to oversee everything.
At the same time, we can’t expect our children to be competent in all subjects. Aly does well in English and has written some impressive poems and essays.
However she does not quite grasp Mathematics and Mandarin as well. Even though we did try to help her build a good foundation in Primary 3 and 4, she still needs help in these two subjects.
So we will continue to make sure she takes extra lessons for these subjects across this year and the next year. Hopefully, she will do well enough in the PSLE to be admitted into her affiliated secondary school! 😊
You may find some of what Jamie is saying familiar, even if the exact circumstances differ. Your child may be weaker at different subjects, for example, or may need more help in developing exam skills like time management, as well as good study habits.
Tailoring a preparation plan for your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses is not a matter of “more tuition” but of getting the right kind of tuition. The important thing to remember is that there is no cut-and-dried solution for success in the PSLE.
Much will depend on your communication with your child’s teachers, who should be thought of as your key partners in your child’s education, especially for the year or two years leading up to the PSLE.
At The Learning Lab, our teachers actively reach out to parents on students’ progress in both academic areas and character development to make sure that your child is on the right track. This includes working with students to address specific areas of weaknesses such as a particular question type or topic over a longer period or even, as with Jamie’s daughter Aly’s case, simply keeping parents updated on any unusual behaviour in class.
At the same time, parents also need to help their children take ownership of their studies and schoolwork, because this helps our teachers better understand how in turn to help students!
For example, you can make sure your child goes to class ready with questions for his or her teachers, whether over an exam question that stumped them or with clarifications from past lessons.
We believe that effective communication and cooperation between parents and teachers goes a long way in optimising your child’s PSLE preparation.
Click here to find out more about how we can support both you and your child on the PSLE journey.
The Learning Lab has a wealth of resources you and your child can benefit from. Read our other articles that break down each PSLE component in detail and impart strategic advice and study tips.
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An effective revision strategy is essential in this crucial exam year. From motivation to goal-setting, reflective learning to revision time-tabling, this e-book chapter will help you and your child put in place a game plan that leads to PSLE success.
The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
The PSLE is a huge milestone in your child's academic life. Ensuring that your child has everything they need in the lead-up to the major exams will allow them to focus on effective, efficient and productive learning.
Click here to find out more about our proprietary game plan that will gear your child up for PSLE success.
The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
(+65) 6733 8711
enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg
