PSLE is no longer a “child’s affair” but rather it is a family business. At times, many parents are even more anxious than their child when it comes to preparing for the examination.
Below are the 4 ‘P’s approach that parents can adopt to help prepare their child for PSLE.
1. Pro-Active Learning
Master the English Language
Read widely, from newspaper articles to fictional stories.
Use the newspaper as a context everyday to get in touch with the real world. Choose topics that are related to their lives as much as possible. This would help develop their interest and engage them. Follow through with a discussion on their thoughts and opinions.
Focus on those with issues on consideration and being civic-minded. From the articles that your child has picked up, continue to work on the following.
Summarise into 100-150 words
By writing a summary, your child will be practicing not only on his summarizing skills where the focus is on picking out the relevant points, but also works on developing vocabulary, grammar and a deeper understanding of content.
Vocabulary
Pick up at least 6 new words/phrases a day from the article or novel read. Encourage your child to weave the new vocabulary into his written work. Find every opportunity to use the new vocabulary as part of his daily conversation.
Composition
Your child needs to see the connection between reading and writing. Pay more attention to the story ideas than to the grammatical errors. Praise the story ideas, this would encourage the child to want to write and boost his self-confidence.
Comprehension
Focus on developing the skills in asking and answering questions. Understand the different types of questions posed for PSLE and how to answer accordingly.
Oral & Communication
Once he has completed his summary, discuss his topic and encourage him to share his thoughts on the matter.
We cannot deny the fact that oral examination is an important part of the English paper as 30 marks or 15% is set aside to make up the 100% required for PSLE. Your child needs to develop his reading skills, to read fluently, to articulate and read expressively. He needs to enjoy reading, make it fun!
2. Pen down notes
In order to help your child to prepare for PSLE, the best PSLE notes are those that your child makes himself.
Designing his own set of notes and having them colour coded will benefit him and enable him to recall more effectively. This is why it is important for him to spend some serious time sitting down and consolidating what he has learnt into proper notes.
He needs to read through, decide what is relevant and pen it down. Should he have any difficulties to pen down his notes, do find programs that would guide him and help develop his note taking skills.
By penning down notes, it also encourages him to review everything he has learnt, encourages him to organize the way he learns best in a particular structure that he has designed for himself.
This helps him to recall better as it links the different topics, creating a logical flow.
This is a skill that is extremely beneficial as it can be effectively use throughout his learning journey.
3. Precision Reading
Remind your child to read each question carefully before moving onto the next one. Highlight the important words or key phrases. This is to ensure that he answers what is required of him
Many children are anxious to complete their paper to ’get it over with’. This may cost them the marks they need to excel.
Encourage your child to always check his work after every class assignment, homework or exam paper before handing it in.
4. Positive Parenting
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to listen. If he is struggling in a particular area, ask him where his challenges are. Do not assume he is lazy or careless.
If you are coaching your child, do make his learning an enjoyable experience. If you do not have the time due to work commitment, it is always good to have your child enrolled in programs that would help improve in his academic performance and motivate him into becoming a confident learner.
Do try to put yourself in your child’s position in order to understand him better. Take a positive approach.
Remember that no child wants to fail. Your child needs your emotional support and belief in him, for him to succeed.
Be the supportive and loving parent that you are and enjoy the journey with your child while helping him to prepare for PSLE.
Our children are Gifts.
They are precious and need to be treasured!
I believe in a child-centered, whole language approach to children’s development.
To create an atmosphere and framework where each child can open up and express themselves, confident that their every contribution will be acknowledged, appreciated and valued. 