All About Your Child

Doesn’t he look like a big boy now in that Primary School Uniform? Aaawww… my boy has grown so much!

Last Saturday we went for his Primary One Orientation. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.

He was led to a classroom where he was accessed, while we were at the hall addressed by the Principal.

After 2hours, we met up again…

Keatkeat: “Mommy, so did you guys had fun?”

Me: “Yup! Did you? What did you do?”

Keatkeat: “Yes. I do 10pages of worksheets. Many spellings. Then I draw something too.”

Me: “What words were you asked to spell?”

Keatkeat: “Clock, Frog, People, Chair, Ball and… I forget already.”

Me: “So do you know how to spell them?”

Keatkeat: “My teacher very nice. She say ‘Good Try’.”

My sis and I exchanged looks. We know very well what does ‘Good Try’ meant. Its just a nicer way of saying ‘You have Failed the Test.’

Indeed, when I asked my boy to spell the above words, he could only get 2 correct. Yup, that’s his standard, just like what his preschool teacher said in my previous post.

So that is how the newbies of the Primary school are being separated into their different classes since a few years back. The smart with the intelligent and the slower ones with the need-more-time-to-coach students.

I would not be surprise if my boy landed up in the latter class. Like I have said in my previous post, it does NOT affect me, so long as it does not kill his eagerness to learn. *smile*

***Dear Friends, these weeks have been a roller coaster ride for me. Now that school holidays have started, my ‘own‘ time-table is greatly adjusted. Hardly have time to blog or even blog hop to your place. So sorry… Once I get the new momentum, I’ll definitely leave a footprint over there…

Today is the last meet-up between Keatkeat’s teachers and us. For some reason, his Chinese teacher chooses to go for her lunch instead of meeting up with us. Maybe there was not much to add on from the previous ‘negative‘ comments from her.

As for Keatkeat’s English teacher….

“Cheng Keat needs much encouragement, in all aspect. He is always in his little own world. Has problem paying attention during lesson time. Attention span is short and would choose to stand up in the middle of the lesson. He needs constant encouragement in order for him to complete his work. Gets distracted too easily and is often more interested in his friends’ work than his.

However, he is a very well-mannered boy, who look out for his friends often. Will initiate to help his friends who are in need. He is creative and always suggesting ideas. I consider him an active boy, who loves to move around, grabbing whatever that is long and start beating around as if they were drum sticks. You may want to consider enrolling him for drum classes or sports.

Yet, it is essential that he needs to put in a lot of ‘heart-work’ academically or he will have a hard time catching up when he goes to Primary School.”

Am I worried?
Not much.

I am so used to hear such comments. I know my child’s ability. Yes, I am prepared that he would fall behind during Primary School, whereby there will be even lesser one-to-one attention. But remember what happened to him when he was under Allan’s teaching? (Read here…)

Do I want history to repeat itself?
No.

I choose to go with Keatkeat’s learning speed. He learns AND remembers better when he is not under pressure.
Tried.
Tested.
Proven.

So what if he comes home with grades like 50/100?

To me, so long as he’s spirit for learning is not crashed, I am fine with it.

So long as he does not feel inferior, (IF) when he compares himself to his peers (which he had NEVER done it till this day), I am fine.

When inferiority complex kicks in, *giggle* the fighting spirit in him will do the work. Till then, I will just do what he can ‘handle‘.

A Child Learns Best when Pressure is Off His Chest.
~ Angeline Foong