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Showing posts from 2015

How to score FULL MARKS for PSLE Science (Section B)

If you want to secure your A* for PSLE Science, here’s what you need. (1)     You need to score full marks for Section A. (2)     And garner least a 35 marks for Section B. The margin for error is so small—9 marks! You go beyond by 1 and your A* is gone. Now, the problem is that students usually score partial marks for Booklet B, easily giving away ½ marks and 1 mark per item. Why? Because despite the mastery of concept, they don’t know the exact keywords that earn them the marks. Let me spell it out plain in simple, in booklet B, the game is all about using the right keywords/phrases. It’s as simple as that. Here’s a basic fact. A 2-mark question requires 4 key phrases. A 1-mark question requires 2 key phrases. In our classes, we use this 4-step thought process to train my students in securing full marks for each question.  STEP 1: U nderline/highlight important words in question Lee Xian opened the freezer door and observed that ‘clouds’ escape

CNY Visit

It's been awhile since I last wrote. I was busy visiting during the Chinese New Year period. On the weekdays, together with our coaches, we visited families of a number of students and they really host us well. We were given endless new year goodies and we chatted a lot with the parents and the students. Through these visits, I realised there are some things in common. 1) Independent learning: For most of the kids that are with us, their younger sibling are with us too. The parents have witnessed the change, especially on the aspect of independent learning and they want the same for the younger kids too. We have parents who told us that in the past, they had to nagged for their child to pick up their books and pens. However, the story is different now. They have to ask their child to have sufficient rest and take time away from their books.  2) Long-term impact The P6 kids we have last year have graduated and they are growing in their teens now. As coaches, we ar

The small success

This week, i heard a great piece of news from one of my student. He was a boy, who doubted himself and because of that belief, the efforts he put in some times are not his 100%. Some of his stunts in class include asking irrelevant questions, giving incomplete work and delaying every moment as possible. But that did not happen in this week lesson. He was so proud that he could answer his teachers' questions in school when most students were still confused on what the teacher was sharing. His teacher was so surprised and finally he was getting priases in school :) The drills that we had in ISUN worked for him. Though it was just a small success, his eyes were glistening jewels while he was sharing in his high pitch voice with much eagerness. It was really heartening that i was the first person to hear it. The small success that he experienced, i am going to protect it and grow more of this success with him. I believe he with this experience, he will become a changed man.  

Energy: Law of Conservation

Do you have difficulty with energy? Below is a video of a VERY COMMON EXAM QUESTION . Learn it well! Energy Video Learning points: Energy cannot be destroyed Energy can only be converted (to a different form) or transferred (from one thing to another thing that possessed the same form of energy) Energy Conversion Kinetic energy is affected by speed and mass The faster the object travels, the more kinetic energy it has The heavier the object travels, the more kinetic energy it has Gravitational potential energy is affected by height and mass The higher the object is, the more gravitational potential energy it has The heavier the object is, the more gravitational potential energy it has Kinetic energy is usually the opposite of gravitational potential energy.

The special P4 class

After 6 to 8 hours in school, what will your reaction be when you still need to go for additional lessons. I guessed the normal reaction would be like this ヽ(*≧ω≦)ノ. If there is a choice, most people may opt out of it. However, for my P4 class, it is always different and is very special to me. My P4 class has always been one that comes in with high energy and ends off with even higher energy. While in class, the whole centre could hear my kids shouting out answers for quizzes.  There is just so much enthusiasm in them. This group of kids who are beginning to step into the lives of upper primary,  have yet to really experience failure, have yet to be framed to think realistically, have yet to construct many limiting beliefs for themselves. They are always curious and hungry to win and those are the attitudes that will help them do well in life. Seeing them in class is always a constant reminder for myself to be like them.   

My first regular class of 2015

My first regular class started on a very good note. While the students are creating their first S 3 of the year, they had already set the standard high for themselves. Knowing that they had insufficient space and instead of squeezing in the words, they took the initiative to ask for a new piece of paper and began afresh. As a coach, this action is not easy to come by. It took the students some time with us to have the habit of wanting the best for themselves. I could only say that ISUN is a very special place. In here, even the students have bench mark.