Category Archives: Education

Education

Left or Right?

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The other day while in the train, on the way to work, I came across something in the newspaper, which made me pause. It was a letter to the editor which mentioned that students who are left handed should be actually, treated as having some kind of learning disability. I was pretty intrigued by this and so decided to research it a bit more. It is also because GG is left handed and has shown very clear preference to using this hand as her dominant hand right from the time she was a little baby. I had always thought left handed people were, in fact, smarter and more creative than us normal right-handed people since the dominant side of their brain was the right side and this side of the brain fuels creativity.

 

I could not really find any solid evidence which links left-handedness in a person to any learning disabilities. Yes, learning disabilities affect people who are dominantly left-handed but being a leftie is in no way linked to being behind in school.

 

I do know that a very small percentage of the population, around 10% or so in the world is left-handed and this has remained more or less stable throughout human history, but scientists have not yet been able to figure out why that ten percent of the population turned out to be a leftie!

 

In my specific case, as far as I know, no one in both S and my immediate family favours the left hand, but I can’t be very clear as in previous generations, being a leftie was frowned upon and people were forced to learn to use their right hand for everyday work. When GG was found to favour her left hand more, well-meaning friends and relatives immediately told me to start training her in using her right hand more and making that her dominant hand, but something told me to hold off and I let her use her naturally dominant hand at all times.

I personally feel that being a leftie has not impacted her in any way academically. If anything, not doing so well in her PSLE results has been a real boon. She is in a slightly slower programme and is one of the top students in her cohort, is a student leader and is a very active member of her CCA.

 

There may be some truth in lefties being more creative; GG is very musically inclined and is forever singing and dancing at home. She also likes to draw and paint and does this most weekends. At this point in time, she is also exploring writing, so she basically ticks all boxes from a creative point of view.

 

Are you a leftie? What have your experiences been? I’d love to hear!

Secondary 2 Week 30 Update

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This week was a very hectic week for the children, especially GG.

She started the week with common tests as well intensifying practice for the competition.

The competition was yesterday and I felt that they did better than the last year, but managed only a silver. They were happy with the silver, but I am hoping that next year, which will be GG's last year at this competition, will give them a gold!

BB also had a ranking competition for his CCA, but the results will be only declared at the end of the year when rankings are declared. His school does not have common tests this term so he is quite free.

Hindi exams are also coming and will be on their birthday, which is a real bummer for them!

Everyone is super tired today and so today will be a lazy day!

Secondary 2 Week 29 Update

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Another week is over and the children are quite busy with school and CCA. Both have major competitions coming up next week and are very busy preparing for it.

GG is one of main leads for their competition segment and has been preparing quite hard. I keep hearing singing and dancing coming from her room, but she does not to share the sequence with us m, she wants it to be a surprise on the actual day.

BB's competition is a flying one, a glider flying competition if I am not wrong and he has been working on his glider since the beginning of the year. He didn't do well in this competition last year, so I hope he does better this year.

That's pretty much the updates from GG & BB this week. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!

Secondary 2 Week 28 Update

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Another usual week for the children. 

GG is busy preparing for their show choir competition which is towards the end of the  month. She has a solo singing part and is supposedly one of the leads. The competition will take place on a Saturday and they will have to be at school quite early and the day will end quite late. Their school’s run of the draw means they will be one of the last school’s to perform. 

Yesterday, BB’s school had a Value-In-Action project for th secondary 2 students which was had compulsory attendance. The theme was going green and they went around the neighbourhood asking people for old clothes, newspapers etc and BB had a great time with his friends. They also raised $10,000 Singapore dollars to give to charity and the children were chuffed about it. 

Have a blessed Sunday folks!

Secondary 2 Week 27 Update

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This week was the usual school week for the children. They went to school, had CCA and also went for tuitions. 

In school they have a subject called Food and Consumer Education (FCE). This is supposed to be a Home Economics version 2, where in addition to learning to cook, they also learn about healthy eating habits etc. GG has to do a project in this subject which has to do with fusion cuisine. Not only has it to incorporate festive food from two cultures, but it has to be fused with food from one of Singapore’s major ethinic groups (Chinese, Malay and Eurasians are the other major ethnic groups in addition to Indians). Add to the stress is that most of the food from the other ethnic groups are not vegetarian. So now I am in a bind – how do I come up with a fusion dish which can be cooked from scratch in under an hour and is vegetarian? 

Any ideas folks?