2019 Secondary 4 Week 8 Update

This is a normal week for both BB & GG. GG had some weighted assessments (one of which was very sudden for her as she had not seen the date for this exam) and so is currently busy studying. BB, on the other hand, has his common tests starting from Monday and is still blase about it as ever.

GG suffers from examination anxiety where she pretty much freezes and forgets all her learning during an important exam. This happened to her four years back during her PSLE exams and I very strongly believe that this was the cause of her lower than expected marks in the exam. She seemed ok during the first few years of secondary school and I was relieved that she had overcome this fear. But this year, with the O levels looming, I fear this anxiety is making a come back. I have been coaching her constantly and try to motivate her, and I hope this is working. This is going to be a year-long project for me, so wish me (and GG) loads of luck.

That’s all folks from the children this week. Happy Sunday everyone!

2019 Secondary 4 Week 7 Update

There’s really nothing that stands out this week in terms of BB & GG in school.

Weighted assessments and common tests start soon and the children are beginning to feel the pinch of having national exams at the end of the year.

I had a talk with BB earlier in the week about his future plans. I had given him time till the end of the week to think it over and then we can discuss it further. I will be speaking with him later this week on this topic.

I always wonder how it is that two children, born at the same time, given the same education and opportunities are so different. GG is so ambitious, diligent, driven to succeed and motivated. BB, on the other hand, likes to take things easy and will work hard only when it is imperative to work and seems almost disinterested and unmotivated. I really am hoping that he ups his game soon so that he is able to do the course he wants to do.

Happy Sunday folks!

2019 Sec 4 Week 6 Update

This was a very short school and work week due to the Chinese New Year holidays.

Monday was a half day for everyone and the children were released from school around 10 am and were home for lunch. Tuesday and Wednesday were the CNY holidays and they went back to school on Thursday which was a full day of school.

Surprisingly this year, both didn’t have loads of homework during the CNY break, so the children also had a good break from their studies.

Next week will again become the hectic week they both usually have with the first common tests starting the week after.

Hopefully, I have better updates next week. Happy Sunday folks!

2019 Secondary 4 Week 3 Update

School is in full swing now as the Teachers race to finish the syllabus for the year before the O level exams in October/November.

This week, I got a call from BB’s school, his E Math teacher specifically. She called me about Bb’s handwriting and slipshod work submitted. So I had my talk with him and made him apologise to her with a promise that he will not do it again. He has said he will improve and that’s my hope for him too.

We’ve also been thinking seriously about their Early Admissions to Poly these days. When we went to the open houses last week, we learnt that the course BB is interested in is very competitive and the admission committee even rejects good students because they feel they can get in through merit. So to distinguish themselves from the others, we have been thinking of hooks that they both can use when they start applying. We’ve identified one each as of now, and the children have to research a bit more on the hooks to make sure they speak and write well about it.

Happy Sunday folks!

2019 Secondary 4 Week 1 Update

School started on 2nd of Jan and this school week was a very short one with only three days of school.

Both schools started teaching on the second day and they both said they got near identical talks from their respective principals – mostly about being the graduating cohort and how they should set an example to their juniors. They were also told to buck up on their studies as everyone (irrespective of the stream they are in) will be giving national exams this year.

GG had her CCA on the first day of school and also on Friday because this is the competition year for them. They will step down from CCA after the Singapore Youth Festival sometime in April. In fact, given that they don’t have much time to practise there is also talk that they will practise on Friday nights till the competition! GG is already very stressed about it especially since she is her CCA VP.

That’s all from us for this week. More when the weeks leading to the O Level exam unfold.

Have a wonderful Sunday folks!