Lynn's school doesn't do year end meet the parent session (it only do mid-year session); so the year end update is really my own conclusion of the year.
Lynn has the most successful academic year as far as I am concern. It is not measured by position, marks or prize she get or didn't get, but is based on efforts-vs-results. In the first 2 years, she was in randomly formed classes, and she got top 3 positions in both years. And also best in Maths for the cohort with a few other pupils for getting 100 marks for P2. When she was streamed into the top 2 classes in P3, I did not give her any pressure to get the top positions. But of course I was concern, and checked with her consistently how she fair in comparison with her classmates. I did that discretely and skilfully.
I put more effort in stressing that efforts bring results. For both years (P3 and P4) I put in efforts to guide her in correct techniques in learning Chinese and Science. For Chinese, she begin to like it better than previously. I believe this change is due to her ability to finally grasp the language. This is my achievement that I am really proud of. She did ask if she can not take higher Chinese in P5, which I turned her down. I believe she not only can manage it, but she will enjoy the challenge and the ultimate reward, in the form of mastering the language and getting decent results.
As for science, I can only bring her a few years of advantage. The technique is in using key words in explaining the facts. Eventually, she can use this skills and learn on her own. Lynn like science; I never did. I hope her interest will continue. She has very good P3/P4 teacher, Ms. Chua, who really go the extra mile to encourage her students. Lynn missed out being best in Science in her cohort. Ms Chua recognise the efforts that Lynn put in for the subject, so she took Lynn and another boy in her class, both of whom top the class in Science, to buy presents. This reward trip to Kinokuniya books store was only for prize winners (top 3 in class, and best in cohort for certain subject), which is officially only for 6 students in Lynn's class. But Ms Chua took 8 students, including Lynn and the other boy. Lynn is really blessed to have good teachers.
And for Math, Lynn almost got the award this year. There were quite a handful of pupils in her class that got 100 marks for SA2 paper. Lynn got 98, and it was a careless mistake that caused her the 2 marks. I am both happy and disappointed that this happened. It will be more and more difficult to her to get this award as she progress to P5 and P6. However, I had also been waiting for this kind of opportunity to illustrate what we always nagged her about - checking for careless mistakes. No amount of nagging or teaching will be enough to learn this; only an experience will seal the understanding once and for all. So, this is one item that can be checked off my list.
Finally, for English, her grades is still in band 1 but below 90, and I know she has done her best. She has very good English teacher, Ms Kalpana, who had been demanding. I have not been monitoring much, so I'm not very sure how to help. Well, let's see how it goes from here.
Time files, she is now on her PSLE journey already. I hope she has a good academic, character building, and learning journey ahead in P5.
Ms Chua sent us photos in Whatsapp of a class activity after the exams:
Sweetie made this ice-cream chocolate milk dessert for me one night.
She got 99 for Maths, 94 for Science, 92 for CL2, and 87 for English. Very good results for P4.
I wonder what Ms Chua means by "display courage when making difficult decisions". Based on May's PMT session, I think her last comment " should continue to set high standards for herself and strive for excellence" is a loaded (as oppose to causal) comment.
Below are pictures of her CL2 essay. I got compliment from WK that I taught her (CL2) well. Actually, my goals are more complex than that. Lynn is not competitive by nature, and I believe there is no need to be what you are not. However, she will be short-changing herself if she gives the bare minimal effort in things she do (that's what Ms Chua and Ms Kalpana are harping on!). Thus, what I want to achieve is the delicate balance of setting high, stretched, but achievable standard. To teach her that she bear the results of actions(/inactions) and choices. And very importantly to cultivate the liking for learning. Wish me success!
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