Two days ago, there was an article in the Sunday Times on a tutor whose claims to be a GEP pupil and GEP teacher had been refuted by MOE. After this article was published, a few of my friends who are already mummies and I had a conversation during a lunch gathering yesterday. My friends were appalled by the tutor's actions.
My advice to them and other parents: Feel free to ask to view the educational certificates to verify the tutor's claims. If the tutor claims that he or she is from a particular branded school, you can check the school's website or ask for other evidence. If there is nothing to hide, the tutors should not feel offended. I think it is in the interest of the parents to verify the claims of the tuition centres and tutors. Be a little more cautious when you read testimonials that have been typed out by the centres themselves on their websites. As mentioned in the Sunday Times article, a parent told the tutor to remove a testimonial that was not written by her child.
Some of my tutees shared with me interesting "anecdotes" of their past experiences with the tutors or tuition centres that they had been with previously. I will not repeat what I had heard here as it will not be professional to do so.
However, I hope that in time to come, there will be a shake up of the tuition industry. It has happened in the real estate industry. Let's hope it will happen in the tuition industry. Otherwise, there will be a few black sheep who will tarnish the image of the industry. It's not fair for the rest.
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Monday, 30 July 2012
A Peek into our Science Lessons...
Our P4 classes are learning concepts on Heat while our P5 classes are learning concepts on Electricity. Take a peek into some of our hands-on activities during the lessons. We believe that these hands-on activities will help the children develop Science process skills and understand the Science concepts better.
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Answer to IQ Question - What colour is my hat?
The man who calls out first is Man C.
Why? After some time, Man D has not shouted out the colour of the hat he is wearing. Hence Man C knows that he (Man C) cannot be wearing the same-coloured hat as Man B. If he is, then Man D will be able to see two white hats and will therefore know that his own hat is black.
Since Man C is not wearing the same-coloured hat as Man B and Man B is wearing a white hat, that means Man C knows that he is definitely wearing a black hat.
Why? After some time, Man D has not shouted out the colour of the hat he is wearing. Hence Man C knows that he (Man C) cannot be wearing the same-coloured hat as Man B. If he is, then Man D will be able to see two white hats and will therefore know that his own hat is black.
Since Man C is not wearing the same-coloured hat as Man B and Man B is wearing a white hat, that means Man C knows that he is definitely wearing a black hat.
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
IQ Question - What colour is my hat?
4 criminals are nabbed and are to be executed. The judge agrees to free them if anyone can solve a puzzle within ten minutes. They agreed.
The four criminals are seated in a line. They are all facing the same direction. A wall separates the fourth man from the other three. They all know that between them they are wearing four hats - two black and two white - but they do not know what colour they themselves are wearing.
Man D can see men B and C.
Man C can see man B.
Man B cannot see anyone.
Man A cannot see anyone.
After one minute, one of them calls out.
Which one of them calls out? Why is he 100% certain of the colour of his hat?
Put on your thinking cap! The answer will be posted here next week. Have fun!
The four criminals are seated in a line. They are all facing the same direction. A wall separates the fourth man from the other three. They all know that between them they are wearing four hats - two black and two white - but they do not know what colour they themselves are wearing.
Man D can see men B and C.
Man C can see man B.
Man B cannot see anyone.
Man A cannot see anyone.
In order avoid being shot, any one of them must call out to the executioner the colour of his hat. If the answer is wrong, everyone will be shot. They also have to follow the following rules:
- They cannot turn around or move.
- They cannot talk to each other.
- They cannot take their hats off.
After one minute, one of them calls out.
Which one of them calls out? Why is he 100% certain of the colour of his hat?
Put on your thinking cap! The answer will be posted here next week. Have fun!
Monday, 23 July 2012
PSLE Oral Tips and Techniques - Reading
With the PSLE Oral Exam just three weeks away, here are some tips for pupils who are taking the important examination:
(1) Grading criteria
Pupils will be assessed on the following:
- pronunciation and articulation
- fluency and rhythm
- appropriate expression
(2) Pronunciation and articulation
(A) Enunciate the end consonants (e.g. -t, -k. -ch, -th, -d)
Church
Teeth
Dropped
Can't
(B) Differentiate long and short vowel sounds
Examples:
Leaves vs Lives
Sheep vs Ship
Loose vs Lose
(C) Enunciate "-th" sound
Examples:
father (not fadder)
three (not tree)
(D) Pronouncing unfamiliar words
- Read phonetically.
- Decide on one pronunciation and use it consistently while reading the passage
- Do not pause at the word
- Do not repeat the word
(3) Fluency and Rhythm
- Read fluently and smoothly
- Pause at appropriate junctures such as punctuation marks (A longer pause at a full stop and exclamation mark and a shorter pause at a comma)
- Do not rush through the passage
(4) Expression
- Vary your pitch and tone
- Your tone goes up if there is an exclamation mark.
- Read with feelings (especially for dialogue)
Example: If the character is scared, sound afraid. If the character is livid, sound angry.
Final note:
Practice makes perfect. At home, parents may want to use reading passages from assessment books or guide books to practise this component with your children.
(1) Grading criteria
Pupils will be assessed on the following:
- pronunciation and articulation
- fluency and rhythm
- appropriate expression
(2) Pronunciation and articulation
(A) Enunciate the end consonants (e.g. -t, -k. -ch, -th, -d)
Church
Teeth
Dropped
Can't
(B) Differentiate long and short vowel sounds
Examples:
Leaves vs Lives
Sheep vs Ship
Loose vs Lose
(C) Enunciate "-th" sound
Examples:
father (not fadder)
three (not tree)
(D) Pronouncing unfamiliar words
- Read phonetically.
- Decide on one pronunciation and use it consistently while reading the passage
- Do not pause at the word
- Do not repeat the word
(3) Fluency and Rhythm
- Read fluently and smoothly
- Pause at appropriate junctures such as punctuation marks (A longer pause at a full stop and exclamation mark and a shorter pause at a comma)
- Do not rush through the passage
(4) Expression
- Vary your pitch and tone
- Your tone goes up if there is an exclamation mark.
- Read with feelings (especially for dialogue)
Example: If the character is scared, sound afraid. If the character is livid, sound angry.
Final note:
Practice makes perfect. At home, parents may want to use reading passages from assessment books or guide books to practise this component with your children.
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Electric Pickle
Can a pickle conduct electricity? Watch this amazing video to find out.
Scientific Principle Involved:
The pickle is a good conductor of electricity because it has been soaked in salt water. As we know, salt water conducts electricity as it is rich in charged particles known as ions.
Monday, 9 July 2012
How is lightning formed
What is lightning?
Lightning is electricity produced during a thunderstorm. Each bolt of lightning can contain up to 100 billion volts of electricity.
How is lightning formed?
During a thunderstorm, particles of rain, ice or snow will collide. The collisions will create an electric charge and after a while, the thundercloud is filled with electrical charges. The charges will separate. The negative charges, electrons, will concentrate in the lower part of the thundercloud while the positive charges, protons, will form at the top of the thundercloud.
Since like charges repel, some of the negative charges on the ground are pushed down away from the surface of the ground, leaving a net positive charge on the ground.
Then as opposite charges attract, the positive charges on the ground and the negative charges at the base of the thundercloud are pulled towards each other. Since the negative charges (electrons) are many times smaller than the positive charges, they move more easily. When the negative charges move down, an invisible stroke known as the stepped leader is formed.
When the negative and positive charges on the stepped leader connect, there is a conductive path from the cloud to the ground. Once the stepped leader reaches one of the positively charged streams from the ground, the positive charges we get are what we call a lightning, a bright stream in the sky that has several branches (see figure 3). The positive charges going up to the cloud are actually where we see the bright lightning. This is also know as the return stroke. When the return stroke reaches the cloud, if there are still more negative charges left, the lightning will continue with negative charges being taken to the ground and another return stroke taking positive charges to the cloud.
Lightning is electricity produced during a thunderstorm. Each bolt of lightning can contain up to 100 billion volts of electricity.
How is lightning formed?
During a thunderstorm, particles of rain, ice or snow will collide. The collisions will create an electric charge and after a while, the thundercloud is filled with electrical charges. The charges will separate. The negative charges, electrons, will concentrate in the lower part of the thundercloud while the positive charges, protons, will form at the top of the thundercloud.
Since like charges repel, some of the negative charges on the ground are pushed down away from the surface of the ground, leaving a net positive charge on the ground.
Then as opposite charges attract, the positive charges on the ground and the negative charges at the base of the thundercloud are pulled towards each other. Since the negative charges (electrons) are many times smaller than the positive charges, they move more easily. When the negative charges move down, an invisible stroke known as the stepped leader is formed.
When the negative and positive charges on the stepped leader connect, there is a conductive path from the cloud to the ground. Once the stepped leader reaches one of the positively charged streams from the ground, the positive charges we get are what we call a lightning, a bright stream in the sky that has several branches (see figure 3). The positive charges going up to the cloud are actually where we see the bright lightning. This is also know as the return stroke. When the return stroke reaches the cloud, if there are still more negative charges left, the lightning will continue with negative charges being taken to the ground and another return stroke taking positive charges to the cloud.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Inspirational Video Clip - A Father's Love for His Child & Yes, you can
Watch this inspirational video clip on a father's love for his child. There is also a meaningful message at the end of the clip about having the perseverance and commitment to do what you want to do.
Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. Due to oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Rick's parents were advised to institutionalise Rick because there was no chance of him recovering and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. However, Dick and Judy believed that they could help Rick integrate in the society.
In 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralysed in an accident. Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they completed the run. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels that my disability disappeared."
After this run, Dick and Rick went to complete over 1000 races, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions).
I really like what Dick said in the last part of the clip, "Yes, you can. You can do anything you want to do as long as you make up your mind. You can do it." Truly inspirational!
Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. Due to oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Rick's parents were advised to institutionalise Rick because there was no chance of him recovering and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. However, Dick and Judy believed that they could help Rick integrate in the society.
In 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralysed in an accident. Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they completed the run. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels that my disability disappeared."
After this run, Dick and Rick went to complete over 1000 races, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions).
I really like what Dick said in the last part of the clip, "Yes, you can. You can do anything you want to do as long as you make up your mind. You can do it." Truly inspirational!
Monday, 2 July 2012
Do all sharks need to keep moving to stay alive?
Yesterday, one of my P6 pupils shared with the class that he had read in a National Geographic Magazine that sharks need to keep moving to stay alive.
Do all sharks need to keep moving to stay alive? It depends on the breathing technique the sharks use. Ancient shark species do not have to constantly swim to breathe as they pump water through their mouth and over their gills. This method is known as buccal pumping. The sharks use their buccal, or cheek, muscles to pull the water into the mouth and over the gills. Examples of shark species that use this method of breathing are nurse sharks, angel sharks and carpet sharks. Most of these species have a more prominent spiracle, which is a tube behind the eyes. When a shark is at the bottom of the ocean floor and cannot breathe through its mouth, the spiracle acts like a mouth by pulling in water.
Over time, sharks evolved and the modern shark species use a method known as ram ventilation. By swimming fast, these sharks actively force water into their mouths for processing. Shark species that breathe using ram ventilation do use buccal pumping to breathe when they are idling.
There is a category of sharks known as obligate ram ventilators that are said to have to swim constantly to stay alive. Only about two dozen of the 400 identified shark species fall in this category. One such species is the great white shark.
Do all sharks need to keep moving to stay alive? It depends on the breathing technique the sharks use. Ancient shark species do not have to constantly swim to breathe as they pump water through their mouth and over their gills. This method is known as buccal pumping. The sharks use their buccal, or cheek, muscles to pull the water into the mouth and over the gills. Examples of shark species that use this method of breathing are nurse sharks, angel sharks and carpet sharks. Most of these species have a more prominent spiracle, which is a tube behind the eyes. When a shark is at the bottom of the ocean floor and cannot breathe through its mouth, the spiracle acts like a mouth by pulling in water.
Over time, sharks evolved and the modern shark species use a method known as ram ventilation. By swimming fast, these sharks actively force water into their mouths for processing. Shark species that breathe using ram ventilation do use buccal pumping to breathe when they are idling.
There is a category of sharks known as obligate ram ventilators that are said to have to swim constantly to stay alive. Only about two dozen of the 400 identified shark species fall in this category. One such species is the great white shark.
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