Minute Musings from a Mom

What am I doing up at 1am in the morning? Preparing for an assignment when this website caught my eye! https://sg.ixl.com/  Perhaps some of you already know about it but there's just so much on the cyber world I didn't know about. It's a really interesting website that allows a child as young as 5, play online quizzes which focuss on Math or English. They appear like games  but are actually educational. While I still firmly believe that nothing should replace personal interaction with the little one or personally coaching a child, I can think of countless occasions this webby will come in useful.  at a doctor's clinic while waiting for a concert or event to start needing to coach the other one and yet not wanting to feel guilty over not spending time with the other...the list goes on... Here are some screenshots. On the website, the quizzes are meant for K1 and up, but I can also imagine the more enthusiastic N1s at J's school enjoying the...

• THE WRONG INFO? • Many I have spoken to, thought that the DSA exercise is only for top premium schools. While there is an added advantage for students who are enrolled in such schools, since many skip the O LEVEL examination as they embark on a 6-year course which leads to an A'level certificate or The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme , there are many schools who participate in the DSA exercise. •   • Information can be found on the MOE website here. •   As an example , I did a screenshot of some schools from the list.   •   • Thus, if your child has a keen interest in preserving the environment or wants to hone her combat skills, the two schools seen above would likely have a program suitable for her. Should she be selected through the DSA exercise, she might not need to wait for the SECONDARY SCHOOL posting exercise to get confirmation of her placement once PSLE results are out. Moreover ...

Will our nation ever do away with PSLE? Dreaded by most, welcomed by others...especially  by those who have already been offered a place in the school of their choice. For many, PSLE conjures up images of late nights, frantic texting to tutors or friends for that magical solution to that 'unsolvable' question just minutes ago, dreary faces, tired eyes and endless cups of coffee... and nope, I wasn't referring to the kid....but the mum, especially if your sick leave or planned leave wasn't approved. Perhaps, one day, I might be in that position described above too! Of course, I speak, not as a parent in that situation now but rather one who has been directly involved for more than 12 years with the kids of those parents and even longer with the tender teenage hearts as they move up to secondary level. PSLE isn't my subject of interest now and the ministry has indicated that aggregate scores would be scraped. There is plenty of information about T Scores a...

Chek Java was our destination as we headed out towards the island on a short boat ride from Changi Jetty. It was a wonderful encounter with nature as the tranquillity of the island (Pulau Ubin) transported us away from the buzz of city life. What and where is it? Shaped like a boomerang, Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is located off the north-eastern corner of mainland Singapore. In the early days, granite mining supported a few thousand settlers. The vegetation was cleared for the cultivation of rubber and crops like coffee, pineapple, coconut and jasmine. Today, abandoned granite quarries remain as treasured pictures of Ubin's history, while forests and grasslands can also be found on the island. Chek Java is the wetlands within the island which is a one of Singapore's richest ecosystem.  Which of these are living? Ans : ALL of them. What can you do there? Rent a bicycle, participate in walking tours, book a tour and learn about the ecosystem in Chek Ja...

LEARN SIGHT WORDS THE FUN WAY - PLAY A GAME! A4 sized double SIDED game printed on 158gsm featuring at least 100 sight words from the Dolch list. There are no repeated words on the 2 games. - ROLL the dice , and either read out the word to your child or get the child to read it out. - For young tots , the game board can be used to INTRODUCE words to them. - For a child to read, they must MAKE A CONNECTION that letters or words have meaning. - Try doing an action or point to a colour when the dice lands on the word; it helps your child make meaning of words. WHEN TO START? -It's never too young to start your kids on his language journey. While there are many expensive and complicated electronic toys that will probably do a fabulous job at getting your child excited, how often is that a sustained interest? -  As there are many ways of using this game to interact with a child, there really isn't a preferred age. Many of the ...