People always comment that they really do not know how we can manage with five kids. And truth be told, I really do not know how we maintain our sanity as well. However I do know that we are unable to accord each and every child the type or quantity of resources that a smaller family may be able to. As much as I would like to stay chill and see all my kids cruise through school like the students in my generation did, signs are definitely showing that I need to do more.
Having only sent my kiddos to very basic fundamental phonics lessons held at our community center prior to their entering primary school, I assumed that they would catch up with their peers sooner or later. And I thought that my eldest, Steffi, was doing okay in school only realizing much later that she kept asking what the meaning of her homework questions were. In fact, her lack of confidence at answering some very simple questions was scaring me a bit, and her English spelling and comprehension were also barely meeting the passing grade.
Getting the right help at the right time
She is in P4 now and it was not only English which she had trouble with, but also other subjects like Math and Science, since they were all taught in English. Her grasp of the English language was lacking and she clearly needed additional help, but she was unable to get the attention required from her teacher or even from us, her working parents. With her confidence level at an all-time low, it became a chore just trying to get her to start doing her homework. We knew that this could not go on anymore and that we needed to get her the help she required before we face the dreaded PSLE in barely two years time!
How to tell that help is needed?
As parents, we initially thought that perhaps she was just lazy, hence the poor performance in school, and that more assessment papers and homework could have addressed the issue. But it is often not as simple as that and you should take a closer look if you discover the following signs in your child:
● Lack of interest in reading books suitable for his/her level;
● Lack of confidence in doing school homework;● Awkward when having to converse in English;
● Struggling in all subjects, and not only in English.
Sparking her interest
We enrolled Steffi into My English School for the first semester of her P4 term and were able to see for ourselves how she started displaying keenness in attending the weekly classes. In fact, she would often request me to pick her up later and also told me that her teacher, Ms. Nadine, would encourage student participation in class. She definitely did not feel shy to ask questions in her class, unlike in school.
Building confidence
In her small class size of five, she was given the right amount of attention by Ms. Nadine. Even Steffi herself was happy with her own progress and learning, and has even started to read storybooks on her own regularly now. She even corrects her younger sibling on the correct use of words these days!
Getting the basics right
We converse predominantly in Chinese at home and did not realize early enough that Steffi was struggling with comprehending English. She has since completed one full term in MES and I can sense that she is definitely more confident in doing her schoolwork and requires much less assistance from us these days. Building the right foundation in English has made it so much easier for her to understand the other subjects now. She also enjoys reading storybooks so much now, that she frequently requested for library trips on weekends.
Students are issued one workbook for every lesson, which includes oral, reading and listening activities, beside the usual grammar and vocabulary to be covered in class. And even though Steffi had to bring back certain parts back as homework to do, she would diligently complete them without my constant reminding.
My takeaway
It is important to pick up the signs that your child is struggling with a subject like English as soon as they surface and get the appropriate help promptly. They also learn so much better when they enjoy the process as in the case of Steffi. Steffi’s short stint at My English School sparked her interest in learning and strengthened her mastery in English.
If you are looking for an English enrichment class for your kid, you can sign up for a free assessment at My English School to determine the level of competency so that he/she can start in the appropriate class.
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