Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Tuesday's Thoughts - Big words, beneficial or redundant

We have never had any problems with it since he started to have spelling in K1.  However sometime in June this year we noticed that the spelling words are getting difficult but its still manageable.  To make learning easier and be better prepared for the spelling on Wednesdays DinoPapa always learn spelling with him on Mondays & Tuesdays, learning half of the words on each day.

However, we had a meltdown last Thursday.

It was a busy week for both me and DinoPapa so we were unable to keep up with the schedule.  Plus the school's having a Halloween party in the morning on that Wednesday, so we gather that there will not be any spelling.  On Thursday I was working late and when I reached home I found DinoPapa asleep on the sofa as he was not feeling well leaving DinoEgg watching tv beside him,  This little boy did not tell me that DinoPapa did not go through the spelling with him till DinoPapa woke up at around 10pm and told me.  

So we started to learn the 10 words and 2 short sentences.


I took a look and almost fainted when I see the words!  However, since DinoPapa has no issues in teaching DinoEgg the spelling words before I thought it was a normal.  Perhaps its late in the night, he is tired and cannot concentrate or maybe the words are too difficult for a 6 year old.  The usual less then an hour work stretches well till midnight, with me and DinoPapa taking turn to give him the spelling as both of us tired and were not in the right state of mind to handle him alone.  DinoEgg was on the verge of breaking down and cry, but being a tough boy as he is, he grit his teeth and continue.

We were finally done at a quarter to midnight, with all the words spelt correctly.  And 3 tired people finally dragged their feet to the bed.  DinoEgg fell asleep seconds after his head hit the pillow.

We could have let him go to bed without learning the spelling or be lenient with him when he couldn't get all the words correct.  We can't.  Because it goes against the teachings we are imparting onto him - of not escaping from responsibilities what ever the reasons are.  Plus we know that he will be very upset and create a scene the next day if he is unable to spell when its spelling time.  So we persist.  Cruel and heartless as you may think it is but for the better of him.

I was very upset in the midst of learning the words and post my displeasure on my facebook.  My friends were surprise that the school's giving such difficult words as spelling for 6yrs old.  Such words which will only appear in Primary 2 or 3 science books.

Take a look at October's spelling list.




Would they even remember the words after the spelling?  A friend commented on my facebook post; her son only learn the words for the sake of passing spelling, after that he threw those words to the back of his mind.  I agree with her, since earlier days DinoEgg could not even remember how to spell the words the very next day.  

So what is the use of learning how to spell words or even big long words at such young age when it does not stay in their memory bank?  

*** *** ***

Ok children, this will be your spelling word for this week.

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

~ ~ ~

Linking up with

MummyMOO

26 comments:

  1. hahaha! I also have problem spelling the supercali.. fragi?... lipstick? duh. :p Honestly, I think its a tad too difficult for their level. Especially when the list of words doesn't link with the last 2 sentences. I always feel that it should be associated then they will learn to use and spell along. Otherwise, quite redundant.

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    1. Regardless of whether it links to the sentence or not, its difficult for DinoEgg who learns spelling in a breeze.

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  2. Gosh you mean even K2 prepares them for school like that? This is exactly why the Singapore education system is so stressful, making kids learn at a level much higher than what they can cope with and telling parents that it's to reach their potential. In the end, not only to are the kids disappointed but also frustrated which kills the joy of learning.

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    1. Let's hope that they will change the system soon!

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  3. oh man! what school is he in? But take heart, that means it'd be a breeze for him in P1! =)

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    1. He probably won't remember the same words but he may find it "common" to see big words in spelling list. I will have till next year to find out.

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  4. The words are so difficult, even I couldn't spell some of them. Some of the words I only get to learn them when in sec sch. Children these days are really too stress. If they have to learn these words for the sake of passing, then I see no purpose. Where is their childhood?

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    1. I guess its more for the passing sake, I hope the teacher did not penalize if the kids do not get the words right. Knowing my son, he will not be able to take it if he do not get it all correct.

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  5. Your kid is in K2 only?? The spelling list is scary!! I thought my girl's school was horrid with 4 words and 1 sentence, but this is one notch higher! But yeah, that means he'll have no problems at all in Primary 1! That's a comfort? :D

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    1. I'd rather they learn words suitable for their age and not fast forward to something higher level :(

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  6. I personally find that it is useless to force a child to learn difficult words if they have no opportunity to use the word in context or in daily life. It would be certainly better if they can really understand the meaning of the word then just memorising it just for spelling.

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    1. I thought spelling words should be like tt. Seems that it is not. I have to go and dig out all his previous spelling list and take a look.

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  7. It was like when my girl was in the previous childcare, I have to practise with her everyday. to the extend that she is crying and we were fighting every time to practise those words. She will start frowning when i say she got to learn. I feel the heartache when every week i got to stress her to learn those words. Till she was transferred out, it was a relief for her and for me.

    I don't want my girl to loose the interest in learning and she might hate those words when she is much older. I feel that Childcare education should change their cirrculum for K2 it's kind of too much for such a small brain to store everything.

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    1. Exactly! But then u know DinoEgg, he cant take it if he cant spell n get it right.

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  8. I agree with Dom. I learnt more effectively and was able to spell the 'big' words through reading books, and not have them forced down my throat!

    This is exactly how a child can lose interest in learning, and fear words, rather than embracing their effectiveness by understanding what they actually mean.

    This may 'prepare' him for Primary School, provided he doesn't get intimidated by them first, and view the English Language as a daunting subject. I would rather not take the chance... although I wouldn't know what to do if C was faced with this situation in the future.

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    1. My sentiments are same as yours. I just hope that when P1 comes he will find it easier to cope with difficult words.

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  9. Wow! That looks even tougher than my son's p1 spelling list!

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  10. Wah lau I damn scared! You guys scaring me I sooo not looking forward to my girl's P1 *shivers*

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    1. Mad, maybe when its your girl's turn they change the edu system?

      Keep praying hard!

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  11. Gosh this is tough! I think I only learnt the word pancreas when I was 15 in Biology class!

    And seriously, how often is he going to meet a person called "Alma"?! Geez

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    1. His art teacher's name is Elma, not the same spelling but close enough kekekekek~

      Just now a gf asked me "where is pancreas?" I was stunned n tell her "I dunno." LOL

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  12. Wow! This is really difficult for a child. Such 'bombastic' words can only be reinforced if parents have the time to drill the knowledge into them. I am not trying to say ignore the spelling list but it may kill the interest in learning if the kid in the first place does not even know what these are and has to learn to spell them. To me, it is like one's superior asking the subordinates to do a job without a clear guidelines on how to do it.
    But then again, the teachers would have taught them these in school, so they are in the spelling list. Otherwise, I find it really defeat the purpose.

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    1. Thats why more time are needed to prep him for the spelling for those big words. Used to be 2 days prep time, now I think need more days to do it.

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  13. I can only say "Siao ah"! How to spell capillaries - I still need spell check now, ok!

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