Starting Primary One #15 - Chinese Review before the Test

I almost have a heart attack when I see this!  Thirty Four upon Fifty!  34/50!!!  My head suddenly feel tight and I hyperventilated.  Now I know how my mum felt when I showed her my Maths test paper that I scored badly.  Anyway this little boy is oblivious to the meaning of getting such a result.  The only thing he is concern is "Mummy pls sign here and here n here (on this Review & Chinese worksheets), I have to bring back next Monday."  After ensuring that I've signed he happily keep the file and went off to play ipad games.

How I wish I can also do the same but we parents are the worrywarts.  While I sat there frowning, I hold in my hand a letter from the school informing us that they will be conducting additional HYPY lessons for the students, it will be conducted by outside vendors so we have to pay for it.  Without 2nd thought I decided to let him go for the additional lessons.

Just the other day, I was complaining to DinoBoy (Ya how ridicules it may sound, I complained or rant to my 7 years old lol) that I do not like his Chinese as they are teaching HYPY first before Chinese characters and that their text books have both HYPY & Chinese characters.  Do you know what this 7 year old boy did the next day?  I almost choke on my saliva when he told me that!  He went up to the school's Principle and asked "Mr Chua, why is our Chinese text book have both HYPY and Chinese characters?"  Ok I have to explain a little more, the school's Principle is always out and about the school compound, so its a common sight to see him amongst the students.  Perhaps this makes him approachable OR it was DinoBoy's Ask when in Doubt attitude which he did without second thoughts.

And Mr Chua's reply?  "Oh! That's how the syllabus is set, you have to learn HYPY first and after that learn Chinese characters."   (See how patient Mr Chua is, he even bother to give a clear answer a 7 year old's question)

So, do I have to relent and start buying books that have both HYPY and Chinese characters?  For now, I think I will hold back and keep to my principle, let's see how he fare for the Chinese test coming up... in the near future...

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For the next few weeks I will be sharing our experience on our preparation for DinoBoy's Primary One.  I hope it will serve as a useful guide to parents when its their time to get their child ready for the new journey and have an idea how Parent Volunteer works.

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