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Unlocking the Potential of Enrichment Classes on Young Minds

Posted on By ILLAC

Parents constantly strive to give their children the best possible opportunities to succeed. Many recognise that well-rounded education is a critical factor in their child’s development, and investing in enrichment classes is an excellent way to supplement their school education. 

This training provides children with additional learning opportunities outside their regular school curriculum. These classes cater to various interests, including academic subjects, creative arts, sports, and more.

These classes offer numerous benefits to your child’s overall development, helping them cultivate essential life skills, increase self-confidence, and foster a love for learning. 

In this post, we will delve into the numerous advantages of enrolling your child in such programs, highlighting their essential role in nurturing well-rounded, confident, and successful individuals.

Enrichment Classes Cultivate Essential Life Skills

One of its main benefits is the opportunity for children to develop essential life skills that will serve them well into adulthood. Here are some life skills that can be nurtured through these programs:

  • Time Management

Enrolling in this class requires children to balance their schedules, as they must allocate time for school, homework, extracurricular activities, and family time. It teaches them the importance of prioritising tasks, setting goals, and managing their time effectively.

  • Social Skills

Enrichment programs allow children to interact with peers who share similar interests. This social environment encourages them to develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, as they collaborate on projects, discuss ideas, and engage in group activities.

  • Adaptability

By exposing children to various learning experiences, enrichment classes help them become more adaptable and open to new experiences. They learn to embrace challenges, adapt to new environments, and develop resilience in the face of obstacles.

Enhancing Academic Performance

Enrichment programs often focus on specific academic subjects, allowing children to delve deeper into areas of interest or improve their performance in subjects they may find challenging. These classes offer personalised instruction tailored to the child’s learning style and pace. 

This individualised approach can lead to increased understanding, improved academic performance, and, ultimately, tremendous success in school. Furthermore, these classes can help children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by encouraging them to think outside the box, analyse complex situations, and apply innovative knowledge.

Boosting Self-Confidence

Participating in enrichment classes can significantly impact a child’s self-confidence. Children gain a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance by mastering new skills and overcoming challenges. This confidence can spill over into other aspects of their lives, including academic performance, social interactions, and willingness to take on new challenges.

In addition, these classes can help children discover their passions, leading to a stronger sense of identity and purpose. When children are passionate about an activity, they are more likely to invest time and effort into improving their skills, further boosting their self-confidence.

Fostering a Love for Learning

Enrichment programs allow children to explore new subjects and engage in hands-on learning experiences outside of a traditional classroom setting. It can spark an interest in learning as children discover topics that captivate and inspire them.

Moreover, its interactive nature encourages children to participate in their learning actively. This sense of ownership and engagement can instil a life-long love for learning, setting them up for continued success throughout their academic and professional careers.

Conclusion

Investing in enrichment classes is wise for parents who want to provide their children with the tools and opportunities to succeed in life. These classes offer numerous benefits, including developing essential life skills, enhanced academic performance, increased self-confidence, and a love for learning. 

By nurturing well-rounded individuals passionate about education, these programs are a powerful means of unlocking the full potential of young minds.

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to help your child learn and grow? Look no further than ILLAC! Our innovative learning platform offers a wide range of courses and enrichment classes in Singapore. 

With our expertly crafted curriculum and interactive lessons, your child can develop critical skills and knowledge in a fun and engaging way. Sign up for ILLAC today and watch your child’s love of learning soar!

How Can Prep Classes Aid Your Child’s Success in GEP?

Posted on By ILLAC

Gifted Education Programs (GEP) are designed to provide appropriate learning opportunities for exceptionally talented children in academics, arts, or sports. These programs are designed to provide challenging academic experiences that meet the unique needs of gifted students. In Singapore, the GEP is a program designed for students to develop their intellectual abilities to their fullest potential. Parents are often concerned about whether their child needs additional preparation classes to enter the GEP. This article will explore why children may require prep classes and offer tips on preparing for the GEP.

What is Gifted Education Program (GEP)?

The Gifted Education Program is a special educational program designed to provide intellectually challenging opportunities for exceptional students. The program aims to develop students’ critical thinking skills, problem-solving ability, and creativity. The GEP is open to students who score exceptionally well in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and have demonstrated an accelerated learning aptitude.

Why Your Child May Need Prep Classes for GEP?

The GEP is a challenging program and students who are unprepared for it may struggle. Children not accustomed to the accelerated learning pace may find it challenging to keep up with the other students. Prep classes may be helpful for students who need to develop their academic skills.

Preparation classes can also expose students to the type of questions frequently asked in the GEP. This can help them to become familiar with the types of questions they may encounter during the GEP test. Prep classes can also help students become more confident and comfortable with the learning process, which can help them to perform better on the GEP test.

Benefits of GEP Prep Classes

1. Develop Academic Skills: GEP prep classes help students develop their academic skills, particularly in mathematics, English, and logic. These classes provide students with additional practice and support to help them improve their academic abilities and become better prepared for the GEP test.

2. Familiarity with GEP Test Format: GEP prep classes can help students become familiar with the types of questions that will be asked in the GEP test. This can include exposure to different question types, such as multiple-choice, short-answer, and open-ended questions. This familiarity can help students feel more confident and comfortable with the test, which can improve their performance.

3. Exposure to Learning Pace: The GEP is a challenging program that requires students to learn at an accelerated pace. GEP prep classes can provide students with exposure to this type of learning environment, which can help them become more comfortable and better prepared for the GEP. This exposure can also help students develop their time management skills, which are essential for success in the GEP.

4. Boosts Confidence: GEP prep classes can help students become more confident in their abilities. These classes provide additional resources and support to help students improve their academic skills, which can improve their confidence level. This increased confidence can translate to better performance on the GEP test.

5. Provides Additional Support: GEP prep classes provide students additional support, resources, and guidance. These classes are taught by experienced teachers familiar with the GEP test and can provide students with tips and strategies to help them succeed. This support can be particularly helpful for students who may not have access to these resources otherwise.

6. Increases Chances of Success: GEP prep classes aim to help students succeed in the GEP. These classes can provide students with the additional support and resources needed to perform well on the test and increase their chances of acceptance into the GEP. This can open up new opportunities for students and help them reach their full potential.

Conclusion

GEP prep classes can benefit students planning to take the GEP entrance test. These classes can help students develop their academic skills, become familiar with the types of questions that will be asked in the GEP test, and gain exposure to the learning pace they will encounter in the GEP. Additionally, GEP prep classes can provide students with additional support and resources to help them succeed on the test and increase their chances of acceptance into the GEP.

Join the many students who have succeeded in the GEP with ILLAC’s prep classes! Our GEP preparation classes have helped numerous students succeed in the GEP. Your child can achieve their full potential with our experienced teachers and comprehensive curriculum.

The 8 Key Benefits of Reading to a Child’s Development

Posted on By ILLAC

Reading to children is not only a fun activity to bond and share stories, but it also plays a crucial role in their development. While there is no magic number of key benefits, we can explore some significant ways that reading to a child can impact their growth and learning.

In this blog, we will delve into the top benefits of reading to children, including academic success, cognitive development, enhanced language skills, improved writing skills, family bonding, understanding differences, emotional improvement, and fostering creativity and imagination. 

1. Academic Success

Reading to children from a young age sets the foundation for their academic journey. Numerous studies have shown that early exposure to books and reading helps children perform better in school, as it develops their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. By reading to your child regularly, you reinforce the importance of learning and setting them up for success in their education.

2. Cognitive Development

Cognitive development refers to the growth of a child’s ability to learn, think, and solve problems. Reading to children stimulates their brains by presenting new ideas, concepts, and knowledge. It also helps them to develop essential skills such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving abilities.

As a child listens to stories, they must process the information, make connections, and think critically about the content, all contributing to cognitive development.

3. Enhanced Language Skills

Reading aloud exposes children to new words, phrases, and sentence structures. This early exposure to language helps children develop their vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, making it easier for them to communicate effectively.

Additionally, reading helps children understand the context in which words are used, further enhancing their language skills.

4. Improved Writing Skills

As children are exposed to different writing styles, genres, and structures through reading, they become better writers themselves. Listening to stories helps children develop a sense of story structure, character development, and plot, which they can apply in their writing. 

Furthermore, by learning new words and sentence structures, children can express their thoughts and ideas more effectively on paper.

5. Special Bond for the Family

Reading together creates a special bond between parents and children. Families can spend quality time together, share experiences, and create lasting memories. Reading to your child also allows you to model good reading habits, demonstrate the joy of reading, and foster a lifelong love of books and learning.

6. Understanding of Differences and Perspectives

Books introduce children to different cultures, beliefs, and ways of life. Reading to your child about diverse characters and settings helps them develop empathy and understanding for people who may be different from them. This exposure to various perspectives encourages children to be more open-minded, accepting, and compassionate individuals.

7. Emotional Improvement

Reading to children can help them understand and express their emotions more effectively. Books often address complex emotions, such as fear, anger, or sadness, which can help children learn to cope with and express their feelings.

Additionally, reading stories with relatable characters can help children feel less alone in their experiences and provide an opportunity to discuss emotions and challenges openly with parents or caregivers.

8. Creativity and Imagination

Reading to children sparks their creativity and imagination, allowing them to explore new worlds, characters, and ideas. As children listen to stories, they create mental images of the scenes and characters, which helps to develop their imaginative skills. They can also use these skills in their play, artwork, and creative writing, expanding their capacity for creative expression.

Final Thoughts

Reading to children is an invaluable activity that contributes significantly to their development in various ways. By incorporating reading into your child’s daily routine, you are not only helping them grow academically and cognitively, but you are also fostering essential life skills such as empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

Are you looking for enrichment classes in Singapore? ILLAC is an excellent option for you. Our reading booster programme provides one-on-one reading training for young ones entering primary school in 2023. Contact us and sign up for classes now!

PSLE Success: How to Prepare Your Child for the Big Exam

Posted on By ILLAC

The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is an important exam for children. A high-stakes exam determines which secondary school a child can attend. As a parent, it is important to prepare your child for PSLE to ensure they have the best chance of success. This article will explore how to prepare your child for PSLE.

Create a Study Schedule

Creating a study schedule can help your child to stay organized and focused during the PSLE preparation period. It is important to create a realistic study schedule that considers your child’s other commitments and activities, such as school, tuition, and extracurricular activities.

The study schedule should include time for revision, practice, and rest. It is important to ensure that your child takes breaks and has time for relaxation and play, as this can help to reduce stress and improve their overall well-being.

Provide Resources and Support

Providing your child with the right resources and support can also help to prepare them for the PSLE. This includes textbooks, study guides, past-year papers, and online resources. You can also consider hiring a tutor or enrolling your child in a tuition program to provide additional support and guidance.

It is also important to provide emotional support to your child during the PSLE preparation period. This includes being available to listen to their concerns and providing encouragement and motivation. You can also help your child to develop coping strategies, such as deep breathing or visualization techniques, to manage stress and anxiety.

Practise Time Management

Time management is a crucial skill for success in the PSLE. Children need to be able to manage their time effectively during the exam to ensure that they are able to complete all the questions within the time limits. Practising time management techniques can help your child to improve their performance on the day of the exam.

You can encourage your child to practice time management by setting timed practice papers and encouraging them to complete them within time limits. You can also help your child to develop strategies for managing their time during the exam, such as skipping difficult questions and returning to them later.

Encourage Healthy Habits

Encouraging healthy habits can also help to prepare your child for PSLE. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in regular exercise. These habits can help to improve your child’s overall well-being and reduce stress and anxiety.

Ensuring your child has a healthy work-life balance during the PSLE preparation period is also important. This includes ensuring they have time for relaxation, play, and socializing with friends and family.

To Sum Up

In conclusion, preparing your child for the PSLE requires a combination of strategies, including understanding the format of the exam, creating a study schedule, providing resources and support, practising time management, and encouraging healthy habits. It is important to ensure that your child has the right support and guidance during the PSLE preparation period to ensure that they have the best chance of success.

Get help with PSLE preparation here at ILLAC. Our programmes deliver innovative learning for children 2-16. Join us now.

5 Reasons to Enroll Your Child in a Maths Tuition Centre

Posted on By ILLAC

Mathematics is one of the most important subjects in the academic curriculum of any student. It is a subject that requires a lot of practice and understanding. 

However, many students struggle with maths and find it difficult to catch up with the rest of the class. This is where maths tuition centres come in. A maths tuition centre can be a great investment for your child’s academic future. It can help them to receive individual attention, customised learning, better understanding of concepts, more practice and revision and ultimately, improved performance in exams. 

This article will discuss five reasons why you should enroll your child in a maths tuition centre.

1. Individual Attention

One of the biggest advantages of a maths tuition centre is that your child will receive individual attention from the teacher. In a classroom setting, teachers have to divide their attention among all the students, which can be difficult for students who need a little extra help. 

However, in a tuition centre, the teacher can give your child individual attention and help them with their specific needs. This can help your child to progress at their own pace and improve their understanding of mathematics.

2. Customised Learning

Every child has their own unique learning style. Some children may learn better with visual aids, while others may prefer to learn through practical examples. 

Teachers can identify your child’s learning style and customise their teaching approach accordingly. This can help your child to learn more effectively and retain the information better.

3. Better Understanding of Concepts

Mathematics is a subject that builds on previous concepts. If a child does not understand a concept, it can be difficult for them to progress to the next level. A maths tuition centre teacher can identify the areas where your child is struggling and help them to build a strong foundation. 

This can help your child better understand the concepts and improve their overall performance in mathematics.

4. More Practice and Revision

Mathematics requires a lot of practice to master. However, many students do not get enough practice in a classroom setting. With maths tuition, your child will have access to more practice materials and revision resources. 

This can help them practice more and revise their learned concepts. This can help your child to improve their confidence in mathematics and perform better in exams.

5. Improved Performance in Exams

Mathematics is a subject that is tested in every academic level, from primary school to university. It is also a subject that many students struggle with. 

However, with the help of a maths tuition centre, your child can improve their understanding of the subject and perform better in exams. This can help your child to achieve better grades and open up more opportunities for their future.

Conclusion

If you are considering enrolling your child in a maths tuition centre, it is important to do your research and choose a centre that has experienced and qualified teachers, a good track record of success and a teaching approach that suits your child’s learning style. 

Your child can excel in mathematics and achieve their academic goals with the right tuition centre. At ILLAC, we make sure to cater to different learning styles in order to help your child boost their understanding of mathematical concepts. Get in touch with us today to learn how.

How to Choose the Best Tuition Center for Your Child

Posted on By ILLAC

With the myriad of tuition centers out there, what are the few considerations you’ll need to take in order to pick the best tuition center for your child?

Consider these factors:

1. Teacher-Student Ratio

The reason why you are looking for a tuition programme for your child is either because you want your child to get that extra help, or you want your child to reach his/her potential. Either way, you want your child to be given extra attention. Therefore, try looking for classes with not more than 8 students. The bigger the class, the less attention the teacher can render for your child. That being said, a very experienced teacher with excellent classroom management and high energy will definitely be able to handle a larger class.

And that leads us to the next point.

2. Qualifications of Teachers

The experience and qualification of the teachers employed in the center are very important too. The best player may not be the best coach. The same goes for teachers. A scholar may not be the best teacher unless he/she is a scholar in pedagogy (teaching methodology). It is therefore, very important to enrol your child in a center that emphasizes teaching methods and child psychology because such a center will surely produce teachers and a curriculum that really help to develop your child.

However, most centers focus instead, on employing teachers who are MOE-trained and/or scholars. Having experienced teachers who are also trained in child psychology will be the most ideal. ILLAC is one center that focuses on employing not just teachers who are MOE-trained, ILLAC also develops and trains their teachers in child psychology so they are equipped with the knowledge of helping students overcome their weaknesses and develop their strengths.

3. Who Manages The Center

Tuition is a billion-dollar industry in Singapore. It is inevitable that centers are run by profit-oriented people who are inexperienced in education. When looking for a center, pay attention to the management team. A profit-oriented management team will focus more on profiting than on developing your child to reach his/her potential. i.e. A huge classroom is a result of trying to profit rather than teach optimally.

4. Curriculum

Singapore’s curriculum for the primary level is actually very unique. The PSLE is entirely developed locally, unlike the O Levels or A levels that are developed overseas and used internationally. Therefore, when choosing a tuition center for your child, ensure that the curriculum is designed by and developed for locals.

For example, some may think that we should send our children to native speakers of the English language to learn proper English. If the objective is to learn proper pronunciation and intonation, yes, that is agreeable. However, if it is to learn proper grammar and sentence structure, a native speaker will not be the best teacher because they grew up speaking the language without such difficulties. They will never understand why our children cannot understand the difference between “I have done my homework” versus “I had done my homework” because the difference is obvious to them.

Another example will be imported centers. A foreign curriculum, even when translated, will not teach Mathematics the same way we do in Singapore. Singapore’s Mathematics emphasizes a lot on model drawing and these techniques are not commonly learned in other countries. Therefore, a foreign curriculum will unlikely cover model drawing as a problem solving method in their curriculum.

The Best Tuition Center

To summarise, the best tuition center for your child should have a low teacher-student ratio of less than 1-8. Secondly, the teachers should be experienced not just in teaching, but trained in child psychology to be able to develop your child to reach his/her potential. The management team that manages the center should be trained in pedagogy to be able to make the best decisions for their students. Lastly, the curriculum that the center uses should be developed by locals.

Good luck in finding the best tuition center for your child!

How to maximise your child’s online learning

Posted on By ILLAC

Advancements in technology coupled with the pandemic has led to an exponential shift towards online learning. We are increasingly seeing children having Zoom lessons with their teachers and even co-curricular activities being carried out on screen. With more time spent looking at their devices, it is inevitable that children may end up being distracted rather than being focused on their studies.

For you to maximise your child’s online learning, here are tips you can utilise!

1.Set online rules with your child.

Have a talk with your child before online lessons to come up with some rules they can adhere to during their screen time. Have them write it down on paper and even decorate it to leave a positive impression. Afterwards, paste it up somewhere visible.  Some rules can include – “Give your teacher your fullest attention”, “Answer questions”, “Listen to teacher’s instructions” etc. Reward your child with praises and even little stickers when they follow the rules they have created! These rules help sharpen their self-regulation and inhibitory control as well!

2. During lessons, be close by.

Being in the vicinity of your child during their online lessons can help you monitor their progress. You do not necessarily have to be constantly supervising them, frequent check-ins on how they are doing should suffice. During the check-ins, observe if they are paying attention and aptly engage them on what they have learnt by asking them questions related to their lesson. Your looming presence will also encourage your child to stay focused.

3. Ask your child questions after the lesson.

Building on the second point, you can also have your child tell you about what they had learnt during their lesson. Add onto it as well with your own knowledge whenever possible to encourage mental flexibility! Displaying a positive interest in your child’s learning will motivate them to wow you every session, guaranteeing heightened attention during their learning.

4. Check if they have additional work on-line or off-line.

After a lesson, your child’s teacher/instructor may give them work to do. Check if they have any and if they do, encourage your child to finish up their work diligently within a given duration (memory of fresh knowledge tend to slip out of mind without practice after the 3rd day). This trains your child to stick to a fixed routine and develop the beneficial habit of completing their work first before partaking in other recreational activities. This can help your child better retain the information during their lesson as they can apply it immediately to their work while the memory is still fresh (within 3 days!).

It can be tough having to juggle between your child’s learning and other pressing commitments. Knowing that you have done the absolute best for both you and your child is the way to go! Moderation is key, pace yourself and your child to avoid burning out while learning or working from home and stop to refresh and energise when needed.  

Home Practices to Improve Working Memory of Children Ages 3 to 6

Posted on By ILLAC

With society’s increasingly high standards in education and academics, it is without saying that we are in a relentless rat race to provide the best education for our children. Whilst having enrichment lessons may suffice, why not go the extra mile to practice at home by honing your child’s executive functions.

Executive Functions are mental skills which include Working Memory, Mental Flexibility and Inhibitory Control; which the lack thereof can have detrimental impact on our daily lives and potentially, academic performance. Executive functioning skills develop exponentially in early childhood and into adolescence, therefore it is paramount to prime our young ones early.

To start off, let’s focus on Working Memory, where the brain is engaged to hold multiple information at the same time while simultaneously processing it (Miller, 1960). An active stimulation of working memory helps reduce irrelevant information that interferes with the task at hand (Brogaard, 2020) which will be extremely helpful when your child enters Primary School.

Here are some simple home practices you and your child can do to improve Working Memory:

  1. Games

Memory games such as Spot the Differences can be fun and interactive ways for your child to improve their working memory. Show your child 2 similar looking images side by side and have them describe the differences they saw. Amp up the difficulty level by showing them just one picture for a few seconds, reintroduce both pictures and then have them describe the one they saw.

Why not get creative as well with different items in the house, by removing or swapping items around, ask your child if they see anything out of place.

Another game would be Card Matching! Use any deck of cards you have on hand such as Uno or Old Maid that has pairs of identical cards. Flip them around and have a mini competition with your child to see who can match up all the cards first! For an even greater challenge, have them place the cards back at their original positions after the game ends.

  • Apply Memorisation Tactics

Such tactics can come in the form of active reading, visualisation, and making connections.

  1. When reading, encourage your child to read out loud and ask questions related to the material to prolong the retention of information.
  2. Prompt your child to create images of what they have read or seen in their head so that they have a mental picture which they can refer to.
  3. Help your child make fun connections to better remember information. This can be done through the use of Mnemonics (e.g., Abbreviating the Colours of the Rainbow into a made-up name Roy. G. Biv) or associating a tune to the spelling of a complex word.
  • Chores

Yes, you heard me right. Chores are fantastic ways to improve working memory. Do keep in mind that working memory is not just about cognitively solving arithmetical problems, it is also evident in whether one is able to bake a cake without forgetting the steps.

Have your child build up the good habit of writing down what they can do to help at home and guide them in organising this information into smaller pieces. Simpler exercises can include giving them instructions on which of their toys go into the box first and have them pack it in the correct arrangement. You can also have them assist you with preparing meals by reciting the quantity of ingredients without constantly referring to the recipe.

Simple multi-sensory methods like these go a long way and you are also building up a sense of responsibility in them!

At the end of the day, do observe your child and understand what appeals to them and keeps them willing to do more. Every child has their own pace when learning thus as adults, we should provide them with the adequate tools to do so. The list of at-home practices is inexhaustive, like and follow us for many more such recommendations for you.

How to kickstart the love for learning from a young age?

Posted on By illac_admin
Source: Foodoppi.com

You must have heard of the old adage, “If you love your job, you wouldn’t have to work a day in your life” and it applies to children too! The love for learning can make them love every single activity, every single subject, and every single learning opportunity. Imagine your child being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about learning, would you ever need to worry about their academic performance?

What are needed to kickstart the love for learning?

1) Strengthen their working memory

Working memory is used to hold multiple information at the same time. For example, I gave you 3 apples, you ate 1 and bought another 4, how many apples do you have? Your working memory is actively engaged in order to hold and process the information given.

Children who have good working memory are able to handle complicated tasks like “picking up their shoes, putting it onto the shoe rack, before queuing up to enter the classroom” all as per instructed by the teacher. These may sound easy but children with weak working memory might “line up immediately without picking up the shoes”, or, “pick up the shoe and queue up without going to the shoe rack”.

Children with good working memory therefore excel in the classroom and are more motivated for new challenges ahead.

2) Enhance their Mental Flexibility

With so many things to learn and so many stimulants to handle everyday, it is stressful and taxing to the little brain. Enhancing on the mental flexibility of the child can help them learn to handle different situations using different “gears”, therefore, maneuvring safely and confidently around “obstacles”.

A child with poor mental flexibility might find it really hard to share, because he is used to playing with a toy his way. When another child comes along wanting to play together, he gets all uncomfortable, not able to process the new situation nor come out with a new playing method, thus cries out loud.

Mental Flexibility helps a child adapt to new situations and pick up new knowledge readily.

3) Heighten the Inhibitory Control

“Naughty”, “Hyper”, “Not focused”…

If these phrases sound familiar to you, no worries, they are used extensively on most children. It’s not their fault, children are meant to explore, play and be active. All that they need to learn are rules and boundaries. As soon as they are able to self-regulate their behaviour and manage their emotions according to the rules, they will be able to enjoy school and look forward to a great learning journey every day.

A heightened inhibitory control will allow your child to focus in class, capture teacher’s instructions and learn effectively. Imagine the praises they will get because of that.

Want to know more about how to improve your child’s working memory, mental flexibility and inhibitory control? Join us at our parenting workshop!

Date: 12 Oct 2019, Saturday
Time: 3 to 5pm
Venue: Westgate, #04-09 (beside Jurong East MRT station)

GEP or Not?

Posted on By Clarice Lim

Congratulations! Now that your child has been selected for the GEP program, what’s next for him/her?

It might be an extremely straightforward answer for some parents but not so for some others. My opinion is, go for it. Reasons being:

PROS:

  1. It’s a great confidence-booster.
    • Your gifted child knows what “gifted” means and there is no better way to inform your child that he/she is really good at what he/she has been doing than being identified as the top 1% of the cohort in Singapore. A generally high self-confidence can lead to higher competency in everything else that the child attempts and an even stronger love for learning.
  2. It’s a label that will follow your child for life (in a good way)
    • We are always cautious about having labels put on our children but this is one label you want stuck to your child. With the label of being the top 1% of the cohort, your child can potentially find him/herself in more favourable situations in his/her adult-life, starting with the choice of secondary schools such as Anglo-Chinese School, Dunman High School, Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Girls’ High School, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) and Raffles Institution which offers IP programs for GEP students.
    • (Source: https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/gifted-education-programme/development-and-growth)
  3. Life is more than English, Mathematics, Science and Mother Tongue!
    • Not only will your child be changing school (if he/she is not already in one of the assigned GEP school), he/she will be experiencing more than the main-stream curriculum has to offer. The GEP program is administered under an enrichment model where the curriculum:
      • extends beyond the basic syllabus in depth and breadth
      • covers more advanced topics whenever necessary
      • caters more to individual needs and interests
      • makes interdisciplinary connections
      • encourages the investigation of real-life problems
      • promotes the examination of affective issues in the various subject areas

(Source: https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/gifted-education-programme/enrichment-model)

CONS:

  1. GEP students are not necessarily top PSLE students
    • GEP students are very busy. Not only do they attend mainstream lessons and continue mainstream work, they have projects, camps and out-of-the-classroom programs to participate in. Their PSLE results may not show their intelligence since PSLE preparation requires much drills and regurgitation which are not in the interest of GEP students.
  2. Danger of complacency
    • We all know and have heard of children who think they are too smart for their pants and end up failing in life. And yes, these are true/real stories that will happen if left unguided. Some GEP students end up doing really well but unfortunately, some will slide off the grid and end up in mediocre vocations just like any others. The key that parents need to remind themselves is to psychologically support their children in continuous hard work and effort so as to ground them in thoughts of continuous improvement of themselves.

For those parents who think that the GEP program will be extremely beneficial for their children, they are right. The program will bring children beyond what they are capable of and help them reach their peak potential.

However, you are NOT advised to “train” your child for GEP by signing up for GEP-training classes at centers that claim to “create” GEP students because talent, although can be groomed, cannot be “naturalised” into a child. Meaning, if your child is not naturally prepared for the high demands of the GEP program, you will only do more harm than benefits by artificially fitting your child into the GEP program. Think of the stress the child has to go through just to remain in that GEP class you have planted her/him into. If it works out, good for him/her. If it doesn’t, the poor kid suffers the repercussion for life.

Once again, congratulations for being the parent of a gifted child, embrace the learning journey with your child, support her/him throughout the program and remind them of the importance of effort to achieve great success in life.

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