Great Escapees!

Anyone who wants their kids to grow up with a healthy and right perspective
view of marriage MUST make time and create moments together, alone! The
kids will tantrum all they like, they will pull at your heart's strings (and yes,
it hurts for a mom!)...but until we realise what we are DOING is in fact for them,
we'll be fighting a loosing battle of loosing our marriage.

Okay, while most parents are keeping a close eye on their children's revision
during the ONE WEEK PSLE marking BLESSING of a holiday plus Deepavali,
we did the unthinkable and snuck away, all fully arranged and organised to
Langkawi.
We did, nothing...saw very little, ate a LOT, talked so much, laughed and
giggled like teenagers (mind you, we are near 40s) and missed the girls
TERRIBLY! Such a dilemma and every bit worth the effort!
We 'suffered' when we thought of the girls, but we rejoice at the fact that
they now KNOW, "Daddy & Mommy loves each other so much they always
put each other first!" and that they are secure, because we ARE as a couple!
Go for it EVERYONE! Book the sitters, arrange the playdates, mark the dates
on the calendar and enjoy being a couple (without kids) all over again...

Primary 2 Year End Exams

Here's what we have to cover...

Revise all the papers returned as the questions are very similar to what will be tested in the upcoming SA2 examinations (format is more or less the same)

English
- Poetry Revision Worksheet
- Comprehension Practices 1 - 10

- Grammar & Vocabulary 2009 Worksheet
- Vocabulary List 2009
- KCPPS SA2 2007
- KCPPS SA2 2008
- All worksheets in English file
- Basic English Grammar book
- Spelling List
- Let's Explore book

Mathematics
- KCPPS SA2 2007
- KCPPS SA2 2008
- All worksheets in Mathematics file
- KCPPS SA2 2006

Note that there is both English and Mother Tongue Listening Comprehension Examination on 26th Oct, Monday.

*Sigh, what fun!*

Primary 2 in Singapore

It occured to me, as the year draws to an end, it'd be good to have a summary of
what school life in Singapore is for a Primary 2 child. This is the local 'State school'
no frills, low cost neighbourhood school where one ACTUALLY has to live around
the neighbourhood to be eligible to attend.

Firstly, I will only write up on Primary 1 next year after Mathena goes through the
runs as Letitia was homeschooled majority of Primary 1. After much consideration,
we were accepted into this co-ed, mission school closest to our home. We were
aiming a non-catholic mission school for some pretty obvious reasons but was
dissapointed to find that aside the BIG NAME schools (MGS), there wasn't many
to choose from. This school was at least 2km away.

The Core Curriculum (quite standard) includes:
1) English
2) Math
3) Mother Tongue (Chinese, Indian, Malay)

The 'extra' curriculum that don't weigh much (as the report card only shows 300 points
for the above 3) are:
1) Art & Craft
2) Physical Education
3) Social Studies
4) Moral Education
5) Music

Other non-compulsory but 'must' paid activities included:
1) Speech and Drama
2) Gym
The wonderful thing is, the schools receive subsidy for these extra events and as foreigners
we get a bit of discounts while the other kids mostly get it for free. And paid activities
are runned well and regularly.

In English,
Letitia has regular journal entries with topics suggested by her teacher. She is also
required to be able to present a 'speech' with up to 10 sentences, recite poetry, and
write composition (written expressions) with up to 90 words. As Letitia free falled
into the creme class, ALL the kids are able to achieve these and much more...

In Maths,
I think ALL the timestable are covered, the adding and subtractions are up to
hundreds in their amounts plus they have full grasp of time, money and measurements.
She has also been taught to solve problematic questions with 'rules' and formulas
that took ME a while to grasps.