The Secondary 1 posting results have been released, and we hope your child is happy with the school of their choice, and excited to begin 2017. Six years have passed since the first day you got ready to send your child off into the big world of primary school, and it’s hard to believe that in two weeks, they will be embarking on a whole new adventure again.
The jump from primary to secondary school is a major step for your 12 year old. As a parent, there are plenty of ways to help your child have a smooth transition. Here’s our top 5:
Will your child be taking a bus to school? If so, have a few practice sessions with them beforehand if they’re not used to doing it on their own. Make the first go on a Sunday, or at a quieter time of the day.
Your child can also practise being independent by getting their own school necessities ready. From picking their own stationery to buying the ideal pair of school shoes, giving your child the freedom to choose what they need for the new school term will make them more excited for school.
As school work starts piling up and your child becomes more involved in CCAs and events, they will have to be much more organized during their first year of secondary school.
Before the new term, remember to ease your child into the habit of getting their bags ready the night before, especially if they have to leave early to catch the bus or the train. Have a schedule on the wall which they can use to keep track of homework and activities.
Ask your child what they are looking forward to, what they will miss about their old school and what they are worried about as they enter secondary school. This would be a good time to share with them your own experiences coping with new challenges in school. And maybe, if you’re feeling generous, tell them about that secondary school crush you had!
We’ve all been a teenager once, and we all know that being a teenager comes with its own set of challenges, both academically and emotionally. This is the point in your child’s life when they will need your support and understanding more than ever. Maintain an open communication with your child, and be available to talk to them about their problems. Make it clear that they can come to you with any issues they are facing.
At this point in their academic journey, every child has a different learning pace and ability, and giving them the right support and resources is crucial to meeting their needs. At The Learning Lab, we aim to create the right learning path to prepare our students well for the final exams in the International Baccalaureate (IB), Integrated Programme (IP) and ‘O’ Level streams.
Beyond the traditional tutorial approach of equipping students with core academic skills, our secondary school curriculum nurtures the love of learning by focusing on the development of abstract thinking, critical reasoning skills, and overall personal enrichment. From developing presentation skills in our language programmes to participating in hands-on activities in our Science programmes, your child will be given opportunities to discover their personal interests while building a strong foundation in academic subjects.
With a deep understanding of the differing components in various school subjects, our curriculum writers develop programmes that are current, engaging and relevant to what students are covering in school. For schools that cover their syllabuses in a different sequence, we offer school-specific clusters to best meet the requirements of these students. We also tailor our curriculum accordingly and offer classes for specific IB, IP and ‘O’ Level streams to meet the needs of every student.
Download our Secondary 1 Programme Brochure
Finally, understand that your child is not alone in their learning journey; you are their biggest motivator. Together with the help of their teachers, form a tripartite relationship to create a smoother learning journey for your child. With the ever-evolving curriculum in the MOE syllabus, you may find it difficult to offer your child the same help you once did in their primary years; your child’s teachers play an increasingly important role in coaching them academically.
At the end of the day, every child has a different learning style and different abilities. Embrace your child’s uniqueness, and celebrate them for who they are – they may yet flourish in ways that will surprise you.
If you are interested to speak with our enrolment specialists about our 2017 programmes, please email ENROLLMENT@THELEARNINGLAB.COM.SG or call us at 6733 8711 and we will be happy to assist.
Classes are filling fast!
If your child is already a student with us, secure your child’s place for the new term by logging on to the PARENT PORTAL to accept the allocated class(es) for your child.