We’ve just moved to Hong Kong, and I notice that some schools don’t have exams. As a teacher here, what are your thoughts? Do you think we need exams?
Amy Stewart replies: There are many ways of assessing a child’s knowledge acquisition and skills, and an exam is only one example. Students should be experiencing sound classroom assessment practises which include a range of assessment methods and styles which cover Diagnostic (what the students already know), Formative (ongoing assessment to check progress throughout the learning process) and Summative (checking to see if the child has met the learning objectives at the end of a period of time).
Good assessment should take place in the classroom in many forms to get the best picture about students’ progress. Reliance on exams, (a form of summative assessment), is not going to give students, teachers and parents an accurate and informative idea of progress. Exams are not the only form of summative assessment, and some schools will choose other methods to obtain data about the students upon completion of the learning objective/s.
I realise of course you are a teacher, but I’m interested to hear your opinion about home schooling – pros and cons.
Amy Stewart answers: As a teacher I am not an advocate for home schooling for its own sake. However, there are many situations and circumstances when home schooling is a viable option for families. I have noted some of the general pros and cons to consider when initially considering home schooling as an option for your family. more…
I’ve been thinking about getting my 14-year-old a Kindle for her birthday. But I’m in two minds about this. I still want her to enjoy the joy of reading real books! Do you have any thoughts on this?
Mio Debnam replies: I have a lot of thoughts – some of which you may not like! But before I launch into them, I want to say that I love the smell of a new book – the feel of the pages, and the fact that you can read them anywhere (even in the bath!). You don’t have to charge books, they are easy to share with friends, it’s easy to mark and find a great passage, and you can figure out in a single glance how much of the book you’ve yet to read. It’s also much more pleasurable (in my opinion) to browse through a physical shelf of books than an electronic one. more…
Hi there. Thanks for the great blog! We moved to Hong Kong about six months ago, and I’ve noticed that many of the children here have extracurricular activities. Some of them have several a week! But they also have a lot of schoolwork. I want my children to fit in. But I don’t want them to burn out! What do you as a teacher recommend?
Amy Stewart answers: Extracurricular activities are an important part of school life here in Hong Kong, regardless of the kind of school. They are also important to expose your child to a variety of activities and to get a well rounded education.
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I read your column every month and I find the topics very helpful and useful. My topic is a bit different. My son gets pocket money, but he just hangs onto it, he never spends it. Not even for something special! Is this normal?
Sheila Dickinson replies: Don’t worry, there’s no such thing as ‘normal’ – whether it be the rate they grow, food they like, or results at school – all children are different. Even in families where parents are disciplined with money, children can turn out frivolous – and vice versa. more…
My husband and I both work full-time, but I really feel like I’m missing out on my daughter’s childhood. But if I stopped working, we would suffer financially. Have you got any tips or advice?
Sheila Dickinson replies: This is a common struggle for many families nowadays; the catch 22 whereby providing the best life for our family often means working considerably more hours and sacrificing time spent with the family. more…
My 3-year-old child seems more attached to my caregiver these days than she does to me. This worries me a lot, and I am even debating giving up working full-time to spend more time with her.
Dr. Helen Poon answers: Most babies start out most relaxed of all with their birth mothers – perhaps due to long familiarity with their smells, heartbeats and voices, as well as to the bonding from breastfeeding. However as the baby gets older, someone like the father, who may have been out of favour, may suddenly come home and find himself the object of interest. more…
Reduce, recycle, reuse old crayons into candles
With Earth Hour fast approaching I have thought of a relatively quick craft idea that you can do with your kids and then use them during Earth Hour. more…
I found this blog through a friend who lives here. What a great resource for newcomers to this busy city! We’ve just moved to Hong Kong from the UK. We have a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old. We are having trouble deciding whether it would be better to put our children into Chinese school or an international school. What would you suggest?
Amy Stewart answers: There is a variety of schooling options available in Hong Kong and the decision is often a difficult one, especially for new arrivals in the city. The choice is a personal one and largely depends on the following considerations: more…
