5 Things We Love About Geniebook Online Learning Tool! (Review)

 Jayne will be crossing her first major academic milestone when she takes the PSLE in about three months' time. Needless to say, the whole family is in a bundle of nerves for her, and I cannot even imagine the tremendous amount of stress she must be facing herself. 

I would like to think that I can remain a chill and calm parent through it all, without adding additional pressure on my child, but the truth is - this is the world we live in, and while I do know that grades are not everything and which Secondary school she goes to will not determine how good a future she would have, we all hope that she can do reasonably well. It would do a whole lot of good to her self-esteem and confidence, if not for anything else. So, when Geniebook approached me to review their online learning tool, I jumped right into it, hoping to discover more about this gem that I have heard so much about. It would be awesome to give Jayne just a little boost during this critical final dash. I am glad to report that we were not disappointed at all - Geniebook lived up to every bit of the hype we've been hearing so far! 

Here are 5 things we love about Geniebook:

1. GenieSmart

Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, you'd know that the world we are living in today is gravitating towards the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence). GenieSmart helps to identify your child's academic strengths and weaknesses. Their proprietary AI draws from a library of over 150,000 questions aligned to MOE’s syllabus and recommends specific questions to help your child improve. You will also get valuable insights of how your child is doing academically through a real time progress report.

This means that when Jayne does practice worksheets on the platform, she does not keep practising the topics that she is already good at, but spends more time tackling her weaker topics. Assessment books or past years' exam papers are structured in such a way where different topics are included fairly and distributed throughout the papers, so it is not possible to place greater emphasis on their weaker topics. The customized worksheets on Geniebook thus allows Jayne to be more efficient in her learning by focusing more time and effort on improving her weaker areas. I think this is ingenious!

Kids who attempt the questions will see whether they got the correct answer or not immediately. A clear explanation of the correct answer will be given if the kid got the answer wrong. This helps the kids to internalize the learning right away, addressing any misconceptions and reinforcing correct concepts. I think this is definitely an effective way of learning.

2. GenieClass

Another useful feature on Geniebook is their LIVE and recorded Online Classes that helps to reinforce key concepts taught in school. By checking the schedules posted on the site, we can plan for our kids to attend the lessons and even ask questions and clarify doubts on-the-spot. This is definitely effective in terms of learning and interesting for the kids as well because there is some form of interaction, even though everything is conducted online. Apart from that, recorded lessons are also available for kids to access at their own time. In this season of pandemic, we appreciate this avenue even more than before..

3. GenieAsk

GenieAsk is a real time teacher chat. A convenient new way for students (or even parents) to ask questions they may have from school, and get them answered by our teachers! This newest product is gradually rolling out to Geniebook subscribers. For online learning platforms, one of the challenges is to keep the kids engaged and interested, especially when their attention span is short and they can be easily distracted. The teachers at Geniebook are not just qualified and professional, many of them also weave in their other talents and hobbies into the lesson plan, to make it more all-rounded and interesting. The Head of Curriculum, Mr Xavier Yue, is a part-time magician himself and treats the kids to a magic trick or two from time to time! With 16 years of teaching experience under his belt, he sure knows what he's doing! =D

4. Parental Tracking

Another wonderful feature that Geniebook offers that will thrill us parents is that we can track the progress of our kids via progress reports. We would know whether the kids have been improving by checking on the scores of completed worksheets and identify areas of weakness that we want them to focus more on. Parents can generate worksheets and send them to complete and even award bubbles to motivate them! This is a great way to get the parents involved and keep the accountability between the child and the parents. 

5. Earn Bubbles & Get Rewarded

We all know that kids need some form of motivation and reward system to keep their interest going. Geniebook has done this so well by introducing the 'Bubbles' system whereby kids can earn bubbles for every worksheet completed and lesson attended, etc. Bubbles can also be earned by challenging other Geniebook users to attempt questions and answering challenging questions. With the bubbles earned, the kids can redeem for prizes they want. I was so pleasantly surprised to see what a great selection of prizes they have available for the kids to choose from (I spy Roblox)! This is undoubtedly the best way to motivate the kids to complete more worksheets without us nagging at them! =P

So all in all, I have to say that we are very pleased with what Geniebook has to offer. Geniebook has 3 different products from AI-personalised worksheets (GenieSmart), to LIVE online classes (GenieClass) and real time teacher chats (GenieAsk) to help students learn smarter and do better. 

It is not just an online learning tool (there are way too many out there!), but it customizes the needs of the kids and ensure that whatever time they commit to learning is fruitful and effective. The rewards are the icing on the cake, and definitely motivate the kids and keep them happy while learning. The last thing I want is for my kid to feel burned out and lose interest in learning.

If you are also on the lookout for an online learning tool for your kids, click here to register and experience Geniebook today. 

Power up online learning with Geniebook and help your child get the best out of it! :)

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review by The J Babies on Geniebook. All photos belong to us, and images of the Geniebook sites are taken from their website.

Learning English Creatively At My English School

Media Review

I grew up in a Mandarin-speaking family. My parents spoke and understood only Mandarin and a few other dialects, but English was never spoken at home. Because of that, I struggled with the English language during my Primary school days. I know it sounds incredible that I have a rather good grasp of the language and enjoy writing in it now, but it took me a long while (and a great deal of effort and hard work) to become who I am today. That is probably also the reason why I empathize with my kids now when it comes to mastering a language – it is not easy and may not come naturally to all.

Joey has always loved reading and writing as a kid, so I never had to worry about her English standard. But this was not so for Jayne – she doesn’t particularly enjoy reading. In fact, I spent a lot of time coaxing her to pick up storybooks to read, only to have her putting them down almost immediately because the interest was just not there.

As a typical Singaporean mom, of course, I was worried. I know how crucial it is to have a good grasp of the English language because that is the foundation and basis of the education system we have here. And I know I am not alone – I have other parent friends who tell me that their kids don’t enjoy reading, and so they struggle with doing well in school.

As a matter of fact, it is easy to get intimidated by the English language especially when it comes to the correct usage of grammar and creative vocabulary in writing. True enough, when Jayne started Primary Three this year and was tasked to write her first essay on the first day of school, she struggled. I could see that her interest in the English language was waning and I was desperate to find a way to help her.

I was so glad that I was introduced to My English School (MES) at a time like this. It worked out perfectly for us because there was a MES centre just five minutes away from our house.

Jayne was reluctant to go for the class when I first told her about it, but after the first lesson, she was hooked! She skipped out of the centre and told me excitedly that two of her school classmates were in the same class as hers! One of them has been with My English School since she was a pre-schooler, and because it has helped her in the subject all these years, she stayed on.

The thing is, some parents think that they only need to send their kids for enrichment classes during the initial years and pull them out after the right foundations are built. But, the truth is, the kids need guidance and help throughout their schooling years because at every stage and progression, there are different needs and struggles.

Seeing that Jayne’s classmate stayed on for so many years, I believe that there must be a lot of in My English School’s curriculum and programmes. After attending MES for three months, I am convinced of the quality of MES’ offerings by now – here’s why:

1. Vibrant School Culture and Learning Atmosphere

It was a pleasant surprise when we stepped into My English School Woodlands Civic Centre for the first time. The kids who were waiting in line for their classes to start were chit-chatting with each other. It was rowdy but anyone could tell that the kids were happy. As a mom, I felt assured when I saw this because it showed that the kids were looking forward to something fun. I wouldn’t want to send my kids to an enrichment centre that is dull, stern and rigid – not after a whole day of studying in school! When the various teachers arrived to bring the students into different classes, everyone got even more excited. The kids greeted their teachers by name and the teachers looked genuinely happy to see them as well. I loved how vibrant and happy the whole atmosphere was.

2. Powerful and Relevant Curriculum

Jayne learnt Haiku during her first lesson at MES and came home to try to craft her own haiku. It was my first time hearing about Haiku and I was amazed at how much fun she had doing just that, while strengthening her use of the English language. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry, now written in many languages including English.

As I flipped through her workbooks, I liked what I saw as well. There were exercises on grammar and vocabulary that she completed in class, which deepened her understanding of the concepts and would help her in her essay writing. By completing the multiple-choice questions and cloze passages, Jayne was able to practice her grammar and learn from her mistakes. When all these basic foundations are in place, I expect that she will have a much easier time when it comes to essay-writing later on.

There was a mock letter too that she had written to a pen-pal in class, which she proudly showed me. I was intrigued because I don’t think I’ve ever seen her write something of this length before. I am convinced that the right methods can draw out the potential in our kids and help them to achieve more academically.

3. My English School Prepares Your Kids For Exams

I like the fact that while MES’ curriculum is fun and interesting, they do not neglect the fact that our kids need to be taught how to cope with stressful examinations eventually. Also, Jayne belongs to the batch of students who will encounter a change in the PSLE syllabus and format, and so I feel the urgency to prepare her for this.

MES creates a good balance by incorporating spelling and homework into their curriculum, so that the kids are encouraged to revise on a regular basis outside of class. Consistent and regular revision is always the key to retaining knowledge and I strongly believe in that.

I will not want to send my kids to enrichment classes that are only fun, but do not prepare my kids for the harsh realities of the Singapore education system. Having a curriculum that is too focused on academics is not good as well, as the kids’ interest cannot be sustained in the long run. I am glad My English School handles this balance pretty well.

Their curriculum is based on the MOE syllabus (developed by past MOE teachers) and geared towards helping the kids prepare for exams as well. There are review papers given to the students to assess their progress in all levels, as well as practice papers (from Primary 2 onwards) to prepare students for mid-year and final year examinations by focusing on the skills tested during the examinations. For students who are taking their PSLE, the revisions will be geared towards PSLE preparation as well. I love how focused they are in this area – I think I can speak for every parent when I say we appreciate that very much!

Jayne also did oral assessments in one of the classes and got feedback about speaking clearer and with more expressions. I think that is extremely useful for her oral exams in school!

I think the right methodology helps our kids to learn the English language more effectively, and even helps evoke interest in it. Jayne enjoyed her lessons at My English School and I am glad to see that she has gained more confidence over time.

Now, I catch her writing small notes and letters on her own accord – something I had not seen previously – and that says a lot about her increased receptivity to learning and using the English language. I am happy, of course! If your kids are struggling with English as well, or you are just hoping to help them excel in the language, consider checking out MES at their website: http://www.myenglish.com.sg/

You can sign up your kids for an assessment or pop by any of their centres to have a feel for yourself.

Disclosure: This is a paid advertorial in collaboration with My English School.

Get Your Kids To Fall In Love With Math Again!

Media Review

I have two Primary School kids at home now, and one of the biggest challenges I face as a mom at this phase is how to get them to enjoy studying. Don’t get me wrong – My kids are good kids and mostly self-motivated and conscientious in their work but there is always this one subject that they struggle with – math. And I totally understand because I struggled a lot with math myself as a kid! I know how difficult it is to enjoy studying a particular subject when we cannot even understand the basic concepts, and slowly, I lost interest and even became fearful in the subject. That is certainly not what I want to see in my kids.

When I was introduced to Brainy Arkies – a math mobile application designed for kids aged 6 to 12 – I thought it was ingenious. Like many kids of this generation, my kids are very savvy when it comes to mobile apps and games. It’s almost instinctive – They don’t need anyone to teach them how to play and score at the games, and if I let them, they can play the games all day and all night! Naturally, that is one of the most effective ways to reach out to them as well. I know of parents who keep their kids totally off mobile devices but I believe in tapping on technology to enhance my kids’ learning experience and that is where Brainy Arkies comes in.

Frankly, my kids were a little skeptical when I handed them my mobile phone and told them to try out the “new game” in my phone which will help them to learn math. This was the actual conversation that took place:

Joey: Are you serious, mom? After a whole day in school, you want me to do math now? Like, now??
Mom: It’s gonna be fun, Jo! It’s a game where you get to role-play as characters and conquer quests.
Jayne: So I got to do problem sums??
Mom: You will get to solve problems and level up in the game. Try it first!
Joey & Jayne: OK…………

As expected, the enthusiasm level was not high when I mentioned “math”, but the moment I opened the Brainy Arkies app and they saw the colorful graphics and music, their interest was immediately piqued! What the app does is to bring the kids on a journey of adventure and quests with in-app characters known as Arkies. While they are engaged by the fun conquering different levels, they are practicing math problem sums and deepening their understanding in the concepts. I think it says a lot about the app when I had to ask my kids many times before they were willing to put the phone down.

Here are 3 reasons why Brainy Arkies can help your kids learn math better (Tried & tested by my two kids!):

1. You Learn Better When You Play

That’s an old saying, but true in every sense of the word. My kids’ eyes instantaneously light up when I mention the word ‘game’. Instead of forcing them to memorize concepts and formulas (which often result in frustrated me and frustrated them), Brainy Arkies helps the kids do that with ease when they are solving the problem sums in order to level up in the game. Subconsciously, the understanding of the concepts are deepened during the playing process, and they tend to recall them much easier after that as well.

Developed by Marshall Cavendish Education and aligned to the latest MOE syllabus, Brainy Arkies offers guided solutions and instructional videos to facilitate self-directed learning. After every set of questions solved, my kids would be able to see which questions they have answered correctly or wrongly, and the kids can tap to see the correct solutions to those that they answered wrongly. Joey refused to do that though – She would go back and try the questions again until she got them correct! That is a good way of learning too, I say! =P

2. Enhances Your Kids’ Confidence

The learning content and solutions in Brainy Arkies are personalised based on each kid’s learning progress and abilities. It adopts an adaptive learning technology which adjusts to the child’s proficiency in solving math’s questions. That is to say, if the kid gets many of the questions wrong, less complex questions will be given subsequently so that he can start getting more correct answers and regain his confidence as he goes along. This eliminates the sense of helplessness and negativity in the subject. On the other hand, if a kid attempts a set of questions of medium difficulty and gets them all correct, he will get increasingly difficult questions as he goes along. In this way, the app gives them an upper hand because they get to try and practice more challenging problems as they go along – It is always good to challenge the kids in this manner to keep their confidence and interest level.

I like it that the app promotes this notion of “It’s OK, try again.” - That is the spirit that I want to instill in my kids, not just in math, but in life as well. There is this great sense of fulfilment when they level up and unlock new stages while progressing though the app, thus enhancing their confidence in the subject.

3. Helps In Daily & Regular Revision

When it comes to math, the best way to improve is really to practice and practice some more. The intuitive virtual environment allows the kids to learn while having fun, thus motivating them to learn anytime, anywhere. Because of this, Brainy Arkies is a great platform to get my kids to practice some math problem sums every day because they see it more like play time rather than revision time. I imagine getting my kids to do hardcopy math assessment papers every day – They will definitely rebel!

Brainy Arkies is available for both Android and iOS devices. It’s free-to-play and learn. The free version grants 20% access to math’s questions for P1 through P6. Paid subscription is available and unlocks 100% access to more than 18,000 math’s questions and in-depth analysis reports for parents. And this is really the reason why I think you should go for the paid version of the app! As parents, we can  keep track of our kids’ progress through those in-depth analysis reports – We can see their performance by topics, time spent learning, math’s progress, etc. Based on that, we can then take steps to help our kids strengthen their weak areas and practice more problem sums for specific topics. As a mom, I absolutely appreciate this feature – It helps me to target my kids’ weak areas and be more focused in their revision. Very helpful!

Brainy Arkies is really a great tool to encourage kids to be interested in Math and helping them to grasp complicated concepts with the use of colourful graphics, games and quests. Give the app a try and download it on Apple Store or Google Play today! To unlock acess to all 18,000 Math’s questions and in-depth analysis reports for parents, go for the paid version! It’d be well worth it! Subscribe now to enjoy up to 40% discount!

Exclusive Additional Discount!

Good news! Marshall Cavendish Education is providing exclusive Brainy Arkies subscription offers to encourage you to give the edutainment mobile app a try for your children’s Math’s development. Use this code to redeem your additional discounts now! –>

Promotional offer:
1. 6 Months Subscription: Use code KLBA10 for an additional 10% discount
2. 12 Months Subscription: Use code KLBA20 for an additional 20% discount

3 Reasons Why The Learning Lab Works For My Kid

Media Review

Joey is in Primary 5 this year and most parents would know that while you can relatively take it easy in the lower Primary levels, the whole ball game really changes when your kid enters Primary 5. That’s when the school starts preparing the kids for PSLE that will come in about 18 months’ time, so the momentum picks up and everyone gets into battle mode. Frankly speaking, I haven’t felt it yet because both the husband and I are very chill when it comes to academics, but I am sure my Joey can feel the stress coming from her fellow classmates and the teachers in school. As a mom, all I want to do is to help her manage the stress level and cope with it, while performing her best.

The subject that Joey is least confident in has always been Math. The syllabus is really not that simple nowadays, especially for Upper Primary levels, so I am really glad that Joey is taking lessons at The Learning Lab. It has made her transition from Primary 4 to 5 a much smoother one, especially in the area of Mathematics. I can only imagine how much I would have to scratch my head if I have to coach her myself. Weekly lessons at The Learning Lab have definitely helped to prepare her in her understanding of the various topics, and reinforced what was being taught in school. Having attended lessons at The Learning Lab for a couple of months (and a whole term previously), here’s sharing 3 reasons why I think The Learning Lab has been so effective in producing results and top students every year:

1. Qualified Teachers With A Passion

Almost every teacher I’ve met at The Learning Lab has shown me passion in what they do. Passion really differentiates a mediocre teacher from an excellent one, because passion is such a contagious thing. It can translate to the students and motivate them to strive for better performance. Joey would tell you that when she steps into a classroom where the teacher is bursting with energy and there’s fire in his eyes, she will be more motivated to learn. The teachers at The Learning Lab are not only qualified, but also teaches with an enthusiasm and passion that I like very much. When I get to speak with some of them after the class, I can sense their genuine concern for my kid’s learning progress and that is important to me. Teachers who are merely doing a job without passion can never produce great learners.

2. Lessons Are Interesting & Engaging

I like to ask Joey how she felt after every lesson at The Learning Lab – It’s the only way I can gauge whether she learnt well that day. Lessons coverage are usually quite extensive so she takes a while to fully grasp the concepts learnt that day, but she leaves the class feeling challenged and motivated to go back home and study it more. She would tell me how the teacher asked certain questions to get everyone thinking and how much interest it created among the students. Lessons at The Learning Lab are never one-way – Students are always given the chance to share their thoughts and try solving challenging problems. That is really where the bulk of the learning takes place – It’s not in the listening to the teacher’s explanations, but in the digesting of the explanations and then applying them on the spot. If you pass by a class in progress, you will notice that the teacher and students are often engaged in discussions and I bet the students would leave the class with a deep impression of what was being discussed and learnt.

3. Synergy In Exchanges

In a typical TLL class setting, there are about 10-12 students and every one comes from a different academic background – Some come from a rigorous studying environment and others from a more relaxed one. When they meet in a class and share their ideas and different ways of solving mathematical problems, synergy occurs. I guess that is why I personally prefer group tuition over a private one-to-one tuition - Being in the same environment with peers helps Joey in her learning. She often steps out of the class and tells me that someone from another school shared a new method of solving a particular problem which was easier to understand and that got her all excited. It has opened up her eyes to see that Mathematics is not a boring subject and that there can be more than one way to solve a problem. There are also certain concepts which Joey has difficulty understanding in school, maybe because the teacher was teaching really fast, but because of the detailed explanation by the teachers and fellow classmates at The Learning Lab, she could grasp the concept much better. I like this kind of positive synergy – It motivates my kid to keep on learning.

So, thankfully, while it is a big jump from Primary 4 to Primary 5, I am glad to see that Joey seems to be taking it pretty well. I definitely attribute it to her taking lessons at The Learning Lab because it has boosted her confidence and given her a head start to a rigorous PSLE preparation course. While academics is definitely not everything and should not be used to define the worth of a kid, the ability to cope and perform well academically would definitely help the kid stay happy and at ease in our very competitive society. There needs to be a balance in everything we do – I don’t push my kids to the wall, but some kind of pushing is always necessary to bring out their potential. Don’t you agree? :)

Registration for Term 2 – 2017 classes at The Learning Lab is now open! Sign up early and enjoy enrolment incentives. Learn more about their programs here: http://tll.sg/term2-2017-classes

Disclosure: The J Babies was sponsored one term of P5 Math lessons at The Learning Lab for purpose of review. No other compensation was received. All opinions presented in this post are solely ours.

The Learning Lab Experience Day

Media Invite

We popped by The Learning Lab (TLL)’s newest facility at Tampines Mall last weekend to check out the place as well as let Jayne experience what a typical lesson at The Learning Lab is like. Needless to say, she enjoyed it!

If you are still considering whether to enroll your kid into The Learning Lab, I say this is the best opportunity for you to find out more about their curriculum and what they are able to offer that will distinguish your kids from their peers. Personally, Joey has gone through a term of Math lessons with them and she has gone away from the experience with greater confidence and interest in the subject. In fact, from a borderline Band 2 and nearly Band 3 student in Math at the beginning of this year, she went on to obtain a 94% for her Math SA2 paper, which totally blew our minds away! As a student who struggled in Math through my many years of studies, I know what a great feat that is, and a great deal of credit should go to the boost of confidence she got at The Learning Lab.

Like the other Learning Lab facilities I’ve been to, this new facility at Tampines Mall is classy, sleek and well-equipped. Your kids will enjoy every lesson in these rooms. Trust me – My kids certainly did.

At The Experience Day, you will be able to look at the type of curriculum offered as well as the materials that would be used at every class. The Learning Lab has a team of dedicated curriculum developers who design and create unique and customized materials for their students which cannot be found elsewhere. This means that unless your kid is in The Learning Lab, they will not have access to those materials.

 

One of the greatest things I like about their curriculum is how up-to-date it is – The kids may be studying Math but the reference materials and discussion may center around the hottest topic in town and what everyone is concerned about at the moment. In my opinion, this makes the whole learning process not just academic but relevant to the changing times as well. At the end of the day, we do not just want our kids to be smart academically, we want them to be street smart and know what is happening in the world. Growing up, I had zero interest in current affairs and never would voluntarily pick up the newspapers to read. So when I entered Junior College and had to study General Paper, it was torturous for me. I love it that my kids don’t have to go through that – They are a lot more savvy than I was at their age!

While waiting for her trial class to start, Jayne had fun trying several activities. At the Experience Day, you can let your kids be entertained in this room with teachers guiding them along while you talk to the staff onsite and find out more about their curriculum.

 

Then a pleasant surprise came for Jayne! Kidzania’s Urbano showed up at the Activity Room and asked Jayne to help him with his crossword puzzle – Haha! We were just at Kidzania a week ago and everything was still fresh in her mind, so I could literally see her eyes light up when he walked in. In case you didn’t know, The Learning Lab is one of the institutions in Kidzania and you can earn degrees to increase your kidzo earnings there!

Jayne attended a one-hour trial class of P2 Math, and she enjoyed the activities she did in class. Your kids can attend a one-hour trial class as well and experience it for themselves what a typical lesson at The Learning Lab is like, while you get to attend a one-hour curriculum talk as the teachers share about their unique approach – from syllabus to curriculum outlines. At the end of the one hour, both you and your kid will have a better understanding of what you can expect at The Learning Lab.

Register your kid with The Learning Lab on the Experience Day, and you are entitled to the following privileges for every new core programme:

• A waiver of registration fee worth $63, excluding GST (applicable for new students)
• A set of exclusive TLL Merchandise worth $25
• Rebate of event registration fee worth $40
• For classes enrolled in Tampines Mall and Tampines Point, you will be a part of a lucky draw and stand to win a grand prize of a $200 rebate off Term 2 - 2017 fees
  (Terms and conditions apply)

The Learning Lab Experience Day will be ongoing till 11 December 2016 at the following centres and you can check out the schedule here. Not too late to check them out and get a head-start for 2017! :)

Joey’s Learning Lab Journey: End-of-Term Review

Sponsored Review

Can’t believe that time whisked by us so quickly! It’s been almost three months since Joey started her lessons at The Learning Lab, and now’s a good time to review how Joey has been doing so far.

When our Learning Lab journey first started, I had some expectations and “wish-list” of what I hope Joey would achieve by the end of a term. While three months seemed like a really short time to see obvious results, I was also conscious of the fact that kids nowadays strive in a fast-paced environment. Their learning curves may be steep, but they are often able to absorb and cope well. I did not want to set unrealistic goals and disappoint both Joey and myself in the end, but I also wanted to give Joey a little push so that she can reach her maximum potential for the subject.

I set these three goals for Joey at the beginning of her term at The Learning Lab:

1. To improve in her self-confidence in Math and not be fearful anymore.
2. To have a better grasp and understanding of Math, especially in the area of problem sums analysis.
3. To have regularity in practicing and revising Math on a daily basis.

Now after three months, the question is: “Have we achieved our goals?” I believe the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’

At the beginning of this year, I realized that Joey had difficulty understanding problem sums and knowing which principle to apply. Because of that, she couldn’t do well in her school assignments, homework and mock tests. As the months went by, her confidence level dipped and it came to a point where she would verbalize her fear and insecurity by saying things like, “I am lousy in Math.”, “I don’t think I will ever do well in Math.”, “I’m going to fail my Math exams.”

As a mum, it was disheartening to hear things like that from my 9-year-old. Kids should be full of confidence and courage – Not despondent and negative. Therefore, one of my top priorities was for Joey to grow in her confidence in the subject, and not be afraid of it. I know that once she is able to tackle the subject with confidence, she will eventually do well. I wanted to tackle the issue at the core, and help her overcome it once and for all.

Interestingly, while I thought that attitudes and beliefs are the hardest to change, I could see a positive change in Joey’s attitude towards Math immediately after the first lesson. She was apprehensive before the class, but skipped out happily after it. It was obvious from her cheerful account to me about what went on in class, and what she learnt, that she was starting to see the subject in a different light. Being among peers like her, who struggle in Math from time to time, also helped change her perspective. She started to see that Math was not a mountain she could not conquer, and that if she had a good understanding of the concepts, she would be able to do well. That to me, was the biggest benefit from the last three months.

When I had the chance to sit in one of her classes at The Learning Lab, it became even more evident to me that Joey was growing in her confidence in the subject. She looked like she was enjoying the lessons tremendously, and she participated actively in all the Q&A sessions, like the rest of her classmates. That was the thing that intrigued me – The students were obviously in the class because they needed help in the subject, however every one of them was confident and answered the questions asked by the teacher boldly. I believe it was because the students were seated round the table like in a board room, and that facilitated participation and aided in their learning. It was in that kind of environment that everyone, including Joey, learned and improved.

 

After one of the classes, Joey came home and showed me this comment that her teacher left for her on one of the assignments, and she was overjoyed. Encouragements go a long way, and this case, it certainly helped to lift the spirits of a little girl. I am most grateful for caring and inspiring teachers that helped push my girl along on this journey.

I am glad I started Joey on the Learning Lab journey – It has helped her to overcome her fear for Math and even go on to excel in it. It has certainly taken away some of the stress off my shoulders when it comes to academics. If you are in a similar situation as me as well, I encourage you to check out The Learning Lab and start doing something about it. They have programs for preschool all the way till Junior College at 8 locations in Singapore. More about them here.

Disclosure: The J Babies was sponsored a term of lessons at The Learning Lab for review purposes, along with financial compensation. All photographs (unless otherwise specified) and opinions expressed in the post are solely ours.