dribs and drabs learning journey about My Amazing Girl....

Weather isn't good for swimming today cold and drizzling. Sabrina has swimsafer stage 5 test ! All children started with 2 laps warm up swim. They have a long hour test today (trial cum test together)from 9.30am to 12.30pm. I really peifu all children could take it non-stop swim in such a cold weather. S had passed her stage 5 Silver level, will move on to Gold term 3. Test Achieved 1) Crouching-Demonstrate a dive entry 2) Keep face above the water for 60 seconds sculling with hands only 3) In 1.5m of depth swim through hoops on pool bottom 3m apart 4) Swim 200m - swim continuously * 50m Front Crawl * 50m Breaststroke * 50m Backstroke * 50m Survival Backstroke or Sidestroke 5)Dressed in swimwear,long pants and long sleeved shirt, perform the following as a continuous sequence a)Enter deep water using a appropriate entry method b)Submerge feet first, swim underwater for 3m c)Resurface scull, float or treat water for 3 minutes (most difficult) d)Clothing may be removed e)Correctly...

This two weeks there were always heavy downpour in the Saturday morning.Poor S has to wake up from her cozy bed and go for her swimming lesson.Lesson was delayed till 10am,lighting stop but still drizzling,weather was cold. All children still need to practice hard in the pool. Their practice wasn't easy..every lesson they need to complete about 12 or 14 laps for their lesson. As a parent standing beside the poor with mixture feeling. The learning was hard and I really peifu their wisdom.

After 2 weeks term break,S swimming lesson started again on 7 Apr. This term, she is in morning 9am lesson. She was very happy because she has joined back her initially group from stage 1-3. Training for stage 5 is even most tiring. Swimming skill practicing : 2 laps for legs kicking with board, 2 laps for front crawl, 2 laps for breaststroke, 2 laps for backstroke, 2 laps survive stroke and addition 2 laps of new side stroke. and All children need to practice survive jump, swim underwater, pick up object underwater, how to wear a life jacket, take off pyjamas in the pool.... I have witness it how tiring is the lesson.. S breakstroke problem : wrong technique of hand pull.. her way is like digging, she should pull till chest and she also doesnt close her fingers. I used to go swimming with her,, at least once a week but stopped after P1. I need to arrange time for practicing again.

2012 term 1 is ended, is time for swimming test again. She had went through from Swim Basic Foundation at 3 and 6 months old till Bronze level at 6 and 5 months old. About 3 years time..she always tried to do her best and with high self-esteem think positively.She always never give up. Test 1- Swim 2 laps of 50m pool using 4 different swim strokes-front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and survive backstroke. Test 2 - on compact jump http://www.ehow.com/how_10059014_compact-jump.html Test 3- waiting for her turn to do--pick up thing in the pool using underwater swim. Test 4 - front somersault and back somersault Test 5 - live saving using rope and stick. Yeah ! She make it. She will move up to silver level. then Golden.. hopeful b4 end of this year she will complete. Is time for celebration...we had wonderful dinner @ Eatzi @ Yishun Safra.

Today,4th week of the lesson,under this new coach his way of teaching very slow... I don't really like this coach...his don give much training. His never split it in 2 difference group like students can do better and students are weak..focusing too much time on the weak ones. Those students can swim or do better all waiting and do nothing in the pool. I will change S back to morning session for next term.

Sabrina started her advance level .."swimsafer stage 1 to 3 starting from 1 Oct at 11.00am to 12.30pm total 1.30 hours. Sabrina needed to bring one suit of pyjamas for the lesson. I am very worry about Sabrina can't button up her pyjamas properly.. so I let her tried to put on and take off a few times at home before her lesson start. before learning all the survive skills , teacher asking them swim 2 laps of 50m adult swimming.(breast stroke). All kids they are from normal toddler pool 25m.. now they have to swim double up the size.. teacher mention need to slowly build up their stamina. She is doing well on first day.. she could put on and buttons up on her own. after they have putting on the pyjamas.. they need to learn how to put on the life jacket.. Sabrina has start her survive skills learning journey.. very fun and interesting and also very tiring according to her Is really not a easy journey for 6 year old child. They need to learn 2 difference way of wearing life jacke...

Sabrina swimming test is up again.. today is her term 2 butterfly stroke swimming test. and she passed,Sabrina move on to another level "Swimsafer stage 1 to 3" for next term.

They are still in body shake with board.

Sabrina failed her butterfly test :(..because of her hand stroke not straight and also not all the way to behind, partially also because age of S, she is only 6. The examiner give 3 chances to S.. but still can not make it, but examiner mention S body shake (Dolphin shake) very nice. She need to stay at same level for next term. I am not feeling so sad because I know butterfly isn't easy for a younger child just like Sabrina... and I think she is doing great.keep it up,my dear !

Good news to share... Coach mention S has chance to pass the butterfly test on next week. Her legs and body movement all correct ..she need to take notice on her hand pulling,S did not park it back hands together after hand pulling action. if she could correct this small mistake, she has high chance to pass her test . Yippee !

After 2 days practising, her hands stroke getting better.. she's able to pull herself up higher. I could see more splash...I know she is trying very hard.She's not only has to practice the butterfly stroke...she still need to practice her freestyle, backstroke and also breaststroke. Sabrina's a strong will child... if she has set her mind she could do it very well. Saturday lesson cancel due to the heavy rain, That mean She still has 2 more weeks to practice her swimming technique and skills. Thinking of bringing her to swim twice a week.. how much she can improve in this 2 weeks ? ?? Let's see..

Times flies , today is 7Th lesson..next week is trial test. I personally find it Sabrina not yet ready for test.. the skill not there yet. We actually prepare to let her go for another term. next week, I need to be more hardworking mummy to bring her for practicing..I used to do that..( for all other stroke) We were too busy for this June holiday programme.. Coach mentions body shaking too fast... must try to slow down.. fingers not close and hand also not straight when pull it to in front. I find it... her pull not strong enough

Today,her coach covering body shaking with hand pull.Sabrina seem a bit panic with hand pulling.

See how she is doing at 2nd lesson ?

Sabrina rest for one term for swimming lesson. Today, she starting her first butterfly stroke lesson.. she was excited and feel more energetic. At time, I want to sign her on 11.30am class.. but they are almost full.. about 7 students..I don want too big group..and I changed it to 10.30am .. very small group only 3 students... better rite. She was more mature and follow well on warming up .. Ooo. new coach very strict..first lesson refresh with them all the stroke they had learnt teaches butterfly stroke for the last 15min.. buttocks moving like up and down.. Hope Sabrina can swim like her coach after all 8 weeks ..I am looking forward.

We went Yishun Safra to check out on when is the new term start ? But according to the instructor's next week 19/3 is the trial test then 26/3 test, then 2/4 term break. We properly need to go on 27/3 for registation.

Very fast one term over... time for Sabrina back to swim again. I think 2nd term of year start.. She need to start her butterfly learning journey in Mar soon. Is time to push her swimming skills again.

Thinking of let her practice before playing Elisha,but see her can't wait to play with her friend Elisha. So I set her free.... But don know why ? Elisha like not so enjoy... Endup Sabrina play with a pair of twin.. After swimming, we went Mcdonalds have some snacks..Then we headed to boardWalk just right behind the swimming pool. about 5.45pm the weather is really hot.. can't enjoy much cos everthing is hot. But we managed to take some very nice photo.. because of weather my photo endep turn out to be nice and sharp.. Last stop, we went liabray to caught some cool wind..

We went Bishan swimming pool after creative writing from AMK. I think I have too long time never go those purely swimming pool, no water playground for children, no slide... is so bored the first impressions of Bishan swimming pool. The place look so old and out dated... When we reached, there are no one in the pool. Sabrina practice her swimming on breaststroke first in baby pool (0.45) Then freestyle She now weak on backstroke .. She has try it many time.. turn slant after half way through...Sabrina cried a few times because of she can't swim as straight line. She lost confident..I have to keep telling her that she could do it... I will never go again this swimming pool because find that shower water is very smelly.. We went my mother In law house after that.

Normally, our Saturday schedule after creative writing, lunch. We would have a trip to library. Today, We are not going to library.. we are not going to borrow anymore books because of her eyes sight problem. We brought her to nearby Yishun park.. we spend about a hour there. Today test is was very challenging for Sabrina, because they not only test the breaststroke and also freestyle and Backstroke. All our practised only concentrate on Breaststroke. In the begining she has trouble on backstroke .Luckily, after a few times practising on the spot.She was managed to pull over. She passed. We did not sign her for the next level butterfly stroke SK5. We have intend to let her rest for a term.