PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[apolsp]

Yesterday I was able to visit the PCF Spice at Serangoon North Avenue 1 for my son whose entering Nursery.


I was very impressed with the environment, it was so colorful with a lot of decorations on the walls and ceiling to entice the kids and motivate them

It look so new , fresh and clean and I have observed their toilets and it was clean too. So far so good

I may not have a high standards than others but over-all-- the materials, the surroundings and the entire school aura is very good. It's quite big actually.

When I spoke to the nursery teacher, she's very warm, patient and she discussed to me in details. I like her personality! I am asking her about situations wherein what if the child misbehaves how does she handle? What if they are fighting? How do they discipline kids when at school? What if the child throws tantrum? How do you handle kids who cannot cope with the lessons really well? Do you spend time teaching him more?

She was able to answer me in a nice way and though it was quite general i was able to pick up some pointers too on how to react when my kid misbehaves.

I should say I just wanted to gauge how 'strict' they are in enforcing discipline to children and to those who have behavioural problems. I am sure that my questions have something to do with how I want my kids to be disciplined when they are in school. Seems like our conversation was fine with me, nothing to be alarmed about.

As for the worksheets, it looks the same with my K1. My K1 was a mixture of Montessori and the MOE too. Learning through play etc. Their worksheets are MOE Standards too. So I guess PCF is just as good as other schools around. So now, I want to transfer my K1 too

That's all for now. I just like SPICE!

[Charmaine_chong]

hi apolsp,


Wow, another good feedback of PAP.

Seems like the standard of PAP gets better.

My son attends his N2 at PAP Geylang Serai Blk 31. He is very happy here and look forward to go to school even weekend.

He got flu last night. I told him not to go to school if get worse the next day. His feedback was:" no mommy. teacher would scold. I want to go to school.".

The teachers here are warm and caring. But i think i couldn’t expect high standard in terms of academic. Their english speaking is normal.

N2 student would learn phonics for the entire year. Not my concern as he is attending MMI at Kee Sun Road weekly. Happy with the teachers.

I am happy with PAP so far.

[lu_meihua]

any tips if eg. I wanted to put my kid in PCF nursery (2hrs) but after school, what shld i plan for her? let her idle her time at home??


no feedback on PCF Radin Mas Blk 108?

[Charmaine_chong]

Hi Lu,


Who is looking after your child?

A lot of things you can do with your child.

My son attends class in the morning. After schooling, he will play a while, take his lunch, nap 2-3hours.

Then, my maid would guide him on writing and do some assessments and simple reading. He has to do spot differences, maze, math, chinese, english, drawing, writing, reading, arts and craft in a week. Different thing daily.

Different subject or combination of 2-3 subjects daily. I get him diff thing to do daily so that he won’t feel like tested or drilling.

Writing as in alphabets-lower case first, number, chinese stroke or some english words like his name.

When i am home, I read to him and he has to read Peter and Jane a page a day and phonics.

Check out nearest CC to find out any suitable course if it is good.

Now i get him pratise phonics 4 days a week. P&J daily. Chinese & math 1-2 times a week. He draws/colour almost daily. ARts/craft-sometimes we do a lot sometimes we do none in a week.

Puzzle, lego, arts and craft are great toys for pre-schoolers. Let them idle a while. Go playground, running.

This is what i did.

[apolsp]

Hi Charmaine,


I would have to wait for 3 months or more to finally assess if I can see improvements on my son. Although I am not drilling him yet to know things in advance as I believe that nursery should be the time for him to get motivated in learning, and learning in his own pace

If I can see that progress, I might as well switch my K1 who is in half-day day care now and enroll him at PCF too So both of them can see each other!

[lu_meihua]

Charmaine_chong:

Hi Lu,


Do you have maid or anyone look after your kid after school?

A lot of things you can do with the child.

How i wish i can be at home looking after them myself.

My son attends the class in the morning. After schooling, he will play a while, take his lunch, nap. Then, he has to do read and write.

I get him to write and read everyday. Different daily.

mon- write alphabet
tue- write number
wed- write alphabet
thur-write name or some words
fri- color, draw, or writing something else

aside writing, i get him to do spot differences, maze, to train his motor skill, concentration...

When i am home, read to him and he has to read Peter and Jane a page a day and phonics.

MAth, english and chinese - take turn to read and do assessment. Not daily. Otherwise, the child would hate it.

Check out nearest CC to find out any suitable course for the.

Hope you get some idea.

In the past i get my son to read every day . He hates it as it becomes drilling.

Now i get him pratise phonics 4 days a week. P&J daily. Chinese & math 1-2 times a week. He draws/colour almost daily. ARts/craft-soemtimes we do a lot sometimes we do none in a week.

Puzzle, lego, arts and craft are great toys for pre-schoolers.

Hope it helps.

wow thats a lot. and u are working?
i dun have a maid but my mum is care-giver
but as she also look after my nephew, i dun think she can \"monitor\" my girl study or not.
someone suggested putting her back in child care but i thot too much for her. what do u suggest??

[Charmaine_chong]

Hi Lu,


I am FTWM.

I fetch my 4yo son for Montessori phonics and Chinese in temple during weekend.

The most important skill is reading. Read wide varieties of stories and some information books eg: simple introduction of animal book, math reading book every night. Run your finger while reading + explanation + discussion + describe the pictures. Do not rush finishing the book. Pay more attention to book and pages he likes. If he doesnt like it, get another book for him.

Get him those easy books, encourage him to read after you eg: Eric Carle's book, Dr Suess's Go Dog Go.

Read all the road sign, block number or anything you see on the road to your child. This is wat i did.

While reading is important, please help him/her to master letter sound and name. Next, train him to listen to first sound, sound it slowly if he can't and ask him to look at your mouth. Then blending 3 words.

You can go to Tamarind's website for more information or get phonics program to start him.

If the child doesn't show interest. Stop a while, a week or even a month , then try again. But continue to read to him if he likes it. Do some other activities with him eg: arts and craft, puzzle, lego.

For reading on their own, not many children can read an hour long. My son reads 2-3min, stop for 15-20 or may be longer, read another page or another subject,s top again. Sometimes, he can sit still for 1/2 hour to do his assessment but i got to keep changing. Eg: a page of math, a page of chinese, a page of maze, read book to him.

If the child does not like to read today. No need to stress. Come again next day.

Dont give up and keep on trying.

If you have extra 5 minutes, get those maze/spot difference from china to train your child's concentration, pre-writing skill, logic skill and eyeing for details.

Do arts and craft with your kid to release stress and train his/her motor skill. Children just love it. This is to train their cretivity and love in color.

My son doesn't like coloring. After i introduced arts and craft to him, he requests for coloring and drawing almost daily. I just make sure pens and paper are always available.

Use real objects to help him counting. Eg: printed or do up craft for watermelon. Count the seeds.

Go and get a copy of Jan10 young parents magazine. Lots of great information in teaching.

It is much easier for a child to learn and remember when they really see it, touch it, play with it. Hands on experience is crucial i must say. My child learns best this way.

Example: if you would like to teach ABC. Aside of reading books of ABC, paste it on the wall, try this website and play game wit him.

Otherwise, get a color paper, do a shape of anything that he likes eg: shape of apple, then write an alphabet on each apple. teach him 2 or 3 alphabet at a time, once master then next one, and revision is necessary for them to retain what they have learnt. If a child doesn't learn well for certain letter, i skip and introduce new one. Remember to come back with those letters required more pratice .

Next is always asscocite your teaching with arts and craft.

These are great websites that i always visit.

Arts and craft

http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Alphabet_and_Numbers/Alphabet_and_Numbers.html

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/abcs/

Colorful printable material to play with your kids
http://www.childcareland.com/free.html

http://www.filefolderfun.com/KindergartenAlphabet.html


I tried Glenn Doman method for reading and encyclopedia when he was 3yo without any success. I surf and costantly revise my way to help my son to read.

He couldn't read yet. He does know all his basic when he was 3 1/2 yo and recognise some words. The reason is because he just hate to speak up but love to be read to. Therefore, arts and craft come in place.

I can't stop doing nothing. I would rather if he does not A, then try B instead of nothing at all.

Now he is more keen to read to me.

Lu, it isn't a lot.

Firstly, reading to him and teach him lettersound. The rest will come later.

[lu_meihua]

thanks so much for the good advices. shall start reading to her her fav cartoon books first then slowly introducing more books…the urls are very helpful.

[Charmaine_chong]

Lu,


Hope it helps.

Just to share my experience.

I have been searching ways of helping my son to read since he turned 3 last year. During the 10 months period, (he is now 3yr 10mth old), i spent sleepless night to read through useful forums/blogs to learn from successful parents.

I constantly revised my method. When method A wasn’t work, i tried method B untill i find a way that suits him.

I believe that there must be a way to help the children to read at young age.

I was right brain believer. Therefore i introduced Glenn Doman method by flashing words + encyclopedia cards. I was very upset when i see him couldn’t recognised a word and picture after trying for couple of months.

I got to accept the fact that flashing card is not for him. It is more suitable for young baby. Then i slowly realised that reading, explanation, outdoor play, interaction, hands on are all important skills. I overlooked all of them by just flashing.

I guess must be too much flashing that causes my son hated words so much. He wasn’t keen to read at all when i take out the readers or phonics card. He refused to read out.

Then, i stopped all readers and flashing. Just continue to read to him , play nursery rhymes and arts and craft, drawing, coloring. When he was in mood, he can do up to 2-3 crafts in an hour.

He wasn’t keen to read when i take out Peter and Jane on 1st day of Jan10. I ddin’t force him but illustrate the picture of Peter. Then he just fall in love in P&J.

Now, he reads few pages daily. What a good start for the year !

[mummy of 2]

Charmaine_chong:

Mummyof2,


Your son is K1? In PAP school?

Yes, he's in K1 at PCF.