Mindstretcher - Discussion

[beemum]

Hi parents,


Does anyone put your child in their English class for P3? How do you find their writers toolbox class?

Thanks in advance for your response!

beemum

[CoffeeCat]

jetsetter:

I know of another centre that also gets students to WRITE out vocab, their synonyms and meanings, idioms as homework so that they can remember better. But applying them appropriately and weaving them into a coherent and compelling narrative require another set of skills.

Which centre is this?

[jedamum]

Any current/ex students parents attended their p6 workshops before? Good? Thanks

[beemum]

Hi,


Just wonder if anyone is currently attending English class at MS, Bukit Timah (new branch)?

Thanks

[Bovul]

Hi, I am a teacher and I registered my two children (P3 and P5) at the Tampines branch. Do note, what I am about to state is based on my own limited experience with them as I withdrew them after one term. Please review the information with your own experiences before passing judgement.


For Math, the students are given far too many worksheets in a single session for any productive teaching to occur. In his first lesson, my P5 son had to complete 4 sets of problem solving worksheets on top of 2 sets of challenging questions. Given that the children need a break of around 5 minutes, this leaves only 15-20 minutes for the teacher to go through each worksheet, which amounts to around only 5 minutes to teach each question (since the students need time to complete the worksheets). Where is the time for the teacher to go through corrections? Properly teach the concepts involved? or how the child should identify the question in an exam paper? My son told me his classmates all just got by by following the example. Would this help them in exam?

English has tended to swing to both extremes in terms of standard. Some of the phrases they have given are indeed good for the students to learn. However, the worksheets my children have brought home show a very heavy focus on vocabulary when the key issue primary school students face is content. Aside from the cliche poorly developed ones that accompany the question, there is no guidance for students on how to plan a good story. I managed to see some of my son’s classmates’ works and all of them began with amazing introductions (copied from the tips given) before degrading to below mediocre standard when the actual story begins. As a teacher, I can tell you that while the introduction is impressive, if the rest of the story doesn’t flow with it, there aren’t many teachers that will give high marks. As for the copying of their "model" compositions, I was horrified when I read the first one my P3 son brought home. On top of all the blatant misuse of phrases, the story began with the main character dreading his after school class art class but suddenly, one paragraph later, he suddenly loves it and wonders where his art teacher is. I do not know who checks their worksheets, but this is one of MANY errors that frequently pop up.

And finally, Science. In general, I would never recommend a tuition center for science due to the way the science curriculum works. Unlike English and Math, schools are allowed to arrange the order of the topics they teach across 2 levels. For example, a student in school A could study the topic Energy at the beginning of P3 while a student in school B would only study it in P4. Seeing as how mindstretcher has to cater to students from many schools, it is unlikely your child will receive the guidance necessary. Also, in stark contrast to their math, the Science worksheets provided are lacking. The types include topical notes (which are thicker than the textbook making them worthless for revision), Brainpop Quizze s which are taken from the Brainpop website and I’m not entirely sure it is legal for mindstretcher to be selling them but more importantly tend to test from outside the Singapore syllabus (eg. using Ferenheit instead of Celsius), and experiments. The experiments would probably be the only reason I would sign them up for the class except the same experiments are likely to have already been conducted in school.

[Blue Pearl]

i sent my daughter to Mindstretcher when she was K1. She need to take English & Maths back to back and it was 2 hours. Class size 15 kids. I personally like the English paper and my gal has no problem in doing. When i check with her randomly on the paper, she was able to answer.


The problem came when i was testing her on Maths. Like Bovul shared, they were given thick worksheets to do in class. There is no homework. When i checked my gal on the maths worksheets, most questions she is not able to do. I was not sure whether she do not understand the concept and she has forgotten but it was too simple a problem for her to forget.

Later after much probing, i realised that the teacher wrote the answer on the board and they all copy. If the teacher has the time, she will explain. When i learn that P1 writer’s toolbox - the kids need to copy the whole composition. I was not in favour of the idea.

After K1, i withdraw her but i have many friends who said that Mindstretcher is very good and even asked me to go there.

They even said that their science notes are the best. As for maths, what i heard from my friends that the kids go there to practice the maths on faster speed.

I think all depends on individual parents.

[gonzo]

I am planning to enroll my DD in either MS Sembawang or Woodlands for P5 Eng. Appreciate your frank feedback about both centres and how is their standard for p5 English Achiever in comparison to the new Eng syllabus?

[gonzo]

I am planning to enroll my DD at MS Sembawang or Woodlands branch for p5 eng. Apppreciate your frank feedback abt both centres.

[buds]

For parents with kiddies in Mindstretcher Science…


1. Does the teacher follow through the questions at the end of their notes?
2. How often are experiments conducted?
3. How fast did you see results, if any.

[mummyofaa]

Hi,


Any reviews on K1 Preparatory Classes ?