PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[bbforest]

Hi,


Any parent send their children to PCF kindergarten at Ang Mo Kio blk 121 ave 3?

Any feedback or review?

[chixchix]

Hi Tamarind. my boy just joined the PCF for K1 in Jurong west ave 5.. there is no Maths being taught in the centre...just English and second lang. It worries me a lot and I thought of pulling him out and enrolling him in MMI.


However, I want to know from other mummies ..in PCF .dont they teach any Maths to K1 kids ? :?

[jedamum]

chixchix:

Hi Tamarind. my boy just joined the PCF for K1 in Jurong west ave 5.. there is no Maths being taught in the centre...just English and second lang. It worries me a lot and I thought of pulling him out and enrolling him in MMI.


However, I want to know from other mummies ..in PCF .dont they teach any Maths to K1 kids ? :?

what is math? counting or addition/subtraction?
my ds1's regular pcf that he attended has no math at all. they only learn to write and spell numbers.

[Wan]

jedamum,


my son in K1, Punggol South PCF has maths lesson every tues. I asked him what he learnt, he told me eg ‘circle the longer ruler’. I think it’s not really numbers, addition/ subtraction, but concept of length. I teach him maths at home thru play

[mummy of 2]

The Little Cheng Mommy:

Hi, just curious, anyone has feedback on PCF at Tiong Bahru Blk 6?

DS1 attending K1 at this PCF. I'm quite happy as this year they are using Jolly Phonics. The school also offers optional gym class during lesson time.

I don't have much expectation of the school, as I'm teaching him at home myself, whenever I have time. If too busy and reach home late, DH will take over coaching.

A lot of people actually tell me PCF is rigourous in preparing the kids for primary school.

[buds]

chixchix:

Hi Tamarind. my boy just joined the PCF for K1 in Jurong west ave 5.. there is no Maths being taught in the centre...just English and second lang. It worries me a lot and I thought of pulling him out and enrolling him in MMI.


However, I want to know from other mummies ..in PCF .dont they teach any Maths to K1 kids ? :?

I dunno if i remember this correctly... :idea: ... but i recall you were the
parent who sent to your child to MMI at Jurong. Something about high
fees you were concerned about or something like that... do correct me
if i'm wrong. :oops:

[buds]

jedamum:

what is math? counting or addition/subtraction?

my ds1's regular pcf that he attended has no math at all. they only learn to write and spell numbers.

Wan:

my son in K1, Punggol South PCF has maths lesson every tues. I asked him what he learnt, he told me eg 'circle the longer ruler'. I think it's not really numbers, addition/ subtraction, but concept of length. I teach him maths at home thru play.

Math in Nursery and K1 levels should ideally cover Math Language... ie. (comparisons of size/length)
for example... long.. short, big.. small, wide.. narrow, heavy.. light.. (etc)

Then there's also quantity concept like more.. less, many.. a few, then
there's also shapes which now extends to even 3D ones in certain schs
like sphere, cylinder, pyramid.. (etc) and colours as well. There should
also be ample opportunities for children to be exposed to sorting activities
in relevance to the Math Language covered to gauge children's understanding
of the concepts introduced. Number songs, number rhymes, number games
also make learning math very fun!

Number recognition and its corresponding quantity, simple additions and
subtractions : single digit operations.. (etc) If centre makes emphasis on
learning through play, do expect more hands on lessons where children
get to count using a variety of math materials.

[chixchix]

HI Buds,yes I am the same mum. Nothing to do with fees… thing was that my son never enjoyed going to MMI Jurong West Extn… initially first 1-2 months he was going to school… then he started avoiding to go… until he totally refused to budge to school in the morning.


Now he just started PCF, and he goes everyday…I think he likes it there…also, the school is in the afternoon.

My older boy completed MMI and there was big change in him from a quiet boy to a independant and intelligent boy… I hope that studying in this PCF will not make my other child into the opposite…thus I want him to go back to MMI after he is used to going to school everyday.

[buds]

chixchix:

HI Buds,,yes I am the same mum. Nothing to do with fees.. thing was that my son never enjoyed going to MMI Jurong West Extn.. initially first 1-2 months he was going to school.. then he started avoiding to go.. until he totally refused to budge to school in the morning.

Aaaah yes.. i remember now. It's the teacher issue back then and she didn't
seem like the sharing with parents type and plus doesn't make extra effort
to coax your child into the class, did i get that right now? You were then
contemplating of taking him out and looking for other options i recall..
Now i realize your child's oredi out and now in PCF from this thread.

chixchix:

Now he just started PCF, and he goes everyday..I think he likes it there..also, the school is in the afternoon.

If his Primary school is in PM session, it will help to build his routine from
now. I too like my girls when they're in afternoon session. Can go
see show... go shopping.... go makan with girl friends.... etc. AM session
mall oso not opened. So can only go back to sleep. :lol:

chixchix:

My older boy completed MMI and there was big change in him from a quiet boy to a independant and intelligent boy.. I hope that studying in this PCF will not make my other child into the opposite..thus I want him to go back to MMI after he is used to going to school everyday.

You can just do PM session (half day pm) at JWE MMI right? Then, the fees
will not be that exorbitant and also in the afternoon like PCF... more like kdgn
than childcare hours and teachings. Like learning within childcare hours
without the care part. ie. shower... nap time... etc.

As for cultivation of independence and discipline, i believe PCF WILL prepare
children for that too. Just that selectively, only some PCFs seems to be able
to prepare children fully for P1 without external enrichment help. Talk to the
PCF teacher about your concerns... see if the upgrade to following year wud
include more P1 preparatory curriculum. Your child is in K1 right? When a child
loves going to school, half the battle is won already. So, i do think there are
some things the current PCF teacher is doing right by your child, hence your
child looks forward going to school each day.

Alternatively, you may consider letting your child resume in PCF and put him
in MMI's enrichment programmes on the side. It may work out to be the same
as putting him in half day childcare in MMI i suppose. Only now it would be,
PCF (happy school going kid) + MMI (for the P1 preps). Just some thoughts..

[sesamestreet888]

Hi parents,

Has any parents heard of Reggio Emillia method? This is being used in a few PCF centres. Any comments from parents who have children in these centres?

Thank you.