All About Montessori

[saccharine_bb]

I am think of sending my 22 months old son to MMI west coast recreation centre in May? Any comments? Or any other alternatives to consider along west coast/clementi west st 1?

[denieleve]

hi buds!


i had checked out little wonders which u recommended in the previous post.

i am pretty interested, but they recommend full day instead of half a day.
where my purposes is for her to learn new things, as my MIL i looking after her the full time.

anther problem is the distance, i am staying in the west. and it actually add more cost to me.

would like to check if ichiban montessori at yunan good? as u did recommend ichiban montessori too, right?
their fees are much lower and its nearby my place. but my MIL hear all aunties said its not good. i think probably they did not know how montessori method works.

what is your opinion?

thanks

[trixter]

RAchelmum:

Hi trixter,

I had signed up my girl at Josiah Monte weekly 1 hr accompanied toddler class.
U can go for a trial to see if the curriculum is what u are looking.

Basically it is an introductory course to boost the toddlers' (1.5-2.5 YO)confidence in social engagement,
improve fine motor-skills with the manipulatives/ music & movements & simple crafts.

Not very structured as tot's attention span is short. The 1st 30min is music & movement, followed by phonics or crafts.
The last 30min is mat work aka free play time for them to choose with the type of activities they like with the parent/ teacher.

Join in the midst of the term, so only 5 lessons. So far DD enjoys gog to her weekly session.

hi there,

thanks for sharing. yes, i am thinking on enrolling him for the todl class so to prep for him proper N1 next year.

I am looking at the next term which is around june/july. meantime, i am checking if there are other suitable schools.

will u still be around next term? we could be \"classmates\"!

:celebrate:

[trixter]

toddles:

I am considering Josiah, mostly because of location. Although it is pricier than the other options nearby, I like their individualised style, and the fact that my kid will be met at her own pace, and not rushed through if she's too slow, or bored if she is straining to go ahead.

although I've not sat through a class, so what I gather is from what the teacher/center manager tells me. wonder if they do trials for N1, not just the toddler accompanied one.

Overall, at this point, it seems to meet my needs the best in the vicinity. would have preferred it if they had more than just 30 mins of mandarin a day... but guess there is no perfect centre. Do you live nearby too?

hi there!

yes, pretty near....i'm at tampines! just a couple rides away!

i guess our choices are limited when it comes to non-childcare centers here. do u look after him in the day or someone else? mine is with his nanny.

hey, you are looking to enrol jan next year too right?

yup, i was also hoping they have longer mandarin classes bcos 30mins is like so rush...i mean before they actually have the chance to speak mand i guess the bell rings already. :lol:

so u'd visited the center? i have not, planning to do so soon.

[toddles]

trixter:

hi there!

yes, pretty near....i'm at tampines! just a couple rides away!

i guess our choices are limited when it comes to non-childcare centers here. do u look after him in the day or someone else? mine is with his nanny.

hey, you are looking to enrol jan next year too right?

yup, i was also hoping they have longer mandarin classes bcos 30mins is like so rush...i mean before they actually have the chance to speak mand i guess the bell rings already. :lol:

so u'd visited the center? i have not, planning to do so soon.

Yup looking to enrol in Jan too. Mine is with gramps... I was sahm until she was 1 yr 2 months old, but since then have been back to work (and much less tired haha).

I've visited but only at the reception area, cos only enquiring. I think before I confirm, I'll ask to see inside. Not sure whether they allow us to sit in for a 'trial' for N1....

[omgmum]

hi buds,


sorry for the extremely late reply. Dd was down with bad flu and then she passed it to me.

Dd is 1 year old, but I'll be going back to work prob next year, so am now desperately looking for a cc/nursery for her.

worried that if i leave her with other caretakers, she won't learn much at the end of the day.

I sound kiasu hor, but actually I just want dd to enjoy learning the things she should be learning at her developmental stage, don't expect her to recite the alphabets or numbers or what not.

Other caregivers might just let her play on her own in one corner most of the day instead of reading to her, and playing with her.

Off topic, but am still trying to find a place that actually does a lot of reading to the kiddos.

[buds]

omgmum:

hi buds,


sorry for the extremely late reply. Dd was down with bad flu and then she passed it to me.

Hey, it's tough when children fall sick. Especially those accompanied
with fever spikes. I know the feeling. Bad enough one person is sick
and then you have to be sick as well. Oh dear.. hope both of you r
feeling much much better. :hugs:

omgmum:

Dd is 1 year old, but I'll be going back to work prob next year, so am now desperately looking for a cc/nursery for her.

It's ok. Start early recce-ing so it won't be too rushing for you or too
pressurizing to enrol in one for the sake of it. I went round almost all
the centres within where i live and the next two neighbourhoods. :oops:
Oops, i just made myself look so kiasu hor. :politebleah:

omgmum:

worried that if i leave her with other caretakers, she won't learn much at the end of the day.

Trust me, i know the feeling.. :hugs:

omgmum:

I sound kiasu hor, but actually I just want dd to enjoy learning the things she should be learning at her developmental stage, don't expect her to recite the alphabets or numbers or what not.

I hear ya girl and truly understand your situation.

omgmum:

Other caregivers might just let her play on her own in one corner most of the day instead of reading to her, and playing with her.

Yeah, we all know that right.. :roll:

But i have heard of exceptional ones who are very ONZ as well.
The children seem to learn beyond... IQ plus EQ. I was impressed.

omgmum:

Off topic, but am still trying to find a place that actually does a lot of reading to the kiddos.

Hey, that sounds like my place! :lol: But you are far away from me.. :snuggles:

Good luck in your search yah! Keep us posted! And take care you two!

[trixter]

toddles:

Yup looking to enrol in Jan too. Mine is with gramps... I was sahm until she was 1 yr 2 months old, but since then have been back to work (and much less tired haha).

I've visited but only at the reception area, cos only enquiring. I think before I confirm, I'll ask to see inside. Not sure whether they allow us to sit in for a 'trial' for N1....

i'd heard parents are not allowed in when lessons are going on. what we get to see are just the classroom and stuff. no chance to \"see the kids and teachers in action\". i remember someone told me that....

so you staying in simei? so ur bb and mine could be classmates! i'm looking at the afternoon session but i'm thinking its a little not-here-non-there hour cos its either he eats a super early lunch at 1030am or late lunch when he returns. or a heavy breakfast at 9am and a light snack when they have the break at 1230am.

oh, i am still thinking abt the oh-so-exp fees. plus what i'm giving to the nanny gosh, the expenses is double. i wonder if i can discount my nanny since he is going to school and she will be free for 3-4hrs.

[trixter]

hi buds


could you kindly advise what are some of the important things parents should pay attention to when visiting the \"potential\" monte school and some of the important questions we should ask?

some of the questions i'd prepared are:
- is it a full or half monte school
- the class size and ratio
- are the teachers qualify in monte edu
not sure what else...

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease help me. i'm so nervous!

[toddles]

trixter:

i'd heard parents are not allowed in when lessons are going on. what we get to see are just the classroom and stuff. no chance to \"see the kids and teachers in action\". i remember someone told me that....


so you staying in simei? so ur bb and mine could be classmates! i'm looking at the afternoon session but i'm thinking its a little not-here-non-there hour cos its either he eats a super early lunch at 1030am or late lunch when he returns. or a heavy breakfast at 9am and a light snack when they have the break at 1230am.

oh, i am still thinking abt the oh-so-exp fees. plus what i'm giving to the nanny gosh, the expenses is double. i wonder if i can discount my nanny since he is going to school and she will be free for 3-4hrs.

yah the fees are getting to me a bit... esp when i think of how the st james folks are paying like $400+ a month... and are probably just as good on a learning devt basis.

and on an hourly basis, a decent childcare centre (say LSH or LV) costs around $1000 at most for full day. After $300 subsidy, only $700! And from 8am - 7pm (or 5pm if we can do early pick-up but still!) and they get a bath, food, and potty-trained... AIYOH. headache now.