Letterland

[buds]

celtricia:

Hey there buds..

Heyya there, celtricia!

It's all quiet here now and i can finally respond to your post.
It is very very late response and my deepest apologies. :oops:

celtricia:

Been reading tis thread n found letterland interesting..

Well... it IS very interesting, especially for young / early learners!

celtricia:

wat do u suggest i shld do for my 5yr old.. since he still can't get his ABCs right if i question him in sequence..

ABCs are really the basics to cover with children whether or not they are
school-going kiddies. When you say your 5-yr old cannot get it right in
sequence... does it mean that when you run through the alphabets with
him, he cannot fill the gaps... especially if you ask at random say... if you
ask... what comes after letter j? Just thought to clarify first prior to
responding to that.. paiseh. :oops:

celtricia:

I tink i shldnt b doing phonics for him yet since his ABCs r not well memorised..

It is a 'preferred' aspect in my personal opinion and not that i AM enforcing
that all kiddies MUST know all letters to perfection prior to learning phonics..
Meaning, it's a plus and it escalates the learning of phonics process definitely.
A phonics teacher most times will not have time to cover the differences btwn
letter and sound... that said however, there are a number of phonics methods
that introduces phonetic sounds by introducing the letters first. For example,
\"This is letter 'c'... and 'c' makes the sound /c/.\" Letterland for this matter,
also does a quick note on the letter before proceeding to the character it
represents and the sound the letter character makes.

celtricia:

But he's areadi in K1.. am i too late in reinforcing him memory on all this Letterland alphabets?

No. Definitely not late. I do believe in late bloomers.. take heart that with
his age now, his mind would be more mature to take on learning more
concretely and effectively. I say go with it! And jia-you ok! :rahrah:

celtricia:

At current i've yet to get any Letterland products.. though i've enquired tat they haf a store tat sells only Letterland products at Tampines 1.. Popular no longer sells them.

Wow! And where is this wonderful store that sells these yummy products?
Do share! :evil:

celtricia:

Am a bit lost as to where i shld start now for my son.. sigh..

You will not be lost while i'm still here for you, celtricia. I will guide you the best
i can... do not give up before even officially trying. You CAN do this!

Now, focus. Plan out a routine to go over his ABCs... say mebbe 2 days a
week.. play letter games.. i spy games.. read ABC books.. sing ABC songs..
work with ABC puzzles.. rainbow trace on ABC templates.. paint ABC letters..
make ABC letters with play dough... or if you care to... real dough and bake
those biscuits nice and crisp.. decorate them with m&m's and eat the letter
that your 5-yr old can get right.. ..use sticky foam letters on the wall
during bath time.. watch DVDs on ABCs... the opportunities are endless!

Dissect the 26 alphabets into smaller bite size portions.. run through a few
each time as not to overwhelm your child.. repeat.. reinforce.. re-design your
activities.. observe how your child likes to learn.. ie. with pictures, with songs,
with puppets, with stories... anything... just observe.. and tap on that interest..

Slowly get yourself some teaching aides to work your way to prepare yourself
to the next step of introducing the letter sounds. Read about the method..
Research on the items they have.. most times you don't need to get all that
is available.. just basic stuff to keep you going for a few months until your
next big purchase.. start with small ideas and move on to bigger projects
with each success.

Let me know if you need further clarifications or sharings anytime you feel you
are stuck or when you need the motivation... the push... to move on..
It is sheer pleasure having to share that moment where you made a big
impact in your child's journey towards literacy... the satisfaction is beyond
words.. :hugs:

Remember, i am here for you if you need me.. i will try to help where i can.

Take care. :celebrate:

[spring]

Hi buds…


u missed my post… need ur help…nt sure how to go on to next level of teaching phonics.

Also just now at a popular fair in sengkang, i found alot of activity book. I bought e first handwriting handbook and building words activity book at $6.90 each. think shd be a gd deal rite? theres stil many other books but dare nt buy as im not sure how to use them.

Recently im surveying some pcf kindy around my area, n found 1 of them using riggs method for k1 and k2. Btw, hav u came across riggs method of phonics? Wat do u tink of this method?

[buds]

spring:

Hi buds.... u missed my post... need ur help...nt sure how to go on to next level of teaching phonics.

Sollie dahling.. i don't opt for reply notification for all threads lar..

Even so, when i do have... sometimes i take time to respond cos

got other :evil: threads to reply to until i lose focus.

Next level, aye?

26 letter sounds all gao-tim liao harh?

Where's her playgroup class doing now?

Still @ single letter sounds or oredi moved on?

spring:

Also just now at a popular fair in sengkang, i found alot of activity book. I bought e first handwriting handbook and building words activity book at $6.90 each. think shd be a gd deal rite? theres stil many other books but dare nt buy as im not sure how to use them.

First things first... hmmm... :idea: ... this fair you're talking about.... :idea: ...

Issit still onz? Cos hor... mebbe i need to see the thing for myself and then

update you.. hehee.. :rubhands:

Kidding... kidding... Yes. Good deal. Letterland books usually aren't cheap.

Mebbe the thinner ones with straightforward activities are slightly cheaper.

Got picture to share here anot?

spring:

Recently im surveying some pcf kindy around my area, n found 1 of them using riggs method for k1 and k2.

PCF is casting their net wider these days i find which is a GREAT thing! :celebrate:

It is good that they will now consider purchasing external quality curriculums

for their main lessons (some offer Reggio method) and also i do see some ctrs

with Montessori materials on their shelves... established Phonics & Maths

programmes... and also a full set of materials + teaching aides... very very

improved PCF these days as compared to just the past year or so. This is

indeed a welcoming change. Kudos to PCF. :celebrate:

spring:

Btw, hav u came across riggs method of phonics? Wat do u tink of this method?

Can't help you here dear.. i have yet to come across this programme.. What

i can suggest though is that you request for someone in that centre to show

you a wee bit on their materials or mebbe sit in one lesson. You may share

with them that your child is currently on another Phonics programme, so you

would like to see how the current one can be complemented with the one that

Tumble Tots centre (your girl is attending) is offering as a follow up.

Catch up with ya again..

[spring]

Hi buds,


hehe... sorry if i sound too anxious. :oops: know u r a busy woman lor, most of e threads i went to see can see ur posts. U r our inspiration. :celebrate:

Its a small fair at compasspoint la, tin kit wld be too far for u to come down. Also nt sure until when. Tink e books i saw r those thinner activity books. Ohh... my dd has nt been to Tumble Tots class for quite some times already. Tot of saving some money on enrichments n teach on my own. But now shes been enrolled into a pcf little steps prog, its a daily class. it does nt teach on phonics, but my dd learnt some songs, get to play n make friends, is saying please n thank you more often.

Hmmm... aprogramme tat buds has never came across... is it a good programme :? Actually i posted this query at e pcf kindergarten thread n a forum user replied saying tat its a v structured programme which may be too bored for preschoolers. Might be goin down to e centre again for more details. Okie...thanks for replying me... got to go le.. my dd is pestering for my attention. Cya.....

[buds]

spring:

Hi buds, hehe... sorry if i sound too anxious. :oops:

Heyya spring.. it's fine. :hugs: Yes, it did sound anxious but i understand it is for

a good cause. I'm in the midst of packing my stuff for the move so hope you can

gimme some time to dig a bit. I am serious when i mentioned that i am here for u.

It's nicer to explain with visual aids, doncha think? :evil:

I find that Montessori is more focussed when it comes to the next stage of blending

3 letter phonetic words, cos the Letterland method thrives on teaching children

through their Letterland stories. But i suppose children do find it interesting enough

to inspire the learning process.

spring:

know u r a busy woman lor, most of e threads i went to see can see ur posts. U r our inspiration. :celebrate:

:!: Yikes! :!:

I'm too high profile! :oops:

Notti inspiration you mean... :lol:

spring:

Its a small fair at compasspoint la, tin kit wld be too far for u to come down. Also nt sure until when. Tink e books i saw r those thinner activity books. Ohh... my dd has nt been to Tumble Tots class for quite some times already. Tot of saving some money on enrichments n teach on my own.

Can darling.. go for it! Especially since you mentioned that she may no longer be

with Tumble Tots anymore. It's a fantastic way to reinforce what you have taught

her and what she has learnt from the short time she has been with Tumble Tots.

spring:

But now shes been enrolled into a pcf little steps prog, its a daily class. it does nt teach on phonics, but my dd learnt some songs, get to play n make friends, is saying please n thank you more often.

With the new baby on the way, this is a good move. She will learn to be more

independent and yes.. learn more skills along the way.. plus take some time off

your hands too.

spring:

Hmmm... aprogramme tat buds has never came across... is it a good programme :?

Ya lor. I don't quite know everything la.. :oops: Still learning.. in fact learning

everyday from everyone and even from my girls. :hugs: A phonics programme

regardless of its techniques, helps to refine children's diction and reading flency

using letter sounds and combinations. I honestly have not heard of Riggs.

Mebbe if i am invited to learn its ropes, i can provide a review of its strengths

and effectiveness. I personally find that each method has its merits. :celebrate:

Akin to each individual having their own strengths and abilities.

spring:

Actually i posted this query at e pcf kindergarten thread n a forum user replied saying tat its a v structured programme which may be too bored for preschoolers. Might be goin down to e centre again for more details. Okie...thanks for replying me... got to go le.. my dd is pestering for my attention. Cya.....

Yes yes! You should. PCFs these days aren't like they used to and i urge parents to

give PCF centres a chance. I might just wanna work part time with PCF to learn how

they have changed and grown over the years once i've settled down with the move

and say... mebbe work ad-hoc or part -time cos i have chanced upon their adverts

requesting for relief. :evil: Nothing's confirmed yet. Everything in the planning

process and in consideration. Kiddies are getting bigger and think it's high time i

spring back into action. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php

Catch up with ya again soon, spring! Ya take care okie? :love:

[spring]

Hi buds.....


yupz. Thanks for always being here in helping me in teaching my dd phonics. Ohh ya...u did mention b4 that u r moving to another place rite... but i guess shd be stil in e west side ya... i rem seen somewhere u did mention tat montessori is more focused n takes shorter period when its comes to blending part which i tink is beta. yup... look forward to ur input on this, cant wait to progress to next stage. but im sil tinking is it too early to teach my dd blending now? Shes now 30mths. Do i need to wait for her to be more mature for this? Also to check wif u, for e letter sound 'a' n 'e', 'c' n 'k' sound similar, how to differentiate them more clearly?

Another thing is recently she is always trying pretending to read. Everytime i read books to her, i wil always use my pointer to point at words as i read, n now she is trying to do this but nt doin it correctly, n when i try to guide her holding her pointer, she simply rejected n continue to pretend n do her own way. May i know how can i guide her regarding this?


Ohhh... if u r really teaching in pcf... den e kids will be so blessed to hav such a wonderful teacher.. how i wish my kid will hav one like u

[mummy of 2]

buds:

I might just wanna work part time with PCF to learn how


they have changed and grown over the years once i've settled down with the move

and say... mebbe work ad-hoc or part -time cos i have chanced upon their adverts

requesting for relief. :evil: Nothing's confirmed yet. Everything in the planning

process and in consideration. Kiddies are getting bigger and think it's high time i

spring back into action.

hi buds

do consider teaching at tiong bahru pcf. then i can ask you for more regular updates on DS's progress via KSP :idea:

[buds]

spring:

Hi buds.....

Well hello again, spring. :peekaboo:

spring:

yupz. Thanks for always being here in helping me in teaching my dd phonics.

My pleasure really. Keeps me stimulated. Thanks! :celebrate:

spring:

Ohh ya...u did mention b4 that u r moving to another place rite... but i guess shd be stil in e west side ya...

Nope, it ain't gonna be in the west anymore hun..
I'm going to really miss being a westie. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php

I find that i have everything here in the west side, minus the crowd.
And i do like it like that.. well moving on does have its sacrifices lah..
So, i hope this move will do me and my family some good. :love:

spring:

i rem seen somewhere u did mention tat montessori is more focused n takes shorter period when its comes to blending part which i tink is beta.

Yes, it is dear.. at least in my own personal opinion.

The method prides itself in using the interactive approach
with its many and varying materials / teaching aids to apply
its techniques. Definitely very hands-on, systematic and clear
in its instruction. Works well with kinaesthetic and visual learners.

spring:

yup... look forward to ur input on this, cant wait to progress to next stage. but im sil tinking is it too early to teach my dd blending now? Shes now 30mths. Do i need to wait for her to be more mature for this?

I'm afraid my answer wud be yes.. too early. You see, spring.. i have not
personally assessed her to know or to be able to properly advise you that
moving on to the 3-letter stage is a good go-ahead as of now. I cannot
personally tell if she is truly ready.. plus, yeah.. she is only 30mths now.

Cos when children move ahead prior to perfecting the initial basic skills well,
it may show later, the repercussions of the lapses of what the child may have
missed out on and it wud be very very challenging to back-track or worse
touch wood.. to re-teach the basics all over again. By then, the child wud hv
the ability to read more words, longer words and more difficult words & thus
would not be open to go back to the \"baby\" stages. There will be some
resistance and wud prove to be detrimental to the child's progress (in
some cases slow them down..) from then on and may also make the
child lose the interest somewhat, in building up the reading skills. It
will not be fair to the child if this happens.

For now though, what can be done is to tap on the listening skills. During
daily routine insert impromptu exercises of listening to sounds in words..
Like for example, when taking the bus.. you may wonder aloud.. \"Hmm...
wonder what sounds are in the word b-u-s.. do you know? Cos i can only
hear /s/..\" Or... hey, do you think the baby will be a baby brother for you
or a baby (s-i-s)... /s/... /i/.. /s/? Work on simple words that you encounter
or use everyday, like a stroll in the park and you see a cat... use that as a
spontaneous sound-listening-skill. Or even m-u-m or d-a-d.. :love:

This activity will indirectly & eventually assist the child in the blending of 3
letter words and above plus provides the skill for the child to decode sounds
in many many other words independently.

Other areas to work on would be soft skills and pre-writing skills.
Don't lose out on this. Reading is only part of what the child has to learn
in his or her life. Expose and encourage children to do a host of other kiddie
activity as well... and do remember to give them some time to sweat it outdoors
too.

spring:

Also to check wif u, for e letter sound 'a' n 'e', 'c' n 'k' sound similar, how to differentiate them more clearly?

I will PM you the details okie?

spring:

Another thing is recently she is always trying pretending to read.

This is a fantastic display of interest! Build on it and it will bear fantastic results!

spring:

Everytime i read books to her, i wil always use my pointer to point at words as i read, n now she is trying to do this but nt doin it correctly, n when i try to guide her holding her pointer, she simply rejected n continue to pretend n do her own way. May i know how can i guide her regarding this?

Ask her if you cud hold both your fingers together (yours and hers) when
pointing. You may show her different sets of books ie. For example, you
compromise that she can do the pretend pointing when reading her all
time favourite books, but she needs to follow your finger when you
read with her your readers collection.. say mebbe Peter and Jane
series and the likes..

When she points, you may ask her like...
\"Which word says clever, darling? Can you point to the word for mummy...\"

As opposed to...
\"Hey, that's wrong! That's not the word clever you're pointing to! Here!
I show you! THIS is clever.\"

Can you sense / see the difference...

spring:

Ohhh... if u r really teaching in pcf... den e kids will be so blessed to hav such a wonderful teacher.. how i wish my kid will hav one like u

If only you stay nearer, mebbe got chance.

Thanks for your compliments. :love:

I am still learning.. :celebrate:

[buds]

mummy of 2:

buds:

I might just wanna work part time with PCF to learn how


they have changed and grown over the years once i've settled down with the move

and say... mebbe work ad-hoc or part -time cos i have chanced upon their adverts

requesting for relief. :evil: Nothing's confirmed yet. Everything in the planning

process and in consideration. Kiddies are getting bigger and think it's high time i

spring back into action.

hi buds

do consider teaching at tiong bahru pcf. then i can ask you for more regular updates on DS's progress via KSP :idea:

When i DO move, Tiong Baru would be outta the way for me liao sweetie..
Now where i am, still not too bad. Updates via KSP? :faint: Die arh.
Later i kenna mark by my boss! :!: :siam:

[mummy of 2]

buds:

When i DO move, Tiong Baru would be outta the way for me liao sweetie..

Now where i am, still not too bad. Updates via KSP? :faint: Die arh.
Later i kenna mark by my boss! :!: :siam:

Care to share which part of the island you moving to? Can PM me if you do not want others to stalk you

Does that mean no more delivery if I buy other stuff from you in future? Still waiting for you to post items for sale leh