Letterland

[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

[buds]

Ok i will let you in on it via PM.


Yep.. won't be possible to meet up all
the way to Tiong Bahru anymore. It'd
be postal delivery from then on.

No more time to kai kai liao. :lol:

[spring]

buds:

Nope, it ain't gonna be in the west anymore hun..
I'm going to really miss being a westie.
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:

Im sure u wld hav made a gd choice. But yea...guess u will need times to adapt to a new environment.

buds:

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 havemissed 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 & thu 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.

Thank you buds for tis informative advice. things u mention really does make sense. I wouldnt want my dd to lose interests in reading! It does sound scary. :scared:

Will try out e activities on tapping on e listening skill. It does sound more appropriate for her age now. hehe.... :ugogirl:

Hmmm... soft skills? Actually wad r they huh? :? U mean e.g social skill, selp help skill? Craft work like tearing, pasting, colouring n cutting, r they consider as prewriting skills? Im doin quite alot of tat with my dd, n also finger tracing of letters, n now she has started to trace letters with crayons. anymore activities u wld suggest on improving e writing skill? :

buds:

I will PM you the details okie?

Okie.... U pm me ya....

buds:

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

:thankyou:

buds:

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...

Okie... i will try when she tries to pretending reading again. For now, i hav not read to her any readers collection. Do u tink i can try e peter n jane series to her? Must she knows word blending before i can read to her e sight word method using e peter n jane series? Or any other readers u wld recommend for her age?

buds:

If only you stay nearer, mebbe got chance.

Thanks for your compliments. :love:

I am still learning.. :celebrate:

U make me v curious of ware u r staying.
Care to share?

[buds]

spring:

Im sure u wld hav made a gd choice. But yea...guess u will need times to adapt to a new environment.

Adapting to the environment part, i know i can handle. What i cannot
envision is the daily cycle of sending the girls to school to and fro! :!:
Not planning to change schools for them unless if really terribly forced
to make that decision..

We'll see.. :xedfingers:

spring:

Thank you buds for tis informative advice. things u mention really does make sense. I wouldnt want my dd to lose interests in reading! It does sound scary. :scared:

Once again, you're welcome. :hugs: I suppose i can make sense of it as i
have seen children fall back into a distant level of interest when this skill
is tackled inappropriately and though i cud reduce the damage when i
troubleshoot it, a lot of precious time is wasted back tracking and re-
learning, whereas it cud have been done right from when it first began.

spring:

Will try out e activities on tapping on e listening skill. It does sound more appropriate for her age now. hehe.... :ugogirl:

Actually it is the most appropriate exercise to do right after perfecting the
single letter sounds stage. Also ensure your girl knows which letter each
sound represents when you pronounce any sound to her. If she oredi
knows how to write or trace even better.. can get her to write the letter of
the sound you say out to her. Very helpful for future verbal and
written spelling skills as the child can distinguish between letter names and
letter sounds and also know each corresponding letter shapes at an instant!

Just to let you in on something.. i'm currently helping a fren to sell off her
Large Moveable Alphabet (A Montessori Material) used during Montessori
Phonics lessons. It aids the child in recognizing letter shapes with given
corresponding letter sounds. The LMA can also be used for those listening
skill activities i shared in my previous post.

You may ask the child to pick out the letter that makes the sound /b/ as in
the beginning sound of bus... then ask her to listen to other sounds in the
word bus... after she manages to pick up all three letters from the LMA, u
show her how individual letter sounds put together can make a word.

We use this in our classrooms up till Blends and reading up to 6-letter
phonetic words like your nick for example... spr-ing! You can check out
the material here at this link! > http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10176

Let me know if you are keen. Specially for you, i will include a freebie item
as well, if you decide to purchase the item from me.. Great for your girl and
can keep for when your #2 grows a lil' older too.. :love:

spring:

Hmmm... soft skills? Actually wad r they huh? :? U mean e.g social skill, selp help skill? Craft work like tearing, pasting, colouring n cutting, r they consider as prewriting skills? Im doin quite alot of tat with my dd, n also finger tracing of letters, n now she has started to trace letters with crayons. anymore activities u wld suggest on improving e writing skill?

Yes Yes! Soft skills like saying please and thank you, table manners, setting
the table.. sorting cutlery.. She can use her dolls or teddies to organize a tea
party and tackle social attributes in an inviting set up. Uh-oh.. teddie spilled
his tea? What should we do? Is teddie a bad bear, should we scold him or
how can we teach teddie to be more careful... Or monkey is naughty, always
bullying the other animal friends.. How can we help teach monkey to be at his
best behaviour? (etc)

Activities that strengthens finger muscles and the pincer grip for writing can
be using the scissors.. sorting colour balls using a spoon.. learning to use a
chopstick.. picking up stamps using a small tweezer.. pegging clothings..
(etc)

If you have sand, moist it and put it in a box or container and get her to
trace alphabet shapes in it, apart from the typical pencil or crayon and
paper.. Use play dough to curve little roll-outs into letter shapes.. (etc)

Veggie stamps you can create with potatoes and carrots with either letter
shapes, simple shapes (square, triangle, circle & rectangle) that you can
use with paint or even cut out sponges too!

The possibilities are endless really! :celebrate:

spring:

Okie... i will try when she tries to pretending reading again. For now, i hav not read to her any readers collection. Do u tink i can try e peter n jane series to her? Must she knows word blending before i can read to her e sight word method using e peter n jane series? Or any other readers u wld recommend for her age?

It can wait till mebbe when she's 3 or 3.5yrs.. but if you think she is mature
enuf to handle such readers go ahead. Different children have different
temperaments hence there is no hard and fast rule to age introduction..

Readers are repetitive and work on the sight words. There are many in the
market other than Peter & Jane these days.. you'll be spoilt for choice.

buds:

If only you stay nearer, mebbe got chance.

Thanks for your compliments. :love:

I am still learning.. :celebrate:

spring:

U make me v curious of ware u r staying.
Care to share?

Okie dokie, sure thing!

I'm still looking for some stuff to show you on how you cud
move on from the Letterland phonics and have yet to find
them.. sollie. :salute: Hope i can dig it out soon. :oops:

Keep in touch & you take care.. :hugs: