Mindstretcher - Discussion
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no choice lor…impossible to cover all components within 2hrs.
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Just sharing my thoughts and experience.
At the beginning of this year, I was deciding about whether I should enrol my child with Mindstretcher at Bishan for English and Writer’s toolbox so naturally I would like many other concerned parents to gather feedback and made enquiries with the counter staff. I didn’t have a good experience talking to them as I found them to be impatient and sometime even rude. When I enquired about who the teachers would be teaching for English and some feedback on them, they would just say ‘if you want stricter teacher then go for Teacher A’ so that what’s everyone will think it is good, right?..However, my child’s feedback was that the teacher was so strict that nobody dared to ask him any questions even when they were in doubts. My child didn’t improve much at all but towards the end of this year, I’m glad to have a new female teacher teaching my child (changed my child to a new timeslot and class) and even though the teacher doesn’t seem that ‘strict’ (which I think this term is very subjective) but I could tell that she is a very responsible, diligent and approachable teacher. As according to my child, she doesn’t teach like a robot to simply cover all the worksheets but she will explain the concept well and she is firm with the class. Thus never judge a book by its cover. My child is motivated to learn much more now and doesn’t complain about ‘copying’ or the ‘frustration’ of learning English or Composition etc.
All I can say is that everyone’s expectation is different, as parents, we have to be wise in making decision for our child whether which teacher is good or not, time will tell. As for the centre staff, I do hope that they can improve on their customer’s service - not to be so calculative, be more friendly as they will leave the first impression of whether we should or not to enrol our children in. Most importantly, I’m looking for the quality of the teacher and not an overly strict/fierce robot to teach my child! -
Just sharing my thoughts and experience.
At the beginning of this year, I was deciding about whether I should enrol my child with Mindstretcher at Bishan for English and Writer’s toolbox so naturally I would like many other concerned parents to gather feedback and made enquiries with the counter staff. I didn’t have a good experience talking to them as I found them to be impatient and sometime even rude. When I enquired about who the teachers would be teaching for English and some feedback on them, they would just say ‘if you want stricter teacher then go for Teacher A’ so that what’s everyone will think it is good, right?..However, my child’s feedback was that the teacher was so strict that nobody dared to ask him any questions even when they were in doubts. My child didn’t improve much at all but towards the end of this year, I’m glad to have a new female teacher teaching my child (changed my child to a new timeslot and class) and even though the teacher doesn’t seem that ‘strict’ (which I think this term is very subjective) but I could tell that she is a very responsible, diligent and approachable teacher. As according to my child, she doesn’t teach like a robot to simply cover all the worksheets but she will explain the concept well and she is firm with the class. Thus never judge a book by its cover. My child is motivated to learn much more now and doesn’t complain about ‘copying’ or the ‘frustration’ of learning English or Composition etc.
All I can say is that everyone’s expectation is different, as parents, we have to be wise in making decision for our child whether which teacher is good or not, time will tell. As for the centre staff, I do hope that they can improve on their customer’s service - not to be so calculative, be more friendly as they will leave the first impression of whether we should or not to enrol our children in. Most importantly, I’m looking for the quality of the teacher and not an overly strict/fierce robot to teach my child! -
Does anyone have feedback on their science class?
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raisintan:
Does anyone have feedback on their science class?
what do you want to know? Which level is your kid? -
laughingcat:
P4 next year. How are the classes conducted and are they effective? Any notes or homework? Appreciate any feedback. Thank uraisintan:
Does anyone have feedback on their science class?
what do you want to know? Which level is your kid? -
At P4, one must start the term lesson early. Because at MS, their term starts in Dec and by somewhere at term4 of P3, they have already covered some of P4 works. For those who missed the P3 at MS, MS still do P4 works as a form of revision as well.
MS finished the P4 science somewhere at Jun/Jul timeframe and then practice test and revision test all the way till SA2.
In general, the notes and test papers are good. Covers alot for MCQ and OE. OE key-words are well taught to my DC. My DC enjoys it and benefitted from it. So much so, that I was literally hands-off for my DC science at P3 and P4; partly is because my DC is the type who likes science and very much independent learner.
My DC has science homework everyweek. Homework are handed up for marking. If the child OE answers are not correct, the teacher will go through it with explanation and get the children to copy down the answers with key-words. If there is no homework, then something is wrong. Because throughout the years, there are homework except for instance at P4, when my DC is with this particular teacher which my DC doesn’t like.
The teachers at MS are basically doing part time as a tutor after school. My DC’s science teacher is as such and my DC was so disappointed whenever I said I want to stop the MS science tuition.
BUT BUT…as in all schools and tuition centres or tutors alike, the teacher plays an important part in the teaching. Some teacher is good and some not so. My DC’s teacher at P3 is very GOOD. At P4, we have a change of teacher due to timing issue, DC’s teacher is not good, always get the children to copy the OE answer. My DC doesn’t like it and complained to me and hence I switched back to his original teacher who taught DC at P3. At P5, we stick to this same teacher. However at P6 (which is now), the science teacher which we follows no longer teaches science and we feedback to the centre seriously. Now we have found another science teacher who is equally good and he is firm. This was feedback from my DC, as he likes teacher who is firm and explained firmly and clearly. My DC is the type who doesn’t like to copy. So as a parent, you need to understand your child’s learning style and feedback to the admin for recommendation.
Try to have a nice conversation with the admin, if you create a genuine rapport and shared with them your concerns, they will give you some nice recommendation or feedback. But before you do that, you need to know your child’s style of learning-with-the types-of-teacher.
FYI, an NIE-trained teacher who teaches many years is not necessarily a good teacher. For me, a teacher must be genuinely wants to help and loves to teach. Hope you have the luck to find one. -
Mindful:
Just sharing my thoughts and experience.
At the beginning of this year, I was deciding about whether I should enrol my child with Mindstretcher at Bishan for English and Writer's toolbox so naturally I would like many other concerned parents to gather feedback and made enquiries with the counter staff. I didn't have a good experience talking to them as I found them to be impatient and sometime even rude. When I enquired about who the teachers would be teaching for English and some feedback on them, they would just say 'if you want stricter teacher then go for Teacher A' so that what's everyone will think it is good, right?...However, my child's feedback was that the teacher was so strict that nobody dared to ask him any questions even when they were in doubts. My child didn't improve much at all but towards the end of this year, I'm glad to have a new female teacher teaching my child (changed my child to a new timeslot and class) and even though the teacher doesn't seem that 'strict' (which I think this term is very subjective) but I could tell that she is a very responsible, diligent and approachable teacher. As according to my child, she doesn't teach like a robot to simply cover all the worksheets but she will explain the concept well and she is firm with the class. Thus never judge a book by its cover. My child is motivated to learn much more now and doesn't complain about 'copying' or the 'frustration' of learning English or Composition etc.
All I can say is that everyone's expectation is different, as parents, we have to be wise in making decision for our child whether which teacher is good or not, time will tell. As for the centre staff, I do hope that they can improve on their customer's service - not to be so calculative, be more friendly as they will leave the first impression of whether we should or not to enrol our children in. Most importantly, I'm looking for the quality of the teacher and not an overly strict/fierce robot to teach my child! -
Thank you Mindful for the insightful thoughts.
I’ve also encountered unpleasant experience with the counter staff too. Sometimes, I wonder why they seem so impatient with parents who just want to make some enquiries about the course etc… Anyway, which level is your child in for English? I’m quite ok with the students having to ‘copy’ or whatever is the teaching method as mentioned by the all the past thread posts, I reckon that we must also put some trust in teachers since we decided to register our children with the centre. No point questioning till the cow comes home but if the teacher is genuine and caring, I suppose this is an important factor for any child to learn but we also have to factor in the time duration for tuition and also how our own child’s learning attitude is. And of course, having a good teacher who cares and knows what s/he is doing is crucial too. Though there seem to have some unfavourable feedback from the past posting,I still believe there are still some good teachers out there (heard good feedback about MS from my friend’s children who enjoy the creative writer’s tool box and English classes but the other centre is too far for us). -
My child is in P5 HA Writer’s toolbox and English class during weekend at Bishan. My other friend’s child also under the same teacher but he is taking P6 class WT on Sat. My child is able to follow the class well as she is a conscientious person and will also take the initiative to do her own revision after the lessons/concepts being taught to her. Indeed, one must consider multiple factors as to what work best for our children.
All the best in your search for a suitable one for your child!
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