Mindstretcher - Discussion

[i3mum]

Ya I know Morris Allen is very expensive. I m not sure about I can Read, i went there last year, wanted to sign up my DD for reading class. But end up, I realised I can teach her on my own & didnt ask further on creative writing etc.

mummy of 3:

Ya, Morris Allen is Veryyyy Exxxxpensive. Thats y i never choose morris allen. How about I Can Read for your DD?[/quote]

[luvmum]

Hi i3mum,


Hope my reply comes in time...my DD is currently taking the P1 Prep at Mindstretcher, Yew Tee branch. It's a new branch started this year and we are the pioneer group for the class there. The teacher is an ex-school teacher from bukit Panjang pri school. DD was there since Jan10.

Hmm what i like abt the centre:-
1. Worksheet is comprehensive and coverage is good for P1 level as compared to other centres.
2. Teacher is patient and nice
3. Good exterior environment since the centre is so new
4. Fee is reasonable for 2 hrs lesson.

What i dislike abt the centre:-
1. There is no toilet in the centre, need to use the toilet at the mall. Now at K2, she goes on group basis with a female admin staff but come P1 I'm not sure. I saw some primary school kids going on their own. If so, I'm totally not comfortable as the mall is crowded with pple an no one safeguard on their safety so I will check come end this yr before committing for next yr.
2. Admin staff pretty cold and 'bochap' us
3. Classroom is narrowly packed.

Still contemplating if I should continue her for P1 ... :love:

[comfy]

I heard so much about Mind Stretcher that I finally enrolled my DD during the June Holiday. Actually I was curious to find out what is the course about since the brochure mentioned quite alot of smart kid getting high PSLE score and liking the course. After an assessment, she was registered in the High Achiever class.

For this English class, I like the course content (quite comprehensive) and they really build up your vocab. (around a list of 10 or so words that the teacher will test you on the next lesson). Each lesson, the student will be exposed to grammer, vocab. and composition. ( compreh. alternate wk).
The worksheet is quite challenging, so it is gd for my DD.
She has 3 different teachers due to a change of time slot.
I decided to take her out of the course after two months. Reason is she find it rather tired after attending the lesson. Bascially, I prefer the lesson to be 1.5 hour ( MS is 2 hr) and most of the time, there is little interaction between the teacher and std. During the male teacher’s lesson, she predicately just do worksheets and copied ans. from the whiteboard without much explanation from the teacher.
So it is impt to find the right teacher to suit my DD’s style of learning.
The teacher also played an impt part in substanting her interest.

[i3mum]

Hi luvmum,


Thanks, I have not sign up my DD for any English enrichment currently. I m still looking for one, still contemplating whether to sign her, as she is currently attending many classes.

Is the group size very big? It seem like from my location, there isn't any near centres.

luvmum:

Hi i3mum,

Hope my reply comes in time...my DD is currently taking the P1 Prep at Mindstretcher, Yew Tee branch. It's a new branch started this year and we are the pioneer group for the class there. The teacher is an ex-school teacher from bukit Panjang pri school. DD was there since Jan10.

Hmm what i like abt the centre:-
1. Worksheet is comprehensive and coverage is good for P1 level as compared to other centres.
2. Teacher is patient and nice
3. Good exterior environment since the centre is so new
4. Fee is reasonable for 2 hrs lesson.

What i dislike abt the centre:-
1. There is no toilet in the centre, need to use the toilet at the mall. Now at K2, she goes on group basis with a female admin staff but come P1 I'm not sure. I saw some primary school kids going on their own. If so, I'm totally not comfortable as the mall is crowded with pple an no one safeguard on their safety so I will check come end this yr before committing for next yr.
2. Admin staff pretty cold and 'bochap' us
3. Classroom is narrowly packed.

Still contemplating if I should continue her for P1 ... :love:

[i3mum]

Hi comfy,


How old is your DD? I also think 2hrs maybe a bit too long...Which branch did u send her to?

comfy:

I heard so much about Mind Stretcher that I finally enrolled my DD during the June Holiday. Actually I was curious to find out what is the course about since the brochure mentioned quite alot of smart kid getting high PSLE score and liking the course. After an assessment, she was registered in the High Achiever class.
For this English class, I like the course content (quite comprehensive) and they really build up your vocab. (around a list of 10 or so words that the teacher will test you on the next lesson). Each lesson, the student will be exposed to grammer, vocab. and composition. ( compreh. alternate wk).
The worksheet is quite challenging, so it is gd for my DD.
She has 3 different teachers due to a change of time slot.
I decided to take her out of the course after two months. Reason is she find it rather tired after attending the lesson. Bascially, I prefer the lesson to be 1.5 hour ( MS is 2 hr) and most of the time, there is little interaction between the teacher and std. During the male teacher's lesson, she predicately just do worksheets and copied ans. from the whiteboard without much explanation from the teacher.
So it is impt to find the right teacher to suit my DD's style of learning.
The teacher also played an impt part in substanting her interest.

[comfy]

i3mum:

Hi comfy,


How old is your DD? I also think 2hrs maybe a bit too long...Which branch did u send her to?

My DD is Pri 3 and she attended Bukit Batok branch. Just to add, the way they teach composition is to give them creative words/phases thru' worksheet, not using interactive teaching and tell them to write. If the child follow the tips from the worksheet, the teacher will not give high score for it.
When I asked the teacher why is this so, he said that no creativity but the child is told to use those words/phases specifically to write. :? Hence sometimes, it is not easy for the child and can be rather demoralising for the child.

[i3mum]

Hi comfy,


I will also prefer the teachers to teach the students to write creatively, instead of following the tips from the worksheet.

But thanks anyway I m still looking around for classes.

comfy:

My DD is Pri 3 and she attended Bukit Batok branch. Just to add, the way they teach composition is to give them creative words/phases thru' worksheet, not using interactive teaching and tell them to write. If the child follow the tips from the worksheet, the teacher will not give high score for it.
When I asked the teacher why is this so, he said that no creativity but the child is told to use those words/phases specifically to write. :? Hence sometimes, it is not easy for the child and can be rather demoralising for the child.

[luvmum]

i3mum - yes group size is big...think have abt 15. The whole class is cramped with 1 teacher.:P


Comfy - oh my, really ah? I'm still quite impressed with their creative writing class after reading thr their catalogue. Like that is not teaching wat, more like feeding you with beautiful phrases which I can also surf thr net...the purpose shld be to tell them when to use it and how to use it intelligently to give them impact. Sigh!! :stupid:

[mummy of 3]

Hi luvmum,

I intend to enrol my DD to yew tee branch also. Is there any referral discount?
Now waiting for their time table of 2011 to be out.
Will enrol in Oct for P1 Preparatory class for next year start.
Any other comments?

[luvmum]

mummy of 3:

Hi luvmum,

I intend to enrol my DD to yew tee branch also. Is there any referral discount?
Now waiting for their time table of 2011 to be out.
Will enrol in Oct for P1 Preparatory class for next year start.
Any other comments?

They dun hv referral discount wor. Better to enrol earlier. Last yr there was some miscomm for my case. Was told there were a lot of empty slots so I confirmed my placement a week later thr phone. The admin girl asked me to come down and make payment first which I did that very weekend. Was shocked :!: when another admin girl who was there tat time told me no more slots. I insisted they gave a placement for my child......which eventually they did though it exceeded their intake.

Their worksheets cover well on P1 syllabus but reinforcement still needed at home.