All About Montessori

[sunshine05]

My son is 5.5 years old. He is quiet and shy in a class setting. To encourage him to speak up more, is it better to try mix-aged montessori class or the conventional class (all same age group but 10 ~ 15 students) setting? He’ll be in K2 next year.


Thanks!

[soomum]

Dear Buds!


Thank you for the replies. :thankyou: Now i have a better idea on how to guide my gal along.

The thread post seems too long hence i'm replying in a fresh post in case you wonder why...

Yup! I am the one who taught my gal the letter sounds.:oops:
My gal is in a montessori school and yes the teacher only teaches phonics to them. She assures me that they reinforces letter names to the child by saying: 'c-uh' is the sound of c as in 'cee'. Guess i'm too ks and kan cheong right :oops:

Yup! i'm reading up on the book Basic Montessori which gave me lotsa heads up on activities which i can do but did not. so these are going to keep us busy for quite some time.

Update on my gal, she is now starting to accept the letter names after i tried a few methods and found that singing the simplest abc song catches her interest most. so now she know letter c, b, g.

One thing i observed lately is that she would occasionally sound the letters she sees around her like the vehicles on the road, books in her hands, on paper carriers etc. This led me into thinking if i should introduce more sounds like 'ee', 'oo', 'ue' etc to her? Can you offer some viewpoints? kam siah

[chatelaine]

Hi Joeyz18


I’m also staying in BP. I visited CCK branch last Sat. The place is clean, spacious, non aircon and kids have water play outside near lift area. Hubby complained a bit far and morning always jam on the way there.

Heard from the teacher, the current CC has changed 3 management. Can’t really remember the name. Teacher speaks good English.

My DD will be in Pre-Nursery and DS in PG next year. Currently, waiting for Jelapang branch to get back to me on the vacancy.

[Joeyz18]

chatelaine,

my boy is bron in 2008, same as your DD right? they might be classmates next year

i would prefer jelapang since is nearer to me. do you know where the jelapang children have their water play? i do not know cos i have not visit the jelapang branch yet and was told no more vancany til next yr and I am on their waiting list right now. you also in their waiting list? you prefer which one after visitng?

[buds]

soomum:

Dear Buds! Thank you for the replies. :thankyou:

Now i have a better idea on how to guide my gal along.

I just want to assure you that there shouldn't be any drastic problem
with your girl's situation as of now. I'm sure your daughter is in good
hands... yours and the teachers in her school.

soomum:

The thread post seems too long hence i'm replying in a fresh post in case you wonder why...

It's ok. I prefer it like this. It's neater.

soomum:

Yup! I am the one who taught my gal the letter sounds.:oops: My gal is in a montessori school and yes the teacher only teaches phonics to them. She assures me that they reinforces letter names to the child by saying: 'c-uh' is the sound of c as in 'cee'.

Yes, some do. It's good that you shared your doubts with the teachers
as they have now helped to clear any doubts you may have had.

soomum:

Guess i'm too ks and kan cheong right :oops:

Most 1st time parents are like you... :hugs:

:lol: It's a normal phase, sweetie.. :lol:

Patient teachers are always at hand to guide parents along, especially
those who are ever so willing to learn how to guide their children at home.

soomum:

Yup! i'm reading up on the book Basic Montessori which gave me lotsa heads up on activities which i can do but did not. so these are going to keep us busy for quite some time. Update on my gal, she is now starting to accept the letter names after i tried a few methods and found that singing the simplest abc song catches her interest most. so now she know letter c, b, g.

Well, sometimes the best place to look is to begin from the easiest.

soomum:

One thing i observed lately is that she would occasionally sound the letters she sees around her like the vehicles on the road, books in her hands, on paper carriers etc.

This is fantastic! :celebrate:

This just goes to show she has the ear for phonetic sounds.

soomum:

This led me into thinking if i should introduce more sounds like 'ee', 'oo', 'ue' etc to her? Can you offer some viewpoints? kam siah

Try not to introduce extra sounds (especially not combination sounds
like those you have posted above) apart from what the teacher is
currently teaching.. The phonograms are in green scheme.

If you read up more on the Montessori Phonics method, there are 3 colour
schemes in Montessori Phonics. Pink being the 1st level where introduction
to single letter sounds and coverage of 3 letter phonetic words are being
covered. Next is blue scheme, where the blends (double/triple
consonant blends) are being introduced and finally the green scheme
where the phonograms will be introduced..

So in short, if you were planning to teach the above sounds you posted
above, then you are going way too far... Even our enrichment students
take almost a year to get there. :shock: So... you do have to be careful
of the pace you're taking to teach her... so as to avoid confusing her all
over again. For example, if she now knows the letter e : as \"eeee\" and
that it also makes the sound \"eh\"... if you were to introduce and show
her /ee/... which makes the same \"eeee\" sound....ermmm... .... i
would not recommend you go there yet, if you know what i mean.. :scared:

In your excitement to teach your girl, try not to delve to far beyond what
you have now just finally begun to grasp from the methodology.

Sometimes, slow & steady DOES win the race.

Parents must also understand there is still such a thing as age-appropriate
learning pace. Go easy, yeah? She is doing very well as it seems... just
for now, your support is required as a double up to what the school is
doing.

You can do extension activities with her at home to complement and
strengthen the concepts that the school is teaching her at the moment.
Apart from the reinforment of activities, also do try to borrow more lively
picture books that promotes rhyme and song as these are extremely
great for pink scheme enforcement.

You may also want her to listen to audio CDs that have nice catchy
rhyming in them as well. Young children can absorb a lotta input from
listening to music and cheerful catchy music keeps their tongues wagging
(those rhyming words).

If you haven't already gotten the Ants On The Apple Songbook + CD, you
may consider getting one for her. Do ask if your daughter's school sells
them so you have less hassle of ordering it. Of course you can always get
them easily online here too.. > http://r2learntoys.com/31-Ants-on-the-Apple-Song-book-and-CD.html

I do not recall it being that pricey though.. ... for i got mine for less than
the amount sold on this webbie. Nevertheless, it is a good buy.

Another suggestion is that you can also encourage her to read sight word
books with you.. I have posted a few over at this thread. >http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3082&highlight=thematic+readers.

I have a few more other collections to share as well.

Alternatively, there are also a gazillion phonics readers out there in the market as well. :celebrate:
You may again find out which ones the school is using and see if they are able to lend it to parents.
I know of some schs that practice loan of books from their school library.

In the meantime, have fun with your daughter, yah? :love:

Regards, buds.

[chatelaine]

Hi Joeyz18


Yup! My DD same yr as ur DS

I never ask Jelapang branch where they had their water play. While I were at CCK branch, I \"soon bian\" ask the teacher. She told me the children had water play somewhere near the lunch area which I can't imagine how as the place is quite small for water play + aircon.

Both my kids on waitlist. CC can only confirm with me mid Oct. Hubby prefer Jelapang branch as it's nearer and less hassle.

[Joeyz18]

wtare play near lunch area? cannot be la, so limited space + aircon, later kids will be freezing :?


maybe can check with jelapang when i call or when the sch call me up then i update u

[chatelaine]

Hi Joeyz18


:thankyou: Would appreciate your update.

Correction on waterplay @BP... the teacher @CCK mentioned they will only be playing with water and not swim inside the water.

[drumstick]

Hui

I just visited cck branch. Quite ok except hub complained no aircon. The one who spike to me is the principal Michelle. Quite nice lady.I went to the pg and pre n class. One of the pg teachers looked sian sian leh, even with the boss and principal ard! Others are ok. Mm… Tough decision!

[chatelaine]

Hi


Most parents would look for non aircon… afraid sick children will spread the germs easily.