All About Montessori

[Joeyz18]

this preschool thingy is the most stressful matter after my elder boy's pri ballot

[buds]

chatelaine:

buds


I just pm you.

Read & replied, dearie.

[chatelaine]

Hi buds


Thanks for your feedback.

BTW, by K2, what are they supposed to have learned?

I have already lost touch and not sure what kids supposed to know and learned by then... Especially in this century :?:

[soomum]

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.

Thank yoU! And you are my great teacher too!

buds:

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.

buds:

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.

Yes, i'm glad i did.

buds:

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:

so i'm reacting norm..

buds:

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.

hope the teacher don't find this mummy here too bossy

buds:

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.

really! i'm so so thankful to hear that Buds! All thanks to the lessons you gave in the thread Montessori Phonics especially the step by step of how to conduct it to the child. It sure gives better elaboration than the book :oops:

buds:

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.

glad i asked you first because as i said the book is not as detail or rather as 'idiot' guide for someone like me.

buds:

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:

yes! yes! you are so right! she is still get her letter [a] as in aye mixed up with the sound [e] as in /eh/. so i am definitely working the letter names with her still. I thought to ask you the next step (*hint hint*) so i can better prepare myself before i get it wrong again.

buds:

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.

:salute: yes mdm!

buds:

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.

ok, will try to go easy. glee

buds:

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).

Yes teacher! for the homework

buds:

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.

you just gave me a reason to shop!

buds:

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.

i noticed you like scholastic readers is it? i actually had bought P&J 1a,b earlier as i thought its time to start her on reading. but after much thought and reading here which resulted in me discovering my gal hadnt know the letter names. Thus my so many questions on what to do after after single sounds. So does it mean i can do the readers with my gal while teaching her the letter names now? before i go shopping for the readers you recommended, should i try out P&J now to see if she likes them?

buds:

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.

will go ask the teacher tomorrow.

buds:

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

Regards, buds.

yeah! montessori way is so much fun! but this mummy here can get pretty result oriented and impatience at times so abit difficult n costly to execute the montessori way :oops: wished i had gone for the course b4 i became a mum. Buds, do let me know if you ever have lessons hor. Thanks a zillion!

[drumstick]

Yes, fully agree. Really difficult choice, I’ve been pondering over this for the last few months. So scare I’ll make the wrong choice and in the end, my boy unhappy. But also cannot drag Cos wait everywhere no vacancy Liao. Sigh

[buds]

lil_jade:

Buds,


Hi! As you are the resident expert on MOntessori, can I ask you some questions?

:dowan:

No... no... not a resident expert. :oops: Merely sharing and exchanging of
some humble knowledge here and there. But yes, i will try to answer your
or any queries pertaining to the method best that i can.

lil_jade:

Am thinking of putting my gal for the PCF sembawang 309 which runs the Reggio Emilia approach...

Aaaah yes... PCF is growing with the times and i'm glad that some
measures have been put in place to allow for fun hands-on learning for
our children attending PCF centres. I had the pleasure of visiting one
particular centre in Sengkang that also adopts the R.E. approach.

lil_jade:

Was prowling the net and seems like it is always compared to Montessori...

It is?

Well, the two are different entirely dear..

lil_jade:

....... do you think they more or less achieve the same results? Using student-centered approach to cultivate independent learners through self - directer learning?

While both methods encourage self-exploration and yes a pro-student-
approach... the materials and the nature of the programme is different.
I remember another parent asking me the same question you're asking
but i cannot recall which thread i replied in hence i will attempt to reply
to you in a similar context.

R.E's thematic context allows for free-play with facilitation of ideas, from
the teachers.... encourages exchange of conversation btwn teachers and
students whether they work as individuals or groups. Follow up lessons
like craft/grammar/math activities link-up in relevance to the theme of
the week/month extends those hands on learning experiences done
during the sessions. It is an open concept practiced here and requires an
extremely versatile and verbal teacher to carry out the programme
effectively. The teachers MUST be able to engage the children during
sessions. The teacher is not only facilitating but also observing. They
should also help to bring out the understanding, the learning potential
of the children under their care. It should not be a free-play pgrm.

Montessori while being student centred, caters to the individual holistically
and each child has a check list of what they have to learn or be introduced
to periodically and accordingly (to their pace). Not so much emphasis is
given for group work but not to say that it is not encouraged. Some ctrs
offer cross-age pgrms where children of say... 18mths to 6yrs are allowed
to be within the area and working together... while some centres may only
offer specific-age pgrms. It varies with different centre set-ups and the
objectives set out by the individual operators. Montessori encourages
multi-sensory (hands-on) learning with complete apparatus/materials
which were designed to ensure that all children can learn without the
stress from easy tasks to challenging ones... going from concrete learning
experiences to more abstract ones that help them prepare for mainstream
primary education. Of late, there have been emphasis on curriculum and
worksheets as well due to the demands of our society where worksheets or
physical work done equates to children actually learning... whereas in
traditional times, worksheets were of the least importance as the method
itself is the learning tool. The Montessori Method of learning also extends
beyond pre-school as they also cover Science and Geography plus Math
concepts that readies them for up till P2 to P3. It has been known that the
method can cater to up to 18yrs old and encompasses the holistic needs of
children as it also introduces social intelligence... grace & courtesy... to
name a few.

So.... they are different, no? Frankly, i prefer not to make comparisons
lah... cos each methodology has its own merits and strengths that children
can benefit from for sure. As the industry is solely reliant on the human
touch, what it actually takes is an educator with passion to deliver what
she has learnt or what she is set out to present in the best ways she
knows how to ensure that the children develop their learning potentials,
regardless of the methodology.

Just some food for thought for you..
I'm sure you would have more questions after digesting.. :lol:

[sunset_dae]

BP br will only allow viewing on weekdays if they have a confirmed place for yr child. Once confirmed, then you can talk to the staff, tell them you want to see what and how the teacher conducts lesson, then they will give you a time slot. I still remember when I first visit the centre on weekday for registration, I told the staff I wanted to view the premises and they turned me down immed, saying they dun want parents to bring in viruses (that time is H1N1 period) to the centre... In a way, they are responsible la. So we went on sat instead. But sat is really a quiet day, I cant view how the teachers conducts the class so I find it really fruitless to visit the centre on sat.

Joeyz18:

drumstick,
yes, BP cfm no vancancy now and they only allow viewing on sat unlike cck can view anytime on wkdays or sat. are the branches under diff mgmt? are you aware? u live in CCK? near lot 1?

[Joeyz18]

sunset_dae,

no wonder they keep insist i go dwn view on sat cos the sch don’t have a cfm slot for my son. then in the end i did not make a trip down as actually my intention is to see the teachers and if the children enoyed the class, etc.

[buds]

buds:

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:

Thank yoU! And you are my great teacher too!

:oops:

:love:

buds:

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:

soomum:

so i'm reacting norm..

Yes, very norm.

buds:

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:

hope the teacher don't find this mummy here too bossy

As long as you project your doubts or queries constructively and not
authoritatively, teachers will not find you bossy... but extremely ONZ
when it comes to helping your child develop his/her potential to the
fullest.

Good teachers will always be at hand to help sincere parents with home
reinforcements to work with their children at home. After all, it means
that the parents are helping them too!

My girls' teachers in primary school are also helpful and ready to assist
me when i have doubts with regards to their lessons. So, it doesn't just
refer to pre-school teachers in particular. Passionate educators will go
out of the way to guide parents as and when they can..

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.

buds:

This is fantastic! :celebrate: This just goes to show she has the ear for phonetic sounds.

soomum:

really! i'm so so thankful to hear that Buds! All thanks to the lessons you gave in the thread Montessori Phonics especially the step by step of how to conduct it to the child. It sure gives better elaboration than the book :oops:

You're welcome. :celebrate:

Errr... there's more to share in that thread honestly..
Just that i've been lazy of late.. :oops: :siam:

soomum:

buds:

[quote=\"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.

glad i asked you first because as i said the book is not as detail or rather as 'idiot' guide for someone like me.[/quote]

buds:

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:

soomum:

yes! yes! you are so right! she is still get her letter [a] as in aye mixed up with the sound [e] as in /eh/. so i am definitely working the letter names with her still. I thought to ask you the next step (*hint hint*) so i can better prepare myself before i get it wrong again.

Yes Yes.. i got the hint. :oops: :lol:

soomum:

you just gave me a reason to shop!

I'm usually all for DIY where it is easy to be done of course and not too
time consuming, just so that it can encourage other SAHMs to work with
their children at home with limited teaching resources. But there are
certain things like audio CDs that cannot be DIY-ed, unless if you can
sing the songs yourself. :lol:

soomum:

i noticed you like scholastic readers is it?

Not necessarily... but yes Scholastic does offer good books.

soomum:

i actually had bought P&J 1a,b earlier as i thought its time to start her on reading. but after much thought and reading here which resulted in me discovering my gal hadnt know the letter names. Thus my so many questions on what to do after after single sounds. So does it mean i can do the readers with my gal while teaching her the letter names now? before i go shopping for the readers you recommended, should i try out P&J now to see if she likes them?

Yes, go ahead with Peter & Jane. I used them as well with my girls, tho
they didn't go too far as they could read very well way before they were
halfway on P&J. Dun waste what you have. Use them. Sight word readers
can be done simultaneously when learning phonics... no worries. :hugs:

buds:

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

Regards, buds.

soomum:

yeah! montessori way is so much fun! but this mummy here can get pretty result oriented and impatience at times so abit difficult n costly to execute the montessori way.....

I always tell my girls, patience is a virtue... they dislike it when i repeat it
ever so often. :lol: They'd be nodding away... yada yada yada... :frustrated: but i
do hear them telling each other that once in a while. :lol: In fact, there was
once my hubs went sh**! and my DD2 went... \"Tsk.. tsk.. daddy, not in
front of the children! :shock: If it doesn't work, just try again. Geezz dad..
Patience.. \" After which, she gave him a :roll: look and went... \"Patience IS
a virtue you know...\" That was when my husband had his turn doing the
yada yada yada nod.. :laugh:

Take heart that with patience comes inexplicable rewards. Montessori way
of learning has benefitted many children, albeit it may not be the fastest
way to learn... to see results, but it sure is extremely fun and multi-sensory
on top of it being a concrete way of embedding concepts to young children. :celebrate:

soomum:

:oops: wished i had gone for the course b4 i became a mum. Buds, do let me know if you ever have lessons hor. Thanks a zillion!

You know you can have free course here with buds online. :lol: Yes! If i
do offer lessons, you'd be the first i invite okay?

[lil_jade]

Buds,


Thanks for the thorough explanation!

Hahaha, I do have some questions....

From your explanation, RE seemed to be less dependent on fixed materials for lessons (as compared to Montessori which has a repository of devices). Can I also assume that lessons plans are also crafted on the spot in the RE approach? Since children will be responding in unpredictable manners, and the teacher – facilitator will need to think on the spot!

Hence, while I’m thrilled with PCF’s RE approach, I’m wondering if their teachers are quick – witted and creative enough to realise the potential of the child? Not that I can control of course...

Can I make the comment that of the 2, Montessori is more structured, even though both are student – centred?

Frankly, I am more comfortable with Montessori approach but RE is complementary as the learner takes control of not just the speed of learning, but WHAT he learns too. Will be ideal if both are milked for their best features.... to make matters more complicated for you, is Eton School’s query – based approach any different?

On another note, I have also spoken to many of my friends, some who support play – based, student – centred approach like Montessori and RE, others who advocate the conventional thematic approach which has the teacher as the vessel of information and children as quiet docile sponges (preparing them for P1 education). Some caution me about cultural shock to move from play – based approach to the mainstream education structure. I know this topic must have been discussed before, but what is your take on this, based on your observation of your ex – students? You did mention that the “Singaporealised” Montessori now includes worksheets and plenty of assessments. So... does it mean I should also drill my gal with worksheets at home? So she’ll love school but hate mummy...

Hehehe... sorry I have so many questions! But you are really a vessel of knowledge in pre – school teaching and learning pedagogy! If I’m doing a Masters, I will pay you to do my thesis...

Oops, 1 more question! May I know which is the PCF in Sengkang that does RE? I’ve prowled the Net, but PCF does not actually say which one does it.. I know there’s a Radin Mas PCF on the project approach.

Thanks!! :lol: