Hong Wen

[SAHM_TAN]

hquek:

SAHM_TAN:

Hi hquek,


To prepare for my next yr budget for P1 purchases, could you give a rough estimate of how much would need to spend on things such as school books and uniforms, excluding school bag and shoes?

Thanks

School uniform is about $20 per set (top and bottom) - beauty of HWS is that there is no additional PE uniform (the standard uni IS the PE uni also).

Books I think about $160 easy, and seeing the 2009 booklist (from HWS web), there ARE some price increments from 2009 to 2010 - so you may want to factor that in 2011. The bookshop aunty was very straight - told me in the face that optional things dunnid to buy - so I skipped all that. :lol:

Hmmmmm......I wonder do you need to bring a change of uniform for them on days that they have PE, perspiration after PE?

The aunty understands the dilemma of parents hahaha. With the price of paper increasing coupling with factors, the price of the books will increase next yr. I just that the GST don't change for a few more yrs.

[hquek]

SAHM_TAN:

Hmmmmm......I wonder do you need to bring a change of uniform for them on days that they have PE, perspiration after PE?

The aunty understands the dilemma of parents hahaha. With the price of paper increasing coupling with factors, the price of the books will increase next yr. I just that the GST don't change for a few more yrs.

Their clothes is the dri-weave type (think adidas), so I think it'll be fairly ok. With the books and all (I tried heaving the whole set of books for 1 term - 1A only hor, and it WAS heavy to me).

Lucky you...elections up ahead, I honestly don't think it will change this/next year - then again, this is only my guess.

[SAHM_TAN]

hquek:

SAHM_TAN:

Hmmmmm......I wonder do you need to bring a change of uniform for them on days that they have PE, perspiration after PE?

The aunty understands the dilemma of parents hahaha. With the price of paper increasing coupling with factors, the price of the books will increase next yr. I just that the GST don't change for a few more yrs.

Their clothes is the dri-weave type (think adidas), so I think it'll be fairly ok. With the books and all (I tried heaving the whole set of books for 1 term - 1A only hor, and it WAS heavy to me).

Lucky you...elections up ahead, I honestly don't think it will change this/next year - then again, this is only my guess.

If take school bus, once in school should not be lugging the bag around so might not be too torturous.....Do u think ergo bags would help?

[hquek]

SAHM_TAN:

If take school bus, once in school should not be lugging the bag around so might not be too torturous.....Do u think ergo bags would help?

Within school also mah. I think HWS helps in some ways. there are some readers that I paid for, these will be kept by teacher and issued out to kids periodically (think after they are done with the book).

[hquek]

SAHM_Tan,


Since you’re into reading, may I introduce to you Jim Trelease’s "The Read Aloud Handbook". Another ksp mummy told me about this and I borrowed a copy from library (btw, you probably have to reserve it becos most copies are in repository storage).

This author advocates reading to kids - starting from day of birth to even teen years. He sets out good reasons why reading aloud to our kids is good, and why we shouldn’t stop even when our kids are able to read independently. Also, he advises practical modes on reading aloud (ok, I’m still getting to there). Last bit supposed to contain recommended books.

I am only sad I’ve come across this book only now - but better late than never.

And reason why I’m posting this is here becos I see HWS has silent reading before the school starts. I guess this is a good way forward. I’m not sure how they conduct reading activities, but always think that it’s certainly good to read a lot.

[SAHM_TAN]

hquek:

SAHM_Tan,


Since you're into reading, may I introduce to you Jim Trelease's \"The Read Aloud Handbook\". Another ksp mummy told me about this and I borrowed a copy from library (btw, you probably have to reserve it becos most copies are in repository storage).

This author advocates reading to kids - starting from day of birth to even teen years. He sets out good reasons why reading aloud to our kids is good, and why we shouldn't stop even when our kids are able to read independently. Also, he advises practical modes on reading aloud (ok, I'm still getting to there). Last bit supposed to contain recommended books.

I am only sad I've come across this book only now - but better late than never.

And reason why I'm posting this is here becos I see HWS has silent reading before the school starts. I guess this is a good way forward. I'm not sure how they conduct reading activities, but always think that it's certainly good to read a lot.

Thanks for the recommendation. Will check it out while waiting for my copy of 四五快读 from dang dang. Will read the book to learn reading aloud techniques. Now I'm just doing it as a bonding activity

Don't worry, it's true, it's never too late, the brain is an amazing organ.

I've been reading to my kids since they are toddlers, well, my son's still a toddler but not every night and not always successful. But it gets easier as they get older as they become more interested in books. My DD1 once made me read the SAME book to her every night for a week.

For the silent reading at HWS, does the school provide the reading material?

[hquek]

SAHM_TAN:

Thanks for the recommendation. Will check it out while waiting for my copy of 四五快读 from dang dang. Will read the book to learn reading aloud techniques. Now I'm just doing it as a bonding activity


Don't worry, it's true, it's never too late, the brain is an amazing organ.

I've been reading to my kids since they are toddlers, well, my son's still a toddler but not every night and not always successful. But it gets easier as they get older as they become more interested in books. My DD1 once made me read the SAME book to her every night for a week.

For the silent reading at HWS, does the school provide the reading material?

Kids are very different. DS1 will never want to re-read a book - no matter how much he liked it. He's like me in this respect. DS2 may ask for the same book but not often.

I try to incorporate both chinese and english reading daily. For DS1 I have been failing in that I only read chinese books to him and leave him to read his own english books. I know now this is not correct (I know he wants me to read english books to him too - shall start reading classics to him tonight).

I see from the HWS letter that kids are supposed to bring their own books - leaving me again to ponder WHICH book to bring, thick or thin types (I very 'boh eng' to think about these things). hee hee.

BTW, update on colour pencils. I bought Pentel 12-colour set at $2.50 during the Popular bookfest. So that's settled - happy like a bird at this excellent price.

[SAHM_TAN]

hquek:

Kids are very different. DS1 will never want to re-read a book - no matter how much he liked it. He's like me in this respect. DS2 may ask for the same book but not often.

I try to incorporate both chinese and english reading daily. For DS1 I have been failing in that I only read chinese books to him and leave him to read his own english books. I know now this is not correct (I know he wants me to read english books to him too - shall start reading classics to him tonight).

I see from the HWS letter that kids are supposed to bring their own books - leaving me again to ponder WHICH book to bring, thick or thin types (I very 'boh eng' to think about these things). hee hee.

BTW, update on colour pencils. I bought Pentel 12-colour set at $2.50 during the Popular bookfest. So that's settled - happy like a bird at this excellent price.

That's a bargain price. Did you buy more than 1 box?

Hmmm....seems like even during the bookfest the children chinese books that I'm interested in, dang dang's price still beat their price.....

Right now my DS seems to be interested in stories about poo, lucky I have a couple at home. So he will get me to read them to him when he's in the mood.

Well if you don't want to prepare 5 books for him per wk, then maybe a thicker book will be better but then it will be a heavier load. Maybe the best way is just to let him select the books he wants to read. Since the objective is for him to read the book regardless of the book's weight.

I'm counting down when school starts again. The home is a market place with 3 kids. Plus baby not sleeping through the night, I really need my afternoon nap with baby. I'm looking more and more like a panda :lol: It's time like this that I wish the older kids still nap. Well I just have to endure for 3 more wks and I can have my afternoon conversation with Mr Zhou again.

[hquek]

SAHM_TAN:

That's a bargain price. Did you buy more than 1 box?

Hmmm....seems like even during the bookfest the children chinese books that I'm interested in, dang dang's price still beat their price.....

Right now my DS seems to be interested in stories about poo, lucky I have a couple at home. So he will get me to read them to him when he's in the mood.

:oops: yah, I got 2 boxes, plus 1 box of 24-colour at $4.80. Couldn't resist when I saw another lady scooping more than 10 boxes.

Well, sorry to say, but during bookfest, I grabbed some 杨红樱 books at $4 each - this was during her book signing session (was just lucky to be there), a one time special. This is very close to the retail price printed at the backcover - remember for dangdang, we have to incur transport.

Sorry is cos I wish there could be way we find out BEFORE the event. So next time I'll watch out for the book signing events and see if there is anything that interests me.

For poo book, maybe you can try the library - look for Susan E Goodman's books. \"Gee Whiz, it's all about pee\" and \"the truth about poop\". Extremely fun and informative at the same time. I liked it so much I went and bought the books.

http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+11611+3002+12794809+7+0

http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+11611+3002+12334367+12+0

[SAHM_TAN]

hquek:

SAHM_TAN:

That's a bargain price. Did you buy more than 1 box?

Hmmm....seems like even during the bookfest the children chinese books that I'm interested in, dang dang's price still beat their price.....

Right now my DS seems to be interested in stories about poo, lucky I have a couple at home. So he will get me to read them to him when he's in the mood.

:oops: yah, I got 2 boxes, plus 1 box of 24-colour at $4.80. Couldn't resist when I saw another lady scooping more than 10 boxes.

Well, sorry to say, but during bookfest, I grabbed some 杨红樱 books at $4 each - this was during her book signing session (was just lucky to be there), a one time special. This is very close to the retail price printed at the backcover - remember for dangdang, we have to incur transport.

Sorry is cos I wish there could be way we find out BEFORE the event. So next time I'll watch out for the book signing events and see if there is anything that interests me.

For poo book, maybe you can try the library - look for Susan E Goodman's books. \"Gee Whiz, it's all about pee\" and \"the truth about poop\". Extremely fun and informative at the same time. I liked it so much I went and bought the books.

http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+11611+3002+12794809+7+0

http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+11611+3002+12334367+12+0

Wow 10 boxes!!! Wonder if her kids draw everyday.

Ya, for the books that I'm interested in, I factor in the transport fare, still cheaper at dang dang.

You must visit the bookfest website, http://www.bookfestsingapore.com/. It list all the special events and daily special low price items.

Looks like you manage to find some great bargains at the bookfest.

Thanks for the recommendations, will check them out when the library notify me to collect the reading aloud handbook