[Ang Mo Kio/Bishan/Thomson/Toa Payoh] Preschools
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Anyone has comments about MYMCA at bishan branch? :?
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Hi trijoy, try visit this one
http://hislittlelighthouse.webs.com/ -
Hi,
Anybody has any comments on these 2 preschools? Kindly advise. Thanks! -
hello jul04,
a)\tYkidz Montessori (at Toa Payoh, Lorong 6)
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last year, when my daughter turned 2.5, I sent her for once a week Saturday morning enrichment Montessori phonics at Ykdiz, under teacher Lin.
my girl is the active type – she can’t concentrate, likes to run around the class, can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes. She can sit right on top of a table top, swing her two legs, be rowdy, refuse to listen !
But teacher Lin very good. She is firm, knows how to handle kids. Immediately after my first visit, she told me my child needs to resolve some disciplinary issue. Once my child can overcome, then only will my girl be able to sit down properly, co-operate with teacher, listen to teacher, obey teacher, learn things from teacher.
The technique she used /applied was soft and gentle, yet firm. She will first play with my girl, get her warm up first. Every week, she’ll teach my girl how to write her own name, by guiding her right hand to hold a pencil to write. After warming up, then she’ll guide her gently to start the phonics proper curriculum.
After sometime, my daughter can focus, can sit still, can concentrate, for long time. Today, she no longer runs around in class, but stays focused.
In one month’s time, teacher Lin run through to help her revise 26 “a to z” sounds phonetically quickly. If my girl not sure how to pronounce certain alphabet sounds, teacher Lin will point out to me, let me know. Ask me help her revise at home, which I did. This way, I know where exactly is my own child’s weakness / areas for improvement. Important thing is - for maximum benefit to the child, it’s good for teacher and parent to work hand in hand together.
After one month’s revision of “a to z” phonetic sounds, teacher Lin then moved on to start teaching my daughter how to blend 3 characters simple words together. eg: under the Pink scheme Montessori “at” series, my daughter can recognise and read aloud words like fat, cat, sat, mat, oat, pat, hat, rat, tat. She learns by - breaking down the beginning of each sound phonetically. Teacher Lin taught her how to break down. At home, I also revise with her. Now, my girl can read simple complete full sentences slowly like “the fat cat sat on the hat on the mat.”, or “the big, fat cat runs after the rat to nab her.”
Now 2011, after half a year spent at Ykidz, my daughter can read very simple storybooks – those type where got one big picture in the centre, but with few words.
Teacher Lin always encourage her. example, this year her class expanded. Got two younger kids born in 2008 join her for Saturday phonics class. Teacher Lin motivates my girl. She asks my daughter (born in 07) to read aloud to the two younger ones simple storybooks that are phonetically sounded. My girl enjoys doing that, because it boosts up her self image, her self confidence. She is the old child at home. But here, she becomes like a big sister or jie-jie to these 2 younger kids. After she finish reading her best to the 2 younger ones, teacher Lin will encourage the class to clap hands for her. She always beam & smile happily ! She look forward excitedly, whenever teacher Lin asks her to read books to younger children.
for other feedback on Ykidz, kindly refer:-
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15922
b)\tTotsville Montessori (at Bishan)
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Many parents who sent kids to Totsville all give positive, good feedback.
when you talk to Principal Serene, you can sense her warm heart felt sincerity for kids really to benefit, to learn something useful at the end of the day. She loves children ! She is full of energy and passion for young children !
when you talk to her, you can sense that she truly has welfare of the kids at heart – unlike some principal from other schools whom I’ve talked to, that’re money faced. By talking to such pre-school principals, you can sense they lack that touch of sincerity.
teacher Serene is patient, kind. All the kids love teacher Serene!
the native Chinese teacher teaching kids Chinese - also very good.
everyday, kids sing Chinese songs happily !
there are also parents from Malaysia, Germany (Berlin), China, Thailand, Philippines, other countries who send their kids here to Totsville, during school holidays for full day programme.
last year, I sent my child for playgroup 2 hrs. So I observed what’s happening at Totsville.
come Saturday weekend, Totsville also got Montessori Phonics and comprehensive Maths enrichment programme. School fees very reasonable - for one and half hours duration. Call up Totsville to inquire !
c)\tNewton kindergarten
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It’s rumoured that ministers send their grandchildren to this kindergarten.
Because got strong roots in Chinese, prepare kids well for higher Chinese Primary 1, overall curriculum from Nursery onwards is academic.
Yes, arrangement very convenient !
I stay in the East.
my girl is in the PM session.
now, school bus conveniently reach my house morning 9.55 am to fetch her for enrichment class (Creative Art, Speech & drama), starting 10.15 am. All enrichment class lasts one hr duration, from 10.15 am – 11.15 am.
after enrichment lesson ends, then 4 hrs kindergarten programme take over. starts from 11.45 am – 3.45 pm school dismissal daily.
school bus brings her home right to the doorstep, 4.45 pm.
Come heavy rain or sunshine, school bus brings her to school on the dot Mon - Fri, fetch her home in time for dinner.
note:
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If yr child attends regular AM session, then it’s other way round.
ie. enrichment starts in the afternoon, AFTER the regular AM school dismissal. -
hi jul04,
Newton kindergarten hours
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Monday to Friday
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1st session : 8:30 am to 12:30 am (4 hrs)
2nd session : 11:45 am to 3:45 pm
wef 2011 - all Nursery, K1, K2 classes compulsory 4 hrs.
only Pre-nursery Playgroup - can choose 3 or 4 hrs.
Admission
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admission is governed by the age stipulated by Ministry of Education.
•Pre-nursery Playgroup :\tYear that the child turns 3
•Nursery\t :\tYear that the child turns 4
•Kindergarten 1\t:\tYear that the child turns 5
•Kindergarten 2\t:\tYear that the child turns 6
one time registration fees \t\t$ 50
one time refundable deposit \t\t$ 200
Sportball games\t per term \t\t$ 90
miscellaneous fees \t per term\t\t$ 80
school fees per term for:-
================
a) Nursery, K1, K2 (4 hrs)\t\t$ 875
English & Chinese readers per year\t$ 90
subtotal\t\t\t\t$ 1185
add 7% GST\t\t\t$ 82.95
Total\t\t\t\t$ 1267.95
\t
b) Playgroup pre-nursery (4 hrs) \t$ 1100
subtotal\t\t\t\t$ 1320
add 7% GST\t\t\t$ 92.40
Total\t\t\t\t$ 1412.40
c) Playgroup pre-nursery (3 hrs) \t\t$ 800
subtotal\t\t\t\t$ 1020
add 7% GST\t\t\t$ 71.40
Total\t\t\t\t$ 1091.40 -
Hi green bean,
My boy also attended Totsville last yr. I must say Serene is a very energetic teacher, and she knows how to handle kids...my boy cried the first time he went to school, but after two weeks there, he stopped crying and even enjoyed going to school.
I find that Newton is very good also. But the sch fee is quite high.
I think we have OT. Hahah... -
greenbean2011:
hello jul04,
a)\tYkidz Montessori (at Toa Payoh, Lorong 6)
============
last year, when my daughter turned 2.5, I sent her for once a week Saturday morning enrichment Montessori phonics at Ykdiz, under teacher Lin.
b)\tTotsville Montessori (at Bishan)
=============
last year, I sent my child for playgroup 2 hrs. So I observed what’s happening at Totsville.
Comparing YKidz & Totsville, what are your personal thoughts? It's seldom that I encounter a parent who has experience with both of them.
You sent your gal both to Totsville & YKidz? Meaning YKidz for weekend Phonics and Totsville for daily weekday playgroup? Out of curiosity, why not stick to either YKidz or Totsville for both the weekday playgroup & weekend Phonics?
Yeah I called up & talked to Serene. She sounds very patient, explaining the concept of Montessori to me.. telling me the programme for the weekend parent-&-child class, reassuring me that I can call up for a trial anytime etc. Very nice lady indeed! I hope all the teachers in Totsville are nice
As for YKidz, I didn't get to speak much to Yukai. She sounded nice too. I wonder if all Montessori teachers/administrators all sound nice? I'm a bit scared coz sometimes the frontline person sounds very nice, everything also ok, then the class itself in reality is not ok! :shock: -
smurf:
Your boy also went to Totsville? For the daily playgroup or weekend? So you switched your boy from Totsville to MMK?Hi green bean,
My boy also attended Totsville last yr. I must say Serene is a very energetic teacher, and she knows how to handle kids...my boy cried the first time he went to school, but after two weeks there, he stopped crying and even enjoyed going to school.
I find that Newton is very good also. But the sch fee is quite high.
I'm asking coz I'm thinking abt a Montessori playgroup then perhaps pre-nursery first, then switch to a kindy for Nursery onwards. Dunno if there's adjustment problems? -
greenbean2011:
Wah.. does your gal need to nap? What time does she wake up? If AM session then PM enrichment, or vice versa, the child has no time to nap liao! How??? My boy needs to nap 2 short naps a day lehhi jul04,
Newton kindergarten hours
=================
Monday to Friday
===========
1st session : 8:30 am to 12:30 am (4 hrs)
2nd session : 11:45 am to 3:45 pm
wef 2011 - all Nursery, K1, K2 classes compulsory 4 hrs.
only Pre-nursery Playgroup - can choose 3 or 4 hrs. greenbean2011:
Er.. how do you get the subtotal? I notice it's always $220 more than the fees alone? Kindy is really not cheap hor? Still got what materials fee, school uniform, excursion fee, etc.. :!:one time registration fees \t\t$ 50
one time refundable deposit \t\t$ 200
Sportball games\t per term \t\t$ 90
miscellaneous fees \t per term\t\t$ 80
school fees per term for:-
================
a) Nursery, K1, K2 (4 hrs)\t\t$ 875
English & Chinese readers per year\t$ 90
subtotal\t\t\t\t$ 1185
add 7% GST\t\t\t$ 82.95
Total\t\t\t\t$ 1267.95
\t
b) Playgroup pre-nursery (4 hrs) \t$ 1100
subtotal\t\t\t\t$ 1320
add 7% GST\t\t\t$ 92.40
Total\t\t\t\t$ 1412.40
c) Playgroup pre-nursery (3 hrs) \t\t$ 800
subtotal\t\t\t\t$ 1020
add 7% GST\t\t\t$ 71.40
Total\t\t\t\t$ 1091.40
Btw if it's convenient, can I ask where you stay & how much is the school bus cost? It seems like only 15min journey to sch but 1h journey back home :? -
hello smuf / jul04,
feedback in general is that kids from Montessori programme tend to read better, tend to read earlier - compared to kids elsewhere. With the exception of one preschool with the green uniform – Kinderland !
Kinderland has its own unique in-house Phonics.
It is not Letterland, not Zoo, not Jolly phonics.
Most Kinderland kids read pretty well by the time they finish K2, using their own in house Phonics.
before I chose Totsville, I visited quite a number of Montessori pre-schools for Pre-nursery. Some montessori principals I spoke to - put me off.
i)\t
note, nowadays there are a number of Montessori preschools out there in the market. Why? Because everyone is jumping onto the band wagon to make money out of preschool kids, out of the Montessori programme. Some are not truly full fledged Montessori, others are like half mixed. Yes! They put up the signboard claiming that they are a Montessori pre-school. But in actual fact when you go in and see /observe for yourself, it’s not true. So be careful !
ii)\t
from the way they answer my qns, I sense that some Montessori principals I spoke to are money faced. They only interested in $ at the end of the day, in how many number of kids they can possibly enrol in their school ? After all, they also want to make money out of kindergarten education. At the end of they day, they are interested only in the number and $. They lack this sincerity human touch, which is important. They are not really genuine keen in the individual welfare of the child …. whether your child is truly learning something at the end of the day or not. So jul04, be very careful when you go around scouting one for yr child.
To them, they think - never mind if you not keen in my school, it’s all right. My school so popular ! I got a long list of other parents waiting, including angmo parents. So if you not keen, never mind, next please …. this kind of mentality.
iii)\tsome Montessori facilities not conducive.
Due to lack of space, in some preschools, there is no proper wall partition. They just use some wooden plank to divide / section / partition out the Nursery group from the Kindergarten group.
So when I stand inside the Nursery group partition talking to the Principal asking her qns, I can literally hear teacher just right across the next partition - Kindergarten group teaching the class, almost shouting at the top of her voice, just to make herself heard.
Imagine if I’m the child inside the Nursery group - I’ll have problem listening to my own Nursery teacher teaching me. And it’s so distracting to hear another teacher’s voice right across the next partition at the same time teaching in a loud voice, raising her voice, to another group of students. Concurrently at the same time once lessons start in the two different groups !
Worse still, children at toddler age like to run around, scream, play, fight over toys, during break time running around you catch me, I catch you back… making so much noise ! So when I stand and talk to the Principal asking her qns … because everywhere, everyone is so noisy … I got no choice but forced to raise my voice, almost shouting aloud to the Principal to ask qns…. just to make myself be heard.
Another thing is… hygiene. There is this Montessori preschool I visited where the kitchen is located just right beside the children’s toilet. I was wondering … where got people arrange areas like that. But yes, the kitchen where they used to cook food, cut ingredients, chopping board … is just right beside the toilet. Imagine the toilet smell floating into the kitchen when the wind blows, as the kitchen chef cook food for kids.
Yet the Principal is self defensive, in the way she answer qns. Keep claiming how good, how comprehensive her Montessori curriculum is. …
=========================
But when I went Totsville, it’s very different. The whole environment gives me a sense of warmth, radiance, cheer, brightness, a sense of peace. The whole place is brightly lit up and cheery, with proper air ventilation circulating.
Very early in the morning before 9 am, Totsville disinfect the Montessori educational toys, as children share to use same toys in learning.
The very first time I met principal Serene at Totsville, I was very touched by her sincerity - to truly want kids benefit learning. I had a very good impression of her, right from the start. She is a nice, friendly, amiable lady !
I was also very impressed by her abundantful source of energy, teaching kids. Can tell that she has a passion looking after toddlers. Very seldom do you come across principal like her. My husband who visited the premises with me also commented indeed, it’s hard to find pre-school principal like Serene nowadays. He said if our daughter were to go Totsville, make sure Serene is the one teaching her.
Last year, when my daughter first went Totsville for Playgroup 2 hrs, she cried very badly, separation anxiety. The way she screamed her lungs out at the top of her voice with all her might when she saw me leave… is heart wrenching. But still, I have to let go !
But teacher Serene carried her in her arms, gently soothed her, calmed her down, cheered her up. Serene amazingly has a way with kids! After 5 minutes, my girl stopped crying. After that, my girl sat down on the floor quietly, and began to stack up the block of educational toys, one by one. After 3 weeks there, my daughter told me – Mommy, I love teacher Serene very, very much !
Many parents I spoke to at Totsville also like teacher Serene very much. She is a serene, helpful, kind lady! Indeed, the name suits her well. As parents chit chat, we parents feel happy that our children are in her good hands.
Besides teacher Serene, other teachers at Totsville are also very caring, patient, loving towards kids. In general, they are all fine ! The Chinese Lao Si from China has > 15 years of experience teaching toddlers Chinese. She is also good !
Many kids spent Pre-nursery, Nursery, K1 at Totsville montessori. As they grow older, however some parents switch their children to Marymount kindergarten, plus other church kindergarten. But often, these same children will come back Totsville during Saturday weekend for enrichment lessons in Phonics, Mathematics, plus other programmes that prepare them for Primary 1.
Reason why some parents switch from Totsville to Marymount kindergarten is because …. as child grows older more mature, besides academic, they also want their kids to focus on another crucial aspect …. Character moral education.
Character is far more important than academics. What’s the point of raising a child that can score a string of straight As in university exam, but rotten character ?
In the recent article where this immoral young man studying in Cambridge on MOE scholarship being revoked / expelled … because he was caught filming videos on toddlers, teenages having sex issues, dabble with child pornography. It pains his parents’ heart so much the shame they bear… they had to sell the 3 room flat just to pay back MOE scholarship …. read here:-
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1094360/1/.html
Marymount is a loving, conducive environment, for kids to grow up in. They’ve good character education to groom up a child. Another incentive is …..Marymount has huge, big, sprawling open air space field for kids to roam around, to play sand play, etc. Totsville unfortunately, don’t have. If you go Marymount, if you ever find time to chit chat with parents, don’t be surprised that they ever send their kids to Totsville before !
I stay in the East. I am a Methodist by faith, not Catholic. So I did not choose mmk.
Sharing at Totsville
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a)Playgroup
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different month, they have different theme.
eg: this month can be on creepy crawlies of the rain forest.
Kids will be exposed to the names of the creepy crawlies found in rain forest. They will also teach mammals, reptiles, insects as well as layers of the rainforest.
The daily Phonics and Maths sessions enable kids to recognize letter sounds and numerals.
for kids aged 2 to 3 in the playgroup - Zoo phonics is used to teach kids the 26 “a to z” pronounciation.
Only when kids master all the 26 sounds phonetically, or show readiness to learn more, then they move kids onto next stage – blending of 3 characters words under the Pink Scheme Montessori phonics methodology. eg: under “at” pink series will be fat, cat, sat, rat, mat, hat, oat, tat, pat.
They also work on their pre-writing skills.
b)Nursery to K1
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the kids learn at their own pace, from beginning consonants to blending sounds, and from recognizing numerals to addition and subtraction.
For phonics, they move on from Pink scheme to Blue scheme, and Green scheme.
They also continue working on their writing skills.
c)K2
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K2 children will do comprehension, grammar and vocabulary for language. They also do word problems, addition, subtraction and decimal system for Mathematics.
d)Mandarin
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The Playgroup children are exposed to Chinese through story telling, nursery rhymes and games.
As for Workgroup children, besides above activities, they also learn the basic strokes of the Chinese characters, character word recognition, and writing of Chinese characters.
Nursery to K2 children are now able to recite rhymes independently. They are also able to recognize commonly used characters.
K2 kids also get exposed to han yu pin yin, sentence construction and simple comprehension passages.
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