All About Montessori

[smurf]

Hi toddles,


I thought Montessori has their own set of phonics, why did yours use zoo phonics? :?

[buds]

smurf:

Thanks Buds for the insight.


While maths is solid, I thought Abacus would be better? Or montesori has abacus? :?

Montessori Math offers concrete-styled learning where children get to
manipulate concrete materials to give impression to the numbers that
they see and must count to understand the maths operations better.
Children will learn to love Math and understand that it is not just abt
learning or knowing the numbers. Understanding math concepts has
never been easier..

Abacus allows children to count up to thousands extremely fast for one.
Montessori has golden beads to count in similar abacus stlyled counting
but paced up and not about speed counting but more to concrete
understanding of math operations.

Even the primary school textbooks use the Montessori styled method.
My DDs school teachers have borrowed my beads before to show to
the children. The linking cubes are also used for children to
visualize what they're counting in P1 classes. These are available
at Growing Fun.

Better or not, it depends on how receptive your DS is to either methods.
Not one method works for all. Abacus lessons will focus only on the
calculation part. It may not cover the other math concepts that are
covered in Montessori Math... like fractions, graphs, money... (etc)

[buds]

foreverj:

hi there, buds! saw this new montessori enrichmt centre near dd's cc. finally a good montessori centre nearby! do u tink i shld give it a shot? as in, is it worth spending the $? btw, its cs montessori. i tink they only do enrichment.

Hi foreverj, you're talking about the Bt Timah Plaza outlet issit?
If yes, that outlet is relatively spanking new... even i have yet
to go recce. :lol: I went before they officially opened so no one
was around then. As for giving it a shot, what do you intend to
send your DD there for? I'm assuming it is for the Phonics and
Math? I dunno how much they are charging for their enrichmt
programmes and do not personally know their teachers; hence
i'm not able to say whether it is worth spending the $. As for CS,
one thing you should check on is how big the group is for Phonics
and Math enrichment lessons and what age range they take in for
such classes... i've gone to one Montessori ctr and they take in 2yrs
old students and put them together with the 5 and 6 year olds to do
a one hour lesson! :!: The teacher obviously couldn't cope... but then
again it is not the teacher's fault when it comes to enrolment issit?

I personally do not think it is to the children's advantage having to work
with the teacher and so many other children with varying age groups in
a one hour lesson...

So that's something you can check out with them... dunno if this helps. :oops:

[toddles]

smurf:

Hi toddles,


I thought Montessori has their own set of phonics, why did yours use zoo phonics? :?

I dunno, but zoophonics incorporates songs, animals and actions which seem like a fun way to learn. at no extra charge so I'm not complaining.

[foreverj]

oh, its not the bt timah branch. the new one i was talkg abt is at nex. i m exploring the math part only as dd reads well. i've also read that children's ability to understand and grasp math is best at age 5, hence seriously beginning to think abt it now. but given its such a new centre, not sure hw many classes they r starting. noted your points and wil check with them. many thanks!

[faithgurl]

foreverj:

buds:

Hi foreverj, you're talking about the Bt Timah Plaza outlet issit?

If yes, that outlet is relatively spanking new... even i have yet
to go recce. :lol: I went before they officially opened so no one
was around then. As for giving it a shot, what do you intend to
send your DD there for? I'm assuming it is for the Phonics and
Math? I dunno how much they are charging for their enrichmt
programmes and do not personally know their teachers; hence
i'm not able to say whether it is worth spending the $. As for CS,
one thing you should check on is how big the group is for Phonics
and Math enrichment lessons and what age range they take in for
such classes... i've gone to one Montessori ctr and they take in 2yrs
old students and put them together with the 5 and 6 year olds to do
a one hour lesson! :!: The teacher obviously couldn't cope... but then
again it is not the teacher's fault when it comes to enrolment issit?

I personally do not think it is to the children's advantage having to work
with the teacher and so many other children with varying age groups in
a one hour lesson...

So that's something you can check out with them... dunno if this helps. :oops:

oh, its not the bt timah branch. the new one i was talkg abt is at nex. i m exploring the math part only as dd reads well. i've also read that children's ability to understand and grasp math is best at age 5, hence seriously beginning to think abt it now. but given its such a new centre, not sure hw many classes they r starting. noted your points and wil check with them. many thanks!

Hi foreverj,

Have u drop by CS at Nex? How's the environment & the teachers over there?

[buds]

foreverj:

oh, its not the bt timah branch. the new one i was talkg abt is at nex.

Oh ok.. i see.. i seem to recall you're residing in Bt Timah area.. :oops:

foreverj:

i m exploring the math part only as dd reads well.

I also recall your dd can read fine from her Pat's centre.

foreverj:

i've also read that children's ability to understand and grasp math is best at age 5, hence seriously beginning to think abt it now.

That's why some centres only accept children at age 4.5 yrs and above
for Montessori Math classes. Math concepts are better grasped when the
child is slightly older & more mature as compared to Phonics & with the
many manipulatives to work with for the different math concepts, it
requires children to have longer attention span. We do simple math
introduction for the younger playgroup programme as well and with
consistent reinforcement and constant work with the materials.

foreverj:

but given its such a new centre, not sure hw many classes they r starting. noted your points and wil check with them. many thanks!

Do check it out and yes, feel free to get back here and update us with
your recce. :celebrate: for your dd from auntie buds.

[foreverj]

hi there, faithgurl,


sorry i’ve not checked yet. the other time when i was there, it was early morning so the branch has not opened. probably call them during office hrs.

[foreverj]

buds:

foreverj:

oh, its not the bt timah branch. the new one i was talkg abt is at nex.

Oh ok.. i see.. i seem to recall you're residing in Bt Timah area.. :oops:

foreverj:

i m exploring the math part only as dd reads well.

I also recall your dd can read fine from her Pat's centre.

foreverj:

i've also read that children's ability to understand and grasp math is best at age 5, hence seriously beginning to think abt it now.

That's why some centres only accept children at age 4.5 yrs and above
for Montessori Math classes. Math concepts are better grasped when the
child is slightly older & more mature as compared to Phonics & with the
many manipulatives to work with for the different math concepts, it
requires children to have longer attention span. We do simple math
introduction for the younger playgroup programme as well and with
consistent reinforcement and constant work with the materials.

foreverj:

but given its such a new centre, not sure hw many classes they r starting. noted your points and wil check with them. many thanks!

Do check it out and yes, feel free to get back here and update us with
your recce. :celebrate: for your dd from auntie buds.

hehe, actually her reading is taught by moi. no school can teach the kids to read at age of 2 or 3 la...

btw, when u graduate to \"auntie\" status huh? :?

[smurf]

Hi Buds,


Nice to hear from u!

Thanks for the insights!

I dropped by a Montessori sch, and I was very surprised to know and understand that the standard (academic part) is quite high. IMHO, it is higher than some kindergarten out there. The children at k2 are able to write English compo. And Chinese sentences by themselves. I didn't expect that, because my impression of a Montessori sch were all about playing with the materials, etc. Hee. See lah, I know nothing about Montessori. :oops:

The kids learn 1 alphabet sound a week, and the curriculum is very structured and planned. But while I was there, I saw 1 class not doing anything leh, and teachers were sitting around also not doing anything. I think because it was lunch time so they hang out waiting for lunch to be served.
If not for the high fee, I would have promptly put ds2 there.