Learn thru play or academic?

[hihikitty]

I would think for up to K2, building the child interest in the subject is important. Learning through play also help build the child other skills. Learning through play would be a better strategy.


However, in SG environment, its probably good to gradually accustom the kids with more academic learning starting K2. When my daughter goes into P1 she got a culture shock. Learning and classroom culture is so different from a pre-school days.

[happydaddy]

hihikitty:

I would think for up to K2, building the child interest in the subject is important. Learning through play also help build the child other skills. Learning through play would be a better strategy.


However, in SG environment, its probably good to gradually accustom the kids with more academic learning starting K2. When my daughter goes into P1 she got a culture shock. Learning and classroom culture is so different from a pre-school days.

I strongly believe learning thru play is a flop. Imagine, if you dun focus on academic, you will have a hard time asking yr kids to sit down and study or do their homework. The attention span is very short....

[Yong HL]

happydaddy:

hihikitty:

I would think for up to K2, building the child interest in the subject is important. Learning through play also help build the child other skills. Learning through play would be a better strategy.


However, in SG environment, its probably good to gradually accustom the kids with more academic learning starting K2. When my daughter goes into P1 she got a culture shock. Learning and classroom culture is so different from a pre-school days.

I strongly believe learning thru play is a flop. Imagine, if you dun focus on academic, you will have a hard time asking yr kids to sit down and study or do their homework. The attention span is very short....

Agree with hihikitty & happydaddy, but i am more kiasu - better send kids to academic based curriculum from K1 onwards. My daughter was previously from a kindergarten focusing not so much on p1 preparation. She didnt learn han yu pin yin in school and the math/english are really easy. Good thing i sent her for enrichment class for chinese while the other 2 subjects i taught myself.. Now at least she can handle 1st term of P1 else i think i will

[CMF]

shn:

?... anyone whom had send kids to learn thru play like ju Gabriel, shaw , chiltern, ossdesy, would like to share your views when your kids entered p1??? Thanks

My DS attended one of the above stated kidney - \"learning thru play\". Glad to share that he coped extremely well at P1. Excelled academically and socially had no problems managing & settling in too. Heard similar instances of his K2 classmates who went on to different primary schools.

Agree that his kindy curriculum was skewed towards \"learning thru play\", however I found it was also thorough enough to encompass the academic aspects towards preparing for P1. What I especially liked in the curriculum was the building of the kids' skills & confidence in speaking well and articulating their thoughts etc. There was a lot of emphasis on independence, interacting with others etc, which I believe served the kids well in their new primary school environment.

At the end of the day, I guess a lot also depends on the temperament of each individual child, and what sort of learning environment will bring out the best in him/her. For my DS I would say the \"learning thru play\" curriculum suited him v well.

[KSP]

I sent my dd to a academic based private pre-school where they have spelling, project based work and class presentation etc during K1/K2. My dd can cope with her P1/P2 work with no problem. With the current education system in SG and most parents’ mindset, going to P1 is no longer to learn from scratch and gets marginal marks but to score with flying colours!!!


Building a strong foundation during K1/K2 is very important to prepare them for P1/P2. When they can do well during P1/P2 they feel motivated and a sense of achievement. This motivation is priceless and critical when they move up further. I hope this motivation will continue in her upper primary.

I don’t see any reason why we should leave this to chance and play catch up later on. A child may be demotivated because of lack of preparation and this might lead to lose of interest in school work.

[Darkcoco]

KSP:

I sent my dd to a academic based private pre-school where they have spelling, project based work and class presentation etc during K1/K2. My dd can cope with her P1/P2 work with no problem. With the current education system in SG and most parents' mindset, going to P1 is no longer to learn from scratch and gets marginal marks but to score with flying colours!!!


Building a strong foundation during K1/K2 is very important to prepare them for P1/P2. When they can do well during P1/P2 they feel motivated and a sense of achievement. This motivation is priceless and critical when they move up further. I hope this motivation will continue in her upper primary.

I don't see any reason why we should leave this to chance and play catch up later on. A child may be demotivated because of lack of preparation and this might lead to lose of interest in school work.

Hello KaisuGrand MasterII,

Wouls you mind to share which preschool did your children went? Beceause I am facing problem finding a well-balanced preschool.

Appreciate it.

[Imp75]

I am not sure if preschool is a major contributor to kids coping well in P1. I had this conversation with my hubby several years ago when my gal was in PCF and there was no homework, no projects, no feedback and I don’t even know what she learned or did. We discussed about changing preschools like what all kiasu parents would have thought of but due to convenience (maybe we are not so kiasu after all) we decided to continue her in PCF but we made sure she had enrichments like phonics and Chinese. we also made her read voraciously. Now that she just started P1 in CFS, I am glad to see that she can do her maths without coaching and English spelling with one try. although she is not as good in Chinese, that is within my expectations because of our environment. What I am trying to say is, preschool is not all that matters. A lot of how kids are coping in P1 is also dependent on how attentive they are in class and whether they can understand or absorb what the teacher taught?

[shn]

Imp75:

I am not sure if preschool is a major contributor to kids coping well in P1. I had this conversation with my hubby several years ago when my gal was in PCF and there was no homework, no projects, no feedback and I don't even know what she learned or did. We discussed about changing preschools like what all kiasu parents would have thought of but due to convenience (maybe we are not so kiasu after all) we decided to continue her in PCF but we made sure she had enrichments like phonics and Chinese. we also made her read voraciously. Now that she just started P1 in CFS, I am glad to see that she can do her maths without coaching and English spelling with one try. although she is not as good in Chinese, that is within my expectations because of our environment. What I am trying to say is, preschool is not all that matters. A lot of how kids are coping in P1 is also dependent on how attentive they are in class and whether they can understand or absorb what the teacher taught?

I had jus discuss with my fren whom is a teacher in primary
School ! According to her, she says that kids grad from PCF,
St Hilda / Bethesda / other strong academic base kids really
Can cope better in P1! They can understand what the primary
School teacher will expect them to do ! While those learn thru
Play can't handle it as well as those from strong academic base!
But learn thru play are better in verbal, presentation, dare to speak type.
As p1 &2 exam includes both written work as well as speaking,
So both are also important now! But presentation only takes
20%[ depending on diff schools] But in long term, they are equally good!

[Darkcoco]

shn:

Imp75:

I am not sure if preschool is a major contributor to kids coping well in P1. I had this conversation with my hubby several years ago when my gal was in PCF and there was no homework, no projects, no feedback and I don't even know what she learned or did. We discussed about changing preschools like what all kiasu parents would have thought of but due to convenience (maybe we are not so kiasu after all) we decided to continue her in PCF but we made sure she had enrichments like phonics and Chinese. we also made her read voraciously. Now that she just started P1 in CFS, I am glad to see that she can do her maths without coaching and English spelling with one try. although she is not as good in Chinese, that is within my expectations because of our environment. What I am trying to say is, preschool is not all that matters. A lot of how kids are coping in P1 is also dependent on how attentive they are in class and whether they can understand or absorb what the teacher taught?

I had jus discuss with my fren whom is a teacher in primary
School ! According to her, she says that kids grad from PCF,
St Hilda / Bethesda / other strong academic base kids really
Can cope better in P1! They can understand what the primary
School teacher will expect them to do ! While those learn thru
Play can't handle it as well as those from strong academic base!
But learn thru play are better in verbal, presentation, dare to speak type.
As p1 &2 exam includes both written work as well as speaking,
So both are also important now! But presentation only takes
20%[ depending on diff schools] But in long term, they are equally good!

Hello shn,

Thank you for sharing.
I will search for more information on the mentioned schools.

Thank you. :idea:

[hope76]

who know, MOE might change their mind when my 3rd reach P1.

what about your DD & DS? how are they coping ?[/quote]

Hi shn, actually my ds only in K1 and dd in pre-nursery. They are in Bethesda Pasir Ris Kindergarten. The school is alright but just wondering if it's strong in academic cos my son in K1 still learning to write ABC when he already read.

But i guess i will just let them continue they till graduate cos my kiddos are very happy there. My dd was in little skool house (Tampines) for 1 year before attending Bethesda. She really don't like LSH and her teachers though she didn't cry much. Ihave asked if she wants to go back to LSH and she said NO WAY.. She just simply love Bethesda.

Guess i just have to be diligent on my part to reinforce the academic side.