All About Pre-school Math Enrichment

[slacker]

hi all. i am thinking of sending my son to the ‘brain training’ type of enrichment class. Is MPM considered the brain training type or the academic type? thanks.

[bee8250]

lakesidemum:

Lingbel:

oh, its Jelic Program, for 2- 5 years old.

Oh i c, may i know where is the school and how much is the fees like?

thanks.

Hi lakesidemum, the fee for MPM are $50 for assessment (this is to determine what are yr children, current math level), $50 Deposit (Refundable, one month notice should you intended to withdraw), $440 per term.

Over the weekend, just sign my son for the programme.

[bee8250]

slacker:

hi all. i am thinking of sending my son to the 'brain training' type of enrichment class. Is MPM considered the brain training type or the academic type? thanks.

hi slacker, i suggest maybe you would want to visit to any centre that have MPM programme. from my exprience, the centre would be able to answer your question. if not, they could also arrange the MPM teacher to clear yr doubts.

take a look on their worksheet, it is very colourful and it attract the children attention.

over the weekend, my son (k1) went for the assessment from there i was being told that my son are not good at counting number from the back to start, eg 10, 9, 8, 7.....

the treacher did explain to me, what are concept teaching method. it is totally so different from what we had learn from the past.

but the most important thing are whether our children enjoy it or not.

[slacker]

hi bee8250, thanks for your advise. Will call them up and arrange a session. So are you signing your son up for it?

[buds]

jedamum:

jen18j:

I am new to this site. I am thinking about enrolling my 6 yr old daughter either at Kumon or Montessori Math to get her ready for P1. Which is better?

My experiences are from the branch I signed my boy up and not representative of other MMI centres.

My P1 took Montessori Math last year. Waste of money. I can teach at home using assessment books. My boy was doing their MMI Math course which lump kids from 4yo to 6yo together and let them 'progress' at their own pace. My boy finished the '1yr course' in 7 months (or is it 5? can't remember) but i don't think he still remember how to do division up to the hundreds (there are only 2 exercises for this topic of which they touches on concepts only). After my boy finished his course and left a 2 lessons before end of the month (last lesson), the teacher let him do worksheets printed out from EPH assessment books for his 1 hour in class. They did tell me they are setting up the Math P1 preparatory course and asked if I want to sign up but i had had enough.

But if you feel that your kid needs to work on manipulatives to reinforce on concepts, then MMI is for you. I personally find that the course my K2 went through is more suited for K1 and below. Remember to check if their Math course have a penalty for withdrawing before the course ends - mine has. :roll:

Just the thought of having a group of 6-8 kids ranging from 4yrs to 6yrs
old in 1 class makes my heart skip a beat... Ok, correction. Make that
many beats! Wah lao, very difficult to manage that big a range. The
children's maturity level alone is a problem... not weighing in yet the
knowledge level & experiences with Mathematical concepts from each
individual child's daily school... assuming they are already attending one.

MMI has their own complete curriculum and worksheets to complement
the proven Montessori Math programme. It is unheard of that a teacher
needs to supplement with in-the-market worksheets for the class. The
wholesome syllabus alone is a lot to deliver effectively. Montessori Math
methodology prides itself in working with materials... specially designed
apparatus, that works systematically and concurrently with all the
strategies/theories used to teach young children.

I'm like WHUH? while reading this feedback. :!:
Psst... jedamum... did you raise it with the centre? :idea:

It is unfortunate that you and most importantly for your DS1... to have
underwent 3/4 of the year to complete something that wasn't all the way....
The imbalance of age just doesn't sit right with me really..
But did it help DS1 where concepts were concerned, apart from the
multiplication and division...? (that must've been rushed through based
on your brief feedback)

[jedamum]

buds:

It is unfortunate that you and most importantly for your DS1... to have
underwent 3/4 of the year to complete something that wasn't all the way....
The imbalance of age just doesn't sit right with me really..
But did it help DS1 where concepts were concerned, apart from the
multiplication and division...? (that must've been rushed through based
on your brief feedback)

concepts? let me think...:idea:
odd/even-no..he doesn't remember the 'friends' concept: he however devised his own way of remembering which is which
clock-no..the MMI way actually differs from the P1 syllabus way of teaching clock reading
the only useful chapter that i find is the part on fractions.
I must say that this centre's 'expertise' is in its phonics course.
The 'admin' and teacher kept emphasizing that the 12mths math course is suppose to only cover the basics.
I would say that this math programme will be extremely useful to kids that has no prior exposure to math.
So when they informed me of a new Pri 1 Preparatory class, I was like :roll: ; thanks but no thanks, i don't want to be the guinea pig.

[buds]

Oooooh....


So, the Phonics was okay?

[jedamum]

buds:

Oooooh....


So, the Phonics was okay?

No..we didn't do their phonics after ds1 dropped out of their playgroup 4yrs ago. My boy learnt his phonics from his $40/mth pcf enrichment
But i'd seen some of the materials (kaypoh when other parents are chatting while waiting) and they seem pretty good and structured.

[buds]

Waaah, good then! Value for money!

Sorry ah, this one off-topic : What method did the PCF ctr use back then?

[jedamum]

buds:

What method did the PCF ctr use back then?

AT= CAT; BAT; MAT;
kids to draw the pic beside the word
follow by a rhyme
some matching exercise
some pick the correct word from a bunch of words.

i am actually using ds1's phonics worksheet file for ds2's '3-letters-blending' learning exercise