Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[cloubhappy.05320live.05320com]

Hi Tamarind,


My girl is K1 and is 4 years and 4 months old. She is currently at book 6a of peter and jane. I guess she is on the track. Sometimes, when she read to me, she tends to jump words or add in words that is not there, e.g. the, a … i read that it is quite normal for beginner reader.

Yes! I have placed order for the story books of Si Wu Kuai over the weekend and is waiting for its arrival excitedly!

My girl is in berries class and i realised that berries would have covered book 1 of Si Wu Kuai book. I went through the words cards at the back and she could read all of them. So i jump straight to Book 2. Trying not to rush through it and target to complete a lesson per week so that she can remember and know how to use the word better by combining them with other word to form a phrase.

[ellehcim]

well said, tamarind.

[deardear07]

I must say that: Phankao, ur way has great success with ur kid!


Just wondering…

my ds knew his alphabet since 2 and is learning his phonics till now… sometimes he learns by using the apps on my hp, other times, in sch. question is, how to progress to blending and then reading? i knw theory… but suddenly, abit stuck for a better method. so just ended up reading it to him.

sight words to him is easier since teacher commented that he can remember chinese characters taught. just like memory~~

he is not 3 yet…next mth. and i wanted him to join ICR to reiterate his learning, but they said they were impressed with his maturity, concentration level, etc, they still put him down to little learners just becoz of his age-being too young to mix with others 4 to even 5yr olds. other centres who were willing to take him at the next level r not so convenient.

[deardear07]

tamarind:

Hi XK,

For the Peter and Jane series (also known as the Key Word series), you can refer to the chart in my blog :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-to-expect-in-primary-one.html

Scroll down to look for the chart. Kids at 5 to 6 years old should be reading levels 3 and 4, those at 6 to 7 years old should be reading levels 5 to 7.

For Chinese, you mean the Si Wu Kuai Du series right ? If a child can complete books 3 or 4, she should be well prepared for P1 Chinese, provided she can remember all the words in the 4 books. It is important to revise and read Chinese story books regularly. Just to share, there is a new book of stories by the author of the Si Wu Kuai Du series :
http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=21055950&ref=order-2-A

Tamarind, just wana get a sense... I don't know how long ago has this reccomendation been around? Our kids' era has changed and evolved. Many more children read earlier.

Do u really think level 5-7 is for 6-7yrs old? or is it normal for that age to go beyond? coz when I flipped through higher levels, though more wordy, most of the words are still high frequency words, common sight words. If a child is able to read level 5-7, likely that same child should be able to finish all levels by end of k2 or even earlier right?

My friend was just stating that for premier schools, many children are already reading books like Enid Blyton, A-Z mysteries, magic schoolhouse, etc. Seems like the norm.

But on the other hand, I have teachers commenting that there are of course children, mainly from lower tier families and who are less informed, and they come in with barely any knowledge.

These being said, majority already know how to read quite well? Is this the sensing you get at ur child's school?

[Daddy D]

SHHK still having chinese classes on Polling day… so hardworking ah… thought it’s declared a public holiday…

[minnie]

Hi,

I have a set of VCD to let go at $20. Interested parties, please contact me.

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110679986193&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

[tamarind]

deardear07:

tamarind:

Hi XK,

For the Peter and Jane series (also known as the Key Word series), you can refer to the chart in my blog :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-to-expect-in-primary-one.html

Scroll down to look for the chart. Kids at 5 to 6 years old should be reading levels 3 and 4, those at 6 to 7 years old should be reading levels 5 to 7.

For Chinese, you mean the Si Wu Kuai Du series right ? If a child can complete books 3 or 4, she should be well prepared for P1 Chinese, provided she can remember all the words in the 4 books. It is important to revise and read Chinese story books regularly. Just to share, there is a new book of stories by the author of the Si Wu Kuai Du series :
http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=21055950&ref=order-2-A

Tamarind, just wana get a sense... I don't know how long ago has this reccomendation been around? Our kids' era has changed and evolved. Many more children read earlier.

Do u really think level 5-7 is for 6-7yrs old? or is it normal for that age to go beyond? coz when I flipped through higher levels, though more wordy, most of the words are still high frequency words, common sight words. If a child is able to read level 5-7, likely that same child should be able to finish all levels by end of k2 or even earlier right?

My friend was just stating that for premier schools, many children are already reading books like Enid Blyton, A-Z mysteries, magic schoolhouse, etc. Seems like the norm.

But on the other hand, I have teachers commenting that there are of course children, mainly from lower tier families and who are less informed, and they come in with barely any knowledge.

These being said, majority already know how to read quite well? Is this the sensing you get at ur child's school?

Actually if you take a look at MOE syllabus, the books that they use for Stellar Program at primary one, consists of only one sentence a page. That is only equivalent to Level 1 or 2 of Peter and Jane. In my kids' neighbourhood schools, many kids have problem reading even that kind of books. I believe that neighbourhood schools represent the large majority.

However, primary schools may follow the stellar program, but they set their own worksheets, and these can be very difficult even at primary 1, depending on the school.

For premier schools, parents are usually highly educated, and they can teach their kids to read very well at a young age. Of course, this also depends on the capability of the child. It is not accurate to say that the majority of P1 kids are able to read books like Enid Blyton. Note that kids from elite schools are the minority, and even in elite schools, not all kids are able to read well.

Of course, for those parents who are keen to train their kids to read very well before entering P1, it is definitely possible if you use the right methods. Both my kids completed up to Level 11/12 before they turned 5 years old. My girl read Charlotte's Web at 5, my boy read the same book at 6, among many other long English novels :
http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/2010/03/importance-of-reading-books.html

However, note that every child is different. I have heard of many children who are not able to finish Level 12 by 6 years old, parents don't have to be worried. Reading up to levels 5 to 7 are already good enough for this age.

I advise parents to teach according to the capability of your child, instead of trying to compare with kids from the elite schools.

[phankao]

deardear07:

Do u really think level 5-7 is for 6-7yrs old? or is it normal for that age to go beyond? coz when I flipped through higher levels, though more wordy, most of the words are still high frequency words, common sight words. If a child is able to read level 5-7, likely that same child should be able to finish all levels by end of k2 or even earlier right?

My friend was just stating that for premier schools, many children are already reading books like Enid Blyton, A-Z mysteries, magic schoolhouse, etc. Seems like the norm..

The reality is that, if the child is only reading books at the level of the Stellar programme, the learning process for those children would be slower. It is way easier if the child was able to read Enid Blyton books or Magic schoolbus, etc by p1.

My eldest was that way. I guided her in reading using P&J. She was able to read by the book 2 or 3 when she was 4 years old, I think, and we never progressed to book 4, as I recall. She was reading the thick Enid Blyton books by K2. So could her friends. She was writing storybooks in p1, but otherwise, she is not a top student in school. Early reading just made life in Primary school comfortable for her, not too stressful, that's all. She never did excel but never too bad even when she was in the worst class in p6, so never that much of a worry academically for us. She's already in JC now.

[tamarind]

[quote]The reality is that, if the child is only reading books at the level of the Stellar programme, the learning process for those children would be slower. It is way easier if the child was able to read Enid Blyton books or Magic schoolbus, etc by p1.[/quote]
Please note that every child's ability is different, the majority of kids may not be able to do that no matter how hard they tried.

I don't think that we should set such a standard and say that all kids should reach that standard. It will be too stressful for the average child.

I have even heard of kids who taught themselves to read long English novels by 3 years old, the mommy said she never teach. That mommy thought that there are \"many\" kids like that around :roll: So does it mean that it is the norm ?

[phankao]

tamarind:

[quote]The reality is that, if the child is only reading books at the level of the Stellar programme, the learning process for those children would be slower. It is way easier if the child was able to read Enid Blyton books or Magic schoolbus, etc by p1.

Please note that every child's ability is different, the majority of kids may not be able to do that no matter how hard they tried.

I don't think that we should set such a standard and say that all kids should reach that standard. It will be too stressful for the average child.

I have even heard of kids who taught themselves to read long English novels by 3 years old, the mommy said she never teach. That mommy thought that there are \"many\" kids like that around :roll: So does it mean that it is the norm ?[/quote]
Well, i know bc I have 3 older children's experience to observe from. The 2 others who could only read in p1 was forever playing catchup in their language standards through pri school, altho' in the end, they still did fairly ok, I'd say. But worrying. Now worrying over the p6 one.