PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[nonKiasu]

kaitlynangelica:

Anyway, have a friend who is teaching in a PCF kindergarten in Tampines. She is hired there as a language specialist to teach K2 children who don't know how to read. She told me that indeed it is true that the PCF standard is not uniform across the island. A friend of my husband sent his daughter to PCF only and now that she is in p1, still cannot read so it has become very stressful.

Hi, kaitlynangelica. Wow lau, combing thru this thread and saw this exciting infor. May I know what is the block number? I am staying at Tampines and there are 4 PCF w K1/K2 prog within 1 km from my place. Kind of spolited for choice but also in dilemma.

[tamarind]

nonKiasu:

Hi, tamarind. May I know what is the diff between PCF premium and PCF MOE/basic program? Thanks.

PCF premium are those which include enrichment. My girl's PCF includes poetry appreciation, junior creative writing, cooking, theater, etc. They also have 2 extra hours of Chinese enrichment every week, during which they learn hanyu pinyin, tang poetry, etc.

Her PCF is known as K2+E, they did not actually use the word premium.

Her school fees are $250 a month compared to $107 for normal PCF without any enrichment.

Her K1 class used the Rigby Rocket yellow, blue and green series. At K2, they are using the orange and turquoise series. Take a look at the webpage to understand the level of difficulty :
http://www.edventurebooks.com/Rigby/Rocket/yellow.htm

My son is in the normal PCF. They don't have the above enrichment. But there is a lot of emphasis on reading, in both English and Chinese. The kids are taught to read one story book every month.

These are the books they are reading at K1. The books are simpler than those used at my girl's premium PCF. You can read the sample pages here:
http://www.edventurebooks.com/Sunshine/nsb/level%202.htm

I think it is perfectly fine for a child to be reading at this level at K1. Although my son is already reading at a much higher level, he is reading http://tamarindphonics.blogspot.com/ now, he does not mind reading those simple books in school.

I believe that it is the responsibility of parents to make sure that kids can read. My friend's son attends a private school that costs $600+ a month, but her son still cannot read at K1. She is too busy to teach him at home.

[Melody29]

Hi Tamarind


I saw in your blog that u mentioned Lady Bird Series 1a is a good start for kids to learn how to read. Any idea where can i get the book. Been to a few bookstores but just couldnt find.

[Melody29]

Hi, Im a little bit concern on the educational level of the teachers in PCF. Some of the teachers that I saw in the PCF that I have registered my child in has only ITE educational level. Like to find out if this is the norm in PCF? Do not meant to be prejudice

[tamarind]

Melody29:

Hi Tamarind


I saw in your blog that u mentioned Lady Bird Series 1a is a good start for kids to learn how to read. Any idea where can i get the book. Been to a few bookstores but just couldnt find.

You should be able to find it at any Popular Bookstore. Otherwise, you can ask the staff to check for you. It is also available at PageOne at Vivocity, if you cannot find book 1a, you can ask the staff to order for you.

I saw the PCF kindergarten near my place advertising for teachers, certainly not ITE. Every PCF is different, it is important to find out more before sending your kids there.

So far the good ones I know from this thread are :
662B Jurong West ST 64
PCF Chong Pang Blk 309
125 Serangoon North

[Melody29]

Hi Tamarind


Thanks for the info on the books. Really appreciate that.

Guess I didnt really find out more when registering my child in that particular PCF.

[nonKiasu]

tamarind:

PCF premium are those which include enrichment. My girl's PCF includes poetry appreciation, junior creative writing, cooking, theater, etc. They also have 2 extra hours of Chinese enrichment every week, during which they learn hanyu pinyin, tang poetry, etc.


Her PCF is known as K2+E, they did not actually use the word premium.

Her school fees are $250 a month compared to $107 for normal PCF without any enrichment.

Thanks for sharing, tamarind. The one I am going for is $170 per mth and don't think they have as many enrichment prog as yours.

tamarind:

I believe that it is the responsibility of parents to make sure that kids can read. My friend's son attends a private school that costs $600+ a month, but her son still cannot read at K1. She is too busy to teach him at home.

Yap, agree. But allow me to add one more pt. Other than parents, teachers + school, the 3rd pt i want to add is the child himself. My triplets are so diff in their development. I need to spent only once a week with my elder one as he can read. But for my no 2 to achieve the same std as my elder one, I have to spend 3 times more time. As for my youngest one, even I spend 3 times more time, he still can't read as well as his brothers. So, big headache.

[doraemon]

hugeclaw, ling: any further feedback about Blk 125 Serangoon North PCF? I understand they only start from nursery. thanks!!

[tamarind]

nonKiasu:

Yap, agree. But allow me to add one more pt. Other than parents, teachers + school, the 3rd pt i want to add is the child himself. My triplets are so diff in their development. I need to spent only once a week with my elder one as he can read. But for my no 2 to achieve the same std as my elder one, I have to spend 3 times more time. As for my youngest one, even I spend 3 times more time, he still can't read as well as his brothers. So, big headache.

You are absolutely correct. My younger boy needs many repetitions in order to learn something new, and his attention span is less than 5 minutes. I do not expect to find any school, no matter how much I am willing to pay, that will be able to teach him well. So mommy just have to work harder at home to teach him

[doraemon]

calling hugeclaw and ling: i had visited serangoon north 125 pcf and saw that the VP herself was teaching the children in one of the class but she seems fierce. Even when I talked to her, she’s like quite impatient. so if you have any further feedback on this centre that is contrary to my perception, pls let me know since your children are there. but with no pre-nursery class to start, they may lose in terms of enrolment to those centers which have. thanks!!