All About Preparing For Primary One

[jeanieg]

Thanks poppy15 and nms1 for your input. I feel better knowing we can 'pong tang' school for a couple of days.

[janet88]

Parents, do try to enjoy your holidays while kids are in kindy. Come primary school, it’s not very advisable to take off unless necessary. My hubby is also the ‘no means no’ type. Last year, I got son to ‘pong tang’ 2 days b4 SA2 as we couldnt finish revision. Had to keep quiet about it.


Btw, this year’s Bookfest will be around mid nov instead. Happened to see the info on popular van this morn.

[Precious Summo]

Hi all,

am looking at mind stretcher topics… and want to find out which are the better outlets in north area as i am deciding between mind stretcher and concept maths for my child. But concept maths is more expensive than mind stretcher.

Also looking at english classes in mind stretcher. Currently, my child is in i can read program. Thinking of switching him to another school. How is mind stretcher in their program for English?

[Champion]

Precious Summo:

Hi all,

am looking at mind stretcher topics.. and want to find out which are the better outlets in north area as i am deciding between mind stretcher and concept maths for my child. But concept maths is more expensive than mind stretcher.

Also looking at english classes in mind stretcher. Currently, my child is in i can read program. Thinking of switching him to another school. How is mind stretcher in their program for English?

Hi! You may refer to the following links:-
1) Mind Stretcher
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13542&hilit=mind+stretcher

2) All About Primary School Maths Enrichment
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=287&p=558951&hilit=concept+Maths#p558951

[Precious Summo]

Thanks Champion

[glendt]

Concept Math from what I know is started by an ex Ai Tong teacher. I heard that she teaches very well and you would see many Ai Tong kids there. She goes faster than the school and the questions given are harder than schools but it is geared for the MOE syllabus. Good to start with them if you can from P1.

[Celyw]

i3mum:

Hi kvk,


Is you child in a child care? If yes, I think it's manageable

My is in a 3 hour kindy and on hand she has 7 enrichment classes, so I do not know what to cut down. She seems to like all of them. :sad:

kvk:

My DD is now having 3 enrichment classes.
English/Maths, Abacus and Chinese.
Do they sound alot to you?

my child is in 3 hour kindy too and having ICR, Abacus, Berries, Swimming and Piano is it too much? :oops:

[Celyw]

phtthp:

a) for language(s):-


phonics and 汉语拼音 are fundamental.
plus accompanied by lots of reading storybooks.

Speech & drama (optional) - but useful in helping child in P1 'Show and Tell' overcome shyness, display confidence during expression of his thoughts and articulate audibly with the right pitch tone voice, in front of fellow Teacher and classmates.

b) for Maths:-

i) Montessori Maths helps a child set foundation right from the start in understanding key basic, fundamental Maths concepts. To me, this is crucial.

ii) abacus (optional), MPM (optional).


c) for Science -

exploratory fun experiments help a child set foundation in understanding key Science basic principles and concepts. Kids learn more via the fun way, not via boring worksheets style.

Fastrackids Science exploratory 2 year programme (K1, K2) is good:-
http://www.fastrackids.com/fastrackids
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=869

Hi phtthp,
when I see your this post I am very thrilled haha..because my child is completing ICR by end of this mth, completing HYPY enrichment in school by Nov, taking abacus and completed his 2 years FTK already...does that mean he is well prepared?

[Scary]

Celyw,

My DS attends some of the enrichments mentioned by phtthp and he is definitely ready for P1. Believe yours is ready too!

i3mum,
My DS has 10 enrichments this term. 4 will be gone next year as they are currently held in his pre-school. I think as long as we can manage the time and the kids can still do well in school, it is ok. Once the kids show signs that they cannot manage, we need to start thinking which one to cut.

[nms1]

Wow - that’s a lot of enrichment. Doesn’t it end up more expensive and more of a hassle than sending them to childcare all day ??!!


My daughter was in full-day childcare and only did Speech & Drama as an optional extra there, Berries and ballet when she was in K1 & K2. I felt that was enough as Berries & ballet took up all of Saturday morning leaving very little "downtime". Now she’s in P1 she does swimming on a Thursday afternoon as well as she, ironically, has more time.

I really don’t think they need that much to be ready for P1 as a lot of the content will be covered again to ensure everyone is up-to-speed and if the child knows too much of it, you run the risk of them being bored.