All About Preparing For Primary One

[momresource]

Any parents here know of schools conducting crash P1 preparation class for English/Math combined? Looking at not more than 20 lessons type… nearly fainted when my dear son was cracking his head off to give me single digit addition and subtraction questions?? Luckily he didn’t use his toes to count… Btw, he doesn’t have any math enrichment or Abacus knowledge.

[nms1]

momresource:

Any parents here know of schools conducting crash P1 preparation class for English/Math combined? Looking at not more than 20 lessons type... nearly fainted when my dear son was cracking his head off to give me single digit addition and subtraction questions?? Luckily he didn't use his toes to count... Btw, he doesn't have any math enrichment or Abacus knowledge.

For maths I would just suggest practicing with him at home. Start using actual objects - sweets, toys or whatever so that he can visualise it. My daughter is in P1 now and I still catch her literally using her fingers to count so don't panic! She needs a visual cue as she still doesn't remember off the top of her head.

They cover it again at the beginning of P1 so don't worry too much.

[hquek]

As long as the english part is fine, I think that’s okay. DS1 was still using his fingers to count at K2 and we didn’t (and still hasn’t) send him to maths enrichment. But he has done well so far for maths in his P1, gave him assessment books and he’s generally able to complete with mostly careless mistakes.

[michyms]

mom resource, I think you should be able to handle coaching him at home without any kind of crash course. For English, encourage him to read to you aloud one book a day, and you can read several books to him in return. For maths, on a daily basis, do the simple addition, subtraction with him. Once he does it often, the answers will stick in his head and he won't even need his fingers (or toes!) at all. I have been practising these a few times a week with my girl, and I see her grow in confidence in deriving the answers. For the easier ones, she already knows answer by heart. The harder ones like 9 + 9, I taught her techniques to get those answers since obviously we can't use our toes to count during exams :rotflmao: But in my opinion, at the end of the day, she just needs to do it so often, it sticks in the head.

[jeanieg]

I have a K2 girl going to P1 next year. She is currently taking I Can Read and is learning to read short stories. She can read words and short sentences by the phonics way. Next year ICR will be going into Oral Comprehension and Creative Writing, etc. Am thinking of stopping her lessons in Dec as I think P1 should be covering those topics and I also do not want to overwhelm her with too much stuff to learn.


Anyone has any experience in this to share?

[hquek]

hi jeanig,


All depends on your girl and your expectations. My fren’s kid didn’t have english enrichment prior to P1 and is managing well. Mine had and still is having english enrichment, and he’s doing fine also.

Thing I feel about schools is that some may not be coaching kids on the basic rules becos it’s more of teach less learn more. My kid’s teacher expects them to write more sentences, use more adjectives etc; but I’m not sure how she’s teaching them to do it. I am relying more on external help, plus at home stuff (assessment books, story books) to make sure his basics are covered.

[momresource]

Thanks mummies for your input and also has set my mind at ease, a little!


I would say my kid learning profile is kind of imbalance… for English I supposed if TLL offers him a place, then his standard should be ok bah but I just can’t get over his spellings (not those from school, but those really simple words)… my guess is that he is sight-reading thus can’t decipher phonics way to spell… however, he had tried but gave up easily because he knew the word was wrong due sight-read capability. No problem with reading (keeping finger crossed), he is able to read newspaper (spotting toy sales and kids events) and now into magic tricks, he has been reading manuals…

For Maths, I reckon he is not exposed to areas like techniques and number bonds, also due to the lack of practices… However those questions requires spatial knowledge and IQ type, he is willing to attempt, but if it is those 1 page with questions of arithmetic just simply turned him off… mostly talked his way out till I tear my hair out or vomit blood…

Thus, I still require a school to take someone like him; not those who teach 1 term before in order to make him advance… I need a crash course to ensure that his fundamentals are there! Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

[SAHM_TAN]

I think besides academic, we also need to prepare our child mentally and socially ready for P1

[jeanieg]

Thanks, hquek for your feedback.


I do not have much expectation for P1. I guess even if I stop her ICR class, I should be able to coach her at home. Maybe I should let her continue the class as she starts P1 and see how it goes. If the school covers what they cover in ICR than I can stop. No point having her learnt "twice" and wasting money right?

[Celyw]

momresource:

Any parents here know of schools conducting crash P1 preparation class for English/Math combined? Looking at not more than 20 lessons type... nearly fainted when my dear son was cracking his head off to give me single digit addition and subtraction questions?? Luckily he didn't use his toes to count... Btw, he doesn't have any math enrichment or Abacus knowledge.

haha you are so funny...but I think if you let him practise 1~2 assessment books, he can pick up the pace assuming his Kindergarten did teach him single digit addition and subtraction?