LCentral Discussion
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MMM:
Hihi, I had the same frustration too, when DS went for assessment. In terms of phonics, he already knew from A-Z, short of those ch, aw, sh, ph, etc... He could tell us the 1st sounds too and started to write numbers and letters.
Hi Vicki,vicki:
Hi guys...
Can I chk with you what constitutes foundation class?
My 4.5yr old boy (next year K1) just went for assessment. He knows all the first sounds. Can recognize certain words (they were taught to recognize words instead of just plain old phoenics). Can do abit of last sound. Middle sound got lost cos don't understand what the tester was testing him.
He got put to Foundation class - which honestly I was surprised cos I don't believe he is THAT bad.
Is it like you have to go thru their system or their direct competitor system (I can read) to progress?
I was surprised by them putting my boy to Foundation cos in Julia Gabriel N2 'I love reading' class, his teacher did tell me that he is one of the more advanced few. In his cc, his teacher tells me the same too!!
Wondering why....
I understand how you feel.
Lcentral assessment tend to focus on phonetic awareness. As you mentioned, if your child has been taught on words recognition basis, he might struggle with the phonics aspect.
Usually the teacher will explain the basis for putting child in a specific level. Eg my k2 joined only in June this year. She has completed her 2 years adv phonics program at jan & elly. But she was only recommended to start at liftoff. Rationale was though her phonetic ability is there she still has some area to work on. My k2 will complete the program in dec before joining the p1 program. Looking back I wondered if she could have proceed to p f s instead but I was glad that she did liftoff first.
I feel that if there some area are questionable, it might be good to start at lower level so that they build the necessary foundation otherwise they might struggle at some point. The basic phonics rule will be applied even in liftoff so if they are not well versed, they will struggle.
But they still insist he start at foundation. Initially, he was enthusiatic about going and doing his homework. but subsequently, he found it a chore to just colour so we got him to write his letters learnt on his homework pages. I sort of wanted to give up the class for next yr but lo and behold, his teacher recommended him to launchpad after just 1term+ in foundation. so come Jan 2012, he'd be in launchpad. I hope he can progress forward with the right guidance since I know that in Foundation, hez been given right basics to start off with.
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Yes, agree that child doesn’t need to complete all 3books in foundation coz DS only on 1st book and not even completed yet…
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Vicki,
Just to add. The books are available in the school for browsing. If in doubt, browse through what they do. You will have a better idea. -
My ds just start his launchpad for two lesson…Hope he can cope with it as he is gg to K1 next year…
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greenredapple:
My ds just start his launchpad for two lesson..Hope he can cope with it as he is gg to K1 next year..
if assessed to be in launchpad, then should be fine. no worries about the standard. ur DS will be in good hands. -
Hi parents of kids who are in Foundations, do you do anything else at home to practice the first sounds taught? I find that each week the teacher only gives 1 page of the workbook as homework, which is only on 1 first sound and some coloring… not sure if it’s enough to re-inforce the concept.
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My ds was given 2pages hmwork.1pg colouring on letter learnt n number tracing.
I just reinforce whatever hez been taught. He knows those already actually. Just let him practice his colouring skills.wud b gd for him when he moves up to launchpad. -
Vagabond:
Hi vagabond,Vicki
Just to share, my dd who is K1 this year, went for assessment and comments from the assessor was about the same as your ds - knows her first sounds and last sounds, not sure about middle sounds and knows limited sight words. She was put to Launchpad class. She has since attended 3 lessons and is progressing well according to the teacher. If you find Foundation too simple for your ds and has confidence he can handle Launchpad, think it's worth it to talk to the Centre again. From what I see, Launchpad workbook 1 and 2 are pretty simple - identify and colour pictures with similar sounds (mostly first or last, some middle), and practise alphabet writing.
I think if the child is put to a class that is too simple for him, it just wastes time and money. Just my humble opinion.
I had a look at the Foundation n Launchpad books when i was at the center - thats why i was convinced that Foundation is too easy for him.
I also asked the admin if he could join the Launchpad classes instead but they insisted that he had to go to the Foundation class. N whilst i was there - i actually saw the students coming out of the Foundation class - they were like N1 kids (aka more on par with my ds3 (3yrs old) rather than ds2 (4 yrs old).
I'm quite sure there is def a waste of money for the first few classes - but the admin person told me that if within a mth they feel that my boy is too 'advanced' for this class - they will 'upgrade' him.
Since now almost end of school term - i therefore tot of trying out to see how it goes... -
deardear07:
Mine's going to K1 nex year also but not allowed to go to Launchpad class - still wondering if i should just try out for 1 term nex year when i know its a waste of money to be in Foundation class....greenredapple:
My ds just start his launchpad for two lesson..Hope he can cope with it as he is gg to K1 next year..
if assessed to be in launchpad, then should be fine. no worries about the standard. ur DS will be in good hands. -
sean wife:
Hi Sean wife,vicki:
Hi guys...
Can I chk with you what constitutes foundation class?
My 4.5yr old boy (next year K1) just went for assessment. He knows all the first sounds. Can recognize certain words (they were taught to recognize words instead of just plain old phoenics). Can do abit of last sound. Middle sound got lost cos don't understand what the tester was testing him.
He got put to Foundation class - which honestly I was surprised cos I don't believe he is THAT bad.
Is it like you have to go thru their system or their direct competitor system (I can read) to progress?
I was surprised by them putting my boy to Foundation cos in Julia Gabriel N2 'I love reading' class, his teacher did tell me that he is one of the more advanced few. In his cc, his teacher tells me the same too!!
Wondering why....
Hi,
If I remember correctly, Foundation class covers mainly first sounds a-z…there are 3 books, but there is no need to finish all 3 books, especially if the child is just a little way off from the next stage (lauchpad)…
Overall, I feel that LCentral tends to be more cautious in placement of the kids in the appropriate stage i.e. like what MMM mentions, they will recommend placing in a lower stage first, monitor the progress for a while rather than straight away start at the next higher level. Depending on the kid, some may feel more comfortable in a less demanding (threatening) environment for a start, while others may feel bored…but if you feel that your child can handle the Launchpad (more emphasis on middle sounds, blending, segmenting), then maybe you can suggest to start on Launchpad and see how the first few lessons go…
BTW, care to share more about the Julia Gabriel Reading program? Are you giving that up in replacement of Lcentral lesson? I am actually considering their writing class for K1 next year…
Thanks!
They didnt allow me on Launchpad - i paid 3 lessons currently - will prob try out the Foundation class then see how we go from there.
JG concept is very different from I can Read n Lcentral. They focused on words memorisation. So if you show my boy words - he prob can read them - but phonetically - he prob cant put it together if you jumble with other alphabets. This is at N2 level.
I gave up JG cos they had some reshuffling of time-table and i couldnt seem to fit in with the class timing at this juncture - so thats why replacing with another school n since Lcentral was near my hse - tot of trying out.
My ds1 went through the READERS N WRITERS JG program from K1 to P1 (they didnt had a N2 class then).
What they do is to read a book - they they pick up words from that
book and kindof do cloze passage/ comprehension etc with it.
Abit of simple Stellar program (P1 English program that some schools are implementing). Its quite a 'fun' and stressfree class.
Haiz... now i just need to make sure that ds2 gets the same form of English enrichment exposure as ds1!
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