LCentral Discussion

[deardear07]

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.

[kboon2009]

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.

[deardear07]

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.

[vicki]

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.

Hi vagabond,

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...

[vicki]

deardear07:

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.

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....

[vicki]

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!

Hi Sean wife,

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!

[deardear07]

vicki:

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.

Hi vagabond,

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...

Initially i was so against Lcentral putting ds in foundation too,but i guess they did need to assess him on a longer basis n bring him up to track with what other children r learning. I went along just to expose him n they actually recc ds to next level after 1term there. On and off,i'd see some n2 kids in foundation too.mayb just to try out if they r suitable for next level...

[deardear07]

Actually u’d b surprised some n2 children duno their phonics yet…

[vicki]

deardear07:

Actually u'd b surprised some n2 children duno their phonics yet...

My ds3 will be N2 next year - he only knows half of his phonics - so i guess for him to go Foundation - im ok.

My ds2 will be K1 next year - and he knows his phonics (first n last sound at least) and he can read simple words - n he got allotted to Foundation - and this is what im not ok.

Haiz --- i prob will start this n find another center to go concurrently n plan from there if i want to continue....

[ZuEn]

DD is 3.5 YO, started Foundations in Aug 11. Didnt know how first sound then and still gets mixed up in her lower case alphabets at times. Her teacher is recommending her to go to LaunchPad in Jan 12.

I tot LaunchPad is more for those in K1? No? I was pleased with her promotion but at the same time worried that she will be stressed in a class of older kids and kill her interest.