Comparing Pre-school English Reading and Phonics Enrichment

[Dino mummy]

Any kids attending ICR CCK under a new teacher that joined in March12?

My kid’s supposed to attend the new class starting in late Apr under this new teacher. Wondering wht he/she is good and experienced??? Thanks!

[TeacherDaddy]

Hi, I want to share with you about a personal story which I feel strongly about. When my son attended a Phonics programme. (I shan’t say which one) He was indeed enjoying the lessons for about a month. We chose the programme because we felt the ‘Native’ speakers would be a better teacher for my son. At least for the first month, it was so. Then, came the nightmare. Without informing us, the teacher left and a replacement teacher came in. I managed to speak to the teacher one-to-one and found out he was teaching in many countries and has a wide experience in teaching business and english. It just so happens that my son’s class was near the end of the opening hours so the teacher would go home at the same time, while I was waiting for my other niece to end her class. Then, this teacher started saying bad things about the centre and how he was not getting the pay he deserved. I remember asking him before about why he wanted to teach English since he was a business major. He did not respond to it. Anyway, little did I know, he gave me a name card and told me that he also conducted lessons one to one! I felt that this guy cannot be trusted and emailed the admin lady with a fake email.


The thing I want to say here is that since then, I became skeptical about Native speakers. I have since withdrawn my son and niece and attended a local MOE-trained and Singaporean female teacher’s english programme and both of them love the lessons. One thing that I know works is that locals know the Primary school requirements and can cater to it. This teacher even went all out to contact my son’s school teachers to ask how and provide feedback. That’s what I call a caring teacher!

I think that it is more important that we trust our own and not be too obsessed with Native speakers. Many of them may come from unknown backgrounds and have no experince at all. Or if they do have it, one wonders why they are here instead of teaching in their homeland. For all we know, these are the ‘dropouts’ in the Native speakers country but because they are Native speakers they speak in a way that impresses us. I don’t know.

Sorry just venting here. Make sure you know who the teacher is and dont trust too easily.

[ah ka]

Thanks for sharing !

[buds]

iLoveChubby:

Hi buds!

Misssss you so much!!..... :rahrah: :rahrah:
Kana praised by Da Jie, i bery pai say :oops: :oops: ...
Ya i know your inbox shd be v flooded... :evil:

Def looking forward to your posts esp on montessori threads...

I miss everyone of my kakis here. :grphug: I'm just really tied up.. the main time-no-enough reason solely due to being a stay-home-parent who is fully stretched trying her darnest best to spend enough quality time with my brood of three.. managing our home.. and of course, ensuring the man (hubs) is always happy.. same way as he makes me. :please:

:love: Plus, until my wittle buds_chubs came into my life... I nvr realised how much fun it would be to have a boy/son... as I've already been blessed having my two elder girls. Chubs is only 1 but already making this mommy so happy & excited about his little steps to manhood.

I found your first lovely pm liao and hope you like my equally long reply. Keep in touch, aye. Oh and don't be paiseh. U deserve it. I'm proud of ya. Not everyone can truly understand why I'm that passionate abt Montessori but I love how you have slowly learnt and discovered how the methodology is not just about ace-ing in academics... but instead, a holistic method that nurtures a wholesome child. :hugs:

All my love...
~ buds ~

[Jinglee]

Hi buds..

I am a mommy of an almost 4yr olds child and looking for a phonics enrichment class. I sent you a message already but didn't know if it was delivered or not.. I have been reading many of your posts recently...wow, you are a great teacher I should say.. !! I am very much inspired by your passion towards montessori approach, so I decided to give it a try.. Meanwhile, I noticed that you stay in the west.. Do you still give classes? I know you are a busy mommy of three.. Just curious to know if you take classes now.. We stay in CCK... Any possibility of you taking classes for my DS..? I also went upto MMI in phoenix heights, CCK for the enrichment course...they say that I am the first person approaching them for the enrichment course from outside..means they were conducting enrichment course only for their own students..!! I felt kinda taken back.. They offer one-to-one class at $160 per month , weekly once class.. Is it ok?
There is also ICR -CCK near my home..my hubby suggests to join there, however I feel montessori approach would be good for my DS..
I also have a third opinion..teaching him phonics using letterland phonics... Or using letterland phonics as an additional enrichment...and they don't come cheap..!!

Now I am in total confusion.... Can you help me out? Thanks in advance...

[Jinglee]

Hi buds..

I am a mommy of an almost 4yr olds child and looking for a phonics enrichment class. I sent you a message already but didn't know if it was delivered or not.. I have been reading many of your posts recently...wow, you are a great teacher I should say.. !! I am very much inspired by your passion towards montessori approach, so I decided to give it a try.. Meanwhile, I noticed that you stay in the west.. Do you still give classes? I know you are a busy mommy of three.. Just curious to know if you take classes now.. We stay in CCK... Any possibility of you taking classes for my DS..? I also went upto MMI in phoenix heights, CCK for the enrichment course...they say that I am the first person approaching them for the enrichment course from outside..means they were conducting enrichment course only for their own students..!! I felt kinda taken back.. They offer one-to-one class at $160 per month , weekly once class.. Is it ok?
There is also ICR -CCK near my home..my hubby suggests to join there, however I feel montessori approach would be good for my DS..
I also have a third opinion..teaching him phonics using letterland phonics... Or using letterland phonics as an additional enrichment...and they don't come cheap..!!

Now I am in total confusion.... Can you help me out? Thanks in advance...

[buds]

ah ka:

Hello may I know about the zoo phonic at Jurong west branch , is it good? Though of bringing my child to learn there ?

I had one boy who came for assessment for my creative writing class who was from a ZooPhonics Kindergarten in Jurong (dunno if it is the same one you were referring to in the above post)..

He was very advanced! Frankly i don't think he needed the creative writing lessons at all. He could already write an 80 word passage by mid K2. :salute:

And he shared he loved his school! :love:

[iLoveChubby]

Hi buds! :rahrah: :rahrah:

I didnt know you teach creative writing too?!... :evil: :evil: ..
I am amazed with K1/K2 kids who can write long compo... i thk my P2 kid still struggling. Guess lots to do with reading.

[buds]

I was just sharing with a friend with regards to this.

Reading widely does help but that's great for children who read
or who enjoy reading or being read to. Reading voraciously is but
only one of the many ways..

Also never underestimate the benefits of speaking properly as well.

[buds]

Jinglee:

Hi buds..

Heyya Jinglee. :imanisland:

Welcome to Kiasuparents! :welcome:

Jinglee:

I am a mommy of an almost 4yr olds child and looking for a phonics enrichment class. I sent you a message already but didn't know if it was delivered or not..

I actually briefly replied you here in this http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=33762, as i was occupied with my family. Plus SA1 exams have officially started.

Jinglee:

I have been reading many of your posts recently...wow, you are a great teacher I should say.. !!

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php

Jinglee:

I am very much inspired by your passion towards montessori approach, so I decided to give it a try..

It's easy enough for any parent to try. I have a few detailed lesson plans here if you're keen to start on the single letter sounds using the Montessori Method. It's very concrete.

> http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5768

> http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/early-math-concepts-home-using-montessori-method

Some extras here..

> http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/fun-phonics-resources

> http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/do-it-yourself-alphabet-cards-1-montessori-sandpaper-letters

Jinglee:

Meanwhile, I noticed that you stay in the west.. Do you still give classes? I know you are a busy mommy of three.. Just curious to know if you take classes now.. We stay in CCK... Any possibility of you taking classes for my DS..?

I used to stay in the west, hun. We moved to Woodlands abt 2yrs ago and i had my #3 too during that spate of time. So all lessons have ceased since then. Classes will be up and running again but no promises when.. i'm enjoying my time with my first born son and spending all my time with him doing loads of stuff.

Jinglee:

I also went upto MMI in phoenix heights, CCK for the enrichment course...they say that I am the first person approaching them for the enrichment course from outside..means they were conducting enrichment course only for their own students..!! I felt kinda taken back.. They offer one-to-one class at $160 per month , weekly once class.. Is it ok?

Because Phoenix is a childcare set up.. that's why they were puzzled with your inquiry i guess. Phonics curriculum is in their daily lesson, not enrichment. Montessorian children work with the 5 areas on a daily basis. Not only once a week.

Jinglee:

There is also ICR -CCK near my home..my hubby suggests to join there, however I feel montessori approach would be good for my DS..

I had a very negative experience with ICR even at the point of inquiry.. So... I cannot make a fair comment when it comes to them.

Jinglee:

I also have a third opinion..teaching him phonics using letterland phonics... Or using letterland phonics as an additional enrichment...and they don't come cheap..!!

Caaannn.. You can purchase the fun CDs and books that tell stories of each character letter. Letterland is a VERY interesting way of teaching Phonics especially for younger children because of the characters. Despite the flak that some parents give like children get confused btwn character and letter and what nots.. an effective delivery of the lesson can ensure that won't happen. It's usually the lack of understanding of how to efficiently carry out the lesson that this instances occur. I do Letterland as well, so i know.

Jinglee:

Now I am in total confusion.... Can you help me out? Thanks in advance...

No need to be confused. Just give yourself some time to look thru the threads and also do some additional research on your own as well and go with what and how you would like your son to learn how to read. My children were exposed to both Montessori and Letterland and they loved both! All methodologies have its merits.

Best regards,
~ buds ~

:celebrate: