Comparing Pre-school English Reading and Phonics Enrichment

[hokkiengirl]

tigermummy:

Btw, any advice on what to do with my 5 yr old? Should I take her out and look for another school or teach her to read on my own?

Hi, Tigermummy!

DIY lah. Seriously, just 15 minutes or so a day with your girl and she will be able to read soon. Save money, save time and you can move at her pace. Very important point to note is that you have to check if she is ready to read. Some kids don't connect what they see on the page to sounds and therefore meaning till later. It's a brain thing. Cannot rush. All you can do is to gently help accelerate the process with lots of exposure. And be prepared to be very patient. I'm still making this mistake with my kids. I think that just because I try very hard, they should be able to get it. Sigh, actually, if they're not ready, there's nothing else parents can do. To yell would be counter-productive and would scare them. I'm still trying to learn this lesson...

btw, Book Depository, the online bookstore, is having a ten-percent sale!!! Great selection of children's books! And, no ah, I am not affiliated in any way to BD. No commission for me!

[hokkiengirl]

angelwink35:

Hi ,

Im a new mother and am trying to gage which is the more effective ways in teaching my child reading when he reach sch age. Some childcare they also put in enrichment programmes for students in order to prepare themselves in Pri one.Like creativity writing compo,comprehension, phonics etc.But of course since the sch offer more comprehensive methods and they are normally cost more than normal CC. Or shld I put my child to normal CC like those PCF and then put him to outside enrichment class .Which ways are better?

Hi, angelwink35!

I would go with PCF and external enrichment classes. The branded schools usually charge a premium, then, as parents, we get very UPSET when the standards drop or the schools don't deliver what they promised, etc. It's quite stressful. With PCF, you can paying a reasonable amount for what to me is a pretty good programme. So any extra stuff done will make you happy! And there are loads of things happening in PCF kindys, like Reading Festivals, Sports Days, external trainers coming in to teach sports and Chinese, etc. Value for money!!!

If you still don't think it is sufficient for your child, then you get to choose the specific enrichment class which you feel would best meet your child's needs and suit his temperament. So you have more control over his learning. And, er, I've found out that the PCF syllabus is actually pretty rigorous. They do teach stuff that prepares the kid for primary school, and what I like is that it is OTT like some other kindys, which stress the kids by making them do ridiculously hard things. When most kids manage the hard thing, let's not kid ourselves that they are smarter and superior to previous generations. It's just that they were screamed at and even caned at home till they reached the required standard. It's the dirty little secret of most Singaporean households with young children.

[Monster Mummy]

Hi,


I totally agreed with hokkiengirl. My children are all in PCF as they got caregiver to tske care and I actually enrol them in external programme. Basically, the PCF programme has been quite structure and improve along these years. I can see the difference for two years. I enroll them in the external programme is to prepare for their primary school. I think that those enrol in the premium childcare still need to pay additional cost for going external programme.

I heard from one of my gf who is childcare teacher, she told me some student who are weak, their parents will enrol them in external programme.

[Twinkerbell]

Hi all, I strongly recommend Learning Point. My dd is in their Phonics program n am amazed that she progress so fast. It is a one year prog n will follow by writing prog after completion of reading! A parent I knew there told me her dd wasted 2 yrs in ICR n was glad she placed her in LP now. I got to know this centre through fren’s recommendation.

[rose88]

May i know how old is ur daughter and how much is the fees? Thanks a lot.

[Twinkerbell]

Hi Rose88,

My dd is 4+ (K1 this year) n the fee is $380 for Sat class. Call them as I believe they r starting new classes soon.

[rose88]

Hi Twinkerbell,

Thank you very much for your information.

[kljx]

Hi tinkle bell, $380 for a term or how many classes?

[Twinkerbell]

It’s $380 for a a term (10 lessons).

[kljx]

Thanks for the info...:)