What should be taught in K1 and K2?
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I think the key thing is to figure out what students are expected to know in Pri 1 and then work backwards. I tried teaching the same stuff to my younger boy at K1 that I taught my eldest boy at the same age. Failed miserably. He wasn't ready. I started again in K2 and his brain amazingly became very receptive. Suffice to say that Boy No. 2 is now on par with Kor Kor's level of preparedness at the same age. So no need to be too worried about the K1-K2 distinction. Just be sure your child is ready to receive the necessary info at the appropriate time.
Here are some things I think would be important for P1 kids to know:
1) Basic Chinese strokes and simple words
2) hanyu pinyin; it takes a while for the kids to master this, so it is a good idea to start, say, in Nov of K2. The teachers cover EVERYTHING in one term in P1, so slower pupils may not be able to grasp it.
3) Reading of simple books; at least Level 2 of the 'I Can Read' series. This means that, yup, the child should be comfortable with phonics and blending.
4) Simple addition and subtraction, counting up to 100, mathematical concepts like bigger than / smaller than, etc. Popular has a good range of kindy maths books. Most will give your child a good grounding.
5) The rest of it is 'enrichment'; ie. reading about the weather, simple science, farms, countries, etc. It's not necessary enrichment through special classes. Just reading for knowledge and pleasure.
So that's my take on kindy education.
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iMeme:
My experience with my K2 boy kindy...Hi,
I have been reviewing the homework brought back by my K1 kid and finds that the homework looks too \"simple\" :roll: e.g. writing of numbers 1-10, writing of alphabets A-Z + phonics (1 alphabet each week), shapes, patterns.
I do not have much reference to what other kindergartens teach. Appreciate if anyone can advise what should be the \"standard/normal\" syllabus/topics that K1 & K2 should cover?
Thanks!
My K2 does more this year in a church Kindy. I noticed from the worksheets/homework he brought back was more difficult than years ago when his brother was with the kindy. For english, the K2s have grammar, cloze passage (w helping words) etc...for chinese, the K2s write those chinese characters with more strokes like \"ant\", \"butterfly\" etc..
Y'day during the MTP session, I asked the teacher on the more difficult worksheets, she said the school has to improve and increase the difficulty in oreder to move with times.
Kindy is not allowed to teach han yu pin yin...instructed by MOE or certain ministry.(cant recall). -
Dino mummy:
Is it?? If no, then why am I always hearing friends and colleagues complaining about thei kids' kindy not teaching hypy and that they had to fork our extra $ to enroll their children in places like tien hsia or berries to learn hypy? Also, a few of my colleagues have confirmed that it is important to have knowledge of hypy prior to p1 as it is considered as a pre-requisite.
Kindy is not allowed to teach han yu pin yin...instructed by MOE or certain ministry.(cant recall). -
Imami:
once your child has cleared or completed English phonics, can move onto hypy.
Is it?? If no, then why am I always hearing friends and colleagues complaining about thei kids' kindy not teaching hypy and that they had to fork our extra $ to enroll their children in places like tien hsia or berries to learn hypy? Also, a few of my colleagues have confirmed that it is important to have knowledge of hypy prior to p1 as it is considered as a pre-requisite.Dino mummy:
Kindy is not allowed to teach han yu pin yin...instructed by MOE or certain ministry.(cant recall).
In general, most kids usually clear English phonics around K2 Term 3 or 4 - assuming that the child doesn't have learning difficulty. It is good to expose child learn Chinese hypy.
when comes to P1 - first half year (ie. P1 Term 1 and Term 2) is spent on hypy. However, P1 Chinese lao shi in class tend to go through hypy quite fast. Lao shi can finish teaching hypy in one Term. Thus,
i) if your child is the type that tend to pick up things fast, may not encounter difficulty with hypy.
ii) but if you think your child a bit slow, better to expose him foundation earlier, once he has cleared K2 English phonics. hypy can be taught & completed in 1 Term, starting with \"bo po mo fo\".
reason (s):
in P1 Chinese tingxie, school expect child to write out hypy first, followed by next to it, the corresponding Chinese character with correct strokes in the correct sequence of handwriting. Lao shi don't just ask child to write Chinese character alone. eg: sofa. Lao shi will ask child write out \"sofa\" in hypy first, ie. \"sha fa\", followed by ask child write out next to it the corresponding \"sofa\" Chinese character in strokes.
Majority of kindergarten usually start tingxie in K2 (some start even earlier, around K1 Term 3 or 4). However, if your child's kindergarten doesn't introduce tingxie in K2 or you feel that the kindergarten is weak in Chinese core curriculum, you may buy this book from Popular bookstore (bookfair is on now at Expo till Monday last day 28 May 2012, 10 am to 10 pm).
Parents can help child at home. Parents self study first, then use book to guide your child at home. This P1 Chinese book contains all the essential P1 basic Chinese vocabulary that every P1 child ought to recognise, read aloud (called \"Shi Du Zi\") and practise writing (called \"Shi Xie Zi\"), with the corresponding hypy inside, word by word. It comes in 2 volume, 1A and 1B + CD. Play for your child to hear. Best selling series, recommended by most primary school(s).
volume 1A - used for P1 first half year (P1 Term 1 and 2)
volume 1B - used for P1 second half year (P1 Term 3 and 4)
picture (can click inside to view sample pages)
http://sapgrp.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=482
alternately, you may buy 2nd hand from Bras Basah Complex bookstore, located ground floor. Cheaper.
you may also google MOE Primary 1 Chinese curriculum expectation / requirements, at MOE website. Can also refer to your child's intended P1 respective school website for PDF or Powerpoint slides, on P1 Chinese requirement. -
Imami:
The reason is quite sound. From what I know, MOE is worried that hypy maybe improperly taught in the kindergartens, as there is little control over the methods used, the pronunciation and the quality of the teachers. It does make sense, seen from that perspective.
Is it?? If no, then why am I always hearing friends and colleagues complaining about thei kids' kindy not teaching hypy and that they had to fork our extra $ to enroll their children in places like tien hsia or berries to learn hypy? Also, a few of my colleagues have confirmed that it is important to have knowledge of hypy prior to p1 as it is considered as a pre-requisite.Dino mummy:
Kindy is not allowed to teach han yu pin yin...instructed by MOE or certain ministry.(cant recall).
However, because hypy is taught so quickly in schools (everything in one term or so, I think), parents have no choice but to do their own work or seek out reputable enrichment programmes to do the necessary. For those of us with slower kiddies, it is painful to see them struggling in primary one with hypy. So we lay the groundwork and take it that primary school merely reinforces learning. There's a bit of irony for you.
To share an anecdote: one mummy from a branded pri school was telling me that the Chinese teacher thought that the P1 kids in her class were all super intelligent this year. Why? Because EVERYONE got the hypy the moment she taught it. My friend told me EVERYONE in that P1 class had Chinese enrichment prior to entering P1. There is nothing else to say but 'Wah lau'. -
hokkiengirl:
For those of us with slower kiddies, it is painful to see them struggling in primary one with hypy. So we lay the groundwork and take it that primary school merely reinforces learning.
one mummy from a branded pri school was telling me that the Chinese teacher thought that the P1 kids in her class were all super intelligent this year. Why? Because EVERYONE got the hypy the moment she taught it. My friend told me EVERYONE in that P1 class had Chinese enrichment prior to entering P1.
whether elite or neighbourhood school -
many kids nowadays learn hypy at K2, before step into P1 milestone.
i) if kid is slow, it helps him so that he doesn't struggle so much in P1.
ii) if kid is fast, hypy become Revision lessons.
Boost his morale, confidence, encouragement & interest in learning Chinese. -
hokkiengirl:
P1 current Maths syllabus (up to 2012):-I think the key thing is to figure out what students are expected to know in Pri 1 and then work backwards.
4) Simple addition and subtraction, counting up to 100, mathematical concepts like bigger than / smaller than, etc. Popular has a good range of kindy maths books. Most will give your child a good grounding.
http://www.chijpritoapayoh.moe.edu.sg/NWeb/documents/Maths/Pri%201%20to%206%20Maths%20Syllbus%202011.pdf
note:-
starting from next year 2013 -
P1 Maths curriculum to be revised. Due to new changes introduced by MOE. Every 5 or 6 years, MOE Maths curriculum change. Come Dec year end, Popular book fair will release new Maths books with new revised curriculum, on sale to public. -
I believe kindergartens in SG are overseen by MCYS, Pri, Sec public schools, JCs and private schools by MOE.
Kindergarten teachers, according to my son’s teacher 2 yrs ago, are not "qualified" to teach HYPY. But some kindergartens do try to help. They arrange for external qualified vendors to come to the kindergarten to conduct HYPY lessons for an extra fee.
Some Pri schools I hear also make it compulsory for children who have registered successfully to attend the Pri school in P1 to attend HYPY classes (conducted within the Pri Sch compound), a few months before they start P1. -
MOE Chinese syllabus (P1, goto Page 2):-
Higher Chinese
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/mother-tongue-languages/files/character-list-primary-higher-chinese-2007.pdf
Normal Chinese
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/mother-tongue-languages/files/character-list-primary-chinese-2007.pdf
English
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/english-language-and-literature/files/english-primary-secondary.pdf -
Think e kids nowadays have more stress than kids in e past, my girl is in cc this year k1 n they have started spelling since beginning of the year followed by weekly hw which includes writing of words that they know, arranging no in decreasing/ increasing order, simple addition, matching words they've learnt to pictures,etc and also started basic hypy ( the 4 sounds n bpmfdtnlaoeui) , in school they also learn simple science like plant parts, counting to 100 etc which I feel is quite intensive n hopefully not too much for them to handle, I do coach her at home personally bt no enrichment at e moment
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