Learning Point - Discussion

[Ran1977]

Ymy:

Hi! Thanks for the feedback . Your child must be a fast learner.

She can complete the P1 headstart at such a young age. Many children at her age needs to attend the phonic class before can continue with P1 headstart.

Yes I agree...she is very bright and with such a helpful mummy - both are very blessed :salute:

[phtthp]

hi Ymy and Ran,


Thank you, for your nice compliment.

to correct, according to N2 kindergarten Teacher feedback – my child is average in class.

In N2, she was initially from a traditional kindergarten.
Her progress was slow, after spending N2 there. I felt she was learning very little there. Her reading was slow. To me, I felt the kindy curriculum wasn’t preparing kids ready for P1. Thus in beginning January K1 this year, I thought high time to transfer her out to a Montessori kindergarten environment. Before enrolment, I’d first requested to take a look at their detailed sample (K1 / K2) worksheets for (English + Maths). They look ok; at least got some standard. (I thought)

Surprisingly after spending One Term in this new Montessori kindergarten, I noticed that her reading & articulation / speaking had improved. Before that, her reading wasn’t fluent - sometimes pausing here & there, whenever she come across new words unsure & hesitate, showed no confidence to read on. But after 1 Term there – showed improvement ! I attribute this to her daily Montessori Phonics exposure @kindy, minimal half an hour to 45 mins dosage per session, Mon – Fri (daily). Drilling into her the consonants, vowels, blending of sounds. Because exposure is 5x per week (Not once a week enrichment), that helped her to progress much faster. In Term 1 K1, she cleared Pink scheme Montessori phonics. Kindy teacher feedback that able to clear Pink scheme in one Term – is average normal pace for most Montessori kids, unless the child happen to encounter some learning difficulty. By end of Term 2 (June), she cleared Blue scheme. Teacher feedback again this is average pace. Some of her classmates in Monte kindy had cleared Green scheme, because they’d started out learning phonics one year earlier, in N2.

The Montessori kindy English Teacher in charge also refer me - where exactly to print out those frequently / commonly encountered sight words ? She said it is important that every K1 / K2 kindergarten child ought to know how to read /recognize sight words. She explained that when reading storybooks - bound to come across them pretty often. So I visited the website, print out and gave her spelling. Each spelling session – gave her dosage of 5 words. Next session, another 5 new words. Spread out over a few months, slowly. With this, gradually she got used to and familiar with common sight words.

for sharing purpose, here they are.
Total :- got 220 Highly frequently encountered sight words
you may print them out yourself, can start give your child spelling at home.
(5 words per spelling each time)

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List1.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List2.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List3.html


http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List4.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List5.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List6.html


http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List7.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List8.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List9.html


http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List10.html

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/basic_lists/List11.html

I think the reason why admin lady mention Ladybird level 10 is because –
RFS (“Read for Success” ) in itself also good!

RFS programme help to prepare kids to read well enough, up to equivalent of at least level 10 (Ladybird series) or beyond. Will be good if mommies whose kids had gone through RFS programme, can share more. Is it true that after complete RFS - your child can read up to equivalent level 10, or which level ?

However during the actual test for outsiders who did not go through RFS, that book selected by Teacher for your child to read –
may not be equivalent to level 10, so tough. It is much more simpler, unless different “P1 HeadStart” teacher happen to take different storybook to test children’s reading ? (that I am not sure)

[Precious2.012911lee]

Hi phtthp, your DD is really bright. Did your girl attend other enrichment classes prior to Learning point? I am starting to get worried for my girl who pratically knows nothing and she is entering K1 next year.


I do not think think LP will even accept her due to her poor standard. Also, if I put her in LP with other smart kids, she probably can't catch up too and it's going to be a waste of time and money. I am not sure if it's relevant to post here but are there any other schools that are good in building up foundation in phonics?

[Imami]

Precious2.lee:

Hi phtthp, your DD is really bright. Did your girl attend other enrichment classes prior to Learning point? I am starting to get worried for my girl who pratically knows nothing and she is entering K1 next year.


I do not think think LP will even accept her due to her poor standard. Also, if I put her in LP with other smart kids, she probably can't catch up too and it's going to be a waste of time and money. I am not sure if it's relevant to post here but are there any other schools that are good in building up foundation in phonics?

Hi Precious2.lee, our kids are the same age - next year k1. According to LP tester, to be enrolled in RFS (K1 programme), all the kid needs to know is to be able to recognise and write the alphabet.

Kids catch up very fast. dont worry too much.

[Precious2.012911lee]

Imami:

Precious2.lee:

Hi phtthp, your DD is really bright. Did your girl attend other enrichment classes prior to Learning point? I am starting to get worried for my girl who pratically knows nothing and she is entering K1 next year.


I do not think think LP will even accept her due to her poor standard. Also, if I put her in LP with other smart kids, she probably can't catch up too and it's going to be a waste of time and money. I am not sure if it's relevant to post here but are there any other schools that are good in building up foundation in phonics?

Hi Precious2.lee, our kids are the same age - next year k1. According to LP tester, to be enrolled in RFS (K1 programme), all the kid needs to know is to be able to recognise and write the alphabet.

Kids catch up very fast. dont worry too much.

Hi Imami, your boy is so smart too. Honestly, if my DD has 50% of your DS standard, I will be very happy. Sometimes, I just couldn't help wondering, I feed my 2 kids the same food, give them the same formula milk but why is it that their standard is so different. If not that my DD takes after my look, I really suspect I might have carried the wrong baby back from the hospital 4 years ago. :yikes: I am transferring DD to another church kindergarten next year. Not sure if it's the right choice, I do hope she gets to learn more in the next 2 years.

[Ymy]

Hi! Phttp, thanks for sharing! My child will be attending the RFS starting from next year .Hopefully by then I will be able to share more about the RFS.


I agree that the kindy/ childcare that they attend is important. My child was taught phonic since nursery. But his progress is slow. May be because of the teacher or the method that use? I am not sure. Because I have an elder one last time attending the same school. Has no problem in reading and I never send for extra phonic class. I guess we cannot compare as they r different.

[Imami]

[quote=\"Precious2.lee]Hi Imami, your boy is so smart too. Honestly, if my DD has 50% of your DS standard, I will be very happy. Sometimes, I just couldn't help wondering, I feed my 2 kids the same food, give them the same formula milk but why is it that their standard is so different. If not that my DD takes after my look, I really suspect I might have carried the wrong baby back from the hospital 4 years ago. :yikes: I am transferring DD to another church kindergarten next year. Not sure if it's the right choice, I do hope she gets to learn more in the next 2 years.[/quote]


My kid's strength is in language, in particular spoken language. There must be something that your DD is strong(compare to kids of the same age) in, which could be non-academic.

You are so funny – on the part if you had carried the wrong baby back! I always feel that I have definitely brought back the right baby – he looks like me, smile like me, as cheeky/naughty/talkative as me, loves the same type of food like me…. how could go wrong? For a child like that (i.e. a child who is so much like the parent),I can only love him even more and try to mend the shortage. Because seeing him is like seeing myself.

ok :offtopic:

[iLoveChubby]

Any parents whose kid is with Teacher Phillis / Teacher MingJing at LP Thomson?

Would very much appreciate your comments on them.
Can pm me too, thanks!:)

[phtthp]

are there any P1 pupils and above from \"Learning Point\" wish to post their essays, for a contest ?


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=47738

[Ran1977]

Thanks phtthp for your encouragement.

My son had passed the P1 Headstart assessment and will be starting classes on Saturday.
I asked about P1 Headstart in Maths but they are unsure if they would start the same when they move to Parkway Centre (Marine Parade) in February. But I feel that if more of the parents express interest in having their children attend it, then I am sure the Management would be able to start it:)