Newton Kindergarten

[postpet]

Thanks! I needed to know when to register this year too. Got to apply leave.

[Mybabyme]

postpet:

Thanks! I needed to know when to register this year too. Got to apply leave.

Hi mummies who is keen to enrol in 2013 for their toddlers, do keep me posted on their enrollment date too. As I am a 1st time mother who is very new to all this registrations. I like this thread talking about Newton Kindy. Hope my son will get a spot too. Our family speaks majority English at home. Weak in our Mandrian. Hope to get him more exposure in this. Thanks please keep me posted.

Thanks mummies. See you all in 2013. :imcool:

[zac's mum]

Hi postpet & Mybabyme,


I have been discussing general registration for 2013 with another mummy at another topic, please check this out:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=30694&p=687534#p687534

[porcupine12trade]

Dear mummies,


I see a few parents keen to put their child in newton kindy.

My son has just started K1 and I am still monitoring if the kindy is as good as it’s made to be. I cannot comment yet as this is only the 2nd week into school. I noted that there are quite some holidays and celebrations in this kindy (I am comparing to my son’s ex kindy). Also the readers the K1s will be using are very simple (similar standard as my son’s previous kindy’s but nursery level). This kindy sure offers plenty of after school enrichment courses. My take is if the kindy is doing a great job, I do not have to send my child to enrichment classes. My elder children (attended my son’s ex kindy) only attended phonics pre P1 and they are doing great in primary school.

I really hope newton kindy will not disappoint me.

[phtthp]

flip through my friend's son last year 2011 K1 workbooks & worksheets.


feedback for Maths -
find the K1 workbook thin - few worksheets inside, content a bit basic.
need to go in depth.

have not seen any K2 worksheets yet.

P1 Maths curriculum dynamically revolving, changes from MOE every few years. Before entry into P1 now, a child is expected to read. Perhaps can introduce simple word problem.
suggest for K1 / K2:-

1)
- practise enough Addition exercies first.
- intro word problems.
(ensure each child in class able to read aloud the Addition qn first)

2)
- practise enough Subtraction exercies first.
- intro word problems.
(ensure each child in class able to read out aloud the Subtraction qn first)

3)
- practise enough Place Value concept exercies first. Teach child Place value concept what are Units, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands.

- intro word problems.
(ensure each child in class able to read aloud the Place Value qn first)

4)
- practise enough Number Bond exercies first.
- intro word problems.
(ensure each child in class able to read aloud the Number Bond qn first)

5) then throw in a mixture or \"rojak\" combination.
- test whether child knows which concept to apply, after going through above steps (1) to (4). This combination is needed, test if child knows how to apply.

ie. after reading qn aloud - does child know whether he should Add, should Subtract or whether Add first then Subtract, or apply Number Bond concept ?

6) ... followed by rest of the remaining topics (Time, Length, Mass, Weight, etc), under K2 MOE curriculum.

however, i had also taken a look at Barker road church kindergarten (brmck) sample K1 workbooks (from another friend).

compared to Newton - brmck booklets are even thinner, also very few basic simple worksheets. This led me pondering ... are most of the church kindergarten \"sama sama\" standard ? have not taken a look at St James church kindergarten sample. but both brmck & SJK do have a long list of enrichment programme(s).

[Mimama]

Also, does K2 do Han Yu Pin Yin in Newton?

[porcupine12trade]

Mimama:

Also, does K2 do Han Yu Pin Yin in Newton?

MOE does not encourage kindy to teach hypy. So, no. But newton offers after school hypy enrichment.

[edener]

My son is one of the few who has been with NK since N1. This is a good school in terms of character building and imparting right values to a child. He loves the school (especially the school song), the teachers and his friends. However, I am getting a little nervous now if he will be ready for P1 after graduating from NK. The content of his K1 work was indeed basic (too basic actually) and I thought it should be more in depth in K2. Apparently, it is not.


Example of K2 Spelling Words (only 5 words)
1. Scarf
2. Scone
3. Scatter
4. Scooter
5. Scale

Example of his K1 (end of term) Spelling Words from Enrichment
1. antidote
2. anticlockwise
3. binoculars
4. circumscribe
5. convince
6. community
7. extraordinary
8. hypermarket
9. forefinger
10. committee
- All the kids in the class got full marks and according to my boy, only 1 girl failed to get the perfect score.

Kids are so smart these days and to be honest, I do not think my boy will be ready for P1 if he does not attend any enrichment classes. He probably will face difficulties catching up. Other than English, he also attend Chinese & Maths enrichment since beginning of K1. It is really a MUST. Having spoken to the teachers during PMT, I do think there is any kid in his class who does not take enrichment classes.

[MummyThreeStreams]

Why on earth does a 6 year old need to know how to spell ‘circumscribe’?! Do they understand what it means and how to use it (in an original sentence)? Under what situation will they be called upon to use it in P1?


By all means enrichment classes can teach these to kids for fun or to ‘stretch’ them. But I would rather the school focus on teaching basics very well.

DS1, who went to a different kindy, is doing fine in primary school. His kindy curriculum is comparable to Newton and he didn’t attend enrichment. So I wouldn’t worry too much.

[porcupine12trade]

MummyThreeStreams:

Why on earth does a 6 year old need to know how to spell 'circumscribe'?! Do they understand what it means and how to use it (in an original sentence)? Under what situation will they be called upon to use it in P1?


By all means enrichment classes can teach these to kids for fun or to 'stretch' them. But I would rather the school focus on teaching basics very well.

DS1, who went to a different kindy, is doing fine in primary school. His kindy curriculum is comparable to Newton and he didn't attend enrichment. So I wouldn't worry too much.

Totally agree with mummythreestreams. P1 is not tough at all, dun worry lo. My #1 attended another kindy, n only had phonics lessons coping v well in pri school, now p3. So is her sis in P1, who also only attended phonics. Many parents here make P1 sounds like sec 1 (joking), dun stress urself unduly.