CMA Math - Discussion

[phtthp]

hi Marc Ma,


went for the trial last week at Marine parade, by teacher Jovin. Yes! Teacher Jovin is very patient with young kids (my girl only 3.5 yrs old). Then she told me she teach only Advanced class, not Foundational basic class. So maybe i consider teacher Penny, another very patient teacher who teaches Foundational class. My only concern is the timing. Teacher Penny only available on Friday night 7.30 pm - i worry my girl sleepy, because hers is PM kindy. Come home by school bus, around 5pm. Then Saturday & Sunday morning all full house, unless i put her on waiting list.

anyway thanks very much for yr kind recommendation. I met some other parents there during the trial. One father said his son K1 started 6 months ago. He said now his son can calculate faster than a calculator. wow! That’s fantastic, isn’t it ?

[phtthp]

hi Pen88n,


because i couldn’t get a suitable timing slot for my girl at Marine parade branch, so i brought my girl for a trial at Novena Goldhill centre branch last Friday. The Principal assessed her … said my girl still in playful mode at age 3.5, she is not quite ready yet to sit down so long for 1.5 hrs to concentrate, though she can write 0 to 9. She recommend another kindy programme for younger kids to start off with first. The only branch having this kindy programme so far is at Farrer park CMA branch. But Farrer park not convenient for me. So perhaps i may go down for trial at Toa payoh branch next week to assess situation.

Thank you so much dear for your kind info. You are a gem. Truly appreciate !

[phtthp]

is CMA Toa Payoh a good centre to go to ? do they have patient, kind teachers for Foundation class ? Dont want those unfriendly type

[Pen88n]

phtthp:

hi Marc Ma,


went for the trial last week at Marine parade, by teacher Jovin. Yes! Teacher Jovin is very patient with young kids (my girl only 3.5 yrs old). Then she told me she teach only Advanced class, not Foundational basic class. So maybe i consider teacher Penny, another very patient teacher who teaches Foundational class. My only concern is the timing. Teacher Penny only available on Friday night 7.30 pm - i worry my girl sleepy, because hers is PM kindy. Come home by school bus, around 5pm. Then Saturday & Sunday morning all full house, unless i put her on waiting list.

anyway thanks very much for yr kind recommendation. I met some other parents there during the trial. One father said his son K1 started 6 months ago. He said now his son can calculate faster than a calculator. wow! That's fantastic, isn't it ?

phtthp,

Seriously, 3.5 years old is very young and it may not be the right time to start if she can't last the 1.5 hour session yet. There is a time for every thing, and sometimes starting before the right time may end up back-fire instead of achieving the results you want. Instead of going round assessing thru the various CMA centres and having to travel long distance (remember, this commitment is for a year or more), why don't you just waitlist your gal for Marine Parade CMA weekend classes? Usually, there will be class movement within 3-6 months (or even earlier). By then, your gal is still before or only 4 and quite young to start.

This is just my personal opinion and decision is up to you. Hope this helps.

[phtthp]

hi Pen88n,


Thank you for your precious words of advice of wisdom. Your thots are ... same as mine. you are absolutely right! will take yr advice - put her on waiting list for Sat morning at MP branch.

btw, this 5 yr old is cute & adorable, isn't she ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygjSioDQZOs&feature=related

curious ... which CMA branch is she from ? who is her teacher ?

[Pen88n]

phtthp:

hi Pen88n,


Thank you for your precious words of advice of wisdom. Your thots are ... same as mine. you are absolutely right! will take yr advice - put her on waiting list for Sat morning at MP branch.

btw, this 5 yr old is cute & adorable, isn't she ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygjSioDQZOs&feature=related

curious ... which CMA branch is she from ? who is her teacher ?

This girl is the child prodigy from CMA Yishun branch (I think). She holds the record of the Fastest Addition of 10-digits (10 numbers) in 5mins 17secs by Singapore Book of Records. She has completed the range of all the Basic levels from 13 - 1, and is already doing the Duan level and I think she has already completed Duan 6. She is an exceptionally focused child and able to concentrate and work for long period of time.

Usually, by the time kid has completed Basic level 5 or lesser, can easily breeze thru' Primary school Maths computation, though may not be exactly a \"calculator\" as yet. On the other hand, why do you need a \"human calculator\"? I think some parents miss the point that CMA is to train the kid's brain when young to process faster, and build the +-x/ foundation. Not every kid has to complete all the levels and become human calculators.

[phtthp]

hi Pen88n,


she is exceptional genius! her parents must be proud of her.

yes, agree - no need to be human calculator. can do basic 4 operation fast will do. Meanwhile, can buy a simple abacus at $6.45 from Popular Newton branch to practise 0 to 9, before enrol her.

here teach us basic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5ALPHQuC0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvsnftXXKdw&feature=fvwrel

[jedamum]

Have I asked this before?

Please refresh my old brain…are CMA lessons in Mandarin?

[Pen88n]

jedamum:

Have I asked this before?

Please refresh my old brain...are CMA lessons in Mandarin?

Teachers teach in English. Some materials like the Exercise Books and videos in classes are from Taiwan and in Chinese, but do not need to read words in books or know Chinese to understand those. There are other races attending these classes too.

[jedamum]

Pen88n:

jedamum:

Have I asked this before?

Please refresh my old brain...are CMA lessons in Mandarin?

Teachers teach in English. Some materials like the Exercise Books and videos in classes are from Taiwan and in Chinese, but do not need to read words in books or know Chinese to understand those. There are other races attending these classes too.

Thanks!