Preschool Curriculum

[buds]

Heyya all.


Wanna share a tiny observation from an
unfortunate incident i noticed. This scenario
happened while i was having a quiet lunch
with my 2 kiddies at a neighbourhood Mac Donalds,
which had a nearby Cambridge branch.

Our quiet lunch was interrupted by screaming
ladies. After further observation, little cuties
entered the Mac Donalds, seemingly eager to
celebrate a birthday of some sort.

The ladies were observed to have a China accent
while interacting with the children. It did not seem
like a fun party at all. Apart from the broken English
instructions shouted to the small cuties, the demeaning
method of standing up to shout to a small child down
there looking up at ya... i tell you, my girls were wide-
eyed! While the party was going on, the ladies were chatting
away and left the Mac D staff to co-ordinate on their own.

The children were not brought to wash their hands after the
short games segment and told to quickly finish up their food.
None of the children displayed happy faces, not even half a
smile from the birthday child.

More shouting ensued till after the party was over and the
children had to walk back to the centre, with the China
teachers still nagging away at the kids loudly..

When they were out of sight, my little kiddie said...
\"So poor thing ya mum the children...\" Then, she
squeezed my arm.

Boy, was that a great time for me to quip,
\"That's why, you two are lucky children to have your
mummy stay home and take care of you..\"

Thats when a quick reply came again from the lilttle one..
\"Ya, mum. Its okay, we don't need so many toys. We're
bigger now. So you don't need to go to work or send us
to childcare. Just stay home to take care of us... We like
that better, thanks mum!\"

And followed by an even stronger arm squeeze..
This is what makes my day.. everyday.

:celebrate:

So, for that alone Cambridge was out for me.
All those colourful posters boasting highly interactive
activities and a holistic curriculum plus the option of
various enrichment pgrms all at one stop...
Doesn't work for me.

Theory vs Application?
So very true.

If clothes make the man..
Great teachers are the curriculum..

Yes, do not waste time on the administrators.
They're trained to say what they say. And sell
the centre's pgrm. Doesn't mean the one who
answers your phone inquiry that articulates so
well till it impressed you to sign up mean, that
all the staff INSIDE are like that...

If the centre has nothing to hide, the administrators
themselves will obligingly offer for you to meet up
with the teacher and see a class in action. After which
you may then sign up for a trial to see if your child
responds positively to the teacher.

Montessori Trained teachers may not always display
the ideal Montessorian attitude too. So, be careful
what you pay for. Brand or quality.. A big household
name does not automatically qualify it being good.

Eventually, its still..
1. Teachers.
2. Teachers.
3. Teachers.
4. Environment.
5. Curriculum.
6. Fees.

When in doubt at your first pre-school shopping attempt,
try to opt for those with flexible days/hours kinda centres.
Less commitment for you to put yourself to and less worry
that if your child does not adapt well, you will lose out on
the $$$ put into it.

Reading Readiness?
No one perfect way to teach reading skills effectively.
Importantly, lessons must be fun! And i never fail to end
>with a good teacher. A good teacher has passion in her.
You can feel it when its the ONE. Hehee...

But where?
Happy hunting.

[kwcllf]

Hi All,



I will also like to share my experience on one of the so-called established Childcare Centres chain that never fails to highlight its achievements and awards. It is located near the Bukit Merah Bus Interchange.

During the reent Parent-Teacher Conference (PTC), the China teacher merely rushed through the whole process in 5 minutes claiming she had alot of other work to do. We had to "tell her off" before she grudgingly go through it but still tried to finish ASAP. Worst still, she lost one of my kid’s Chinese work-book. Although she said she would look for it and pass it to us on another day, she never did.

When this was brought up to the Branch Director, she refused to response. Then she got her principal to call me instead and she simply brushed aside the whole matter, saying all the materials had been returned to my kid, which is NEVER the case. What this means is that a bulk of my kid’s work has been lost and we cannot assess what she had been doing!

Also, talking about curriculum, what good is it if it is not carried out professionally or at least, with the right attitude. At the PTC, we were surprised to find out from the teachers that there was no "formal" reading programmes as they claimed that the centre is still relatively "new".

So, parents beware! Check properly before you enrol. The environment may look enticing and "impressive", but what is going on "inside" you have to be careful.

As buds said; "Theory vs Application", I cannot agree more with her. So what with all the achievements and awards!!

[octbride]

hi

any feedback on maris stella kindergarten? I wanted to know if the students graduated from Maris stella are able to cope well academically when entering P1.

Any advise?

[elmomo]

Hi insider,


my girl has started K1 in her childcare centre. For the past few days, it had always been chinese lesson when i asked whether did Ms XXX teach any maths or english.

As the centre is now understaff, so i was wondering is it the right thing to do? The timetable was pasted in the coms book stating the timings for the various lessons but i think alot of times it was not adhered to. For eg…it was stated "creative playtime" from 5 to 6 pm…but 98% of the time the kids were already packed in front of the TV at 5pm.

Am trying to give the benefit of doubt that this week is very busy with the new N1, N2 freshies joining in. I am also wondering is it due to the Chinese teacher going back to China for the CNY period that they are cramping all the chinese lessons.??? But if this thing persist (no other lessons beside maths n english), what should i do?

[elmomo]

Hi insider,


thanks for you advise. Hiaz…i long wanted to withdraw my girl out but daddy is resistant coz my girl had her good friends there.

i saw alot of things in the centre that i am not pleased with and had made some feedback. (i likely will be labelled a trouble maker mum)…They can increase fee without giving parents 2 mths notice. Within 2 yrs there, i think fee had adjusted 2 or 3x already.

they had tv viewing in the morning, and the 5pm thing…their play time i wonder is there or not…and the toys there are the very old type…even little toys from McDonalds is part of the pile lor.

i hunt around my area hoping to change but is worried of whether is the curriculum ok or not. I live in Bt Panjang area.

I zoomed down to YMCA (not the metropolitan ones ) and CitiKids Edventure. YMCA 's environment is very clean which i quite like. Citikids seemed to be quite "new"…their branch in Pickering Street used to be affliated with Pat Sch’s hse, but stopped as of last yr …so don’t know how is their curriculum…you got any insights for me…?

will MCYS "interfere"?

[kwcllf]

Hi elmomo,


You can always call MCYS and they have specific officers in charge of spcific areas.

I can understand your frustration as I have the same experience as yourself. Go ahead to complain to MCYS. Although it may not be easy for them to "see" what is going on day-in-day-out, it is good to put some heat on the centre. … then maybe they will be more wary of their lapses and shortcomings.

[elmomo]

hi all,


tks for the advise. I had wanted to feedback more but restraint myself abit fearing they will "victimise" my girl. Heard from the administrator that they had terminated the service of one girl coz the parents were in disagreement with the centre. I asked her " won’t MCYS interfere meh?. Then she said they had this clause saying they can terminate if they "can’t meet the requirements of parents" lor and usually MCYS will only step in if there is child abuse…

i dun want things to turn so ugly…

by the way…what leeway time frame should i be looking for them to re-adjust back to the normal time table. I heard from one parent that during times of short handed-ness… the priniciple will come to give lesson if he is free…if not free, then no lessor wor and usually it takes around 2 mths to settle down. faint! …last time my girl in nursery, it din bother me so much…but now she is in K1, i am concerend. if kept having this problem of short handed-ness, then my girl is there more of "being babysit" than there to learn. Hiaz…

thought of pulling her out but also scared i make the wrong choice…dun wan her to keep re-adapting to new environment.

[elmomo]

they increase the fee from $520 to $590 (before subsidy) after govt increased the subsidy lor.


i feedback quite on a number of things, think they feel i giving them trouble lah…and after hearing they terminated the service of the other girl, i wan to live some "hou lu" for ourselves till we can find a better one to change.

i myself witnessed abit lah…no parents aound, teacher asked the crying girl to stop crying in a stern voice. Once saw me at the window…quickly change tune. sigh…once i walked past the centre…heard one teacher reprimanded a kid v sternly and so loud that i could hear it from the other end.

but as u said, shortage of preschool teachers are a problem here, so i am afraid other centres will also have this kind of problem…then i will be back to square one if i pull my girl out n put in another. hiaz…

u got any good ones to recommend? I live in the west. Also contemplating to put my girl in those 3hrs church kindergarten.

[kwcllf]

Hi elmomo,


I understand your frustration perfectly…keep changing childcare centres maqy not be the solution as you may encounter the same lousy services elsewhere. In the meantime, I suggest you continue to "feedback" on service lapses or teachers’ unacceptable behaviour to them. As long we we have the facts, they will not dare do anything drastic. At the same time, it will make them wary that they are being "watched".

I will like to share with you one recent incident. On one particular day, they had Chicken rice for lunch. But when I examined what my kid was served, it contained such tiny morsels of chicken that it was practically "camoulflaged" by the rice. When I pointed out to them, the auntie said there was vegetables that my kid did not want. But I retorted that even with the vegetable, the amount of chicken was grossly disproportionate. The auntie just walked away and refused to do anything. Then I saw one of the teacher walking past and I asked her to be a witness and she said she would top it up with more chicken and "it should not be a problem". Still, the auntie had the cheek to complain that my kid did not want to take the vegetable. Asnyway, there was already vegetable soup and that was why I let my kid be.

Well…I have proof of the whole incident. And if they wants to be ridiculous, I will not let the matter rest just like that.

by the way, changing to a Kindergarten with 3 hours session daily may not be a bad idea if you have someone to look after your kids after classes. My daughter was once in a Kindergarten and the 3 hours she spent there was well-utilised. In a childcare centre, alot of time is wasted by "free-play" and uninspired teachers just going through motion.

[Diveera]

Hi Insider


I’m in a dilemma. I’m not exactly pleased with the way my daughter Full Day CC is operating. I’m searching for alternative and there aren’t a better one near home and the fee is also higher. Am I expecting too much from a CC monthly fee of $300+ after subsidy?

She recently enter N1. I don’t have a list of daily schedule, what time for bath, lunch, lesson, etc. I don’t know what’s their weekly meals. No idea what is her class size. I have request for these information though. I know who is her English teacher, never met her Chinese teacher. Total number of children for N1 is more than 20 and I’m not sure if they split to 2 classes for lesson.

Have asked for their curriculum, was told it is theme base and what theme for which term but didn’t give in-dept of how will it be carried out and no presentation of worksheets.

In your opinion, what is the full day CC monthly fee for N1 I should be prepared to pay for a decent curriculum with good teachers? If the CC is not so good, will it be better to place her in 3 hours kindergarten instead?