NataTL:

Just to let u know is difficult to have best of both worlds. Teachers are something we can't control. Good teacher come and go.

For school, yes select carefully. Learn thru play or Academic.
Learn thru play - no spelling, not much home work, don’t emphasis on drilling. They have creative drawing then write a few sentences to describe it. Show & tell – built confidence. Play and play and play the whole day deemed as interacting/socialising ** faint**
Academic base CC – worksheets, drillings, traditional way of teaching - but is the most effective way to build foundation s+ include spelling in K2 really prepare them for P1. As for creativity not much, except some cutting and pasting.

Darkcoco:

shn:

[quote=\"Imp75\"]I am not sure if preschool is a major contributor to kids coping well in P1. I had this conversation with my hubby several years ago when my gal was in PCF and there was no homework, no projects, no feedback and I don't even know what she learned or did. We discussed about changing preschools like what all kiasu parents would have thought of but due to convenience (maybe we are not so kiasu after all) we decided to continue her in PCF but we made sure she had enrichments like phonics and Chinese. we also made her read voraciously. Now that she just started P1 in CFS, I am glad to see that she can do her maths without coaching and English spelling with one try. although she is not as good in Chinese, that is within my expectations because of our environment. What I am trying to say is, preschool is not all that matters. A lot of how kids are coping in P1 is also dependent on how attentive they are in class and whether they can understand or absorb what the teacher taught?

I had jus discuss with my fren whom is a teacher in primary
School ! According to her, she says that kids grad from PCF,
St Hilda / Bethesda / other strong academic base kids really
Can cope better in P1! They can understand what the primary
School teacher will expect them to do ! While those learn thru
Play can't handle it as well as those from strong academic base!
But learn thru play are better in verbal, presentation, dare to speak type.
As p1 &2 exam includes both written work as well as speaking,
So both are also important now! But presentation only takes
20%[ depending on diff schools] But in long term, they are equally good!

smurf:

shn:

I read that a lot of PCF doesn't have very strong academic, so I'm quite confused. One said not good, the other said good. So which is which? :?

shn:

I had jus discuss with my fren whom is a teacher in primary
School ! According to her, she says that kids grad from PCF,
St Hilda / Bethesda / other strong academic base kids really
Can cope better in P1!

shn:

Imp75:

I am not sure if preschool is a major contributor to kids coping well in P1. I had this conversation with my hubby several years ago when my gal was in PCF and there was no homework, no projects, no feedback and I don't even know what she learned or did. We discussed about changing preschools like what all kiasu parents would have thought of but due to convenience (maybe we are not so kiasu after all) we decided to continue her in PCF but we made sure she had enrichments like phonics and Chinese. we also made her read voraciously. Now that she just started P1 in CFS, I am glad to see that she can do her maths without coaching and English spelling with one try. although she is not as good in Chinese, that is within my expectations because of our environment. What I am trying to say is, preschool is not all that matters. A lot of how kids are coping in P1 is also dependent on how attentive they are in class and whether they can understand or absorb what the teacher taught?

I had jus discuss with my fren whom is a teacher in primary
School ! According to her, she says that kids grad from PCF,
St Hilda / Bethesda / other strong academic base kids really
Can cope better in P1! They can understand what the primary
School teacher will expect them to do ! While those learn thru
Play can't handle it as well as those from strong academic base!
But learn thru play are better in verbal, presentation, dare to speak type.
As p1 &2 exam includes both written work as well as speaking,
So both are also important now! But presentation only takes
20%[ depending on diff schools] But in long term, they are equally good!

Imp75:

I am not sure if preschool is a major contributor to kids coping well in P1. I had this conversation with my hubby several years ago when my gal was in PCF and there was no homework, no projects, no feedback and I don't even know what she learned or did. We discussed about changing preschools like what all kiasu parents would have thought of but due to convenience (maybe we are not so kiasu after all) we decided to continue her in PCF but we made sure she had enrichments like phonics and Chinese. we also made her read voraciously. Now that she just started P1 in CFS, I am glad to see that she can do her maths without coaching and English spelling with one try. although she is not as good in Chinese, that is within my expectations because of our environment. What I am trying to say is, preschool is not all that matters. A lot of how kids are coping in P1 is also dependent on how attentive they are in class and whether they can understand or absorb what the teacher taught?

KSP:

I sent my dd to a academic based private pre-school where they have spelling, project based work and class presentation etc during K1/K2. My dd can cope with her P1/P2 work with no problem. With the current education system in SG and most parents' mindset, going to P1 is no longer to learn from scratch and gets marginal marks but to score with flying colours!!!


Building a strong foundation during K1/K2 is very important to prepare them for P1/P2. When they can do well during P1/P2 they feel motivated and a sense of achievement. This motivation is priceless and critical when they move up further. I hope this motivation will continue in her upper primary.

I don't see any reason why we should leave this to chance and play catch up later on. A child may be demotivated because of lack of preparation and this might lead to lose of interest in school work.

shn:

?... anyone whom had send kids to learn thru play like ju Gabriel, shaw , chiltern, ossdesy, would like to share your views when your kids entered p1??? Thanks

happydaddy:

hihikitty:

I would think for up to K2, building the child interest in the subject is important. Learning through play also help build the child other skills. Learning through play would be a better strategy.


However, in SG environment, its probably good to gradually accustom the kids with more academic learning starting K2. When my daughter goes into P1 she got a culture shock. Learning and classroom culture is so different from a pre-school days.

I strongly believe learning thru play is a flop. Imagine, if you dun focus on academic, you will have a hard time asking yr kids to sit down and study or do their homework. The attention span is very short....

hihikitty:

I would think for up to K2, building the child interest in the subject is important. Learning through play also help build the child other skills. Learning through play would be a better strategy.


However, in SG environment, its probably good to gradually accustom the kids with more academic learning starting K2. When my daughter goes into P1 she got a culture shock. Learning and classroom culture is so different from a pre-school days.