PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[kaitlynangelica]

guiltymummy,


do you feel that your gal is learning more now after the switch than when she was at the church kindergarten?

[guiltymummy]

kaitlynangelica,


Well, she is more well-versed and discipline than before. In fact, when she was in the church kindergarten she attended enrichment classes held by the kindergarten itself too but not much improvement. She is currently attending the full day care and I pay only $400/per mth aft subsidy. Nothing xtra, except for the transport arrangement to and fro. ($60/per mth)

[guiltymummy]

kaitlynangelica,


Well, she is more well-versed and discipline than before. In fact, when she was in the church kindergarten she attended enrichment classes held by the kindergarten itself too but not much improvement. She is currently attending the full day care and I pay only $400/per mth aft subsidy. Nothing xtra, except for the transport arrangement to and fro. ($60/per mth)

[kaitlynangelica]

guitymummy,


I have the same experience as you;meaning that I feel that she is learning much more after switching her over to Montessori. However, the fees in Bukit Timah are much much more - $850 for a full day and $575 for half a day all after subsidy. But the principal was nice enuf to tell me that most of the lessons are in the morning and most of the kids only go there for half a day as they really don’t need child-care services.

You really have a good price!

[tamarind]

guiltymummy:

hi tamarind,


My daughter is also in kindergarten 1 and every week there will be a list of 5-7 words of spelling and homework of about 3-10pgs.
Spelling words includes aeroplane, basket etc...
I think not only PCF standard is high, basically now the education standard in Singapore is very high. We send our kids to school for education but the teachers conveniently throw the balls back to parents

Thanks for sharing Yes I agree that the education standard here is very high. I never imagine I will start to feel stress when my girl is only in K1 ! Now I already have to make sure that I spend time to teach her after I return from work every day. I also have to prepare my 4 year old boy so that he can follow up in K1 !

[Han Seo]

Does having difficult spelling list means the kindergarten standard is very high? If that is so, even my grandma can do it.


What is the purpose of giving difficult spelling words when the word has no meaning to the child? The child may be able to memorize it for the test but after that, it is totally forgotten. Worse, the child will come to hate reading and writing and once this thinking sets in, it is difficult to erase.

I would think school readiness goes beyond knowing how to spell x no. of words. What is important is also the ability to listen and take instructions, to get along with others and also to love learning. The emotional and social aspect is often neglected but these are just as important when our child starts formal schooling.

[Champion]

Hi Tamarind,

Happen to read this topic and find it is really interesting.

I din know that K1 needs spelling liao...and really amazed that they are giving those words. I understand that your girl is in Blk 662B J West PCF; I will be putting my No. 2 in Nursery class wif Blk 262 Boon Lay PCF next year. I have heard from my ex-nanny that their standard is also very high and that the teachers are very strict with the children. Really stressful for us as parents

tamarind:

guiltymummy:

hi tamarind,

My daughter is also in kindergarten 1 and every week there will be a list of 5-7 words of spelling and homework of about 3-10pgs.
Spelling words includes aeroplane, basket etc...
I think not only PCF standard is high, basically now the education standard in Singapore is very high. We send our kids to school for education but the teachers conveniently throw the balls back to parents

Thanks for sharing Yes I agree that the education standard here is very high. I never imagine I will start to feel stress when my girl is only in K1 ! Now I already have to make sure that I spend time to teach her after I return from work every day. I also have to prepare my 4 year old boy so that he can follow up in K1 !

[kaitlynangelica]

Han Seo:

Does having difficult spelling list means the kindergarten standard is very high? If that is so, even my grandma can do it.


What is the purpose of giving difficult spelling words when the word has no meaning to the child? The child may be able to memorize it for the test but after that, it is totally forgotten. Worse, the child will come to hate reading and writing and once this thinking sets in, it is difficult to erase.

I would think school readiness goes beyond knowing how to spell x no. of words. What is important is also the ability to listen and take instructions, to get along with others and also to love learning. The emotional and social aspect is often neglected but these are just as important when our child starts formal schooling.

Hi Hanseo,

Yes I agree with you.

I think what you mean is that a child who can spell is not necessarily a child that can read and decode his words well. They need to have some understanding of phonics. Also, it is possible that a child can read but doesn't understand what he is reading. This will mean that he is not ready for school because in school, he needs to quickly understand new things that are taught.

[sleepy]

re: spelling


my girl’s PCF has spelling from K1

I forgot the exact frequency (attended last year) …probably once a month spelling test

I have since withdrawn her from PCF

I guess having spelling test allows the child to gradually get use to learning spelling since it’s part & parcel of P1

as long not too many to learn (3 to 5 words) should be fine
otherwise too overwhelming for the child

[tamarind]

Sleepy,

My girl is asked to spell 4 english words every 2 weeks 。 Then in between they have Chinese 听写

I think the teachers feel that spelling and 听写 are good ways to let the child practice writing. The children are asked to write the words once a day at home. Sometimes I asked my girl to write 2 - 3 times a day for more difficult words.