Lshawn:

micollh:

anyone can advise, if i already paid up mu HDB loan, meaning completed the payment and thinking of buying a condo .. how should i go about it? is it still allowed with the new housing rules? i understand that if i were to get a condo, i cant stay in it? but have to stay in HDB and rent out the condo ? Pls advise. Thanks

U definitely can stay in the condo. It's ur house. As for HDB, think might have to keep for min 5 yrs.

Check with ur agent or HDB for more details. Best to do ur homework.

Yes, it's your choice to stay in either HDB or condo if you own both. Since you already paid up the HDB loan, you can loan up to 80% from bank.

20% downpayment - 5% cash + 15% CPF

If you are buying a second property, you and/or spouse each will need to set aside a total min. sum of $65.5K in OA+SA. Think the min. sum will revise again in July...Only the amount above the min. sum set aside, can be used for the CPF down payment.

smurfy:

hi,


just wondering anyone signed up for the bundled program for Nursery, K1 and K2 kids?

are cooking and music (keyboard) weekly affairs? or adhoc type?

Smurfy, if I remember correctly, your child is in the same branch as mine.... I signed up the bundled program for my DS in Nursery. It started in mid' Feb and was told that the max. intake about 18 children in nursery group for the add-on programs. I'm not sure if the intake no. has changed or not.

These programs are conducted weekly.
Tuesday – Harmony Road (Music)
Thurs (I think) - cooking and art & crafts are conducted alternately
Fri - Swimming

You also need to pay a small sum for the materials (like music / activity booklets) used in Harmony.

I can’t be help feeling an anti-Pats putting negative remarks in ALL his/her only topic postings in KSP without giving a real factual situation or an example. Genuine parents having their kids in pats or even to someone who knows the pre-school, should be able to raise their concerns in a more constructive manner, rather than riding on others’ comments and start rubbing salt into it.

[quote=\"yuppybb\"]Hi dc mummy


Welcome to the icr level!

My kid is under teacher philip n i like him alot as compared to the previous native teacher in prp. He seemed alot more fun n is able to engage the kids really well. His class always end up later than the expected time.

My kid is in book 4/5 I can't rem. This program has built up my gal's confident ALOT :). Now she is so into readin out loud herself n I hardly get a chance to read her a story. Unless the more difficult ones of course. She knows she can read so she goes all the way out to try readin on her own. I think the program is quite worth it IF ur main aim is to make him be an independent reader

But the returns will come if u practise the readin w him more[quote=\"yuppybb\"]


Thanks yuppybb. Teacher Philip seems to be popular there, I have seen some cards made and messages wrote by the children pasted on the classroom door. I thought he’s teaching the primary level and didn’t know he teaches ICR level too. How come you manage to get the native teachers at both levels (PRP and ICR)?? Previously, I was told by staff at counter that native teachers only teach for ICR or higher levels. But when my DS moved to ICR, I wasn’t given a choice to choose a local or native at all ……

yuppybb:

junemum72:

I have a fren whose kid is also at ICR and she told me she is particularly not happy with the fact that the class always start 5mins later and ends at least 10 mins earlier. She has since withdrawn her son from the centre.


Anyone has the same issue at other centres?

My kid is in sk branch icr level. So far I dun face this problem but I do see sm teachers dismissin 5 mins b4 lesson end. Think it depends very much on the individual teacher. For my case I always need to wait 5-10 mins b4 they release the class.

yuppybb,

My child is also in the same branch. He's moving to ICR level in this coming lesson and will be taught by Eva. Is she the same teacher teaching your kid? So far, how's your kid progress at ICR level? Can you provide some feedback. Appreciate that.

My child is also in ICR (SK branch). He was assessed by an Indian teacher at that time and assigned to TCS (thinking and creative skills).


I always thought that little learners program is more inclined towards in developing speaking language through various activities. A child has to able to speak, interact and express themselves in an articulate manner before introducing them phonics. When I read about the activities of little learners in ICR brochure, I wasn’t keen to find out more and perceived it as a replicate program to what he was learning in his full day playgroup.

I think parents are same, including myself, we all love to hear positive feedback about child’s progress, advancement and competency. When a child has been assigned to a level below our expectation, we started to question the benefits of the program. If assessment result is not satisfactory or fall below expectation, we can raise our concern to find out more, the purpose and the intention of the assessor. What makes him / her feel that the child in not ready in a greater level when we think otherwise. In addition to this, there is always assessing variance conducted by different assessor, not only in ICR but in any other enrichment centers as well. Afterall, humans are born with different benchmark.

It is true that many kids will pick up reading eventually when they reach K1/K2, some kids without exposure to proper solid Phonics program are simply reading by sight words. When given a new word, they can’t decode and pronounce it accurately. In my own view, it is good to engage a child in reading early with understanding, so that he can progress further in other area (eg grammar, vocabulary) to strengthen his language. I find that phonics program, not just help in spelling learning in a breeze but also to enhance my DS word pronunciation. I prefer to start a child earlier, in a gradual and progressive manner rather than waiting till a year before P1 with intense drilling for preparation.

chen tai:

alivio:

Hi,


Anyone can kindly provide feedback on the Little Learners Programme at ICR? Particularly the branch at Rivervale Mall? My DD just turned 3 last month but she can't read yet. I am wondering if it would be beneficial to send her now or wait till later when she is more 'mature' and more ready to learn. Any advice?

Thanks for sharing!

my DD joined little learners programme when she turns 3 too, at harboufront centre branch. Initially i dont find the programme helpful as she's only doing some colouring & story telling in her class. but after a year now she made tremendous improvements. she can read some simple words on her own. no regrets la think the little learners programme is to prepare them for the next level.

Personally, I feel that sending a child to little learners may not be necessary…

To share my own encounter, when my DS reached 3 yo (born in Jan’07), he wasn’t able to recognized all 26 alphabet letters at all. So, I bought wooden letters jigsaw puzzle (forming an elephant shape) to play with him, took approx. 15 mins each day. Two months later, he was able to identifying each alphabet letter. So, I brought him to ICR for assessment and he had read out all single letters but wasn't able to make any vowel sound. He was then assigned to TCS program (one level after little learners), just to learn the first letter sound. At the same time, I played Leap Frog Letterfactory DVD and accessed to starfall website and preschooler phonics series (bought from popular) at home. Revised single letter vowel with him almost daily, he picked up the first sound and moved from TCS to PRP in less than 2 months.

DS is now 4 yo 3 months, already in PRP for almost a year. He is able to read P&J book 9 a/b (started with book 3a/b last Sep’10) At the same time, he is able to decode first, middle and last sound as well as blend words in other story books (example Mr Men series, Thomas & friends, USborne books & other preschooler books). Teacher in-charge informed that she will be testing him and he should be ready to move to ICR very soon but he need to practice in writing. Hope all will turn out well.

By giving DS a good interactive phonics enrichment along with home exposure, result is desirable. If we solely depend on a program alone (conduct only once weekly), result could be at slower pace. Just my humble view.

Zoukie:

empressplace:

Does anyone know if Chiltern House follows the class size limit of 14? THe issue is Pat's should at least stick to the class size mentioned on their website of 1:10. Fees should be proportional to class size. Otherwise older kids are subsidizing the younger classes. Infant care is known to be expensive because of the small ratio needed but I believe Pat's charges the same rate at playgroup to K2 but class ratio increases over the grades.


I think some parents are prepared to pay higher rates if these schools can deliver what they want eg smaller class size, better food, nicer premises.

Hi empressplace,

I believe Chiltern House does follow what they mention. I'm not too sure abt K1 since my girl is currently in N1. The ratio is 2:12.

Just wondering whether does Chiltern House provide regular cirriculum update on what the children have been learning during the week and next?

Monster Mummy:

Hi DC Mummy,
You can actually inform the staff that you will need to talk to the teacher. I have face same situation as yours previously. My gal took one year to complete. Most of PRP, the children must be able to know first, middle and last sound and able to differentiate. If you think that the child is ready, you can ask the teacher. for 4 years old, some child still weak in motor even my ds also still weak in his motor skill.

Thanks, Monster Mummy. Yap, I will check with the teacher in next lesson. DS knows the first, middle and last sound. Most of the time, he is able to blend the words except those sight words that can't use phonics method to decode.

At this age 4 yo, I consider him reading fairly well. He enjoys his PRP lessons partly becos it doesn't need to write much, just tracing the letters in workbook. If moving him to ICR level that requires more writing, am afraid he may not be ready and puts him off in learning.

Joeyz18:

monster mummy,

my son is good with blending too but still in prelimary class which i think kind of waste time and $ too and he feel boring in class cos he knew all the lesson. reason cos he did not want to speak up during the assessment cos he shy to the ang mo teacher. and now i am thinking maybe i should not continue him there unless he go to another level like creative writting

Monster Mummy:

[quote=\"ningmum\"]Hi Moster Mummy,

My son is quite stable for vowel a,e,i, o and u. His teacher is teaching cl, fl and bl now. But he is at I can read Preliminary now.


Hi Lostbunny,

Do you mean teacher can move him to another level anytime? No need to wait for a new term?

The teacher will assess them if they can think they are ready for next level. Usually, it will not be a new term. Maybe halfway through the class, the teacher think that they are ready and they pass the assessment, then they will promote to next level that is one year course.

[/quote]I am facing the same problem here. My 4 yo DS has been in PRP for 3 terms and still hasn't progressed to ICR level. I don't know why and didn't get a chance to ask the teacher. Feedback assessment form received so far, only pasted with stickers as a form of encouragement. There is isn't any comment or remark from the teacher written on it. Thus, I really don't know what is being taught and can't gauge his progress. Each time I ask DS, like others, he will give standard reply \"I don't know\" or \"I can't remember\", sounds alike isn't it?

At home, DS is reading P&J book 8a (he started with book 2a since last Sep'10) quite well plus able to read some other preschooler books (ie thomas & friends, pelangi, Usborne, etc) with some help at times on new words. For new words, he may need my help to prompt him in blending but most of the time, he is able to read at a reasonable speed with accurate pronunciation......The only thing is he still can't write each letter properly, far from writting well (v. poor motor skill, :stupid: ), not even writting his name. Will this be a barrier to move up??