Hello all KSP,
I'm new and I also belong in this group haha. Father of 2 girls. Older DD is going to P1 in 2021 and I'm already here lol. Took awhile to read through this thread but I manage to dig out pretty good gems from all the wonderful parents who helped answered the many questions (many repeated ones) so I decided to just compiled a summary to help others like me, a KiaSuParent (KSP).
Here's what I found from the beginning of this thread in 2009 till now with some stuff I'm adding. Correct me if I missed out anything.
School Info can be found here. - http://sis.moe.gov.sg/SchoolDetails.aspx?schoolCode=5005
or the school website.
Location: Temporary @ 121 Queensway, 149059 until Dec 2018
1 Bukit Teresa Road Singapore 099757
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru, Outram Park & Harbourfront
Affiliated school: CHIJ ST. THERESA'S CONVENT (COP is 200, else non affiliated is 230-238 to enter or dependent on the cohort.)
Information on Registration
2018 batch to check here for details - https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/press-releases/refinements-to-the-primary-one-registration-exercise
Other notes[list]
Date: 11 Nov (to be confirmed closer to date, differs every year but should be around the same date.)[list]
Students - will be assigned to temporary classes where they can start mingling, there will be games and a simple sight test consisting of reading some simple sentences. Preferably to report in school uniform but school is flexible enough to allow otherwise.
Parents - will be sent to the assembly hall to listen to a powerpoint presentation by the principal on how good she is and how much value the school can bring to our child. Books and clothes are available to be bought during this day.
Current Vacancies as of 2018 - https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/primary-one-registration/vacancies (Looking at the trend I should be quite safe for Phase 2B when it's my turn.)
Information on School Attire can be found here - http://chijkellock.moe.edu.sg/about-us/school-information/school-rules-n-regulations
Other notes mentioned here: [list]
Other information about fees[list]
Information about the school's CCA can be found here. - http://chijkellock.moe.edu.sg/ccas/cca-at-kellock
Other information from here[list]
1. Teach your child phonics for about 10 mins a day. I used the free Blend Phonics booklet that I have posted about earlier in this thread.
2. Read to your child every day. I cannot stress this more emphatically. I read for atleast 15 mins on weekdays (more, if I can manage it) and an hour on weekends.
Look on this forum and on others for good book suggestions. For instance, I read on this forum that RGPS uses two Roald Dahl books for P1 and P2 English, so I bought them for my dd and read them to her.
When you read to your child, encourage her to interrupt you if she has questions about the story or the meaning of any word. If you come across a word that you think is new to her, pause and ask her if she knows what it means. If she doesn't, tell her the meaning, give an example of how the word is used, then continue reading. Even if you can only manage to read one page a day, this interactive method of reading aloud is very enriching.
3. Buy a regular 100-bead abacus or (even better) these counting sticks (or this cheaper version) and have the child make number bonds (by making rod trains).
For instance, ask the child to show you which rod stands for 4 and then ask her which stick you should put after it to make a train of 10.
4. Talk to your child in complete sentences. Try to use your best English pronunciation and vocabulary.
Ask her to describe the scene before her. For instance, if you are at the food court, ask her to describe the items on display at the yong tau foo stall, describe the sights and smells and how it makes her feel. Suggest more descriptive language to paint a better picture. At home, show her a coloured picture from the newspaper or magazine and ask her to describe it. Get her to speculate what the characters may be doing or thinking or feeling. If she cannot spontaneously talk about it (which is rare with girls :-)) then prompt her with questions - use the 5Ws and 1H technique used in the school (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How). She will slowly recognize a pattern and structure her descriptions accordingly.
Once in a while, read a short story or passage to her and ask her to narrate it back to you. Again, if she cannot do it spontaneously, lead her with appropriate questions - what happened first, what happened after that, what happened at the end, how did the main character feel, was the character right/wrong, how would you behave if you were the character, etc.
5. Get your child to write a short sentence (3-4 words) every day in her best handwriting.
Final Words from myself
My mother was never the informed kind, I went through school like a blur sotong and missed out many things. I even went to school in the wrong attire a few times. (Malu max) I do not wish the same for my children, this my Kiasu-ness. I also seen enough suicide cases on the news to not want to push my children too much (I will remind myself to not compete with others), I believe the only person to beat is oneself, as long as there is constant improvement, even from 1 mark to 2 marks calls for a praise and some encouragements. I also believe in Erik Erikson psychological stages and for primary school, I feel more importantly is how they learn to build relationships in schools - friends and their teachers. So chillax to all the KSP who's drilling their kids, hear them out.
Peace out! God Bless!
