laughingcat - im interested in the grammar. but not this year as me delivering in oct. hw abt considering for next yr?

kabalevsky:

I checked Summer Montessori in Jurong West already. This is their link. http://summermontessori.blogspot.com/


It is a new set up. I personally like it a lot because the teachers are warm, friendly and patient at explaining everything to me and in their interaction with the kids. They own the school and they teach themselves so I think it is vested interest that they do their best.

However, I am going to be objective here and list what I think are the pros and cons. For anyone living in the west to consider.

Pros

1. Low student:tr ratio.
About 4:1 for Montessori time, and during class there are 2 teachers, 8 kids, for the age group I am interested in, the 2yr old group.

2. Wonderful teachers
Super warm, friendly, patient teachers.

3. Good language modelling
The standard of English used is good, at least from what I observed.

4. Both owners are trained Monte directresses, each with many years of experience.

5. kids have 30-45min Monte time each day.

6. Very affordable fees, since it operates out of HDB RC center.

7. They have very interesting activities: field trips, cooking, acting, music, dress-up, keeping pets like terrapin and fish in the school etc.

8. They have a sound reading program. Using Oxford readers.


Cons
1. Operate out of HDB RC, so there are space constraints. There is a playground right outside the RC but within the school, it is not that spacious.

2. For those who like equal Chinese emphasis, this school has more English emphasis. Chinese takes up about 20-30min each day, but is mainly learnt through songs, stories and poems. I don't see many Chinese posters or books around, although the shelves are stocked with really many very good English books.

3. No transport service. According to the school P, most of the kids walk to school so there is no demand for a school bus yet.


Other points (can be a pro or con, subjective from parent to parent):
1. There is a good mix of Singaporeans and foreigners. Ethnic diversity also pretty diverse.

2. They do quite a lot of worksheets, from what I see. There are projects and books or writing and worksheets for tracing (younger kids) to higher level activities for upper level. Children may move at their own pace. SOme classes will have kids at different levels so they do different worksheets.

3. Snacks are brought from home.

hi kabalevsky, have you checked out ichiban Montessori too? can compare ichiban vs Summer Montessori ??

hi hi,

me plan to send my boy to ichiban montessori @ Yunnan (Jurong west ext).

any idea if its good??

also, what are the course or workshop for Phonics and mathematics and related montessori teaching?

thinking to attend some courses to do some homeschooling for my kids.

dun think i wanna attend the diploma courses .

looking forward to the advices