Comparing Pre-school English Reading and Phonics Enrichment

[Picolo]

When my DS1 was 4 y.o, a good friend of mine recommended Zoo Phonics to me, saying how good it was. However, I resisted sending my kids to it cos I have 3 kids, and 3 kids x (lots of enrichment classes) = super high expenses for me. So, I spent about $300 plus buying the Jolly Phonics materials to self-teach. I knew nuts abouts phonics when I started, but I learnt along from the DVD and read & re-read the Handbook. When I sent my DS1 for an assessment at Zoo Phonics when he was 5 y.o., he was assessed to be proficient and ready to join their Wise Owls (6 y.o. class). which means he is 1 yr more advanced than other Kids, including my friend’s son started ZP 2 years earlier. Since, Jolly Phonics works, I didn’t actually have to put him in any phonics and reading enrichment class till now and he is still doing very well at P1, EL teacher commenting that he is very creative and knowledgeable.


The JP is one of the best educational investment I have.

I have not saying ZP is not good. In contrary, it really works I think, given that many parents are very satisfied with it. However, I find the pace of progress too slow compared to JP (which if used conscientiously, able to finish 42 letter sounds and tricky words at the end of 9th week).

[Carrie]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


May i know is there any Enrichment school teaching good English/ Pronics for K1 child.. Preferable in Hougang, Ang Mo Kio or Sengkang area....

Thank you...

[buds]

Hi all.


Starting everything early with children is good.
I'm an early educator myself and stay-home parent.
Experienced every angle of early childhood from
childcare, kindergarten, enrichment pgrms and more..

I've 2 girls aged 7yrs and 5yrs.
They have sooo benefitted from my decision
to stay home and coach them personally. Hehee..

Both started reading by 4yrs ie Phonetic Reading & Sight Reading.
Introduced Montessori Methodology to both during 18mths but they
reali picked it up only by 2yrs old. Taught Maths also using the
Montessori Method @ 3yrs old. Both can count to 100 before 4yrs,
can do place value ie Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units using
beads and many other materials that attract the kiddie's attention.

My honest to goodness opinion is hands-on learning is highly
interactive and interesting to even the most bored child...

Important : Lessons must be fun! And happy learning begins.

Definitely agree with most parents here... that a good teacher is
THEE best thing a child can have in his early learning years...
And it is not impossible if parents can become their child's first
and best teacher.

[berriestan]

Hi Buds,


Can you share tips how to teach maths using montessori method? I would like to introduce her to the concept of thousands, hundreds, tens and units etc, and of course the many other concepts of maths. Would love to have some ideas. Thanks

[buds]

Heyya berriestan,


Sure, I’ll work on that in parts ok.
Promise. Mums honour!

You’re mummy or daddy?
And mebbe can share your child’s age
and also is she your first child in line?

Cheers.

[berriestan]

Hey buds,


Thanks! Appreciate it. I've actually started a thread http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1748 but there has been no response :idea:

Would love to learn some useful ideas to introduce various aspects of maths concepts. I'm a mummy of 2 and my elder one is 3.5 years old.

[ricvon]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi

I am a daddy who is considering enrolling my son who will be turning 4 soon into a phonics class.

I am wondering whether anyone out there can help me on this.

I am staying in the west and dont drive so it will probably be good to enrol him somewhere in the west.

(I realised that community center do offer phonics classes,are they good ?)

Please advice.

Thanks alot
:?

[ChiefKiasu]

ricvon:

...(I realised that community center do offer phonics classes,are they good ?)...

Do check out the rest of this thread. Even the best phonics programme will not be effective without reinforcement by parents at home.

[buds]

Heyya ricvon,


Great age to start your child on phonics!
Good if your son already knows all the 26
letter alphabets prior to the phonics class.
It’ll assist very well with spelling. He’ll be
able to write what he reads or he will be
trying to write the letters he hears in
phonetic words.

Since you do not drive, distance will be of
great factor to you. Go for the nearest
available one and speak to the person in
charge. Request to sit in for a few minutes
in an on-going class so you can gauge if
the teacher handling the class speaks well,
without Singlish, patient with the students
and with creative teaching skills.

When shopping for a phonics class…
You may wish to look out for the following…

Does the phonics teacher engage the class
with her learning materials that they all sit
down attentively and eagerly anticipating their
turn to touch the materials?

Does the phonics teacher only use flashcards,
and pieces of paper when she teaches?

Do the children run around the class and the
teacher has a hard time getting the children to
sit around her?

What is the ratio of students per teacher in class
and the age range of the students?

How long is the class?
How long will the whole phonics pgrm take?

Which phonics methodology do they adopt in the
centre? You can google up more information on
the said methodology to help your child with revision.

Tumble Tots offer Letterland Phonics.
Montessori Centres offer Montessori Phonics.
A few may offer Jolly Phonics or Zoo Phonics.

Hope this helps.

[J2mum]

BTW, any parents sent their kids to British Council for the English class?


I am quite interested in their K1 English programme, althot expansive but many told me kid really benefit from it.