PCF/PAP Kindergartens

[tamarind]

hugeclaw:

I've enrolled my son in Blk 125 Serangoon North Ave 1. Actually found out from the PCF head office that there's no such term as 'premium' program, rather they call it the 'spice' program which incorporated the speech & drama from julia gabriel. The school fees varies from different locations, ranges from $160 - $220.

From what I know, the pasir ris east & west + ponggol east centers do offer this spice program.
To find out more, it's better that you call the head office at 62444600, must look for the operations staff or else they won't know what you're talking abt coz I've a hard time trying to gather info from the counter staff.

hugeclaw,
Thanks for the information.

My girl's PCF does not use the term \"premium\", it is just a term I used to differentiate it from the normal PCF in this thread.

Actually her PCF is simply called \"K1 + E\" and \"K2 + E\" E means enrichment. It is not called the \"spice\" program. They have speech and drama, but they never said it is by Julia Gabriel.

I think PCF centres in different areas have the freedom to setup different programs. Perhaps the only guide is that those PCF kindergarten that costs $200 and above should include more things compared to those that costs $100+.

[tamarind]

The following is in the newsletter from my girl's PCF kindergarten.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3383/3341373724_af9a9440a1.jpg\">

This is very good advise !

I am surprised to see my girl's work today, they are learning past tense in K2. :shock: I wonder if any other kindergarten in Singapore is teaching this at K2 ?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3340568821_d8963d83ce.jpg\">

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3341378758_8396a7df20.jpg\">

[buds]

Yes, Tamarind.


The centres i have been attached to, since i first started in
this industry, all cover grammar, simple compo (starting with
5-liners), dictation, creative writing (with story starters),
spelling, and at some centres penmanship practice,
comprehension and journal recording @ K2 level.

By K1 children are already introduced the basic grammar and
some parts of speech to facilitate full writing programme in K2.
Likewise for Mother Tongue (MT). So, no last minute preparation
for Primary 1.

Its good your girl’s PCF centre covers them.
The students i had who came for Creative Writing,
coming from PCF, the parents didn’t even know the
children cannot read fluently cause they never knew
Phonics was offered only as an enrichment subject at
their children’s PCF centre. So at K2 level, the children
are cramped with so many last many preparations. Very
poor thing lah… the parents became extremely stressed out
and the children… even worse off lah. Screamed by their
parents by seemingly not knowing how to do simple language
activities.

[kai]

Hi Tamarind,


My ger is currently in N2 in oso PCF Pioneer, I read from your past postings that you supplement your girl with enrichment class on Phonics, able to share with me where you place her?

Appreciate your input

[tamarind]

buds,

I remember that I only learnt A,B,C when I was in kindergarten. That is why I am constantly surprised at the things they are teaching children in kindergarten now.

My hubby was having a conversation with my girl a few days ago. My hubby was telling her that in Mars, there is no oxygen, so astronauts must carry oxygen tanks when they travel there. My girl's answer : \"Grow some trees on Mars lah.\" She has been taught in her kindergarten that trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

I think that by the time I have grandchildren, they may be learning algebra in K2.

I wonder whether it is really because primary school standard is high ? It could be that private kindergartens are teaching the kids so much more, so teachers at primary school have to raise the P1 standard.

My kids' PCF kindergarten teach the kids to read books since N2. Every child is given one to one coaching. They read one book a month. There is detailed and regular feedback to tell the parents how the child is progressing. They even have a word list and they record down which words the child can recognize. Parents are given a word list for every book, and they are asked to help the child to practice at home. This is the same for both the \"normal\" and \"premium\" PCF kindergartens near my place (opposite Jurong Point) My boy has been singing phonics letter songs at home, and when I asked him who taught him, he said his PCF teacher was teaching him. So they do teach phonics in school.

Every PCF kindergarten is different, so parents really have to choose carefully.


kai,
I sent my girl to the Montessori phonics enrichment class near Lakeside MRT station when she was 3 years 8 months old.

http://www.modern-montessori.com/presch_centres_jw.htm

They accept children from 3 years 6 months old to 6 years old. It is an express course, where they teach the complete phonics course in about 11 months. The child should already know all the letter sounds very well before starting this class. This is because they take only 4 weeks to teach all the 26 letter sounds, then another 4 to 8 weeks to teach all the 3 letter words, then on to more complex words. I have heard some mommies complaining that their kids cannot follow up with the class, because they don't know the letter sounds very well. Note that it is not a \"fun\" class. The kids are expected to sit around a table and do worksheets for one whole hour.

For a more \"fun\" class, which goes at a slower pace, you can also try Zoophonics, it is near the market at ST 52.

My girl was at the N2 class at Pioneer PCF (Blk 665), and she was taught all the phonics letter sounds throughout the whole year. But then her kiasu mommy wanted her to know more, so I sent her to the Montessori phonics class I learnt phonics from the Montessori teachers, then I teach my younger boy at home and save the money

[buds]

Ya, me too Tam!


I remember my kindergarten years to be lotsa play.
And repetition of ABC's writing and singing.
I'm only introduced to official writing - compo, journal, etc
at Primary One age. This means during our time, kindergarten
was really supposed to play and learn thru play.

So the more kiasu parents are, the more gahmen will
push the curriculum forward. It is already challenging
as it is now compared to our time.

Hehee.. I remember having to read the reader series
from Mr Wollie and Mr Yakki!

[tamarind]

buds,

I think I am much older than you :oops: When I entered P1, many of my classmates did not attend kindergarten. The P1 teachers have to start teaching from A,B,C, etc. That is why I am so shocked at today's standards.

By the way, I just learn about the STELLAR program in other threads. I just realized that both my kids' PCF kindergarten are using the STELLAR program from K1 ! Very similar to what they are doing at ACS :

http://www.acsjunior.sg/docs/Files/STELLAR%20Program%20Supplementary%20Handout.pdf

[buds]

Doesn't matter the age..

Young at heart can liao.
Hehee!

Thanks for the link!
I kinda like it (STELLAR)
oredi, its like ala speech
and drama programme..
Interesting ways to intro
language to children. I
have some of the props
they feature in the link,
used for my speech and
drama lessons.

Looking forward to having
the programme at my girl's
school!

[tamarind]

buds,

I like the programme too, and I am looking forward to it.

I still remember having to memorize entire lists of present tense/past tense/present perfect tense etc of words from the very thick grammar text book. I am happy that they don’t use it any more.

[mum2two]

what does yr child learn when in nursery? i suppose there are homeworks too? its a dream come true to have a pcf like that… plus the weekly reports to know what your child is doing in school…