Maha Bodhi

[paulineteo]

Hi MMM, thks for the info… By the way, any ideas which Chinese and Maths enrichment programs are good?

[paulineteo]

MMM, how do you join the Parent Volunteer in MBS?

[MMM]

paulineteo:

Just wanna check which chinese enrichment is better and follow closely to MOE syllabus? Any one can share your experiences? How about Maths enrichment? Still undecisive which one to send my gal to? Contemplating between MPM or Enopi? Any other Maths enrichment which is good? Pls share... Thank u many many.....

Hi Pauline, You can also refer to other discussion in this website under \"chinese enrichment\" if you want to find out more about other chinese classes.

For Maths, so far I only try Kumon and Enopi. Started my son on Kumon at beginning K2. Was good in creating speed in doing addition. By end K2, he was at P1 std but still doing addition.... seems to take a long time to learn other stuff. Also the same worksheet over and over as its focus is \"perfect through repetition\" My impression...

I decided to move to Enopi at beginning of the year. Well... still has x number of worksheets to do. They split into \"Basic thinking maths\" arithmetic focus and \"critical thinking maths\" which focus more on analysis. Personally I think this is more important to be in line with the syllabus as it's no longer arithmetic focus only maths. So what if the child can add very fast, if cannot analyse also gone case. In addition, they also have problem sums included in each basic thinking maths workbook which is what kumon don't have. For instance, my P1 is now adding up to thousands + thousands and multiplication. Ahead of school syllabus. Frankly if he is still on kumon.... maybe he is just adding more numbers only at this point....? Also the homework is usually 2-3 wkbooks over the 1 week. It helps otherwise we will be overwhelm with enrichment classes homewk.

Meanwhile on results.... my P2 girl's maths used to be her \"worst\" subject in P1. Surprisingly, maths is the only subject where she maintain her score in P2 SA1. My P1 son had the bd 1 range. But to me, it's still too early to determine the result.

Suggest you visit the maths enrichment class or MPM forum discussion in Kiasuparents to understand better.

[MMM]

paulineteo:

Hi MMM, thks for the info... By the way, any ideas which Chinese and Maths enrichment programs are good?

Pauline, if you refer to the thread above, I put my kids in Molin for chinese, Enopi for maths and British council for english. So far I find that literacy circle for english is also worth considering. I will most likely let my nursery start there next year.

I didn't join PSG but I am on their SMS list. So whenever there are any events, they will sms me and ask if I want to join. I prefer this than joining the committee as I feel that in this kind of committee setup, bound to have some politics. I just want to enjoy myself volunteering without having to handle the \"extras\". Also, I am a wkg mum so I prefer to volunteer as and when my schedule fits. Just like today, I just volunteered for lower primary games day and had a satisfying time. BTW, it also enable you to foster a closer relationship with the kid's teachers since they see how committed the parents are.

[paulineteo]

Hi thks alot for the great info. Btw, just to check how do you gt yourself on the sms list w/o joining the PSG? Think what you are doing seem to make more sense and won’t take up too much of your time too. Am I correct?

[MMM]

I think it’s really subjective and depends on individual. I find this kind of adhoc arrangement works best for me.


I got myself on the list after participating in P1 1st few days parent volunteering. Or you can just approach any of the committe member and let them know your intention. They will be more than happy for extra help.

BTW, do note that if there are alot of parents volunteering for the same class, you might not get to help out in your kid’s class. You will be assign to other classes. This can be "disappointing" but it also depends on what kind of mindset. End of the day, it can still be fun when you try to liase with the other kids and then at the same time, pop by your own kid’s class to say hi. Eg. today I was helping out at another class and was joking with the kids. After their games, they were excited to tell me the outcome. My son would also wave at me occasionally from his table and his friends were like… that’s your mother,etc… as they know me from the earlier event. Importantly, I know my son is happy that I am helping out in school, I also get to meet the faces that he always talk about at home and talk to those kids. So it’s still a win win situation for me. I truly enjoy it.

[paulineteo]

Hi MMM, greatly appreciate for all your great info. Shall call the school to find out more. Thanks alot.

[dizzyguy]

Any idea what time is MBS having their balloting today ?


Maybe should call and ask.

[baong]

Hi Parents,


My boy will be in MBS next year. Like most parents I worry about if he could cope academically. But another issue on my mind is if he has problem making friends there and also will there be any bullies in school.. So far I have not heard from neighbours/friends whose kids in MBS about school bullies. The reason why I worry is that my boy is a little insensitive social wise. I am just worried that he has a problem there.

Any parents whose kids in MBS currently have something to share about this? And if your kid is being bullied in school, what will you do to help your kid?

[MMM]

Hi Baong,


Frankly, kids are kids. At this age, I don’t think the kids "want" to be a bully but rather due to characters, some kids (esp boys) tend to be more rowdy/ rough than others. It’s not that they want to be a bully but rather they might not realise they are a bully.

Eg. My P1 son is fine in school but in the school bus, they tend to get very rowdy (again I can observe that this is due to 2 P2 boys in the bus who belong to the loud and rowdy type). Sometimes when they are having fun, they cannot weigh the implication of their actions eg. getting physical,etc… (not fighting but like "play fighting" and this pose as a problem when they accidentally hit one another). In the case of my son, I rec’d the feedback from another parent whom I happen to have contact that my son kicked his son’s groin while they were playing on the bus. To prevent that kind of issue once and for all, I stipulated that he MUST sit at the front together with the uncle (mini van). It worked and so far it has been peaceful. In fact, the other boys now think it’s so cool to sit infront with uncle but uncle stipulated that the seat is only for my son as I related to him what happened.

Sometimes out of fun, there are also "name calling" etc… My P2 girl had that last year even though the name she was called is quite innocent and nothing rude but it upsets my girl. We role play with them on how to handle it. So when a particular friend call her "name" again, she actually responded to that girl by saying, you are so lame and ignore her. The girl stopped doing that realising that it’s not fun as she is not getting a huge response from my girl. In such situation, if a child gets more upset, the other kids will find it more fun to "disturb" him. So if the child does not have much reaction, the kids will stop as it is boring.

To prepare the kids, try to role play different situation. Eg. if this thing happen, teach the kid how to react, etc… If all fails, speak to the teacher about it to help to keep a lookout. My son’s teacher is P1 manager and she is known to P1 and P2 to be very very fierce. But she is actually a very nice lady. But the kids generally behave well inorder not to make her angry.