All About Preparing For Primary One

[oskwks]

Thanks mmm for your advise. Will try it out.


Any good phonics school to recommend? Had sent her to many enrichment schools and my hubby always nag at me not to waste $. Think it’s wiser to get advise from other experienced parents.

[MMM]

Hi,


I think there is a discussion thread on phonics school under the other sections. Quite a number that I’ve heard like zoophonics (which you tried) and I can read.

For my kids, I send them to Jan & Elly (Serangoon garden) at my colleague’s recommendation, her girls started at Nursery and by K2, they were able to read the papers.

My kids started alittle late as my earlier focus was diff. My girl started in K2 last year but she shown tremendous improvement despite stopping at intermediate stage to pursue creative writing for P1. So by P1, she was able to read many words and spelling learning is easy.

For my son (the problematic one), he started in K1 and then he started to lag behind during intermediate stage. I was partly attributed as I didn’t do consistent revision with him and unlike my girl, he is not as focus. But when I spend time to revise with him regularly, he actually remembers. But lately, I am starting to see that he is starting to show that he is picking up or he is probably showing signs of readiness.

My earlier focus was speech & drama so I sent them to Julia Gabriel whereby they also did some phonics,etc… but not solid. So sending them to Jan & Elly I would say it’s significantly cheaper and at the same time effective.

My niece (P1 this year) didn’t study phonics on a extensive basis. She was having problem reading and my sil told me that she was sent to learning support prog in the school. Another of my nephew who is in Rosyth also studied phonics and my sil shared that phonics really helps the kids. Personally I think it’s good and I would have no qualms sending my 2.5 yrs old for phonics once she is in nursery.

In your kid’s case it seems abit of a rush now. But I think it’s better late than never. Jan & Elly does crash course eg. 1 to 1 type during school hols but it’s expensive as they are cramping entire term learnings. But the teacher will do a evaluation of the child’s phonics knowledge first before deciding which stage to place the child.

[oskwks]

Thanks MMM. How much does it cost in Jan & Elly? Thinking of going to the Rail Way Mall one, its nearer.

[MMM]

Hi,


Based on my impression, they are charging $220/ term for weekdays and $230/term for weekend.

BRgds,
Sindy

[amylqf]

MMM:

On the other hand, I've thots of sending him to those brain assessment centre to evaluate if he does have a certain problem that we are not aware of. I attended 1 workshop at girl's school and they mentioned abt a boy who did well from P1 - P3 then his grades start to drop. Apparently he has some development issues (eg. what he draws is significantly different from the picture that was given to him (it's a simple shape picture) and it is a actually a brain development issue. But such programmes are not cheap and I wonder at its effectiveness.

From what you described, do you mean do the assessment at \"brain revolution\"? as I understand their reading program can shrink 1 to 2 years reading period into 3 month.
http://www.brain-revolution.com/home.html

[MMM]

That’s probably the one. My impression is that it is located at Parkway or around there. But I am not too sure about any reading program. My impression was that it helps highlight the developmental issues that the child might have and through therapy overcome that.

[BlueBells]

My kids are at Jen & Elly too.


My 8 year old is now in the creative writing class, and younger girl is in the advance phonics class; so are my niece and nephew who are P1 and P3 respectively.

Like MMM said, reading is a breeze, so is learning spelling.

[jedamum]

BlueBells:

My kids are at Jen & Elly too.


My 8 year old is now in the creative writing class, and younger girl is in the advance phonics class; so are my niece and nephew who are P1 and P3 respectively.

Like MMM said, reading is a breeze, so is learning spelling.

Hi bluebells,
Do you mind sharing your boy's creative writing class experience in this http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35&start=15?
TIA.

[2galsmum]

Hi,


Agree that phonics is impt. My gal started when she is 14 months. She is reading very well in K2…and spelling is a bliss…She is ok with hanyu pinyin too…just some problems with the ying tiao initially.

My younger one show interest in alphabet at 3 years now. Hope is the same when she reach nursery and K1 later.

They are at GUG now…more commercial now but I am too lazy to source around!

[BlueBells]

Hi JedaMum,


The creative writing class focus mainly on creative writing, ie. composition, and how to be more descriptive with words. Most English enrichment classes do encompass creative writing as part of its curriculum.