All About Preparing For Primary One

[barney]

Can I check is it necessary to send the kids for P1 preparatory classes? My friends with primary school going kids have been asking me if I've already sign up any P1 preparatory class but I really do not know if it's necessary and if they are good?


Anyone who has sent their kids for such classes, please advise. Haiz, it's going to be one of those last minute preparation for me again.... :oops:

[2galsmum]

Precisely, once you start enrichment classess/ preparatory classes.....I guess you can never stop.


I start my gal, thinking they can enjoy mixing with other kids, but ends up become more and more kiasu after learning from others, what they do to their kids....hee. Some can line program from morning until late afternoon and willing burn own weekends. Really take my hat off!

Even though, we have been like that since they attend enrichment classes, even if we stop one, we will plan another for them.

[tamarind]

I don't believe in P1 preparatory classes, simply because I am very scared of last minute work. It is just too stressful.


Ideally a child should start preparing for P1 from 3 years old :lol:

A child should start to learn phonics at 3 years old. By 4 years old, he should be able to read simple books, for example, the Ladybird Keyword series book 3 and above. He should also be able to spell 2 and 3 letter words using phonics techniques.

By 5 years old, the child should start to write words. By 6 years old, in sentences. The same for both English and Chinese. For maths, the child should at least know simple addition and subtraction by K2, and probably start memorizing the 2 and 3 times table

Actually all the above can be done by the parents at home, not necessary to go to enrichment classes. The key is to start early, from 3 years old, and do consistent work every day.

[kaitlynangelica]

tamarind:

I don't believe in P1 preparatory classes, simply because I am very scared of last minute work. It is just too stressful.


Ideally a child should start preparing for P1 from 3 years old :lol:

A child should start to learn phonics at 3 years old. By 4 years old, he should be able to read simple books, for example, the Ladybird Keyword series book 3 and above. He should also be able to spell 2 and 3 letter words using phonics techniques.

By 5 years old, the child should start to write words. By 6 years old, in sentences. The same for both English and Chinese. For maths, the child should at least know simple addition and subtraction by K2, and probably start memorizing the 2 and 3 times table

Actually all the above can be done by the parents at home, not necessary to go to enrichment classes. The key is to start early, from 3 years old, and do consistent work every day.

Problem is I find the kids can't focus when the parents try to teach. But when you send for classes, they get scared of the teacher so they make an effort to pay attention. Also, I think in the classes, there is a certein amount of peer pressure.

[jedamum]

2galsmum:

Even though, we have been like that since they attend enrichment classes, even if we stop one, we will plan another for them.

Very true!!
My boy's math enrichment is ending and i have already check out creative writing courses.
It's the schedule/timing and bleak economy that is holding my kiasuism back....

[tamarind]

kaitlynangelica:

Problem is I find the kids can't focus when the parents try to teach. But when you send for classes, they get scared of the teacher so they make an effort to pay attention. Also, I think in the classes, there is a certein amount of peer pressure.

My 4 year old boy cannot focus whether it is in school or at home. His teacher has no patience teaching him. So no choice, I got to teach him at home.

[2galsmum]

tamarind:

Ideally a child should start preparing for P1 from 3 years old :lol:

Agree with you. I really wish to teach them myself, but ends up either scolding furiously or trying to be funny with them.. so I think better leave it to the teachers while we, the parents be the good guys!!

[belinda]

Hi all,


Thanks for all the tips and advice, but it really sound frightening for the preparation for P1.

English
My gal has gone thro ICR for 2 yr and even completed the ICR2 but she sometime she just refuse to think or use the phonic skills she learn while she read esp when I am doing the reading with her, but when she is on her own, she sound fine....so really dunno wat to do with her.

Chinese
my hubby is the one who guide her but she has a resistance to learn chinese despite she is using chinese most of the time, her kindergarden chinese is also v chim, some of her chinese spelling words is what I suppose I learn in P3 or 4.......when getting her grandpa to revise, she told him off not to stress her and she will score well without stress.... haha a K2 kid talking about stress. but usually she score well and marks got deducted due to no proper stroke or no proper full stop..........

Maths
She attends CMA, so no problem with addition and substraction but when ask her try out problem sum, she just not interested and dun want to even try.

Any advice on the chinese preparation for P1, izit enough preparation for Maths and English. :?

[ChiefKiasu]

belinda:

...Thanks for all the tips and advice, but it really sound frightening for the preparation for P1...

Belinda, your child sounds more than prepared for P1 compared to most of the other children in her cohort. So don't worry and relax. She is ready for P1.

[winth]

This is all so scary!!!

All the pre-preparation and stuff.

Was just looking at the Kumon series of workbooks 2 days ago on starting multiplication for my 5 year old. Decided to drop it because felt that it might just be too early for him. As he is now going through addition and subtraction to the hundreds.
Somemore we just started hanyu pinyin.

Think I’ll need to hunt for grammar & vocab books and chinese-sentence books for him liao. Think I better move down to popular soon.

Right now he does only single chinese characters and those english activity books. They don’t emphasize on grammar or vocab.