Hua's focus is to get the kids to enjoy the Chinese Language first. For Berries, their focus is to get the kids to learn at least 2 new words/short sentences every week. It depends on what you are looking for. I know more parents prefer Berries because they want them to be ready by P1 and Berries does get the kids ready by then.

Jennifer:

Has anyone used this?

http://www.owellbodycare.com/products/healthcare-products/posturecare/3-1-head-neck-shoulders-air-stretch-therapy-pillow

I did but it did not really work as I kept turning in my sleep and I found it uncomfortable..but it could work if you do not move much in your sleep..

I find calculating T-score useful so they know where they are and how much they need to catch up. But again it also depends on the child, if your child is rather fragile and afraid, then sometimes calculating the score gets them more afraid and they panic. My oldest was like that so I just went through assessment books, good school papers and kept encouraging…

Yes they do…

Busybee and Wang - I feel perhaps can start at upper pri or maybe P3-4. Lower pri, they may feel overwhelmed with Busybee and Wang as they are quite difficult.


I have friends whose kids are at HCL, so far they say good things.

Alyssasmum:

Hi jasmineong,


What do you feel is the difference between I Can Read and My English School. I am a bit confused about the phonics systems used in preschools. Letterland, Jollyphonics, are they good enough or do they still need enrichment?

Hi

I feel they are quite similar, I changed to My English School because a friend recommended their Goldhill branch. The I Can Read branch I went to, the teacher for my older kids stopped teaching and so I was kind of hunting for other centres and went to My English School. For Letterland and Jollyphonics, I feel they are useful to teach the child the name of the letter and perhaps the sound it makes. But it may not help with actual reading where you need to know sight words and blending of words.

To me, childcare or kindergarten lessons are not quite enough. The class size is usually quite big, even for premium schools and with many schools expanding, I do think the standard of preschool teachers may not be of a good enough standard to ensure the children really know how to read. Whereas in enrichment centres, their focus is to teach reading so the results could be better. I mentioned could be because it also depends on the centre and the teacher.

kzone:

I cant seem to get the ICR syllabus online..


Parents with kids in ICR, appreciate if you can share if ICR is all about phonics or do they combine phonics & sight words?

Do they actually teach the kids to read in real life or do they simply teach phonics?

My older kids were at I Can Read, youngest is at My English School. I find them quite similar. For I Can Read, they teach more on phonics, they have books that teach blending and the different sound words. It comes with a 'card', not so sure what to call it. You use the card to show your child letter by letter. For example, C-A-R, then C-A-T, then C-R-A-S-H. I feel its systematic and my older 2 did learn to read from there. Sight words, I did my own flash cards and bought sight word books.

I tried Mindstretcher, Learning Lab, and Perceptum. Mindstretcher and Learning Lab notes are good, Perceptum had good teachers but the teacher left. Now am with Mindstretcher for timing issues. Good to ask for experienced teachers at Mindstretcher.

I tried once. From that one experience, they were not bad. Clean and efficient.

I bought a set of Usbourne books from Taobao first purchase from there…hope it works well. It should be the original right?