Dlim and all interetsed mummies, here is 1 of the mummy who attended the trial today. review from astro.
copied stock & barrel from her post.
GUG -- how I feel
hmmm.. i quite like it.. and i really understand now why they can proudly proclaim and patent their zoo-phonics success. it is certainly very refreshing and shows evidence of planning in the creating of the zoo-phonic system..that to me.. was the highlight, and by far the most impressive part, for the day..
First half of lesson
- small wonder audrey's son has superior pronunciation compared to kids their age. and again small wonder GUG can so yaya-ly say their zoo phonics is that good.. coz they really repeat it again and again for the first half of the lesson! and i must say they did it well. Though some animals they chose to represent the animals a bit unconmoon for our babies.. like Yak for Y, ..and irish worm (??) for I.. ehh. can't remember.. but still good attempt to increase vocabulary for our bbs lah.
thouugh the primary approach here is using flash cards.. but they brought it one level higher.. to include ryhmes, emphasis (on starting letters and sounds), animal association and matching/identification of animals on the wall by bbs.. was there some actions ah? ya. i think have right? i recalled the action for the elephant.. ya.. have actions.. so aside from just flashing the cards and that is.. they killed 4 birds with one stone! in one activity!! wah,.. impressed. ..
- first 15 mins used to explore the toys they have.. ehh. nothing much there.. maybe is just to wait for all to come.. and settle down. but maybe because we all very familiar with one another. i felt the environment was very conducive.. and indeed they have their house rules set and implemented very clearly. heehee.. poor daddies/mummies not in the room can only peep from a narrow glass slit .. haha
- movement and gross motor was a bit lacking.. maybe their emphasis was not that.. so only have tunnel play.. and teaching the mummies the creative use of tunnels vertically (playing peek-a-boo, never thought of that.. hahaha. not bad lah. quite creative).. and of course crawling thru it.. then allow bbs to crawl or play peek-a-boo. quite similar to gymboree PLAY classes.. nothing much there...
- reading of boardbook. i was distracted by teng.. and i really never pay attnetion to that. can't remember the story.. and draw any possible assoications.. hmm. but was good try.. need to teach our bbs to sit thru story telling.. will be useful when they go higher up.. kindergarten or nusery.. sure have this kind of storytelling. in primary school.. they stilldo that? i not sure.. but not bad training..
- numeracy, teaching bbs to count.. with an activity. i forgot liao.. coz i was busy prising teng's pudgy fingers open to count.. !! again a lot of repetition.. haha.. but good lah..got some banging of mat, wave byebye, what else? forgot.. but i think all these included to develop the coordination of our bbs..
- then intro the animal of the day.. i was like wondering how come introduce gorilla? .. SO that was the letter of the day , 'G'. .so Gregro the Gorilla..the peeling of the banana (grrrr..) [but how come peeling of banana will get grrrr sound ah?
], Green flavouring.. (and when cornflour mixed with green solution)--> Goo.. wah. not bad. again empahsis and repetittion.
- then exprimential play using the green solution and cornflour.. i like it a lot . it introduced physic.. (but still tied to 'G' theme for the day).. powdery cornflour, diffusion of green colouring in water (showing to the bbs, teng was STARING at the water turn colour.. i think all bbs were staring at it?
} , green solution, then goo (cornflour mixture.. -- did they choose cornflour for a purpose? to produce the gluey goo? coz corn flour can do that.. other flour not as gluey goo?).. then let the bbs play. as thought it was VERY messy. they still inisit on letting the bbs do that.. i think it is good attempt. coz many educators/orgs often shy from implementating things which are too messy.. i think teng was fascinated with the cornflour mixture.. Rae and YT both 'no manners liao'.. haha. keep splashing me the mixture.. teng like boss. (star commented). dipped one pudgy hand test test onli.. then SUCK! so. he was the only bb who tasted the cornflour! haha. taste.. another lesson which he learned.. whahahaa. but he very cute with the cornflour stains around his mouth. i think YT wanted to bathe in it liao!!! right mejo??.. whahaha..
second half of lesson
mood spoilt by the bimbo..
but nonetheless.. quite fun..
star pointed out got live music accompaint. not pre-recorded..not bad.. but the action and stuff very similar to kindermusik lah..
ceiling got dangling stars. teng kept wanting to pluck them down.. and keep lifting his head to see them..huge mirror to reflect.. let bbs see their reflections..--good stimulation..
quality of faciilatators
i think they were relatively enthu without sounding fake.. def very well rehearsed.. and also firm.. had to tell the mummies to show good examples .. and focus on the teachers..
.. aiya. we all so naughty. SQ will scold us, never pay attention to teachers.. hhaaa.. so in a way, they were not afraid to be firm to deliver the lesson. i find that commendable. they could also control the class well. and appeared composed.. quite good..
we had teacher fairuz (she has ABRSM theory and is the head of music) to play the keyboard for us.. the other teacher has also a cert in preschool education.. so there was quality in the faciliators..
all in all. i like the class. i find that it is very coherent.. and def. very strong evidence in planning and the thought behind the design of the curriculum.. the deans.. (with their masters in education) reallhy know the pysche of pre-schoolers to involve so much repeition.. i had reservations abt the 1.5 hour. i thought it was too long iniatially but was actually quite fast paced. teng despite badly deprived of sleep did enjoy himself and didn't have time to fuss..too much..
and i think almost all the bbs had their eyes glued to gregro the gorilla when he made his appearance..
think GUG is not bad..
my two cents worth
