Advice to Parents whose children are going to Pri 1


deborah
need your advise. I just tested my gal. some simple books she can read and comprehend and answer my questions about the story.

But when it gets a bit complicated she wont be able to answer.

How should I train ? And since they will have compo in Pri 1. How can I get her ready for creative writing ?

What reading materials would you recommend ? And which classes would you recommend to attend
 
For compre, it's a matter of practice. For creative writing, start with pictures and give them helping words. With the helping words, they can form sentences. Emphasize on the importance of punctuations and tenses. When they are better at their compo after a while, you can do without the helping words.
 
Deborah
thanks. So books what do you recommend. I have rigby so which level my gal should be now at K2 and next year P1.

For practice, how many words or sentences should I expect her to know now.

Any recommended materials or school ?
 
Hi, everyone! My child is in P2. Just like Deborah said, she can speak well but read badly. My friend recommend a online web site beestar.org to me saying that the English language art exercises can help my child improve her reading efficiently, because her daughter has been using beestar for a long time. Does anyone here have any experience of beestar?
Lisa
 
I started my gal on Kumon when she was K2 last year as I realized she doesn't know how to read.. Stopped when she started P1 as she took up Ballet , Gym, piano and swimming as too shiong.. But now she is a bookworm, She can finished 4 books borrowed from the library in 3 days. Not the type of picture books for preschool but thin novels like the fairies books, Enid Blyton fairytales.. I could hardly keep up with her reading so got to try to make two trips to the library every week.. So I think Kumon really helps..
 
What about Maths? Is Kumon good? Or MPM? I was just doing a P1 assessment book with my girl (K2) yesterday and she doesn't know how to count the tens and ones.
 
Luanee

My gal is with MPM and I think she improves after joining since Jan 08. I know in Nanyang where she is going, maths will be quite manipulative like give you a ruler and a few clips. Then the length of the ruler is how many clips. This is something she is learning at MPM
 
regardless of which enrichment you choose, MPM, Kumon, Enopi, abacus... still must do assessment books.

Because these are just enrichment classes, they do not follow MOE syllabus so you need to bridge the gap using assessment books
 
luanee,
this may be the first time your girl is exposed to the concept of tens and ones. after a few practises, she should be able to pick it up.
not to worry.
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Thks all for your feedback... I just got her K2 syllabus that they be covering 10s and 1s this term, so hopefully things will be improving... Problem is I am shifting house in Dec, so location of any enrichment classs now is a big problem. Neither here nor there, sigh..
 
deborah,
are there any tips/ways to teach composition or creative writing (whatever they call them) at home?
TIA.
 
Hi ,
We are moving to singapore next week and my boy is 5 years in feb.I m really stressed when i see all the moms words.for what class my son is eligible.

I am new to this site.How do i know whether there is a answer for my queries.In most forums we can check from our personal email...

Thanks,
Poornima
 
Hi,
my daughter have been doing free math in Beestar for a year, and she has just started reading program. She really likes the math practice, and also OK with the reading now. But what I see is that she has made some progress in reading, because she begins to do better in reading in school. That's told by her teacher.
 
Hi friends,
Have bought a stainless steel "Klean Kanteen" bottle for my kid early this year from www.singhealthstore.com and am so happy with it that I must share with all.

Do not use plastic bottles that leach Biphenol-A. Stainless steel bottles are absolutely safe for your children. Remember they use the bottle every single day, so a little effort to get the right bottle is important.
 
Can anyone share whether it is effective just to improve creative writing at home with the assessment books or is it necessary to send to creative writing classes?
 
Hi Deborah,
Thank you for your advice. I appreciate it.
Reading also helps the child to write compo and answer comprehension questions.

Mummies,
My son's handwriting is terrible...he has 'received' many 'love notes' from both his English and CL teachers to write neatly but still no improvement.

My budget is very tight bcos only hubby working...so we teach the kids ourselves except for CL tuition.
 
Hi Natellehcim,

Is it really stressful studying in Canberra Pri?Thought of enrolling them due to dist.I heard negative comments about it.My maid is looking aft my 3 kids and I thought it would be easier to send my twin boys to Canberra next year.
 
Hi jachang,
Stressful is what i've heard from parents whose kids are there... but there are some who said not leh... it is the most popular sch in Sembawang area for the past few years, maybe it is the future school MOE had appointed bah... i did not enrol my kids there, due to distance, but it is never in my list during registration. :p Stressful or not, I guess depends on individual i guess. The previous principal had retired last year and this year is a new principal. maybe with a change of principal, the school shall be managed differently?

I register my kids in school just walking distance (5min) from home, and I find that it very convenient and time saving.
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Definitely will benefit the kids' when they have to go for CCA or extra lessons.
 
Hi Natellehcim,

Oh...No wonder. I heard last x was good.Now I m not sure cos I heard two negative comments.1 had transferred to another school while the other 1 wanted to trf.I hope to enrol them there.it is just a few min walk.
 
Hi jachang,

Will you like to share your experience of employing a maid to take care 3 kids at home with me. Please PM me. thanks.
 
Hi Happyface,

She is my 2nd maid and I m lucky to ve her to help me in managing my kids.I guess if u treat her well she will treat yr kids well too. She is with us for almost 2 yrs and my kids like her.I prefer to employ Indonesia maid who has children so that she is able to look aft mine.
 
Hi Deborah
Am getting very worried about my child. She's 6 this year and is going to P1 next year. She can speak quite well but is very weak in her writing skills. She cannot even remember all the 26 letters. Am looking for a english private tutor for her, any recommendations? Tks in advance.
 
XY Gal, have you tried teaching her yourself, at least with the basic like the 26 letters and work with her writing of simple 3-letters words? Then let private tutor coach her on more advanced stuff. I think reading is more important than writing if she is already 6, but she should be able to form her letters from memory. Creative writing and all that stuff is extra.
 
XY Gal, have you tried teaching her yourself, at least with the basic like the 26 letters and work with her writing of simple 3-letters words? Then let private tutor coach her on more advanced stuff. Reading is more important than writing, and she should be able to form her letters from memory. Creative writing and all that stuff is extra.
 
XY Gal,
My daughter is not confident writing. Her teacher told me she tends to write mirror images of alphabets like 'r', 'b' and 'q'.
 
Jachang,

I recall this page and wanted to share my bad experience during my maternity leave with this 2nd married maid issue. She had a 1 yrs old child and she did not take care of it and working for me taking 3 childrens, she cant bother to take care the elder child. I was then angry with her for the past 4 months of M.L and teaching her what to do and how to care for the 3. She is totally out.....

My current one is good with the childrens as can see that the childrens like her. She is bad in the begining when less than 3 months she take our HP to call oversea. Won her and hope she dont do it again.
 
Oh...so sorry... make mistake again... This page is for P1 topic...


sorry about it..

My gal is enlisted to P1, a school I am not very like.. but no choice.
 
Hi Deborah
My boy, going P1 next year, can't read and write on his own yet.. Considering 2 months to go before starting P1, what will you suggest that I can do? Really appreciate your advice...

Thanks!
skyray35
 
Hi Leng Leng
Yes, he did. Started from Pre-Nursery till K2 now. That's why I am worried for him. I asked his teacher and looks like most of his classmates have no problem reading and writing on their own!
 
Hi Catharine,
do arrange a meeting with his teacher,
check if he needs special attention.
He may just be a slower leaner, is he born towards the end of the year?
HTHs.
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Hi Leng Leng
Yes, I did meet his teacher. Feedback was he is not a confident boy in terms of learning.. Maybe that's why he is slow in learning.

He's born in May. I guess i have to be more patient with him...

But was just wondering if there;s anything I can help him to learn faster...

thanks.
 
Hi Catharine,
maybe you bring your boy to a polyclinic & ask for a referral to KKH?

confidence should not stop him from reading and writing

How's his speech & conversation at home & with strangers?
 
Hi Leng Leng
Thanks for the advise!

He has no problems communicating... sometimes talk non-stop and asked many questions..
somehow.. it just his ability to recognise words..
 
Hi Catharine,
then it may be just a matter of practice,
is he able to read few letter words?
e.g is, it, be, are, star?

Did he pass his eye sight test in school?
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Hi Leng Leng
His eyesight no prob!

he doesn't really likes reading! and he gives me a blank look when I ask him to read!
many people telling me maybe take time..

so i will monitor and see it goes... maybe go for some "crash" course during school holidays will help him...
 
Have you considered taking him to check with specialist? Sometimes kids have learning difficulties which can only be identified with specialists. Early intervention is best in such cases. By the time they are in K2, especially end K2, most cases with no learning difficulties should be able to read and write. If not, will be really stressed out in Primary school. Maybe best to check out and get reassurance from specialists. Don't want to alarm you, but I have personally known quite a few kids who have different learning difficulties.
 
Hi Catharine,

My K2 boy was unable to read about 4 months ago. I took a more drastic measure by resigning, withdrawing him from childcare and homeschooled him.

I started with phonics, then high frequency words. I play games with him to help recall n recap the words.

I progressed to Peter and Jane, starting with Book 1 and then slowly to level 10. I recommend Peter and Jane as the words are high frequency words and are repeated throughout the books. My son got a sense of satisfaction from able to read the simple books on his own and with lotsa encouragement, he went on to read more.

Dr Suess books are good for teaching him to form words using Phonics. I tend to laugh with him when he read the funny parts in Dr Suess' books and this motivates him further.

We are now reading Enid Blyton's books. He is also writing stories, with at least 7 sentences and doing open ended comprehension.

Yes, very drastic and intensive but no choice as in the past, after he had returned from childcare and we, from work, we were too tired to do anything. It was simply not productive to teach him at night. We were easily short-fused too.

After quitting my job, I teach him in the morning when he is in a good mood and even on days when he is cracky, I can easily postpone the lessons to after his nap. More relaxed environment = better learning.

You may want to try teaching him on Sat or Sun morning. Start from the basics. Also take him to the doctor to rule out hearing loss. THe wait to be diagnosed by specialists is rather long, so parents may hv to try teaching on our own.
 
augustmum- I really admire you! I am 100% sure if mums put attention on the child, learning to read should come naturally- it is great that you got into the action by staying at home to teach him! I am a FTWM and balancing work with teaching my child- it is not easy!
 
Hi Catherine,

Good job!
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Your son owes you big time. Big sacrifice on your part though, but no doubt worth it.

I am somewhat like you as in I'm the one who teach my kids to read and write. If I had left it just to school, dont think they would have gotten too far. ;P

But started earlier lah, in K1. My boy is going to P1 nex year. Peter & Jane, I took him thru the first few books, then we read other books coz graded readers can be quite boring. But lately I asked him to read level 10 coz the stories are interesting for boys: skydiving etc. He has no problems at all. Notice he can even reading silently now, but stamina not there to read the entire book on his own... Expect his reading to up the ante in P1 with the enforced reading periods and access to books in school library etc.
 
Dear Mummies
Thanks for the advise! Yes, I will consider to bring him to the specialist.

Quitting my job is a big NO! But I guess I have to spend more time to read along with him and be more patient!

Thanks Mummies! Have a great weekend ahead!
 


Fairyprincess

Thanks. No choice. We tried out-sourcing but found he did not like learning thru singing and activities. He prefers to be given the opportunity to ask n ask n ask endless questions re things he read.

In a sch setting, the teachers may not be able to cater to his overflowing curiosity due to the need to manage n to give attention to other kids as well.

I was a FTWM 4 months ago too and fully understand the stress that FTWMs must face. Took the easier way out, quit, live with less money n stress, and be happy
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