Any comments on Montessori for Children


No news for me leh........
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I just submit forms a few weeks/mth? (in July) after you both leh.
But I submit thru email, what abt u both?

I realise I may have sign my girl for N1 and not toddler class. She is more than 2 yrs old by Jan 07.
Hmmmm.... will go check with them again.
 
AC,

I have registered her in Apr 06 leh. I submitted when I was there for a visit. Then, another confirmation of interest in Jul 06 was emailed to me. Now, what we have received is Letter of Offer whereby we have secured a place and needs to make payment.
 
Congrats weilin & funny. Good to know that both of your darlings have gotten into LV next year.
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I called up and was told that my darling is in between Toddlers' and N1 class. By Jan 07 she would be a little too old for toddlers' class but a little too young for N1. Also, there are quite a few before her on the waiting list. *sign*
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She said that if there are more vacancy and my turn comes, she will be calling me in end oct/early nov 06 or got to wait for Feb 07.

Ai-yo! my heart now pi-po pi-po for child care vacancy, cant imagine what is going to happen if i have to enrol her in pri sch! Sure drop loads of hair!!! ha.... haa.... haaa...
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AC: Don't worry. Coz, mummies who are given letter of offer have to pay up by Sep 1. Perhaps, there may be some mummies backing out last min.

I am also checking out other kindergartens at the moment, in case my girl/I didn't like the place after enrolment. Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
Weilin,

I have not decided half or full day yet. Anyway, have not discussed with my SIL too whether she can pick her up if it is half day.

I thought of asking for a 1 week trial incase my doter does not like the place.

Btw do you know if they provide dinner for the children ?

Ac,

Dun get excited. ha..haa..
We are asked to pay for the registration by 1st sept. There may be mummies backing out.
 
Hi funny, weilin

yes, keeping my fingers crossed 2.

i am also looking around juz in case we din make it.

do they have one-week trial class? din know that.
If got then tats great. I also worry tat darling cant get use to the place.
 
AC, WeiLin

I have checked with LV, no dinner is provided except for some snacks about 6 pm. Oh dear, then i have to cook for my gal after work...my gal will be 22 months by then, can she eat rice, like us ?

You are not alone, i am also looking around too, heehee...
 
Hi mummies can I check with you are you actually sending your child to enrichment classes or childcare?
initially i was looking for weekend enrichment classes for my child - deciding between GUG and JG. but when i visited GUG, it was not that impressive. as for JG, i have visted the evans road centre. it looks good, but the problem is they need an accompanying adult but i cant do that during weekdays. so i have to consider the preschool - the chilton house instead. do you think this is a good choice?
 
Hi <font color="ff0000">mummies</font>,
long time din post.. haha influnced by u, i have sent in my reg letter to LV too.. but think i m still on waiting list since i post later than u..
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what r the schools u looking for? wanna join u for visiting, hehe..

Hi <font color="ff0000">gabby</font>,
some of the bb here are joining GUG, inc my son. so far ok lah.. JG i once went for the trial of bilingual class, maybe that class is focus on Mandarin, i m not impressed by the english part. just story telling. but heard JG is good.

check with u, the Evans road one, if no car, take pub transportation, will it be tiring? thanks!
 
selina, the evans road not that accessible leh. i have to drive there. so you may have to take that into consideration and join the forum one instead?
 
Gabbie mom,
For me, my gal is attending enrichment at GUG currently during the wkend. But I am sending her to half day childcare in Jan.
Since you are choosing an appropriate enrichment class, it'll be gd for your child to attend a trial 1st. GUG may not be impressive at 1st sight. But your child may like the programs there. Personally, I have not tried JG but I may intend to switch my girl from GUG to JG next year. But after hearing so many comparisons between JG and GUG, I heard gd comments abt Lorna Whiston too. Intend to go for a trail in JG and Lorna Whiston. =)
I emailed Chiltern House before. Fees per mth is exorbitant! $880+ per mth.
 
haaaa.....haaa..... weilin, funny u both also still looking.....

welcome, welcome selina! Let's wait n keep our fingers crossed
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btw anyone can comment on Marymount kindergarten?


Hi funny

My darling started eating rice at around 14 mths (even thot she only has 4 sets of teeth, molars not out yet........) and would only eat porridge in the morning nowadays. I think rice at 22 mths should be fine. have you try letting ur darling eat rice?


Hi gabbie mom

My darling is attenting GUG (weekday) too. Frankly, after going thru quite a few different teachers' combination, I prefer some combination to others. Even my darling shows her preference by remembering the teacher's name and kept calling them.

I plan to switch her to music classes (Seimpi? Magic fiddler?......) aft this term cos darling would have finished the zoophonics from a-z.


Hi mummies

Any recommendation for music schools?
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AC: You are not continuing with GUG. I am in a dilemma. My girl seemed to be more attentive when she's back for this new term.
I've checked with my friend who is a music teacher at Cristofori. She mentioned tat Yamaha and her music sch has programs for 3 yrs and above only.
I intend to check out Yamaha and Cristofori when my gal is older.
I passed by Marymount Kindergarten yesterday, it looks kinda old on the outside. Not sure how gd it is.
Btw, GUG is setting up kindergarten classes in Jan 07. But it's meant for k1 and K2 only.
 
AC,

I have let her try one or two grains of rice. She quite like it but not sure if I give her more is she able to chew and digest well. Now she has the first front 8 teeths and 2 bottom teeths near the molars. Do you mix rice with soup so that it is soft ?

I have tried Seimpi, the JumpStart class 2 weeks ago, find that it is not impressive for a music class. Heard that Kindermusik is better.


Weilin,
Have u paid the registration fee ? So you decided to go for half day. Same for my doter, last term she is not so responsive but this term she response very well during the class. Not sure I want to continue next term anot. Do you know toddler class and Babes class, interms of programmes any difference ?

I wanted to go for a trial at JG but they only have trial on weekdays. I wonder if we arrange a group and ask for a trial on weekend is it possible.

AC, Weilin,

Are you buying the BP zoophonics ? Feel like getting it but it does not come with any CD. And till now i still cannot remember how to sing the phonics song ?! That's show how bad am i in music...

Selina,

How's your finding so far. Share share ok.
 
Funny,

Registration fees: I've sent in $500+ as deposit &amp; insurance last week. Ms. Wirma called me on Tues to inform me that they have received the cheque. My girl is just going for half-day program. My husband &amp; FIL will take turns to fetch her to &amp; fro. Thank God FIL offered his help. Or else, my maid has to take bus to fetch her to &amp; fro at times when hubby has to work.

GUG: I am still unsure if I should withdraw my girl. Selina has posted that the programs seem similar for both Babe &amp; Tot class. My girl's concentration span is short, perhaps, she's still young. Can't imagine how the CC teacher is going to handle her as she'll be the youngest in her class!

Kindermusik: My girl joined Kindermusik for a term. Would say it's fun. The signing session is definitely more fun than GUG. Maybe the songs are nicer and unique! Not the usual nursery rhymes we always sing. Coz, of the distance, I got lazy travelling all the way to Tanglin Mall and switched to GUG coz of its comprehensive program.

Zoo Phonics: I thought of trying. I am buying the cards from the BP, but the response is kinda slow. Hope that CC2 can get 30 sets soon!
 
weilin, funny

Hey, thanks for sharing.
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I will not be continuing if she gets a place in LV. But so far, no news from LV......
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Might have to continue (she needs some social life :p) for just another term or I might try Zoophonics out (Upper Thomson branch) cos it's much nearer.
 
hi funny,
can you share more about the seimpi prog?
thanks
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ac,
personally, i prefer gug to zoophonics. find gug prog and teachers stronger.
which days are your darling attending gug?
magic fiddler: more for older kids. very very very very small room.
IMO, KM much better in terms of prog, music/songs selection, teachers and room size.
hope you hear good news from LV soon.

KM,
my kid n i love it. i find the tods n babes prog similar and the tods prog has a longer term..15weeks!! (if i rem correctly)
 
Anyone has comments on Newton Kinder?
Juz went for a visit. They have a new programme for 18-36 mths old..... cheery pies. 3 times a week, 2 hrs per session.
 
Weilin,

What kind of new program is Newton Kinder offering ? CAn elaborate ?
For LV, I will go for half day.
Actually was thinking, if half day, would it be better to go for playgroup ?

Hi Ora,

Aiya, missed your question. so Sorry.
I went for the trial at seimpi. It 's the Baby jumpstart for below 18 months. The program is only 45 mins. Feel that is abit short cos by the time baby warm up is time to say goodbye. What they did was play some music, and encourage you to dance with your child and also play some board games. The room that i been is also quite run down and the carpet also looks not clean. Probably this is a good school for older children who wants to learn panio or other musical instruments. So far this is how i feel.
 
Hi ora

Thanks for sharing.
I heard from friend that zoophonics classes is much shorter. And yes, u r right, MF classroom is really small. But the thot that they give u the CD and Parent's guidebook (for each instrument each term) is very tempting.

Since we got no news from LV, hb n i decided to continue wif GUG for at least another term first.




Hey weilin,

u r fast! I mentioned to u b4 that i m very interested in newton kindergarten n had wanted to go visit newton kindergartern.
Can share your thots?

Also, I have arranged to visit Agapeland - Adam road on mon mor. Anyone been there before?
http://agapeland.trinity.org.sg/
 
Hi AC,

I merely visited the classroom for the tots programme. They named it as Cheery Pies. 3 times a week, 2 hrs per session from 9am to 11am. 1st half of the year, child has to be accompanied by a caregiver.
Hmm... teacher in charge was nice and she patiently explained their curriculum to me. However, they have just started this programme 3 mths ago (in June 06), thus I don't find this programme established yet. They are designing the curriculum as the time goes. That's the downside, I feel.
I was in a rush, didn't visit the other classrooms, children are on vacation too. I may drop by one of the days next week or so. But I would say location is convenient for me, and I have actually been looking for a playgrp. Sigh* That's why I am in a dilemma now. I love LV's established curriculum and system. But I like Newton's shorter hours and cheaper fees.
Principal also mentioned that they are Pat's schoolhouse associate pre-sch. Thus, they are using Pat's integrated programme. Since Newton's has been ard for 50 yrs, I guess more or less our kids should be in good hands.
 
hi weilin,
Newton is quite good, and their focus is on chinese.All lessons it seems will be conducted in mandarin. And it is cheap.

Marymount kindergarten - It has a nice environment, it is suppose to be a very good pre school. However the school fees is almost 1.5 times of Newton.

Music schools - The school that I sent my son to when he was less than 2 was rythym in me. It is good. He enjoyed it more than growing up gifted. However, I would prefer to send the kid to a specialised music school where is a continuation of his music education. Eg. Seimpi (My friends had some complaints about this sch), mandeville (starts from 18 months, friends had good comments for music appreciation, if you die die want your kid to start an instrument, baby suzuki violin starts at 2. However, waiting list is long, need to be interviewd and parent have to do a lot of work), mac music school (starts from 2, my son is with this school now) or magic fiddler (I like their program where the kid gets to try out the violin or the piano per term).

GUG - Hm. Really depends on the kid. My son didn't really like GUG. So, had to pull him out after 1 term. On hindsight, LV covers most of what GUG does for their toddler class minus the zoophonics. LV only do phonics (letterland) in N1.

Shichida - I would say that it really depends on your kid. It works better on some kids than others. It needs alot homework on the mom for it to work. You can go to yahoo group and look for shichida method or shichida group. You can learn quite a lot from these 2 groups before attending the shichida lessons. If you go for the demo at shichida, they will tell u the success stories only. 8P. And some of the teachers are better than the others.
 
wei lin,
Marymount, acension and newton kindergarten were the 3 kindergarten which I visited in May this year. Newton Kindergarten is fully aircon. They using letterland and ridgy syllbus. They follow parts of pat's school house program. One of their enrichment classes which you need to pay extra is the fast trac kids program which pat is using for their enrichment. I cannot remember the other enrichment, I think it is speech and drama. The place is fully aircon. The focus is on mandarin. From what the administrator said, most lessons are conducted in mandarin. Most parents send their kids there with the main aim to improve their kids' mandarin. I have also read some good reviews about the place. If I do switch my son to a kindergarten, it will be my top choice at present. The price is within my budget, around less than 500 per term.
 
hoepac: thx for yr feedback. To me the downside is Mandarin. I would prefer a balance of 2 languages. Coz, what the principal told me, the form teacher will be a mandarin teacher, instructions will be given in mandarin. can share where to read the review of newton?
 
Wei Lin,
700 per month or term? If 700 per month is steep. You are looking at the playgroup? I think it is more exp for playgroup, the 400+ i was talking is nursery the 4 years old next year. You can consider marymount. It has quite a fair balance of languages and it is not as crowded as acensions. The layout of the classrooms is quite good. When there were ranking on pre schools, someone told me it ranked in the top 10. But for playgroup, it is around 900 per term.

The review of newton was in moms4moms.org around mar to april this year.
 
hopeac: sorry, it's $700 per term for playgroup.
For the toddlers grp (cheery pies), it's $750 for a term, but only thrice a wk.
Is Marymount compound very old? Coz, I passed by and realised it looked quite run-down.

I have actually registered my gal at Learning Vision. But thought of sending her to a playgrp and shichida. Now, i am trying to read up on feedbacks of shichida before i register her. Coz, the fees are really steep.
 
hi hopeac,

do you have the contacts and address or websites for the music school that you mention ?

So far i am only aware of seimpi.

Weilin,

may be ac can help cos i thought her gal is at shichida.
i will be continuing with GUG till end of the this year since my gal will be going LV next yr.
JG is having a nov holiday program. I thought of trying. http://www.juliagabriel.com/
my mil is not happy that we are sending my gal to half day CC. she said is still young. so i am looking around for playgroup too.
 
hi mummies, has anyone of you checked out montessori for children at newton road, the one that is next to newton lodge and Eton House?

Please share your comments.. thanks in advance.
 
Funny: Same here. My PILs have been 'promoting' newton kindergarten to me. Coz, they have to go to work at 1pm. Morning time is the time for them to play with my girl. If she goes to half day CC, they won't have much chances to play with her.
Now, I am in a dilemma. I really like LV coz Ms Wirma is really nice and she bothers to advise me this and that. How nice if LV has flexi-program!
Now, I thought of switching to Newton Kinder with Shichida. Have heard of raving comments abt Shichida. Sigh*
 
sammi,
East Coast school seems to have quite good reviews.


wei lin,
I din't put my son music appreciation classes in mandeville and Mac. We only tried the violin lessons only. You call them ask.

Mandeville bb suzuki violin

Teacher was slyvia Khoo. She is supposed to be a very good teacher. She produced alot of child prodigies in singapore. You need to go interview with her before she accepts u or not. Most of the kids in her younger group is above 2 years. My son started around 21 months with her. However, he was not ready, so we stopped after 1 term. One thing to note, her group lessons are 10 students, parents need to attend also (total 20 ppl in the class). The drop out rate is very high, as she goes quite fast also. Parent has to do a lot of coaching at home. She only starts 1 class per year, and waitinglist is long. After her suzuki group lessons, she usually only accepts the gifted students to continue for individual lessons. Slyvia is also quite stern, 8P, she will scold one if you don't practice i heard.


MAC
After a long break, my son started with Mac this year again. He only takes in max 6 students for his suzuki group. The minimum age is above 3. So far my son enjoys the lessons, more personalised attention and at a lower pace. Started on abit of note reading. Generally, I feel Mac is a good teacher, and my son loves him.


If you are just looking for something similar like kidnermusik, Rhythym in me is quite close, but i heard it is better. For the mandeville and Mac music appreciation you have to call and ask.
 
Hi hopeac,

Thanks for the info. So your son is now in Mac.
From your point of view, what is the best age to start music lesson ? Feel that 2 yrs old is still very young.

hi Weilin,
does LV has flexi programme ? my sil also ask me to check if they offer flexi.
I heard abt comments on shicida but not sure what kind of programme they offer. Till now i still like montessori but not purely on montessori. Prefer a mixture of other programmes as well.
 
hi funny,
Really depends on the kid. From what I observe, the girls are more mature. Some girls can start after 2 half. Boys able 3+. Girls generally process faster at the start. But at this age, the parent need to put in a lot of effort, patience to teach and persuade them to practise. You really have to sit there and practise with them. If you are looking at independent practising, then u will have to wait until 5 or 6 years old at least.
 
Funny: I have asked Ms Wirma before... they don't have flexi programmes. Sigh* Since your MIL didn't like half day CC and you can try to find schools with partial montessori program but it's rather hard to find one.
 
Weilin,

Yesterday LV called me said my cheque was bounced..faint..I told them I would like to change it to half day, so now got to send them another cheque which is $505.13.
There's one day I went down to LV and met one of the teacher, she said for toddler group at the moment has 13 children with 2 teachers, just wondering how they manage cos toddlers still want pple to carry them at times.

yap, still looking around but i know it's hard to find one with a good mixture of montessori pgm and others. either there is one but location is not convenient.

Next term, my gal should be at the tods class at GUG but they call me and said the timing that i want no available lot hence i going to continue another term with the babes class.
 

Funny: I can't recall there. There was a chart on the wall showing the curriculum. COmprises of music &amp; movement, literacy walk, motor skills, confidence builder, etc. No letterland yet for them.

Btw, anyone recommends shichida?
 
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