My disappointment at GUG

Serenada,
Personally I felt that there is a need for the 20 mins of free play cos my son is abit reserved. He is those shy shy type so if we arrived the class and got to start the programme immediately, he tends to be get more reserved. So I forced myself not to leave home later than 11.00am. I don't know about bilingual cos he is in Mandarin PlayClub but so far I didn't experience running out of time during lesson except for a few times during play time.
 


Serenade,

I did enquire about this before cause JG has 2 sessions of play time in the 2 hours class. The teachers said that it is to encourage the todds to play together. At this age, most of them only know how to play by themselves so this time allows them to experience playing with others. (Part of the sharing concept)
 
just to give my 2 cents worth
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my girl was with GUG for 3 terms- gifted babes for 1 term at 12m, then the parent and babe for 1 term at 16m and parent and tot for 1 term at 18m.
she's now with JG bilingual playclub since 21m for 1 term and i'm gonna let her go for another term..

personally feel that Gug and JG 's programmes teach different things.. gug is more for learning phonics and literacy.. jg is more drama and creativity.. my girl has picked up all the alphabets and simple words at gug after 3 terms although she does get bored with the chinese segment... now i still do phonics at home with her.. at jg, she hardly learns any phonics at all..but she really enjoys the chinese drama programme..(yuanyuan lao shi is v v good!!) the jg teachers are definitely more engaging than the gug teachers on the whole.. but guess it also depends on what you want the child to learn..

for my next child,i'd send to gug first to learn the phonics part and when he's mastered that and gets bored, will send to jg for the drama and chinese lessons which is v good..
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just my personal take..
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Hi missylan,
I would agree that some free play at the start of the lesson will help to settle the kids. But if everybody does not come on time, is the 20 minutes of free play then still necessary? Perhaps, 10 minutes would be enough for those who need time to settle and warm up? Or if the class seems ready, the teacher could perhaps shorten the free play and start the lesson?
 
Hi co11ectionz,
Thanks for sharing the info.

I don't see how the free play allows the kids to interact much. Rather, I feel some of the activities during the lessons help achieve more on team work. For instance, when asked to look for the letter "d", some of the kids will go searching for it and bring it back together (holding different corners of the paper). During free play, most kids are just engaged in the activities that interest them. There's not much interaction unless the adults take the lead to engage them, which is rather rare for my class.

Don't mind me for grousing on the free play. Just felt that the free play is pretty expensive and it's something my kids get to do (for free) everytime they visit the playgrounds. Also, there's the snack time and music time. All these would have been great if the quality of lessons has not been compromised.

Perhaps I should write in to JG about this since my gal is continuing for another term.
 
Serenade,

Yes, yes, pls write in! ha ha... I heard many parents also complain about the 2 hr Engligh lesson has to be twice a week and not once a week.
 
By the way, hi to everyone...Im a newbie. I read with interest about your comments on GUG...just don't know what tat is..
 
Serenade,

thanx for sharing. I had also placed my boy on JG edudrama waiting list for nearly 2 terms liao so I gather he will soon be given a slot. For CH, the place became available the day we enquire so we just enrolled him. I am still trying to figure out whether its indeed adequate to just go for CH and drop the edudrama.
 
Hi, what is the monthly/term fee for CH? My child is going to be 2 yrs old next Jan. Thinking of enrolling her there.
 
Destinee,

CH at crescent road half day morning is $840 before GST. Full day is $1640 before GST. Half day afternoon is $790 before GST.

Kindergarten Two fee is more exp by $75 for half day.

For the rest of the CH location, half day morning $820, half day noon $770, Full day $1620. All before GST.
 
Hi Fushiastar,

My girl is doing the Early reading and writing class at GUG. So far, she's shown very keen interest in the class. It taught zoophonics with some simple writing/tracing exercises. Well, I would say so far so gd for us, at least my daughter has shown an interest and looks forward to attending class. She also can recite her zoophonics of the alphabets taught to her so far. The teacher is also pretty gd and loving to the kids, IMO. HTHs.

Cant comment on JG as I didnt send my kids there.
 
My son has been with JG for 2 terms; and overall he enjoys going to JG. When he first started, he was rather difficult to handle, always crying and wanting to be let out of the room. i think he took abt 5 weeks to adjust, and i am glad i did not give up. Now he simply enjoys class. Some of the things i did to help him adjust :-
- talk to him abt school when we are at home
- took pictures of him and his teachers and show the pics to him and talk to him abt them
- ensure he starts class on time - so that he has the full of free-play time to adjust himself to the teachers. When there are lesser children, the teachers can focus on him

He's been doing the walking abt thing in class for last term, and i will always make it a point to bring him back. This term, he is better
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And this term, he started to be able to sing .. in the sense that he helps to compelte the phrase to each line of song i sing to him...all songs from JG class - he couldnt do this earlier on (he;s now 25 mths).

I like Tu-lao-shi and Pix.
As for asst teacher Zhang-lao-shi, that some mentioned earlier on, I tend to agree with the observations - she likes to 'grab' the kids to get their attention. Well, that's why she is asst. :p

But overall, thumbs up and money's worth.
 
Hi Bluesea,

my girl will be starting the Early reading and writing class in Jan cos has stopped her for this term since she has already known the zoo phonics by heart.

Will be starting in Jan and my boy who will be 13 months in jan next year will start the Parents and babes class
 
Hi Larkspur,

Gd to see you here! My daughter has been for GUG for abt 6 mths. So far so gd. She enjoys the classes and I hv also sent my younger girl (2.5yo) there as well. However, recently, started to think abt sending my elder one to Lorna Whiston Speech & Drama. Still considering and shd confirm by this wkend.

I hv exceeded the withdrawal deadline at GUG by 2 days for my elder child.... anyone with experience with their admin staff? Will they really insist no refund of deposit?
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Any way to persuade them? I dont mind it as a credit for my younger child as she will be continuing for 2-3 more terms at GUG.
 
Hi, mummies. I have also withdraw my son from GUG class, now still left about 4 lessons to go. Phew...

Just a thought, GUG seems quite good for smaller children, as my son has been attending Parent & Babe. Now attending Parent & Tot.

Parent & Babe - As children this age are mostly crawling so they can be more focused on the songs/ Stories times/ Art & Craft. My son love playing with the paints. My son is with the young indonesian chinese teacher, find her very good.

Parent & Tot - Tried the Biligual Class, cause thought that it is quite popular. Find that the class too rushed and the chinese segment is only singing chinese songs.

Switched over to the english one after only one lesson. My son started to roam around after the free play time and even give me my bag asking me to leave the class half way. Started to bang at the door to leave even. Think he is no longer keen at the syllabus.

The teachers for his class is quite good though, Teacher Ereen very expressive. I would stay with her if my son is more keen in the class.
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Now letting my son trying out My Gym as he seems to have lots of energy. Also thinking of starting him at a montessori school where all the activities are in without me paying extra.
 
Hi, mummies. I have also withdraw my son from GUG class, now still left about 4 lessons to go. Phew...

Just a thought, GUG seems quite good for smaller children, as my son has been attending Parent & Babe. Now attending Parent & Tot.

Parent & Babe - As children this age are mostly crawling so they can be more focused on the songs/ Stories times/ Art & Craft. My son love playing with the paints. My son is with the young indonesian chinese teacher, find her very good.

Parent & Tot - Tried the Biligual Class, cause thought that it is quite popular. Find that the class too rushed and the chinese segment is only singing chinese songs.

Switched over to the english one after only one lesson. My son started to roam around after the free play time and even give me my bag asking me to leave the class half way. Started to bang at the door to leave even. Think he is no longer keen at the syllabus.

The teachers for his class is quite good though, Teacher Ereen very expressive. I would stay with her if my son is more keen in the class.
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Now letting my son trying out My Gym as he seems to have lots of energy. Also thinking of starting him at a montessori school where all the activities are in without me paying extra.
 
Hi Bluesea,

for the withdrawal, you must inform her before the term dateline if not, they will not refund you the deposit. Initially i wanted to withdraw my girl too and too miss the dateline, they told me my girl need to attend another term and inform them of the withdrawal. Anyway change my mind the last minute cos heard from friends that the early reading and writing class is very good cos some centres dun have letter tracing. Since i will enroll my son in the parents and babes class to learn the phonics too. Think wil probably withdraw my girl in 2009 to put her in I Can Read after she learns how to write
 
Hi Lakspur,

Agree that the early reading and writing class is quite gd. That's what my elder girl is attending now. She totally enjoys the classes. Is your girl attending this also? Sekali same class??? hehe ... Now I would like to expose her to more of speech and drama as she's 4.5yo, hence will withdraw her and put her in Lorna Whiston instead next yr.
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Hi Bluesea,

She will start the early reading and writing class in mid Jan cos the first 2 weeks will put her in the kids playclub to see if she can attend class by herself and if okay, will move her to early and writing in the morning from mid Jan onwards.

I think you mention you also live in sengkang right?
 
Yes, me in sengkang!
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I will be moving my younger one to Bilingual play club next Jan. Hope she dont scream for me when I leave the class. :p
 
<font color="0000ff">Bluesea</font>
My girl is also in GUG but doing her last term cos she will be going to a pre-nursery next year. May I know how old can they start the early reading and writing class?
 
hi bbrooster,

they can start the early reading and writing class from 3 years onwards but provided that they must be independent enough to attend class themselve.

Bluesea,

oh your younger one is in Bilingual play club....i still stick to the english one
 
Yes, from 3 yo onwards. I feel this class is quite gd for that age to learn zoophonics, letter tracing, matching things etc. Will move my younger one to this class when she hit 3.
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Larkspur, I see. What kind of activities do kids do in I can Read? How's the fees like?
 
Hi Bluesea,

what i heard from my friends are that they teach your child to read, learn spelling and pronuncation and there are phonics too. not very sure what phonics. Have been trying to call up the Sengkang branch but phone always engaged.

Fees not cheap but slightly cheaper than GUG cos my colleagues said they increase their prices too
 
Tks Larkspur for the info. Will see if my elder one likes Lorna Whiston.

By the way, hv u considered Kumon before? I hvt made any enquiries yet but heard this is quite a good programme too.
 
have considered Kumon but heard very very stressed. May bring my girl for Mathematics at Kumon when she turned 4 years old. But think may stick with I Can Read for English cos my colleague says it is very good for his girl.But his is at woodlands not sure about the one in Sengkang though

you can let me know about lorna whiston if you enroll your girl. just want to know what it is like
 
my son and daughter are both with GUG,so far okay,but i heard the receptionist service really ridiculous....very very bad service,perhaps we can forward dis forumto the principle..hehe..
 
end of this year will be my girl last term cos have withdraw her and put her in another one nearer my house. for my son, i am thinking of withdrawing too cos i find the teacher quite impatient especially my son is the kind who cannot sit still and listen to story, concentrate on art work, likes to walk around pointing to the flash cards on the wall. I am actually quite unhappy with one of the teachers in his class as she is very impatient with him and scolded him and somemore tells me my son (2.9 months)lacking behind those younger than him and shake her head. The look she gives me is like y your son so slow?

I was very pissed off but i din say anything. I mean i send my son to learn and socialise. To me, it doesn't matter if he really behind cos he is still young and i do not want to stress him.

I am seriously considering to withdraw now
 
Hi mummies,

Can anyone share or remember the lyrics taught in GUG? I only remember the letter A..


A: Ally, alligator, "air" "air" "air"
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

Anyone?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi,

Just my two cents worth:

My gal was with GUG for quite time. Just pulled her out as she's too young to go up to the next level but too bored with the present class she's attending.

So far I have no problems with the teachers or receptionists.

Especially Teacher Aze and Ash. My gal liked her teachers very much.

They did a great job laying the foundation for my gal to attend child care next yr.

By the way, my gal was about 20mths when she started with GUG
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I have withdrawn my son from GUG and next year 1st term will be the last term and i didn't give them the withdrawal notice in time.My son is more interested in the zoo flash card and he does not like the rest of the lessons. I have registered him for the zoo phonics class in serangoon starting next year so hopefully he can pick up the basic phonics.

Preschool does teach basic phonics like my girl nursery 2 childcare but just basic. next year K1 then started blending but my girl is already into 4 letter word blending in other enrichment class and moving on to spelling out the words by sounding. At least now she start to read simple books at 40 months and whenever she come across words she dunno how to read, she will use phonics blending to sound out the words. I feel somehow preschool does not teach in deptth phonics no matter branded or not.
 
Forgot to mention one thing good about learning phonics and letter blending, it allows the child to pronounce a word properly. I used to read to my girl when she is younger and i never bother to pronounce properly words like this, there, three, fox and ended she pronunce all these words as tis, dare,tree, fog. it took me a while to correct the fox but all the TH sound cannot correct and i really regret . Luckily until she learn the 4 letter blending and now she pronounce all the TH sound without me having to remind her and it comes to her effortless not like me have to pronounce slowly
 
Ya, 2 yrs ago I think GUG's admin service not so good (as the date of posts here also show). But since then they seem to have changed to all new staff. They are alot more friendly and helpful now, no complaints so far! Agree with Pam that Julia Gabriel's content rather slow and not strong enough. Personally I was frustrated bcos my son was bored and not being challenged enough. So I took him out after 2 terms and put him in GUG. That was when he was 1.5 yrs old. Must say GUG curriculum is much stronger in learning and not just play. I was told difference is JG curriculum done by their teachers, whereas GUG's done by curriculum experts. Now my son already in GUG kindy and we're amazed how much the kids really learn! They teach blending starting from Gifted Tots level and he could read story books before even going to N1! GUG helped develop a love for reading at v young age, and we're v grateful and impressed. He's also confident, happy and looks fwd to going to school everyday! So my 2 cents worth is that GUG programme really works if you stick with it.
 
My boy is in gifted babes. we are pleased with his progression and the program by GuG. We are considering putting him to kiddy at gug when he is old enough. Any one has children who attended the kiddy program? What is your experience and do you think the things they learn at gug reduces the learning curve at pri sch?
 
Need some advice. I just withdrew my 27 month old son from Zoophonics' toddler class. I'm considering putting him in GUG's Gifted Tots program as i heard the quality of lessons are better there. One of my concerns is, my son has mastered the zoophonics alphabets signals (his Zoophonics toddler class only taught them sounds of a-z with the animals, not yet the alphabets without the animals). I wish to know what's covered for the phonics part in GUG's Gifted Tots program? Do they cover the alphabets without the animals, and move beyond that to blending? thanks for all advice.
 
Hi bbee, tots class teaches the alphabets with the animals. They also have sandpaper fingering and this is without the animals. HTH!
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Hi Mummies

I am thinking of putting my boy whom is currently 17months at GUG.
But i couldnt decide whether to put him in US or Mountbatten.
I was told that US the class room is old n small.
I went for their trial at Mountbatten and i am kind of impress by how they teach. The room is clean n new.. But i notice this fat teacher quite rude to the parents..
Need advise...
 
Co11ectionz and Don: Both my kids now in GUG kindy. No complaints cos they love their classes and teachers. DH and I did check out other kindys and childcares and decided to stay with GUG cos their kindy programme is really strong. Their curriculum definitely prepares kids for Primary schooling. Not just academically, but also how to analyze and think out of the box. I like that they cover all kinds of interesting topics and teach thru fun and creativity. They even have current affairs to discuss latest news happenings! *Sigh* wish I had this sort of schooling when I were young.. lol! Fyi My friend's DD graduated K2 from GUG last yr and she said they prepared her so well that she already knows practically everything taught in class this yr! She thinks GUG's K1/K2 is equivalent to waht is K2/P1 standards elsewhere. Which so far I agree.
 


Hi Nicole,

Any feedback on GUG Literacy in Action? Understand it's a consists of early reading &amp; writing + speech &amp; drama in 1hr 45min lesson. Wonder how effective it is.
 

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