Dear Parents,
Our learning centre will be closed from 29 May to 2 June. If you would like to contact us, please send an email to: serenagreenhouse@gmail.com. We will reply you by email. Thank you.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Updates
Updates:
(A) Regular Classes
P5 Math Class (Confirmed)
Sun 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Full
P4 Science Class (Confirmed)
Sun 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. - FULL
P4 Science Class (Confirmed)
Thur 6.45 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. - Limited vacancies
P4 Math Class
Tentative slots:
Wed 2 pm to 4 pm OR
Wed 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Note: The class will be confirmed when a minimum of 5 pupils register for the class.
(B) P5 Math Holiday Classes
Due to the overwhelming response from parents, we are conducting a second run for the P5 Math Holiday Programme.
Schedule:
18 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
19 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
20 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
21 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
22 June 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
(C) Contact Details
HP: 98736115 (SMS)
Email: serenagreenhouse@gmail.com
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Updates
Updates:
(A) Regular Classes
P5 Math Class (Confirmed)
Sun 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - 2 vacancies left
P4 Science Class (Confirmed)
Sun 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. - FULL
P4 Math Class
Tentative slots:
Wed 2 pm to 4 pm OR
Wed 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Note: The class will be confirmed when a minimum of 5 pupils register for the class.
P4 Science Class (Tentative)
Thur 6.45 p.m. to 8.45 p.m.
Note: The class will be confirmed when a minimum of 5 pupils register for the class.
(B) P5 Math Holiday Classes
Due to the overwhelming response from parents, there are no more vacancies for the P5 Math Holiday Programme. We may be running another P5 Math Holiday Programme.
Tentative Schedule
18 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
19 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
20 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
21 June 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
22 June 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
(C) Contact Details
HP: 98736115 (SMS)
Email: serenagreenhouse@gmail.com
Let's Chat Parent-child Journal
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law started a Let's Chat Journal recently with my two nephews who are four and five years old respectively. My nephews wrote down what they wanted to share with their parents who would then respond.
Benefits
I think there are benefits to this. It encourages bonding between the parents and the child. You could use this as an opportunity to share feelings and build dialogue between you and your child. You can write in the journal when your child is sleeping and your child can also respond to you at his or her convenience. As parents, we may have to go overseas at times due to work commitment. During the week, there may be exciting, happy or sad moments that your child would like to share with you. You could then read more about these moments when you return home.
Moreover, it also encourages the child to express his thoughts, feelings and opinions in writing. It's a non-threatening way for the child to engage in writing. The teacher will not be using his or her red pen to put crosses in the journal.
What to write about in the Let's Chat Journal
You can write about anything that you want in the journal. Rule of thumb: Keep the tone positive. Do not scold your child or give your child instructions via the journal.
Spending Quality Time and Communication are Important
One of my friends pointed out that spending time together and face-to-face communication are still the best ways for family bonding. She is absolutely right. We are not encouraging parents to use the Let's Chat Journal as a substitute for spending quality time together. It is just a good tool to encourage the kids to pen down some of their inner thoughts and feelings when we are not around at home to listen to them. It is also a good tool to let them express themselves in writing.
Benefits
I think there are benefits to this. It encourages bonding between the parents and the child. You could use this as an opportunity to share feelings and build dialogue between you and your child. You can write in the journal when your child is sleeping and your child can also respond to you at his or her convenience. As parents, we may have to go overseas at times due to work commitment. During the week, there may be exciting, happy or sad moments that your child would like to share with you. You could then read more about these moments when you return home.
Moreover, it also encourages the child to express his thoughts, feelings and opinions in writing. It's a non-threatening way for the child to engage in writing. The teacher will not be using his or her red pen to put crosses in the journal.
What to write about in the Let's Chat Journal
You can write about anything that you want in the journal. Rule of thumb: Keep the tone positive. Do not scold your child or give your child instructions via the journal.
Spending Quality Time and Communication are Important
One of my friends pointed out that spending time together and face-to-face communication are still the best ways for family bonding. She is absolutely right. We are not encouraging parents to use the Let's Chat Journal as a substitute for spending quality time together. It is just a good tool to encourage the kids to pen down some of their inner thoughts and feelings when we are not around at home to listen to them. It is also a good tool to let them express themselves in writing.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
A Good Read - Three Cups
My nephew and niece just read this wonderful story about financial responsibility and management, "Three Cups". It is written for kids by Tony Townsley and Mark St. Germain.
On his fifth birthday, a boy receives the gift of three cups from his parents: one is for spending, one for saving while the third for giving. That’s where he is to keep his allowance. Over time, how much goes into each cup changes. The text includes a parents’ guide.
"Teaching Children How to Save, Spend and be Charitable with Money." It is a great book that teaches earning, saving and donating. Besides teaching the kids about money management and financial responsibility, it teaches the kids the importance of compassion too. A GREAT read!
I tried to find this book in the NLB catalogue but failed to do so. If you are keen to buy the book, you may have to get it from the amazon website:
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Cups-Mark-St-Germain/dp/0979456304
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Have a Book Chat Session With Your Child
My child likes to read. However, he is not able to apply what he has read to his writing. What can I do to help him? This question has been posed by many parents. Very often, when children read the story books, they are only focusing on the plot.
Tips:
For reluctant readers, let them enjoy the plot first. As a parent, you could read the same book. Tag out the pages that contain vivid descriptions or good writing techniques such as metaphors, personification etc.
After your child has read the book, you could set aside time for a book chat. Ask your child to share his or her opinions after reading the book and you will share yours too. Here are some prompts:
(a) Did you come across certain parts that show an emotion very well? Could you remember where the parts were? Get the child to share with you these paragraphs. If he or she could not remember, show him or her some sections that you have tagged out.
You could do the same for the use of literary devices such as personification and metaphors, characterisation and themes (for advanced learners).
Focus on one aspect for one book so that it is not too overwhelming for your child.
(b) What part of the book was the best? Why?
(c) What was especially effective about this book?
(d) What would you change about the book? Why?
Benefits of A Book Chat
(1) A book chat helps the child to be more aware of writing techniques and vivid phrases used by good authors.
When I share certain parts of a book with my pupils, some of them will share with me that they have read the book before but they are not aware of the interesting writing techniques or vivid phrases used. For such cases, I advise them to read the books again, looking out for these interesting techniques or vivid phrases.
Once the child is aware of the good writing techniques and vivid phrases used by authors, they will then be able to read the books from a different perspective. They will be able to look out for these gems when they are reading.
(2) A book chat is a good time for family bonding.
The child will be delighted that the parents are interested to read books that he or she likes.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Celebrating Success
It's the time of the year when kids take home their examination scripts or report books. What is your first response? Do you zoom into those subjects that they have not done well? Do you start scolding them for not doing well? Do you compare their results against the results of other children? Or do you zoom into the areas that they have improved in and start praising them? Do you analyse and identify what has gone wrong and what can be done?
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, our esteem needs (confidence, self-esteem, achievement etc) have to be satisfied. All of us feel good when we are praised by our bosses for submitting a well-written report or for handling a project well. We also feel happy when our friends comment that we look good in an outfit or with a new hairdo. The child behaves in the same way. In fact, the words that we use when we talk to a child has a great impact on him. Have you noticed the glow of happiness on your child's praise when you praise him for something good that he has done?
Hence, when your kids take home their examination scripts in a few days' time, instead of just zooming into what your child has not done well in, you could focus on the subjects or questions in the paper that he has done well in. Perhaps there are a few Math questions that he did not know during the revision period. However, he has understood them and is now able to solve those questions during the examination, shouldn't we recognise his efforts and celebrate his success?
I am not saying that we should not review the areas or subjects that the kids have not done well in. What I am suggesting is that celebrate their success (big or small) first. Then we look through the areas for improvement and discuss with the child how we can address the areas of improvement. The child will be more receptive as he knows that you are fair and give him due recognition for areas that he has done well or shown improvement in.
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, our esteem needs (confidence, self-esteem, achievement etc) have to be satisfied. All of us feel good when we are praised by our bosses for submitting a well-written report or for handling a project well. We also feel happy when our friends comment that we look good in an outfit or with a new hairdo. The child behaves in the same way. In fact, the words that we use when we talk to a child has a great impact on him. Have you noticed the glow of happiness on your child's praise when you praise him for something good that he has done?
Hence, when your kids take home their examination scripts in a few days' time, instead of just zooming into what your child has not done well in, you could focus on the subjects or questions in the paper that he has done well in. Perhaps there are a few Math questions that he did not know during the revision period. However, he has understood them and is now able to solve those questions during the examination, shouldn't we recognise his efforts and celebrate his success?
I am not saying that we should not review the areas or subjects that the kids have not done well in. What I am suggesting is that celebrate their success (big or small) first. Then we look through the areas for improvement and discuss with the child how we can address the areas of improvement. The child will be more receptive as he knows that you are fair and give him due recognition for areas that he has done well or shown improvement in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)