Which Method Of Learning Is Better For Students Jei Vs Singapore Vs Kumon

It is the Master i registration menses in Singapore at present and I've been following the news on this topic lately since Lil Pumpkin is going to register side by side year. I've as well started going into the Kiasuparents forum to read upwardly more on other people'south experiences on registering their child, and how they get their kids prepared for entry into our formal schooling system.

Kiasuparents is like a scabby wound. You know you're not supposed to keep picking at it {i.due east keep reading the forum} since it'll cause you lot more than stress, or even distress, but yous only can't help it :P

I've been thinking of sending Lil Pumpkin to Math enrichment classes to improve her math skills. Her answers are very "creative" merely bluntly, I think her teachers won't appreciate it haha

I'd like to be 1 of those parents that come with their own fabled worksheets and games to home-schoolhouse Lil Pumpkin too but every bit a full-time working parent, that is only not possible without me losing my sanity. It's not only that I don't have the fourth dimension, it's also because I understand I don't have the skills and patience. Looking at some of the primary school maths problems nowadays, it looks very different from how we used to larn it in schoolhouse. Everybody has their own limits, and I know mine.

I'one thousand worried that Lil Pumpkin may not exist able to catch upwards with her course in Principal 1 and feel some sort of "culture shock" and stress since currently, we don't emphasize on her doing any structured studies at home. So, we'd like to start early on and build her foundation, slow and steady, and then let her feel the need to rush and catch upwards.

That's how we felt when nosotros enrolled her in her Chinese enrichment class too. It was a good move as now she can at least sympathise, and communicate but in Chinese. She tin recognise a lot of Chinese words too and best part is, Lil Pumpkin is interested to learn more!

Choosing a Chinese enrichment class was pretty easy for us. We didn't actually enquiry much into it, and chose her school because it seemed pretty reputable, we liked their curriculum plus they had a user-friendly location / course time for us so we enrolled her in one without much fuss early on in Nursery 2.

I thought it'd exist as easy for choosing a Maths enrichment grade also. My colleague's daughter is learning CMA and Kumon is a pretty popular option. So I thought it's simply betwixt these two. Easy peasy. And so I started to cheque it out in Kiasuparents and realised in that location'south many more choices!!! Arrrgggghhh!!

I spent about ii-three days reading through all the forum threads, researching other online sources and calling the centres. Information technology's not so much that I want to look for the best ane, because I don't recollect there really is ane... only one that suits your child the all-time. What we want for Lil Pumpkin is to make Maths-learning fun for her, and to get the brawl rolling on building her strong foundation and good study habits in Maths. Similar how nosotros did for her Chinese.

Absolutely, some parents start their kids on enrichment programs early because they want their kids to be the acme scorers in schoolhouse. Yet, near, similar us, bring together these programs because they have no fourth dimension to come up up with the materials at home and still want their child to acquire more and follow some sort of construction.

I still believe in letting her enjoy her childhood, simply perchance I am a kiasu parent, after all :P

Here's what I found for my own reference, and for others who may find it useful. It'due south not my own personal feel and so I cannot vouch for some of the comments I've featured. Details for each enrichment course are gathered from information online and from calling the various centers.

Of course in that location are more choices than what I've listed here, merely these seem the about talked-about now. All information is correct at the time of this post, but feel free to contact me if anything needs updating.

Kumon Singapore Website: http://sg.kumonglobal.com/

Method Origin: Japan

Diagnostic test: Aye (15-20mins exam + 30 mins discussion} Starting level 7A, age 3.

Method: Individualised learning method and drilling concepts through worksheets. Teachers are but facilitators, and students have to keep doing worksheets until they get the correct answers, within a certain fourth dimension frame. The worksheets have been designed in a way that allows students to figure out how to solve the problems on their ain. Examples and explanations are conspicuously provided when moving into new topic areas, encouraging students to self-learn and advance independently at all times.

Kumon methods accent on speed and accurateness which are accomplished through repetitive practices. There is a small-scale amount of homework everyday. Students get to keep completed booklets.

Follow MOE syllabus: No

Elapsing: 2x/week, 30-45mins/grade

Homework: Yeah {about 30mins daily, 1 day off/calendar week}

Centres: Easily bachelor isle-broad

Grade size: No maximum, depends on classroom size

Eolith: No

Registration fee: S$40 {inclusive of GST}

Monthly fee: S$140 / subject area per 8 lessons

*Note: E.nopi {currently known every bit Eye Level Learning} is very similar to Kumon.

MPM Singapore Website: http://sg.mpmmath.com/

Method Origin: The states?

Diagnostic test: Yes, ideal starting age five-8

Method: A well-sequenced math programme designed around the concepts of Multi-Process and Multi-Model mathematics. MPM is a self-learning system personalized for each student. Through the PSL (Personalized System of Learning) approach ie teachers are just facilitatos, MPM students optimize their learning independently, with minimal guidance from the instructor. Designed for preschoolers to P6.

A mum said "2 books to complete each week (the booklets are very colourful, compared to Kumon). You tin can have ane book in a solar day (classes 2x/calendar week) or 2 books in a day (classes 1x/calendar week). Student accept to complete nigh 9 pages in each booklet in the centre (with teacher guidence) and the next ix pages accept to be completed at home. Then submit the booklets the following week. Do not marker the booklets as the teacher volition do it and then that they know how are the kids performing and correction have to be done on the spot."

Do note that students cannot go along the marked books after completion.

Follow MOE syllabus: Yeah

Duration: 2x/calendar week {1hr} or 1x/week {2hrs} i.e. total 8hrs/month {and 8 books/calendar month}

Homework: Aye

Centres: Easily available island-wide. Some parents recommended Siglap, Parkway, Toa Payoh, Hougang but to avoid Clementi

Course size: 12:1

Eolith: S$l {refundable upon 1 month withdrawal detect}

Registration fee: South$50 {for test and jotter fix}

Trial lesson: No

Monthly fee: *get-go payment is past term, and subsequently in that location's a choice to pay by month
$440 per term of 12 weeks or $155 per month {K1 - P1}
$460 per term or $160 per month {P2 - P3}
$500 per term or $175 per month {P4 - P6}

CMA Singapore Website: http://www.cma.edu.sg/

Method Origin: Taiwan {lessons conducted in English}

Diagnostic Examination: Yep {45mins - 1hr}, can offset from historic period 3

Method: A pioneer in the Two-hand, Four-finger methodology that has upped the benefits of abacus mental arithmetic to a whole new level. Class lessons conducted with multimedia teaching, memory games, hands-on activities, songs, individual and group challenges.

A mum said "CMA'due south (abacus) coverage is very narrow. It is only nearly arithmetic just Math is more than than just arithmetics. CMA does not cover Time, Money, Graphs, Mass, Volume etc.... which are topics that primary school students demand to acquire in schoolhouse too."

Follow MOE syllabus: No

Elapsing: 2x/week {1.5hrs} or 1x/calendar week {1.5hrs}

Homework: Aye. At the end of each lesson, child will take home a VCD to review and revise lesson in course. They are also given a password to picket online tutorials.

Centres: Easily available island-wide

Grade size: 12:i

Eolith: Southward$50 {refundable}

Registration fee: S$80 {includes t-shirt, bag, materials}

Trial lesson: Southward$31

Monthly fee: *8% discount with a current student's referral.
Southward$310 per term of 10 weeks {for lessons 1x/calendar week}
South$230 per term of 10 lessons {for lessons 2x/calendar week}

JEI Singapore & PSLEMath Website: http://pslemath.com.sg/

Method Origin: JEI- Korea and PSLE Math- Singapore

Diagnostic test: Yep (less an hr), tin can start from age iv

Method: Students start with JEI until P1. JEI's comprehensive diagnostic system volition analyze each student'southward examination results and prescribe an individual study program. The individualized learning programme is tailored to each educatee's needs and abilities and creates the optimal educational environs. Each educatee learns at his or her ain pace so that each new concept and skill is mastered thoroughly earlier progressing to the adjacent level.

PSLEMath is a Singapore based programme from P2 onwards, done together with JEI. It was get-go adult jointly with ex-schoolhouse teachers and PSLE markers. The strength of this programme lies in its systematic method of classifying complex heuristic problem sums in a way to brand learning, agreement and revision more efficient and uncomplicated. PSLEMath achieves this by organising the questions first past topics and then further by types. Math problems of the aforementioned types have similar approaches and concepts. By structuring its work books in this manner, PSLEMath's work books provide sufficient do for children to apply their learning several times.

A mum said "looking at the materials for the JEI part, I feel they are much ameliorate than enopi or mpm every bit they are very intensive (looks similar fifteen-20pgs), colorful and a few questions on each page, pictorial yet very relevant to spore syllabus. and the best office is u can bring the materials habitation, unlike enopi or mpm

For psle math its purely problem sums (cos the bones math is under the JEI bklet) and incorporates heuristics sums."

They also exercise diagnostic test regularly and tin adjust the booklets co-ordinate to each private quickly.

Follow MOE syllabus: Aye

Duration: 1x/week, 2hrs

Homework: Yep {near 30mins/week}

Centres: Only at Marine Parade {recommended teacher Jason}, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah, Clementi, Tampines, Bukit Batok

Class size: six:1

Deposit: S$100 {refundable}

Registration fee: $20

Trial lesson: Due south$threescore for 2hrs{Tampines}, Complimentary {Ang Mo Kio}

Monthly fee: Due south$410 per term of 10 weeks

Math Monkey Website: http://www.mathmonkey.com.sg/

Method Origin: Bharat or Southern asia

Diagnostic exam: Aye (15-xxx mins interview - skill assessments & verbal questions)

Method: Based on the philosophy that FUN is the cardinal to learning, Vedic Math concepts are taught using carefully designed games and tools. The Math Monkey Curriculum is the culmination of more than 36 years' of research and teaching experience in Vedic Math of Professor Kenneth Williams. He has been widely regarded every bit the 'guru' of Vedic Math. He believes that children shouldn't have to rely on a reckoner or pencil and newspaper for something the listen is capable of doing without them.

There are three components to the Math Monkey Programs:
- Utilise of games in Math Monkey classes: Children are encouraged to think on their toes in club to exist able to play the games. As a result, learning occurs and math skills are greatly enhanced.
- Sharpening of concentration and memory skills: Classes are conducted primarily without the utilize of pencil and paper. This will build mental math ability of the children.
- Continued learning at home through weekly home assignments. These home assignments allow do betwixt lessons and provide teachers with feedback on the pupil's retention and progress.

Follow MOE syllabus: Some topics covered

Duration: 1x/calendar week, 1hrs

Homework: Yep

Centres: Simply at E Declension Road, Novena, Jurong East

Class size: six:1

Deposit: No

Registration fee: S$45

Trial lesson: Free

Monthly fee: S$450 per term of 12 weeks

Overall, we'd similar Lil Pumpkin to nourish a class where learning is fun and interactive, and the concepts are explained to her, rather than drilled into her brain. Nosotros'd like her to sympathise the concepts, non only memorise them. Thus, nosotros're leaning towards JEI/PSLE Math or Maths Monkey now.

Nevertheless, we haven't not fully decided notwithstanding as it will besides depend on the location and schedule of available classes. Will see how it goes and hopefully enroll her in a class by year'south end.

Are your kids attending whatsoever Maths enrichment classes now?

If yes, which one and how do you observe it?

If not, how do you do Maths with them?

For more of Lil Pumpkin'southward Primary Schoolhouse journey:

For tips on P1 preparation:

Good deal to share:

Note: This is not a sponsored or paid post. All views, unless otherwise expressed, are my own.