Comments on: JOSIAH MONTESSORI KINDERGARTEN

By: JY

JY — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:07:44 +0000

My son currently in Mindchamps Farrerpark, fees slightly higher but good investment.

By: Marsh

Marsh — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:12:37 +0000

hi any comments on JM's toddlers ' programme?

By: bond

bond — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:57:34 +0000

am looking for a good preschool at bugis/jalan besar area. anyone wit info?

By: depends

depends — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:34:53 +0000

I guess it all depends on ourselves.

anyone any more comments on this place? thinking of put child here.

By: blessings

blessings — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:08:25 +0000

Mindchamps also have a branch near tampines interchange... visit their website to see the other branches

By: Jos

Jos — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:57:11 +0000

Hi Jade18,
you may wish to visit Mindchamps located at 143 eastcoast rd. I've enrolled my girl with the centre for 2010. The curriculums are fun and interesting. Their investment fee include 5 different enrichments in the afternoon. I guess they are still having openhouse. Do visit the centre. It's worth visiting the centre.

By: Jade18

Jade18 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:25:04 +0000

I'm searching for a suitable program for N2 for my girl in the East areas of Singapore. I thought this JM program seems good but it seems there's mixed reviews especially up to the Kindergarten phase. Can I check what other recommendations are there? Many thanks.

By: teachermum

teachermum — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:35:52 +0000

I enrolled my child in JM and initially was pleased at his progress in reading. However, once he started K2, I observed that the curriculum is too heavy, compared to P1 curriculum, and the interest in learning would easily diminish as the focus is not so much in understanding and enjoying the learning process, but in drilling the kids. Having words such as democracy in the spelling list does not help and I question how the curriculum is planned - it's definitely not child-centered or for school-readiness as such terms are inappropriate and not at a K2 child's level. P1 has also eliminated the need for assessments and I was shocked that JM practises mid year and year end exams - I question the need to put young children through such stress.
I have no complaints that the standards are high, but what horrifies me is despite the small teacher-pupil ratio (which is why I enrolled my child in the first place), there appears to be no scaffolding at all (scaffolding means planning the lessons/activities such that the child goes through small steps to successfully meet the final challenge) and the teacher would always either cross out everything the child answers (which, by the way, is very negative for the child's self-esteem and confidence) or send the child's workbooks home for parents to teach the child ourselves. Then my question is, what has been done in school? Why the high standards if the kids are not following in school, and parents have to teach them at home? What is the benefits of having a small teacher-pupil ratio? If the Montessori Method is applied, there would be concrete experiences through Montessori materials (which are sequential and self-coreecting) until children master the concepts, and a solid foundation would be built, where children could then progress to the abstract. If the foundation is not stable and children are unable to demonstrate their understanding in the abstract (i.e. worksheets), shouldn't teachers better support the children's learning in class?
I learn that the cost of kindergarten fees does not necessarily equate the quality of the programme, etc. Some of the prints in the worksheets are so unclear that educated adults have to attempt to guess the words being printed, and yet, the same worksheets are given out to students to complete. How do they answer the question when they cannot even decipher the print?
I have a younger child and no way am I repeating my mistake in selection of kindergarten this time round!

By: sassymum

sassymum — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:56:52 +0000

hi all...i've just started sending my gal in josiah this year and i am amazed at the progress she's made. i'm really happy that her teacher gives individual reports on her progress on a twice-a-week basis and even though parents are not allowed in ( i think it is because they do not want to disrupt the children working and also for safety and hygiene reasons), the teachers would try their very best in answering your concerns and questions either after school hours or through the phone. the teachers and staff are also very friendly and professional. What i love best is that they really cater to your child's individual level instead of 'mass-teaching' like what most pre-schools do. And yet they also have group-time such as music n movement, gross-motor time, learning corners and cultural. So, it's really quite balanced.

By: Shabbir

Shabbir — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:12:47 +0000

Hi, mummylove,
I'm new to singapore and looking for a pre-school kind of thing for my 19months old son. I visited Josiah at Simei but it was closed then. Just need to know if you recommend me some good pre-school nearby. by the way, we live besides Payalebar MRT.
Also how much they charge for a month?
I'll be grateful for your help
Regards