Since we practise Montessori, the boys have been using glass and ceramic ware since their toddler years. This is the way they learn to handle things carefully. Over the past decade, they broke less than 10 in total. Quite a feat actually. Today, one child broke his personalised birthday mug because he held it by […]
Learning from mistakes Read More »
8yo El was attracted by a STEAM kit in a bookstore. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) : Do you think you’re able to work on this by yourself? : Yes, I’ve read the box, and it says 3+. He bought it with his savings. Over the past 2 days, he has made: a
How can we encourage independent learning? Read More »
It was Jae & El’s birthday recently and we bought some boxes of Pocky. These are popular cream-coated biscuit sticks from Japan. El chose the almond sticks, which come in 2 packs of 7 sticks in a box. Jae chose the chocolate sticks, which come in 2 packs of 25 sticks in a box. They
Math trading with Pocky Read More »
My three children are back to school on alternate weeks, which means we have to adapt swiftly to changing routines. It isn’t easy. Like many kids, mine thrive on predictable routines. Last week was their return to school after ~7 months! One child was VERY grumpy. Mainly due to an earlier bedtime. I was in
Home learning tips Read More »
Physical school is on alternate weeks & it’s back to mummy’s homeschool this week. El was trying to solve this problem: How many different shapes can you make using 5 square tiles? (ICAS Math Intro Paper, 2014) He drew several shapes. (Pictorial) I thought of using our Blokus game pieces. (Concrete) Jae was interested &
Math with Blokus tiles Read More »
In recent years, Singapore math has included more real-world applications. Sustainability is now a huge topic globally. It involves our and our children’s future well-being. Our family is making ecobricks, to avoid sending non-recyclable plastic waste to landfills in Malaysia. Instead, we turn them into useful construction materials. The minimum mass of an ecobrick is
A key reason I teach the Montessori method is that it helps the child develop a long concentration span. If a child is experiencing a short attention span, it’s likely that the activity is adult-scheduled. When a child is given the freedom of choice (within boundary), he can choose an activity that is just right
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You’ve probably heard of the Odonata Chinese books and flashcards (红蜻蜓学前阅读计划), which are popular in Malaysia and Singapore for learning Chinese Mandarin. And now you’re here to find out the differences between the old and new editions before deciding which to get. Read on… Background Odonata Publishing is an established publisher of Chinese books in
Odonata Chinese Old & New Books: What are the Differences? Read More »