香港孩子學英文系列─閃卡

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Angie Chan

“閃卡”我想很多家長也知道有這個教學法，在BB展也有不少的參展商有賣”閃卡”的教材，當我看見時也感到嘩然，真的什麼也可以閃。中、英、數及音樂都可以”閃”。

6年前有位朋友剛榮升做了媽媽，問我”閃卡教學好唔好？” 我的回答是”將孩子訓練成讀卡機一樣，但他們不明白字的意義及如何運用……”

回想當年的答案實在太含糊攏統了！兩年前勇字當頭跟朋友搞PG，朋友十分崇尚使用Flash Card教英文，我花了一年的時間去理解及應用在PG上，每次安排活動時我覺得自己好像精神分裂一樣，因為自己是Montessori的支持者但同時要做Flash Card的課程，那一年實在難過。

要了解”Flash Card”的教學方法，建議大家可以先閱讀 <How To Teacher Your Baby To Read> 以免大家對此方法了解過於簡單法，此書頭幾個Chapter不錯值得閱讀。

The first few chapters are quite OK to read^^

Flash Card的教學法是由Glenn Doman始創，大家不要把Your baby can read或者七田真一的方法混為一談，雖然他們有相似的地方。Glenn Doman 是 physical therapis而他的工作是 developed an approach to treating children with brain injury.

Flash Card學英文的教學目的是讓孩子能夠閱讀，而Glenn Doman深信孩子是有很強的能力學習及閱讀。他認為年紀越小開始會更有效。

學習的過程有5個步驟
1. Single words
2. Couplets
3. Phrases
4. Sentences
5. Books

而孩子所學的第一組字是”Self” Words，即跟他有關的東西，例如他的名字、家人的名字/稱呼、身體部分，而慢慢再學其他的生字。

1. Parts of Body
2. HOme Objects
3. Possessions
4. Foods
5. Animals
6. Actions
7. Colours

大家會問，那孩子學會閱讀生字後會明白該意思或知道如何運用嗎？

其實Glenn Doman的母語是英文，他的Flash Card教學是給母語是英文的孩子學習閱讀，那些孩子日常生活是運用英文，他們只是不知道written form，Flash Card就是給他們機會接觸文字。

所以其實跟中文全語文其中的教學方法頗為相似，先是詞語、短句、完整句子、課文。(麻煩的是我們講的是廣東話跟寫的又有點不一樣。)

還有些重點大家要注意，Glenn Doman強調 Always stop before your child wants to stop.所以當孩子沒有興趣時就不要勉強，要選擇大家都認為開心舒適時進行活動，而家長的態度也應該認為學習是愉快的。

Flash Card的動作要快，是因為他認為小朋友學習的速度快，也容易覺得悶，所以要快速閃過文字，讓孩子保持專注及興趣。這方面我有保留，因為Flash Card這個教材，除了家長/老師讀，孩子自沒有什麼操作探索可言，而透過快速地轉換文字刺激視覺令孩子興奮而專注，我不能接受。

說到這裡，大家會問，用唔用Flash Card? 這留待大家自行決定吧!

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Abbie @ VXXXXXXX (HG) Open Day 2012

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Angie Chan

2012年2月25日跟友人參觀這所幼稚園，我另一位朋友在這牌子的學校讀而我這朋友是一個較挑剔的人，所以我在囡兒出生的第一天，已經叫我先生把報名表傳真給這所學校。

我是透過 1. 參觀校內環境設施 2. 閱覽學生的作品 3. 與老師的交談 綜合感想。純綷個人感想，而且希望大家明白只有1-2小時在Open day參觀學校實在不能評論該學校是好/不好，或者換另一角度去想，是否合適與不合適自己小孩的學校會更實際。再好的東西不合適自己是沒有用的。所以不要問我這所學校好與不好。

1. 參觀校內環境設施

我觀察學校的方法，第一在硬件即校舍設備、環境是否衛生、安全、給孩子的玩具質素，課室的學習閣安排，有沒有戶外場地之類。這些是該學校的戶內場地(部份設施)，可惜他們沒有戶外活動場地。

Constructive Area (I love this corner): 積木/建構。非常好的一個角落，因為小朋友可以在此發揮搶意，入角前有大概6隻鞋印，應該最多可讓6個小朋友同時進入活動。樍木是原木，沒有顏色(十分好，因為讓孩子可集中積木的外型進行創造)。以前做的一所學校都有相同的角落，他們還有大型的積木即1米長好大件個種，孩子們都很喜歡進入活動，唯一缺點小朋友可能會揼到腳趾>.<

Use of Mirror let the child observe, explore the reflection from the mirror. It is very interesting and able to inspire the child’s imgination.

設置與使用鏡子(可以看出無限)引領幼兒觀察及發現促進創意的發展。

Light & Shadow, it is the normal phenomenon which can enhance child’s imagination.

光和影子是幼兒生活中，最常接觸的自然現象，也可以引發幼兒的創造靈感。

For eye hand co-ordination and shape identifying. For child under 2.5 is OK.

可鍛練手眼協調及認識形狀。

ICT corner for learning Maths/ Language. But I don’t like child being explored in front of electronic products too early.Well depends on what you think.

平板電腦學習區，喜歡與否見人見智。我本人不太願意讓孩子過早接觸電子產品。

Language learning corner, big Alphabet card and some words magnets.

此角落放置有關語文的教學材料。

*There are another learning corners but I have to take care of my little one no time to take pictures. Learning corners such as Art, Dressing up, Sensory education. library and they also fully utilize the broad to display the children’s works.*

*還有其他的學習區，因為照顧囡兒未能拍下照片。其他學習區有美術(有大畫架), 扮演區、感官學習、圖書及充份利用牆身展示幼兒的作品*

Classroom environment compartively rich. Full of learning elements. I can find Jolly Phonics, English Corner with sigh words, Maths Corner and some activity corner which similar to project approach but not i don’t know what the name is. Is a kind of having a theme then elaborate and let the child explore by themselves.

課室環境學習原素非常豐富有英語拼音、學習數學的角落(找不到真的可以實際可操佢的教具但牆身有多數字之類的東西), 有些好像Project Approach的活動角但應該唔太像真的Project Approach. 佢是以主題伸展再排不同類型的活動讓小朋友探索。

*若果你以蒙特梳利的方式思考一定會覺得環境亂得不可接受*

3. 與老師的交談

由他們得知每班約23-28個學生有3位老師(廣東話、普通話及英文)，安排及帶領不同的活動。讓小朋友在最自然的環境下獲得兩文三語。

沒有使用教材套，即沒有特定的書籍/作業本，只有英文會加入Jolly Phonics的拼音課程。但每學其會派發類似curriculum的資料，大概可了解到小朋友完了一學期後學了什麼東西。

坦白講，N班的老師外表雖然有點像嬸嬸但她很有耐心地聆聽我的問題及作解釋而且好温柔。而其他班房的老師有點Cool (可能見到我不停拍照，好似Spy一樣吧^^)， 校長就笑容可鞠的，很有禮。

2. 閱覽學生的作品

他們的profilio實再好OK(可惜不能拍照做記錄>.<)，是A3 size的profilio在那所學校教的老師一定好辛苦。Profilio收錄了孩子活動時的照片、圖畫、他們的文字記錄之類。我比較喜歡這類的活動，至少孩子的work done唔會是千篇一律的抄寫或者不合邏輯的工作紙(在工作紙上有些圖片要孩子圈出厚薄之類)。加上小孩所寫的句子是他們心中所想，這樣的writing才有意義，文字本來就是用來傳逹思想而不是抄寫或做沒有靈魂的改寫/重組句子，把人訓練成機器一樣。

*總結：大量採用了瑞吉歐教學方案Reggio Approach例如空間與環境的運用，課程記實即孩子的profilio。但布置或展示作品比較多，可能為配合Open Day。可惜的是這所學校沒有戶外活動場但它在我心中放了一很高的位置。*

若希望更了解一所學校，最好的方法應該致電查詢能否平日visit。因為Open Day 不能反應學校的真實情況。

小插曲，若果大家有拿它的資料的話”走進探索世界” (Journey of Inquiry) p.7 有些問題，大家能否發現？

 

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Posted in School/ Playgroup Visiting | 1 Comment

Montessori Sensorial Education – Binomial cube

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Angie Chan

* Don’t expect the young child (under 6) can get the concept of Algebra. However, I find this material can enhance the child’s concentration. As they are working with it they have to focus in order to put the cubes/ blocks in right way.

Preparation for Algebra

At this sensorial stage, the child is not given the formula. It is given at the age of 8 or 9.

Volume=Height*Width* Length

I have made a draft of how to present each block.

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Posted in 24 mths above activities 2歲以上活動, Montessori 蒙特梭利 | Leave a comment

Where to put a wall clock?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Angie Chan

In order to let your baby can see the clock, you should bend your knee then look around (eye level as same as the baby), now you can imagine how heigh your baby can see.

I bought a wall clock and I put it in the middle of the wall instead of the top of the wall. It is becasue I want my daughter can see it too. Whenever, we walked pass the wall I will introduce my daughter “what time is it now”.

To bring Montessori home, you should think about “Child-Centre”!

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IMS Open Day 2012

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Angie Chan

I went to the Open Day on time. However, there were a lot of information, classrooms and presentation should go. Therefore, i only visited Toddler, Kindergarten and Lower Primary (6-9).

Toddler Classroom

Max:16 Children + 2 Teachers (English + Mandarin)

Fee per month: $6,200

Duration:2hrs

Age: 2 years old or above

(** A place in a Casa dei Bambini Class will be offered if assessment is OK + parents purchase of Debenture)

I didn’t have a chance to chat with the teachers as there were a lot of parents. Some parents keeping the teachers busy to answer their questions……

I looked around the classroom and as I expected this is a typical Montessori classroom. Most of the materials are wooden, classroom setting is nice (harmony).

The materials are encouraging the children self care like practical life activities (Transferring/ Spooning) + Dressing Frame……etc.

Some Sensorial Material you can find here. Like colours, shapes, dimension……etc.

Kindergarten Classroom=Casa dei Bambini

Max:25 Children + 2 Teachers (English + Mandarin)

Typical Montessori Classroom I don’t want to mention too much here.

There are Practical Life+Sensorial+ Language+Maths+Cultural Studies
Teacher said that the age combination in the classroom idealy is equally distributed between 3 and 6 years old.

Fee per month
(AM Half Day): $8,800
(Full Day): $12,500
Duration
3.5hrs
6.5hrs
Age
3-4
4-6
* no nap time

Primary

Max:25 Children + 2 Teachers (English + Mandarin)

Fee per month: $13,000

Duration:6.5hrs

Age: 6-12

 Summary

I really like the school especially the primary sector. Becasue it is easy to find the children still love learning after 5. Typical HK students lost their interest in learning when they go to the primary school. This is the reason i hesistate to put my girl in local education system. Because both the teachers and students forget that learning is a reward, is a pleasure, is a privilege (I mean most of them).

For the Kindergarten sector and the toddler foundation, they are defintely good. However, school fee is not cheap. Besides, I have all the materials and I can teach my daughter in home instead (luckily i am a Montessori Teacher). So if I have enough money I will defintely put my daughter in this school.

Funny things, my hubby spent his whole Sunday morning to go through how to do the cube root.

I am very happy that I can see the real objects that work in the school which I have already learnt from a book^^

 

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Move Abbie-Crawling + Squat + Stand up again

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Angie Chan

There are various easy activities you can work with your baby at home. Just need a chair and some house hold daily objects. You can encourage your baby to MOVE.

There are a lot of exercises that help your babies to prepare walking.

1st Crawling, put a chair in front of baby then with your encouragment your baby will crawl over it. The reason i use a blanket to cover the chair is to let my baby know that she can’t crawl over every chairs just the chair with blanket. (give the signal to her this is the special one for crawl whereas others not.)

2nd Squat and Stand up, put some objects which can fascinate your baby on a chair then your baby will follow the object then stand up and grab it. After that put the object down on the floor. Your baby will bend the knee in order to take that object. It will strengthen the gross motor skill (especially the thigh) where it is nessary for walking.

 

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Posted in 3-6mths activities 3至6個月活動, 6-9mths activities 6-9個月活動 | Leave a comment

Using light to catach baby’s attention

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Angie Chan

昨天才發現某間PG也是用同一方法教家長在家中跟BB玩，聲明在先我沒有抄襲，真的是巧合而已。(12Feb 2012)

Super fun activity ^^

**the viedo is nearly 3 minute (quite long) but hope you enjoy it^^

What you need is a small touch. It is very simple try to catch your baby attention with the light. Then they will

  1. Crawl over there to catch the light
  2. Stand up and try to catch the light
  3. Head and eyes move in order to catch the light

Good for

  • Gross motor skill development just one more way to encourage your baby to move.
  • Enhancing eyes’ and head movement (追物)

Remark

  • If you baby still young, please try to move the light from slow to fast.
  • If you baby has not started to crawl yet, you can put the ligth on the celing, it acts like a mobile toys. (如果你的BB還未開始爬，把光照在天花板上，他的眼睛/頭應該會追著光，原理就像掛在床的玩具一樣，不過間中有點新意，挺有意思^^)
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10 little toes and fingers

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Angie Chan

I will sing this song to my girl after baby massage.

For the academic aspect, it is a very good activity to learn to count from (1-10), also the names of body parts such as fingers, toes, hands and feet.

In social development, I find that babies love looking their caregivers’ eyes when they sing or speak to them. It is a very good practice to enhance your baby’s eye contact and longer his attention span ^^

For massage + Emotional part, babies love being touched especially someone who they loved and trusted. So it enables to build up the trust relationship between parents and their infants. It also stimualte their nerve system development and muscles development.

So let’s try^^

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Posted in 3-6mths activities 3至6個月活動, BB Massage 嬰兒按摩, Song & Nursery Rhyme兒歌 | Leave a comment

Move Abbie – Walking with a big cartoon box

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Angie Chan

 

After I did a lot of exericses with Abbie (stand up and squat, crawling, rolling……) in past few months and she now shows me some signs that she is ready to walk.

Early signs of your baby is ready to walk are

  • baby is pulling up himself on furniture
  • cruise and walk with assistance
  • squat and stand up again

Baby walks at about one year (mostly between 9-18 month old) 

Yesterday we bought the new electric kettle, a big cartoon box left. I put it on the floor then Abbie started to push and walk. It is better than buy a walking chair (as I though it may obstruct walking) and I refuse to buy it.

(if you don’t have a big cartoon box, you can use a small chair which is easily dragged instead)

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Posted in 6-9mths activities 6-9個月活動 | Leave a comment

The Constructive Triangles Box 1-Triangular Box

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Angie Chan

The Constructive Triangles Box 1-Triangular Box 

Have the child to take out the materialfrom the box. And place them randomly on the mat.

Bring the green triangles first and place them together. Then yellow and lastly red.

 

The grey triangle is used for self correct.

 The viedo show the way how we presnet in front of the child^^

(Please correct me if I wrong)

 

Control of Error

Black guidelines, colors of triangles and grey equilateral triangle. 

Direct aims

  1. To show the various triangles contained in an equilateral triangle.
  2. Discrimination of geometric form.
  3. Growth in concentration and independence.

 Indirect aims

  1. Preparation for geometry.
  2. Development of appreciation of line and form.
  3. Development of creativity.
  4. To discover at a sensorial level the various ways these shapes can be divided and combined to form another shapes.
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