I Have Sorted Out Ryan's Classes

I think I sorted out Ryan's classes. I'm about to start work in a week's time and I'm worried that I may not be back in time to fetch him to Enopi Math which is every Mon and Thurs/Fri evening. Then there are other classes to fix to.

My husband and I just discussed that we just have to adjust our time around the classes. I talked to his Enopi teacher and she is ok that I send Ryan a bit later like 8:30pm or latest by 9pm if we cannot make it earlier. Normally we would be sending by 7:45pm. The class is about 1 hour, depending on how fast he completes his assignment. I have no intention of dropping this class. Ryan benefited a lot from Enopi.

Phew! One down, next one... Cambridge English For Life (CEFL). The one I have decided for Ryan is Third Term JE1 class, as recommended by the centre manager. Unfortunately, they have only one class which is on Saturday 2-4pm. You see, about once or twice a month, we would 'balik kampung' to Melaka to visit my in laws. On those weekends that we do not, we would sometimes take our kids for shopping or something. Looks like we have to work around this too. I will have to work out with the centre manager for some replacement classes on those weeks that we balik kampung. I was told that I can opt to attend another class which is of a different level or ask the teacher to give an extra 20 min before the next class. I must remember to sort this out when I register Ryan next week. Sigh!

Two down...next.. home tuition. I got Ryan's ex-class teacher to give home tuition for Ryan for Chinese and Malay. 2 times a week, about 1 and half hour each. I'm asking her to charge RM35 for 1 and half hours instead of 1 hour. Tentatively agreed for now :) They will start next Thurs and Fri. Ryan's seems excited to able to see his teacher again :) If she's good, I may get Raymund to join in. After all, she is an experienced kindy teacher. She should be able to handle 2 small kids.. I hope ;p

Finally ... GlobalArt. Ryan has been attending GlobalArt since last year. He seems to enjoy it. It's a 2 hour class of art and craft which he attends every Saturday at 10am. Now that CEFL is scheduled for Sat afternoon, I may let him go to GlobalArt on Sunday instead. See if he is still interested when the time comes. I just asked him today if he still wants to continue with his art class. He is more interested if his brother goes with him. But Raymund is not ready. If it is too strenuous, I may put this class on hold. Maybe replace it with a Karate or Tae kwon do lesson?? He has been asking to learn kungfu lately. Rather he told me he 'knows' kungfu. Haha! Must be watching too much violent shows lately. Well, at least it is something he enjoys. More physical. Just that I don't know where I can find these lessons around my area :(

Anyway..This is what I have in mind. Hopefully not too heavy.

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
Kindy	Kindy	Kindy	Kindy	Kindy		GlobalArt
		Home Tuition		Home Tuition	CEFL
Enopi			Enopi

Little Raymund's 1st class lesson - Art!

Ryan, my eldest has been attending a weekly art lesson at GlobalArt since 4 years old. Ever since, I found that his colouring has improved alot and his choice of colours when he does colouring is pretty good for a young kid. In fact, some of his art pieces were displayed in his kindy... proud :)

Little Raymund is turning 3 next month. Being a year end child, I'm kinda worried when he starts school next year. He will be only just 3 years old and still very much a toddler. A very active one too. Will he be able to cope? I know this worrying is needless as children will sooner or later adept to schools and lessons. I'm just thinking that my little Raymund is too active and used to having his way - what will happen in school. He is very close to his 'kakak' - everywhere he goes, his kakak will 'take care' of him.

So to give Raymund a feel of what it is to be in a class, I've let him joined his brother in GlobalArt. He has always said he wants to go to school...but didn't know what it is like. His kor kor goes and so he wants to follow. Expected! He was very excited when he was getting ready for his art class. His first lesson! But once there, he got nervous and refused to enter the classroom. He was afraid to talk to the teacher. My maid (his kakak) and I had to sit together with him and then only he would sit down. At 3 years, the lesson is just a fun lesson. He chose water colour. So the teacher let him play with water colours to do some Halloween 'artwork'. After a while, he warmed up to the teacher and soon, after every stroke of the brush, he was running to the teacher to show her his 'work'. My maid and I were slowly doing the disappearing act - just going out of the classroom only - can't go far... in case..sigh! This is what the chinese says 'pui tai jee tuk shue' (cantonese) , translate means 'accompanying the prince in studies'. Anyway, he was already warmed up and didn't seem to be upset that we were not with him. After the painting, he did some cuttings and was having fun with it. Well, he didn't get to do too much dirty and messy fun at home, so this seems great.

At the end of the lessons, he said he wanted to come to art class again. Looking good! I'm hoping that these classes will also teach him some discipline and orderliness too :) Fingers crossed!

Ryan's Sketches

Here are some of Ryan's latest sketches... unassisted. I didn't guide him how to draw but let him go about it free form.

His favourite is always about the ocean with lots of fish, jelly fish, octopus, sharks and some fish spesis that he found in his book about the ocean.

This is another one showing a big house with pathway, condo, a slide (or what should look like a slide :)), a boy and some flowers and tree.

Just Checked Out BAO BEI Reading Wonderland (Chinese Enrichment for Age 3-10)

I was just chatting with my friend the other day. While we are Chinese illiterate parents cracking our heads over how to help my kids through Chinese school later, I realise that the opposite is also true for parents who are weak in English, particularly in grammar. This friend even went through the trouble to have a 1-1 tuition for herself so that she can teach her daughter later. What mothers do for their kids!

Lets talk about my case. The debate goes on about whether Chinese iliterate parents should send their children to Chinese schools. How then can we teach them? I have heard so many stories about how young children 'suffer' through Chinese schools when they had weak foundation and do not have parents to help them. A lot ended up switching to English, rather kebangsaan schools later. Should I let my son go through that? I have also had advices to send my son to Chinese schools and reinforce with Chinese tuition to help them through. Double whammy! I really don't know!

I have been thinking of letting my son take Chinese reinforcement classes for now. Then see in the next 1 and half years how well he takes to it. If necessary, then I'll probably re-register him into English school instead. I know for a fact that if my son knows his work, he'll enjoy his lessons. Otherwise, he will lose confidence and isolate himself. It happened last year in kindergarten since he was a late speaker (versus all his classmates).

So I checked out this highly recommended Chinese enrichment centre - BAO BEI READING WONDERLAND. They have various branches. I'm thinking of sending both Ryan and Raymund (Raymund for a taste of lessons and to instill some discipline in him ;) ).

BAO BEI has daily lessons of 1 and half hour each - various slots available to choose. They even provide transportation facility in the event we need. The lessons are quite fun and lively, designed to engage young children and to develop the right brain. They have activities involving whole group, small groups and one to one. The group activities are like fun, games, art/crafts and music... all Chinese driven and guided by a few teachers at the same time. The 1-1 lessons drills on word recognition and Chinese vocabulary using the flash card method. The children are 'rewarded' with cards that they can take home to show off to their parents once they know a set of characters. They will be taught Chinese poems - even traditional poems by Li Pai (cantonese Li Pak) as well. When asked about how would children understand them - even older kids/adults are struggling! They come by with an explanation that it is to teach them how to pronounce Chinese and train them the smooth flow of Chinese sentences. Not so much on understanding the poem which they are not expected to. I guess that sounds logical to me! Every week, there is a theme. The children will be taken through each team with games, activites and songs. They also teach Chinese strokes through songs as well to make it simple and more interesting to the kids. My friend's kids love the lessons. They offer 5 days trial class to assess the new children. I will plan my leave first and arrange for my sons to go for it.

Most children like mine starts with the basic or foundation class. The basic or foundation level is equivalent to Malaysian Primary 1 Chinese level. Then they will move up all the way to Standard 4 Chinese level. Hence they did mention that this enrichment centre is meant for kids age between 3 and 10 years. I have also asked that for children like my kids who knows almost NO Chinese, how long does it take to go through the Foundation level. Any problem? I was told that the 1 on 1 will drill from the beginning. It would generally take 1.5 to 2 years to finish Foundation. Just in time for Ryan's Standard ONE!! For Raymund, I'm starting him young! As I said, I'll see Ryan through this first and decide if he is suited for Chinese Primary school.

I Found This Pattern Ruler that I Used to Play When I was a Kid!

I found this pattern ruler in Isetan. I remember in my girly days, this was sooo cheap and used to be sold by street peddlers. My dad got me a set that I soo wanted then - much larger ones too. Of course not so changgeh packaging la. It was the type with cardboard back and front covered with hard plastic like those 'China' toys.

And now, I found it at Isetan produced by the Japanese - nicely packages with cute pictures. Talk about repackaging! And of course, this little thing costed me RM5! I bought it anyway. One of the carrots to encourage my son to study. He loves it. And I thought that the activity can help him work on fine motor skills.

My Sons' Cheap and Good DIY White Board and Flashcards

In my last post, I was sharing with you about pasting flashcards on my cupboard (http://joanne-momsays.blogspot.com/2009/05/pasting-flashcards-on-my-cupboard.html). My sons seem to enjoy this. Kinda like a teacher student game and sometimes, we have our roles reversed for a bit more fun. Ryan has progressed and I have since changed the flashcards for newer words and sentences.  To encourage him further, I have also pasted up his latest sketches and praised his work.

Then I created a cheap but effective 'white board' :) :) Doesn't even cost me more than RM2!!

All I did was to paste a transparent hard plastics over white papers, and then fixed it on my cupboard. In fact, transparencies work best. Else you can also use the bigger and harder book wrapping clear plastics and paste over a mahjong paper (as base). Use whiteboard markers to write with. And tissue to erase. If ink gets too stubborn, just clean with a bit of nail polish. Easy!

This is perfect to teach Ryan how to read the clock. At the same time, I thinking of using this to introduce weekly new words to him. Even ask him to write on it. Its gonna be fun!

A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way

Ryan wants me to post his latest handywork on his favourite character, POWER RANGER.

There is his little finger pointing at his work :)

Actually, I'm also making use of this blog to encourage him to do more.

Something like an achievement board and he's so proud of it.

I have a physical board ALSO above my desktop to show off his latest sketches.

The encouragement works to build up his confidence and interest.

Safe Plastic Scissors for Toddlers & Young Children

One of the best ways to train toddlers on fine motor skills, and as a prelude to writing is to teach them how to cut with scissors. The idea seems frightening. Two kids ago, I would have freaked when anybody even suggested that! Too dangerous! What if my baby cut himself?! Blah, blah. But since Ryan has gone to school, I realized that it is good to teach them how to cut using scissors. A lot of toddlers and young children have problem with finger strength when it comes to learning how to write. Cutting with scissors is good to help them strenghten their finger muscles and exercise finger control. At the same time, my kids are also excited over being able to do something that they are normally 'not allowed'.


Having said this, we have to provide a safe environment for them to do so.


Look for plastic scissors with plastic blades that specially caters for toddlers and young children. I found mine in Isetan KLCC for under RM4.


I have already got Raymund, my 2-and-a-half year old, on it. Both my sons are enjoying their 'cutting' activities. However, we have to make sure that they are seated and constantly supervised by an adult when they are do some cutting. Plastic scissors or not, accidents do happen.

I drew my Mommy - signed Ryan

Ryan just drew a sketch of me :)

I think his teacher calls this free form drawing.

That's me with shoulder length straight hair. Hmm..

Holding a flower...

wearing a watch...

necklace with pendant round my neck...

and ear-rings too :)

To Mom

Signed - Ryan Cheong

My heart melt ..melt :)

My son's Art Class at GlobalArt and Creative

I started my son with another child enrichment class during the year end holidays last year. I decided to send him to GlobalArt and Creative class. Ryan loves to sketch and draw, not so much on coloring as most children would do. And at that time, it was simply just his imagination at work. I thought it would be good to build on this interest. Moreover, his fine motor skills were pretty weak then and the children's Art Class would certainly help him on this. He LOVES it! He would look forward to his weekly Art class and proudly show me his work each time. He would dedicate some of his crafts to his mommy too. My heart melted each time :) Of course, the teacher has to guide him la. Now, I find that his drawing and coloring has improved alot.

Here are some of his GlobalArt work:

This is my Mother's Day card from Ryan :) :)




Craft - painting a wood puzzle. Needs close guidance for young kids.



Some colouring...