Teacher Nicole’s Observation Report from Singapore
Nov 18, 2016 | What's new
Teacher Nicole’s Observation Report from Singapore
- Child’s First
- The location of the school was in Mountbatten Square. The area has a lot of preschool centres around (like Mind Champs, Play Days, The Learning Lab and many others).
- The school has two floors wherein the younger kids are in the second floor and the older kids have their classroom in the first floor.
- They have different and spacious rooms for language and pretend play, movement and gross motor, and computer room.
- The classes are wide and maximized.
- They have no outdoor play.
- Inside the classroom they have this tarpaulin posted on one wall of the classroom to tell the kids what term is it.
- Bag cubbies are placed on the eye-level of the child.
- Teacher’s materials and supplies are well kept inside the cabinets inside the classroom and shelves.
- Interactive walls in the hallways have barcodes where the kids can scan the code using their smartphones or tabs to listen to the animal sound.
- They made sure that all the kids’ artworks are also displayed for them to see.
- Artworks have label of the name of the child, class / level, date created and description of the artwork.
- Shaws
- Picture taking was not allowed in the school.
- They have an outdoor play that kids can feel the heat of the sun.
- There are two sections per level. (e.g. Nursery and Kinder class has 2 sections)
- Teacher’s population differs in the population of the students. (e.g. Nursery 1 has 18 kids and 1 English, Chinese and Assistant teachers, Kinder 1 has 10 kids and 1 English and Chinese teacher)
- Their weekly lessons are posted on the bulletin board both in English and Chinese.
- Topics discussed in English and Chinese are both in lined with each other.
- Cambridge Mei Hwan
- Located in Ang Mo Kio.
- At Cambridge Mei Hwan, they have an outdoor swimmingpool!
- Outdoor slides and road safety.
- School has two buildings which separates the younger and older kids.
- Shoes are change upon entering the classrooms.
- Artworks form the “Pernakan” culture was displayed in the centre for the kids to see.
- We visited in the afternoon so most of the kids are already having their nap time.
- They have turtles and they’re dirty!
- Cambridge Serangoon
- It is located in the country club.
- Restroom is full of anti-slip mats and matches the height ofthe kids.
- The classrooms are wide and spacious.
- Artworks and projects of the kids are displayed all around the classroom.
- In one corner, there is a light table with sand on top; a sensorial material for kids. Cool!
- English and Chinese lesson plans are posted on the bulletin boards on the hallways.
- In this centre, there is French class!
- Materials are placed in a neat and well-organized manner.
- Outdoor play with slides and teacher made music, art and water walls.
- The doors have a plastic thing that can prevent the kids from bumping into edges and getting hurt.
- Cambridge Robertson
- Location is in Clarke Quay.
- They have a Japanese class.
- Classrooms are decorated in Eric Carl, Dr. Seuss and other children book theme.
- The classrooms are big and roomy.
- All classrooms have an overhead projector.
- Tables and chairs are made for the children but one size only.
- Same with the previous Cambridge centres, the classrooms displays the artworks of the kids.
Reflection
- They are very hard core project base.
- Because the preschools are also day care centres, visits in the afternoon are not encourage because the kids are already taking their nap time.
- The centres depend on the market in offering elective courses like Japanese language, French languages and Art Appreciation.
- They have less materials for kids to manipulate inside the classroom.
- Training on story telling and documentation gave new ideas and insights.
- Overall, the centres visited are nice, well kept, organized and the training was informative especially the information on proper documentation.
