教育王國
標題: Victoria or Small World? [打印本頁]
作者: 小燕子2011 時間: 14-3-18 08:41 標題: Victoria or Small World?
Which one would you choose?
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-3-18 11:39
Depends on what you want for your child. Victoria is academically more intensive (and more homework), has a good Chinese program, and if you plan to move on to their primary school, definitely better facilities. The recent K2 program is teaching a child about amphibians already and they have to learn to write characters such as 陸地. Victoria Kindergarten is designed in such a way that their students will have a choice to move on to traditional local schools.
Small World is more play and less academics in the traditional sense. If your child only goes to one kindy and it's Small World, the child will have a tough time integrating with the local primary system. The child, however, will definitely have a happy childhood and caring environment. My daughter was once at Victoria for two months, and I wouldn't say that they are exactly caring and loving to a sensitive and new child.
Having said that, I just learned that they are already teaching multiplication in the second term for the current Year 1 students in Victoria Primary vs. in past years, multiplication was taught in Year 2. Drama was taught in Year 2 before, but now they start the kids in Year 1. Victoria is definitely moving towards the path of stronger academics for those who like it, but more pressure for the child as well.
作者: slamai 時間: 14-3-18 11:44
回覆 elmostoney 的帖子
agree
作者: 小燕子2011 時間: 14-3-18 11:49 標題: 回覆：elmostoney 的帖子
Thank u very much for yr reply! It is very informative. Is yr kid studying in VSA? How do u feel about this school?
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-3-18 11:56
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-3-18 12:18 編輯
No, my child is not in VSA, but a close friend's child has been in there since K1 (now year 3) and another friend's child is currently in Y1. So I hear lots from them.
Kids are happy in general, and will start feeling the pressure from Y3. There is less route memorization and copying type of hw, but their hw is not easy. Since much of it is project or inquiry-based, adult assistance is a MUST (even in kindergarten). Both my friends (Y1 and Y3) need to spend time with their child on their hw, with Y1 and Y2 requiring the most time from the parents. The Y1 mother said she spends 1 hour with her son everyday on hw.
Victoria's students are very competitive as well. Many of them have sufficient tutoring and other activities after school in such a way that they are academically ahead. Since many children already learned what the teachers are supposed to teach (in some subjects and certain areas - I don't mean ALL. So don't take me wrong), the school would skip certain parts or speed up parts of the curriculum to accommodate the majority of the students who already know the subject. According to my friend, the music teacher was teaching the kids to read musical notes. When the whole class except two said they could read already (because all of them are taking piano lessons), the music teacher skipped this part. The child felt embarrassed to seek assistance from the music teacher since everybody could do it but him, so he asked his mother to hire some private help.
Theoretically, there are no tests - only assessments. Teachers will not pressurize parents to hire private tutor for their child, so it depends how the child and the parents feel in cases where the child falls behind.
Interesting from my Y3 parent friend. She said that the school started the kids on swimming class in Y2 in school. All the kids could do at least 3 of the 4 forms of swimming (breast stroke, free style, back stroke and butterfly), BUT many cannot even change and dry themselves! Typical HK kids - lots of activities, but can't even take care of themselves.
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-3-18 12:23
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-3-18 12:35 編輯
My child was once at Victoria Kindergarten. I didn't like it, but it wasn't the school's fault. Just not my cup of tea and it didn't suit my daughter. The school is well run and the curriculum is comprehensive. She moved on to the last term at Small World, then their primary school (ICA). It just happens that it fits her better and works out for me as well. I don't think I could cope with the high pressure at Victoria. Even if the teacher doesn't give me pressure, I wouldn't want my daughter to lag behind - even though she may not be faring ahead. The reason that I put her in an international school is to give her time to develop at her own pace.
作者: 小燕子2011 時間: 14-3-18 15:55 標題: 回覆：Victoria or Small World?
I hv read thru some of your posts, u r a really caring mama. I like SW but it doesn't provide a fully platform of Chinese learning which I am worried my boy, he will be less interested in learning Chinese. Where is yr son finally studying now? IMS?
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-3-18 22:15
he is now at ESF. I was once like you, worrying about the Chinese program. At the end of the day, I realized that it's not up to me. It's up to the child. Since mine would definitely struggle in most Chinese-medium schools (almost all are high-pressured), I decided that keeping her interest in learning alive is more important. If your child can cope, there is no reason to deter you. However, I am quite curious. If you are concerned about Chinese, why even consider SWCK?
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-3-18 22:20
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-3-19 09:44 編輯
My daughter will be 8 in 2 months. For her age, she has read a great deal about Egyptian, Roman and Greek history - in fact, she probably has more knowledge on these topics than most educated adults (unless they are into the history of these civilizations). She knows about Elizabeth I, Versailles and Marie Antoinette. She read all this on her own. If she goes to a regular high-pressured school, she will not have the leisure to read so much on her own. Her school taught explorers last year, and she was interested enough to read about Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus herself. Of course, she also reads lots of fiction.
作者: 小燕子2011 時間: 14-3-18 23:09 標題: 回覆：Victoria or Small World?
Glad to hear you and yr girl like the school so much, especially she enjoys going to school everyday. That's what the happy school life is about. Why did you choose ESF, not IMS or CIA for yr son? Sorry I am asking too many questions!!!
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-3-19 09:32
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-3-19 09:46 編輯
esf has secondary - that's the main reason why I sent my kids there. My son did OK, but my daughter wasn't very happy there.
My daughter's personality doesn't suit Montessori.
Do you mean CIS? I didn't even consider although my kids' cousins all graduated from CIS - not to say mine could get in. 聽得太多唔同人都係講同一樣野, 部份學生家境太privileged, 有時會帶左d我唔願我d 小朋友見到嘅態度去學校. 不竟返學唔單單為學習, 仲有生活態度, 觀點同與人相處. 當然仲有好多其他, 但我唔方便公開講. CIS有好多好處, 但係我立場, 個d好處唔outweigh 我覺得更重要嘅野. 我只可以話, CIS好積極幫中學畢業生向所申請嘅大學講好說話, 會為學生爭取, 幫佢地選擇升學, 而好多中學未必做得咁好. 佢地係y7個年會intake一班好勁嘅本地學校學生, 呢班人幫學校爭不少分. 至於老師, 近年香港同大陸越開越多 IS, 老師流動性好大, 所以任何學校retain好師資都有難度. 一位cis畢業生同我講, 佢係北京讀master, 就碰到中學數學老師去左北京教, 呢位老師係havard畢業.
我無意話cis唔好, 只係每個人想要嘅野唔同. cis有名氣, 有錢, 有facility, 有connection, 小班教學, 係is中有個幾ok嘅中文program. 但都係個句, 我個人選校, 最重要係is it suitable for the child? 同屋企文化夾唔夾? 我唔想佢係學校見到一樣野, 我返來又要解釋一大輪點解我地唔係咁.
當然每間學校都有唔同人, 但最重要係學校嘅取態同學校注重嘅事. I feel very comfortable with ICA and I am OK with ESF.
But really curious, why did you ask about SWCK? it seems Chinese is very important to you. I understand completely because it was once, the top factor on my list. It still is, but I have made peace with myself. I just hire a tutor and do more at home.
作者: tpking 時間: 14-12-15 10:53
本帖最後由 tpking 於 14-12-15 10:53 編輯
elmostoney - thanks a lot for your sharing. it's very helpful
i have some questions
1) when did your kid switch from ica to esf? is it that easy to do the switch? i like small world and agree with you about local schools, but as you said, secondary school is a concern.
2) so you have hired a chinese tutor for your kid? how does it work out?
3) does ica have a priority for kids from small world?
thanks a lot!!!
作者: chansiub 時間: 14-12-16 09:42 標題: 回覆：elmostoney 的帖子
Wow VSA starts teaching multiplication from P1? So they are even faster than local school?
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-12-16 11:17
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-12-16 11:19 編輯
1) when did your kid switch from ica to esf? is it that easy to do the switch?
My older one switched to ESF after she finished Y2, and my younger switched after Y1. I transferred my older one back to ICA after 2.5 months at ESF. She didn't have a problem academically, but smaller class size just suits her better. ESF has 30/class vs. her class now at ICA is 15. 平心而論, 個人認為ICA教學上要求高一點, 主要一班人少d, 老師可以跟得貼d. 高一點未必=深點, 大家其實差唔多. 但ICA做出來d野會認真d, 細緻d, 練習會多d. 雖然而家所有學校都需要家長某程度上參與小朋友教學/功課, 但係英基, 我覺得你想小朋友得著=ICA相同的話, 家長要參與更多. ICA而家刻意將Y1係新學年一年班開學時每班keep住16 - 18人, 上到Y2或以上, 都係20 - 22人 (大部份係20人), 所以雖然佢地話可以收到Y1 22人, Y2以上25人, 但重未咁做過. 但佢地並非冇waitlist的. 我道聽途說, 多少有d不明文規定故意咁做, 因小班d, 對小朋友始終係好d. 將來會唔會變, 去到數量上限我就不知道了.
2) so you have hired a chinese tutor for your kid? how does it work out?
My kids have Chinese private tutoring 4 times a week. Actually, my ESF son doesn't need 4 times. For him, probably twice a week is enough if I work with him a bit myself. He is in the native stream at school, and their program is quite OK for an IS. ICA 的中文 program不行, 所以私人老師來主要為大女. But sometimes, it isn't just the school. My daughter has a hard time with Chinese, but my son doesn't. He is the type of person who can be pressurized to fit the environment if needs be - even LS. 所以學習進度好睇個別小朋友. 我個女都係近呢一年學中文先穩定d, 但同學校冇關. 始終學習態度最緊要, 我個女係個種未做自覺難, 然後已打退堂鼓的人. 我個仔就冇物所謂, 只要合乎佢程度, 佢唔會未睇就掉頭, 所以佢學得very ok 的.
3) does ica have a priority for kids from small world?
Yes, ICA gives priority to SWCK children, BUT that is based on English ability. I have heard of cases which the child was transferred to SWCK during the last year. His English didn't measure up, so he was rejected. They don't ask you to read and write, but do require the child to have the ability to communicate in English.
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-12-16 11:21
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-12-16 11:36 編輯
My friend whose child is now in Y2 said that they started teaching multiplication concepts during the second term of Y1 at VSA. My other friend who used to have very high opinion of VSA such that I was almost persuaded to consider it as an option for my son --- oh, well, she is transferring her child (upper primary) out of VSA. Just too high pressure. She said that during the last two years, VSA has transformed and become more like a local school in some ways.
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-12-16 11:28
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-12-16 11:31 編輯
For those of you interested in knowing the textbook which my son uses in school (I don't know if they use this at other ESFs as well):
http://www.hwjyw.com/textbooks/downloads/zhongwen/
He is now at Y3, upper stream. They are expected to complete 1/3 to 1/2 of Book 3 by the end of Y3. Y4 is expected to write short compositions about 120 to 150 words during the first term. They are expected to know (write as well) about 1300 characters when they finish Y6, but the teacher told me that the 1300 is an absolute minimum. If the child is in upper stream, usually they would easily know a few hundred more.
My daughter now uses the same textbook at home with our tutor, and I found that the system works out very well for her.
作者: tpking 時間: 14-12-16 15:59
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thanks. very informative and helpful.
So do you teach her traditional or simplified characters at home? would she be confused if you are teaching a different type of characters from what the school is teaching her?
作者: mamavee 時間: 14-12-16 17:18 標題: 回覆：Victoria or Small World?
May I know more about the Chinese curriculum in small world ? And besides after school sports program run by private institution , how is the physical education curriculum within the school hours ?
And does the school encourage arts and music development ? In what way ? Any involvement in inter school competition ? Thanks !
作者: CapricornO 時間: 14-12-16 17:49
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作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-12-16 17:54
本帖最後由 elmostoney 於 14-12-16 17:59 編輯
You mean ICA (SWCK's primary)?
ICA has their own PE teachers now. They run a basketball team and soccer team. My daughter just went to her first interschool soccer match against IMS last month. However, the team will temporarily be disbanded for the 2nd term (Jan ~ Mar) and resume in April. I believe they are doing a tennis and ballet class as well. I haven't checked into what they have.
My daughter is also in their Christmas musical performance. It is not a permanent orchestra, but I can see that could be a possible direction they are striving at. They also have a choir.
Their art class is all heart, 但我覺得不是太特別. (英基其實也沒有正式美術課). Art is something integrated with their learning units. E.g. they did a pharoah's wig when they were on a unit of ancient history. This year they had one big unit on art (artists, techniques) and that time, they did an impressive exhibition. So it all depends. 他們教美術不是說: 現在上美術課了, 今課做XXX. 不能跟主流學校模式比較. 他們會視乎學校這期所教的主題而做相關的東西, 中國新年可能會畫點水墨畫之類 (當然就不要expect好專業了).
如果你是說小學, 中文對本地人來說, 是真的不夠的. 你一定要自己安排補習. 我自己在家讓孩子學簡體, 但老二(他在英基)吸收能力比較好, 所以寫是一定用簡體, 但認字我保持教他繁簡, 老大中文不太好, 純簡體為主, 偶然會指出繁體.
作者: chansiub 時間: 14-12-16 21:06 標題: 回覆：elmostoney 的帖子
Aii, like its kindergarten, getting more and more homework. I believe that it is in response to some parents' compliant about too little homework. Start teaching multiplication in second term in Y1 is terrible. Then, I really do not know why some parents of VSA still complain about work too easy and not in par with local school.
作者: Jane1983 時間: 14-12-16 21:32
本帖最後由 Jane1983 於 14-12-16 21:33 編輯
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因為好多local school谷的家長，K未畢業已識背成數表了...
其實如果小朋友吾明乘數個概念，識背乘數表，無也特別意義的。
作者: chansiub 時間: 14-12-16 22:51 標題: 回覆：Jane1983 的帖子
現在的家長真的很厲害。年頭參觀過VSA。還以為是一所開心學校。
作者: Jane1983 時間: 14-12-17 07:38
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Vsa都應該係開心的，學深d、學多d都吾一定痛苦，佢的安排始終比local學校合理和人性化好多。
作者: chansiub 時間: 14-12-17 08:12 標題: 回覆：Jane1983 的帖子
認同。真的比較有人性
。現在的LS真的太難及太多填鴨考試及習作。學生欠了想像空間及時間。一般人覺得IS hea. 其實在這段時間IS 的學生真的多很多閲讀機會。會成為一個很好的機礎。可以按自己時間表學習。多幸福。
作者: Jane1983 時間: 14-12-17 08:18
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係呀，已經返全日，放學後，功課之餘，比小朋友玩吓、hea吓，對佢心理健康、長遠發展好有益處
我小朋友有些同學去了傳統名小，聽家長講，小朋友每日做功課、溫默書測驗、偷吓懶、扭吓計，拉拉扯扯真係日日3個鐘。難為了小朋友！
作者: CapricornO 時間: 14-12-17 13:43
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作者: mamavee 時間: 14-12-18 12:56 標題: 回覆：elmostoney 的帖子
Thanks for your input
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-12-18 23:58
我家中文家教幫本地學校學生補習, 佢話因為本地學校workload重, 除左補習, 好多仲要做唔同課外活動, 小朋友超忙. 小時候唔覺, 但去到四五年班開始, 小朋友好多會開始討厭學中文, 亦唔再讀課外書 (本來就冇物時間), 而且好多以前細個時聽老師話, 集中的小朋友會變到心散, 發白日夢, 因為長期將小朋友拉得太行, 去到某一點, 佢始終會頂唔順. 除非有部份成績名列前茅, 咁就會有動力繼續谷落去, 又或本身好叻, 比人做得快而準, 有多D私人時間的是例外.
而家好多小朋友, 其實日程同"工作"時間仲忙過同長過大人, 你話佢地點會唔消極反抗.
作者: Jane1983 時間: 14-12-19 08:58
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好同意，而家local school小朋友係返全日，放學大把功課、默書、測考，仲玩體藝學習，真係太繁忙，要夠訓就無得玩，要玩就吾夠時間睇課外書。
這種安排，初小係ok，小朋友吾識吾敢反抗，到高小、中學，咁吾人道、敢壓逼的生活，好多都頂吾順，連父母都憎埋。
幾個朋友的仔女讀名小，睇佢地的安排，真係disaster waiting to happen。唯一有個係佢個女的ego已經谷到超大，佢在測考踩住其他小朋友上，有滿足感，應該可以持續，但咁樣成長，小朋友的性格又是否好，難說！
作者: chansiub 時間: 14-12-19 09:03 標題: 回覆：Jane1983 的帖子
還有一個大問題是不懂應用。數學算式可以小一未到識通分母。但沒有明白如何應用。有什麼意義？
作者: poonseelai 時間: 14-12-19 09:14 標題: 回覆：Victoria or Small World?
近日認識一小朋友，個案值得父母反思。小朋友神校畢業后出外讀大學，他說一定要出外，要離開香港，其實要離開父母控制，自少父母安排一切，現在找工作要工時長，通宵無所謂，因為不用回家，出trip更好。我問他如果父母知他想法會否不開心，他說應該會，作為媽咪我個心實哂。
作者: Jane1983 時間: 14-12-19 09:16
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係ga，有時小朋友年紀太細，根本理解吾到係也嘢。佢自學貪得意，無所謂，但你谷佢一定要識，就無謂。
我小朋友都算係幼稚園已經超幾個學年果種，但我明白這樣所謂超前，係無也意義的。上到高小、初中，先慢慢見到真功夫。兒童期逼得太緊，苦了孩子、壞了關係，得不償失。
作者: chansiub 時間: 14-12-19 11:21 標題: 回覆：Jane1983 的帖子
無論是超前抑或是平平的，最緊要是維持小朋友的學習興趣。不能盲目地谷小朋友。很多父母根本沒把小朋友當成人。密密的時間表。英文只有盾，中文就是什麼朗誦及基準試。昨天去了中環的上樓玩具店尋寳。有形形色色的玩具。可憐的香港學生何來有時間玩玩具。在選購的大多是外國人。本地書店最多是什麼？成人的是功具書或攻略，小孩是習作。
作者: elmostoney 時間: 14-12-19 17:25
其實有能力讀得上, 去名校都好, 但唔得夾硬谷, 就好慘. 結果小朋友被訓練到好似機械人咁, 最後變成高分低能, 我都見過活生生的例子, 就算係IVY LEAGUE畢業都係咁話. 又有朋友仔, 太著重成績, 我睇住佢玩pretend play時, 都係掛住邊個邊個攞金獎銀獎, 有獎個D先值得同佢做朋友. 睇完心都實哂, 小一咋.
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