Buds to Blossoms

Kiddy's Phonics

2009-04-14T21:34:00.003+08:00

Registration is now OPEN!

When: May 2009
Day: Saturday Morning/Afternoon
Date: TBC (To be Confirmed)
Time: Morning/Afternoon Duration: 1 1/2 half hours
For: Children ages 5 years old
Max students per lesson: 3 only

Kindly register early for this program.
First come first served basis.
(For confirmation of registration of your child, a portion of the fee has to be made within 3 days after registration)

Note: Fee is not refundable
Materials are provided

Kiddy's Phonics

2009-04-04T16:00:00.004+08:00

Parents! Enrol your child fast as seats are limited.
Class opens for children aged 5 for this time round.
Maximum students per lesson is 3.

Close monitoring and guidance for your child/children.

Lesson started.
Please wait for the next opening!

Start date: April 11 2009
Day: Saturday
Time: 1400 hrs to 1530 hrs
Duration: 1 1/2 hours
Venue: Punggol, Edgedale Plains

Email your enquiries to: phonics.literacy@gmail.com

*Materials are provided.

2009-03-02T11:15:00.008+08:00

Mdm Zuliana
Mobile: 96215446 (9am-6pm)
Email: phonics.literacy@gmail.com

Classes are conducted at Punggol (home-based).

For coaching at student's place, please make enquiries for slots availability.

Thank you.

3 Days Grammar Intensive

2009-03-02T11:09:00.007+08:00

Registration is Closed !!!
Kindly wait for the next opening.

This Grammar Intensive class is open to the lower primary P1-P3 only.

Venue: Punggol
Date: Started
Duration: 1hour 30 mins
Fees: $85 for 3 days inclusive

What's included?

> creative thinking
> composition & comprehension
> worksheets
> oral communication

For more information, please leave your comments.

I'm Aries

2009-02-28T15:48:00.001+08:00

Rain Rain Go Away

2009-02-28T15:09:00.002+08:00

Rain rain go away
Come again another day
Little Johnny wants to play

Rain rain go to Spain
Never show your face again

Jack and Jill

2009-02-28T14:31:00.004+08:00

Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water

Jack feel down
And broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after

Oh-So-Delicious Oatmeal

2009-02-27T18:39:00.001+08:00

Prep time: about 10 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1 c. water
* 1/2 c. rolled oats
* dash of salt
* 1/4 c. applesauce
* pinch of cinnamon
* 2 tsp. brown sugar

Utensils:

* cooking pot
* measuring cups and spoons
* stove (You'll need help from your adult assistant.)
* mixing spoon
* serving bowl

Directions:

1. Pour the water, oats, and salt into a medium-size pot on the stovetop.
2. Heat the mixture until it boils, then turn the heat to low.
3. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the applesauce and cinnamon.
4. Cook on low heat and continue to stir the mixture for 5 minutes.
5. Pour the oatmeal into a bowl and sprinkle the brown sugar on top.
6. Allow the oatmeal to cool for a minute before digging in.

Serves: 1

Serving size: 1 bowl

Nutritional analysis (per serving):

390 calories

13 g protein

6 g fat

74 g carbohydrate

9 g fiber

0 mg cholesterol

302 mg sodium

64 mg calcium
4.3 mg iron

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Awesome Applesauce

2009-02-27T18:36:00.000+08:00

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

* 2 small red apples
* 2 tbsp. lemon juice
* 2 tsp. sugar
* 2 pinches of cinnamon

Utensils:

* knife (You'll need help from your adult assistant.)
* blender or food processor
* measuring spoons
* serving bowls

Directions:

1. Peel the apples and cut them into small pieces. Throw out the core.
2. Put the apple pieces and lemon juice into the blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture is very smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into two small bowls and stir in the sugar and cinnamon.
4. Enjoy your awesome applesauce!

Serves: 2

Serving size: 1 bowl (half the recipe)

Nutritional analysis (per serving):

84 calories
0 g protein
0 g fat
22 g carbohydrate
2 g fiber
0 mg cholesterol
3 mg sodium
14 mg calcium
0.3 mg iron

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Apple Kuchen

2009-02-27T18:31:00.002+08:00

Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:

* For the crust:
* 2 cups flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
* For the filling:
* 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 egg, at room temperature
* For the topping:
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, if desired, cored, and thinly sliced

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.

1. Place the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl or food processor fitted with a steel blade and mix to combine.
2. Add the vanilla and butter, a little at a time.
3. Press into the baking pan and bake in oven until slightly golden but not brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.
4. Cool.
5. Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees.

To make the filling:

1. Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in mixer (preferably with a paddle) and beat until creamy.
2. Add the egg, mix to combine, and pour over the cooled crust.

Topping:

1. Place the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix to combine.
2. Place the apples on top of the filling in two or three columns.
3. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and transfer to the oven.
4. Bake until firm and a rich brown, about 20 minutes. Cut into 20 to 24 pieces.

Washington Apples

2009-02-27T18:28:00.001+08:00

Here is a quick and easy way to enjoy Washington apples.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:

* 1 apple, peeled and sliced
* 1/2 Tbsp butter
* 1 tsp sugar
* 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:
Place apple slices in microwave proof bowl. Place butter on top of apples. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Microwave for 30 seconds or until apples have softened.

Apple Crisp

2009-02-27T18:26:00.001+08:00

Try this easy apple crisp.
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:

* 6-8 apples, peeled and sliced
* 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
* 1 ( 5 oz.) stick pastry mix (dry)
* 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
* 1 c. brown sugar

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 8" square pan with Pam. Combine pastry mix, nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar. Spread apples in pan. Sprinkle with pastry mixture. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Phonics and Sight Words: Two Building Blocks of Reading

2009-02-27T18:06:00.003+08:00

Reading is a key skill and a necessary component of learning other subject matters. Ensuring that your child learns to read is one of the most important things you can do as a parent to prepare them for their future. Of course, your own knowledge of how the process of reading works has a bearing on how well you can instruct your child in the mechanics of language and reading. You’ll need to have a basic understanding of phonics, sight words, word analysis and phonemic awareness.

Broken down to its basic element, each word is composed of letters. By themselves or in combination, these letters represent the sounds of spoken language. From a very young age, children make associations between the letters and the sounds to which they correspond. This fundamental of reading is called alphabetic, which is taught through the techniques of phonemic awareness, word analysis, phonics, and sight words.

Phonemic awareness relates to a reader’s ability to listen to spoken language and identify the phonemes; these are the basic sounds of spoken language – English has about 40. Phonemes are combined to make syllables and words. The letters which correspond to these phonemes are known as graphemes. Understanding these phonemes and graphemes is one of the building blocks of the reading process.

Another element in the learning process is word analysis, which can be described as phonics with an emphasis on the phoneme-grapheme pairs. Keep in mind that English does contain words which do not fit the usual patterns; there are also multiple grapheme/phoneme pairs depending on context.

This is when sight words come into play. Phonics and sight words are typically taught in conjunction. Sight words are those which children should be taught to recognize, read and speak instantly. These are words that appear in the highest frequency in English text, many of which are phonetically irregular. Mastering these words is one another fundamental step in a child’s journey towards literacy.

Lists of sight words were developed after exhaustive research into the mechanics of reading first by Edward B. Fry and later by Edward W. Dolch (both PhDs). Reading becomes much easier for the young reader once these sight words have been memorized. Such words comprise more than half of the text of a typical book or newspaper; and, even a higher frequency of text intended for beginner readers.

The best way to teach phonics is in conjunction with sight word recognition. There are a number of different phonics instruction techniques, each having their own advantages. Analytic phonics aims to teach children to identify a word and then move on to the grapheme/phoneme relationship. This method is especially effective when the child has already memorized the common sight words.

Phonics in spelling focuses on using the sounds of letters and graphemes to write words. Analogy phonics helps children identify and form words by using words they already know. Contextual phonics teaches children to learn the meanings of words from their context within a paragraph or sentence. All of these methods work best after the child has mastered sight words.

Reading requires an understanding of how letters and sounds correspond and of course, the meanings of words. Phonemic awareness, word analysis, phonics and sight words prepare children to decipher the mechanics of written language, and paves the way for the road to reading.

http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/phonics-and-sight-words-two-building-blocks-of-reading-737291.html

Needed! Parents Who Teach Kids How to Save Money

2009-02-27T17:33:00.001+08:00

Needed! Parents Who Teach Kids How to Save Money

By Jean Tracy, MSS
Syndicated Writer for IdeaMarketers
Topic: Parents

If money burns a hole in your pocket, chances are you save very little. If you don't want money to burn a hole in your child's pocket, there are things you can do. Inside you'll find parenting tips to help your child become a saver and build character too.

Why not teach your children to follow the money - all the way to the bank. Become a model for saving. Begin by paying yourself first. That means save what you can.

I remember counseling a single mom. She told me “Money is so tight.” She'd gather her children together; show them the bills she had to pay, how much she could put in savings, and the $20 they could spend for fun that month. She became an expert at teaching her children to build character by being responsible with money. Even if money is tight for you, model paying yourself first.

William Somerset Maugham once said:

“Money is like a sixth sense – and you can't make use of the other five senses without it.”

Seriously, being poor is not a virtue. Being wise about money is.

One mom, an accountant friend, taught her 11 year-old daughter how to choose stocks. Her child chose her favorite kids' restaurant in which to invest the parents' money. They followed the stock every day. Within a year that stock earned them one-thousand dollars. It taught her daughter a new meaning to that old saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

So what can you do?
3 Parenting Tips for Teaching Your Kids How to Save Money:

First Parenting Tip:

When your child has learned to count, teach her the value of coins by playing “store” with her toys. You'll both have fun while she sees what money can buy.

Second Parenting Tip:

Give your child a piggy bank. Pay him an allowance for doing chores. Teach him to pay his piggy bank first. Encourage him to save most of it or at least 10 per cent.

Third Parenting Tip:

Open a savings account for your child when she gets older. Take her to the bank and teach her how to deposit her money.

Bo Derek, the perfect “10” movie star, once kidded,

“Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.”

Don't Worry!

When your children learn that it's better to save for an expensive item than to buy junk, he'll learn where to go shopping too.

Money doesn't have to be the root of all evil. It can be the beginning of wisdom. Paying the bills, taking care of our families, being generous with the less fortunate, and having fun together are a few of money's benefits. You can teach your children the value of money.
Saving Money and Building Character Conclusion:

Start when your children are young. Teach them how to count coins. Then have fun with them by playing “store” with their toys.

Become a model for saving money. Let your kids see the bills. Let them know you pay yourself first by putting a portion in the bank. Give your kids chores, an allowance, and a piggy bank. Encourage them to save too.

Open a savings account for them to deposit their money. Teach them to save for wise purchases. If you do, you'll be teaching them a valuable skill. You'll be building character and money won't be burning a hole in their pockets.

Needed! Parents Who Teach Kids How to Save Money

By Jean Tracy, MSS
Syndicated Writer for IdeaMarketers
Topic: Parents

If money burns a hole in your pocket, chances are you save very little. If you don't want money to burn a hole in your child's pocket, there are things you can do. Inside you'll find parenting tips to help your child become a saver and build character too.

Why not teach your children to follow the money - all the way to the bank. Become a model for saving. Begin by paying yourself first. That means save what you can.

I remember counseling a single mom. She told me “Money is so tight.” She'd gather her children together; show them the bills she had to pay, how much she could put in savings, and the $20 they could spend for fun that month. She became an expert at teaching her children to build character by being responsible with money. Even if money is tight for you, model paying yourself first.

William Somerset Maugham once said:

“Money is like a sixth sense – and you can't make use of the other five senses without it.”

Seriously, being poor is not a virtue. Being wise about money is.

One mom, an accountant friend, taught her 11 year-old daughter how to choose stocks. Her child chose her favorite kids' restaurant in which to invest the parents' money. They followed the stock every day. Within a year that stock earned them one-thousand dollars. It taught her daughter a new meaning to that old saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

So what can you do?
3 Parenting Tips for Teaching Your Kids How to Save Money:

First Parenting Tip:

When your child has learned to count, teach her the value of coins by playing “store” with her toys. You'll both have fun while she sees what money can buy.

Second Parenting Tip:

Give your child a piggy bank. Pay him an allowance for doing chores. Teach him to pay his piggy bank first. Encourage him to save most of it or at least 10 per cent.

Third Parenting Tip:

Open a savings account for your child when she gets older. Take her to the bank and teach her how to deposit her money.

Bo Derek, the perfect “10” movie star, once kidded,

“Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.”

Don't Worry!

When your children learn that it's better to save for an expensive item than to buy junk, he'll learn where to go shopping too.

Money doesn't have to be the root of all evil. It can be the beginning of wisdom. Paying the bills, taking care of our families, being generous with the less fortunate, and having fun together are a few of money's benefits. You can teach your children the value of money.
Saving Money and Building Character Conclusion:

Start when your children are young. Teach them how to count coins. Then have fun with them by playing “store” with their toys.

Become a model for saving money. Let your kids see the bills. Let them know you pay yourself first by putting a portion in the bank. Give your kids chores, an allowance, and a piggy bank. Encourage them to save too.

Open a savings account for them to deposit their money. Teach them to save for wise purchases. If you do, you'll be teaching them a valuable skill. You'll be building character and money won't be burning a hole in their pockets.

###

Jean Tracy, MSS publishes a Free Parenting Newsletter. Subscribe at www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids.

Pick up our Chore Chart Kit and become more effective when teaching your children about chores and rewards. You'll receive age-appropriate chores too.

Goal Setting for Kids – 3 Character Building Keys for Raising Winners

2009-02-27T17:26:00.000+08:00

By Jean Tracy, MSS
Syndicated Writer for IdeaMarketers
Topic: Parents

Kids who reach their goals with character are winners. Inside you'll find the 3 key goals for driving your child's destiny, mastering her thoughts, and molding her character. Find out how you can raise a winner today.
Agenda for Building Character and Raising Winners:

Our recent newsletters and articles shared how to use words, pictures, and feelings to create goals.

Today we'll look at a quote from Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb.

We'll also combine all three keys for creating winning goals.
Parenting Tip from Thomas Alva Edison:

“What a man's mind can create, man's character can control.”

Remember the wicked Queen who poisoned Snow White with an apple? Her hateful thoughts created her wicked character.

Parents, the sum of your child's thoughts create his character. Why not teach your child to chose character building goals and reject poisonous thoughts? Try goal setting for kids. It transforms poisonous thinking into positive words, pictures, and feelings.
Parenting Tips – Combining the 3 Keys with an Example:

Let's say your Molly wants to be a cheerleader. She's good at gymnastics and dance. But when you encourage her, she whines “I get too nervous. I'll never make the team. Tarah and Jeni are much better.” Molly's poisonous thoughts will create what she thinks - failure. You can help Molly turn her thoughts around. Here's how:

First goal setting key – the words:

Tell Molly to create a positive sentence beginning with the two words I AM. These two words keep her thoughts in the present tense as if she is achieving her cheerleading goal right now. Perhaps her sentence will be - I AM cheering to the rhythm of the music. Now it's time to add the picture.

Second goal setting key – the picture:

Encourage Molly to imagine what she will see outward from her eyes while trying out. Perhaps she'll see the judges, the stands, and some kids. Remember Molly must not be looking at herself in her imagination. This could increase her nervousness. Tell Molly to step into her picture and see what's in front of her.

Third goal setting key – the feelings:

Now it's time for creating the feelings Molly would like to have. Tell Molly to sense the positive feelings she wants to experience while performing. Maybe she wants to feel the rhythm of the cheers, a sense of confidence or both. Whatever positive feelings Molly chooses, tell her to experience them now.
Goal Setting Conclusion:

That's it. The words, the pictures, and the feelings create a powerful goal-setting force. Now all Molly needs to do is put them together in one clear moment. Tell Molly to practice that clear moment each day before she falls asleep and before she rises in the morning.

Whenever your child wants to achieve something, tell her to create it in her mind first. That's the best place to control it. That's the best place to achieve a winning attitude. That's the best place to become the driver of her destiny, the master of her thoughts, and the molder of her character. Why not raise a winner today?

Jean Tracy, MSS, publishes a Free Parenting Newsletter. Subscribe at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/contact.asp and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids.

How to Raise Kids with Social Skills - 3 Easy Parenting Tips

2009-02-27T17:22:00.000+08:00

By Jean Tracy, MSS
Syndicated Writer for IdeaMarketers
Topic: Parents

Many children don't have a clue about social skills. They think bragging is the way to make friends. If this is a problem with your child, look inside to see how you can help and build character too.

“I'll talk about what I do if other kids ask me, but I don't like to brag about it.” – Hunter Gomez

If children learned this simple social skill, they'll be way ahead of other kids and they'll have a lot more friends. Why? Kids don't like kids who brag. It makes them feel less important than the braggart.
3 Parenting Tips for Raising Your Child with Social Skills and Character:

First Parenting Tip – Teach your child to brag about his friend.

This means your child needs to notice the good things his friend does. He might say things like:

“Jason won the spelling contest today. Tom hit a homerun. Colby won the race.”

Bragging makes his friend feel important especially if your child brags about him in front of other kids. This is very different from bragging about himself. Help your child see how this one simple act will make his friend like him even more.
Second Parenting Tip – Teach your child to think of fun things to do.

This means your child needs to notice what her friends enjoy doing. Get her to think up fun ways to promote her friend's likes. If she knows her friend prefers art, she might suggest:

“Let's draw pictures,” or “Let's build a shadow box,” or “Let's decorate and bake cookies.”

Creating fun ideas that both your child and her friend enjoy will deepen their friendship. She will have learned a valuable social skill too.
Third Parenting Tip – Teach Your Child to Give Suggestions Not Criticisms.

Ask your child if he likes to be criticized. He'll probably say, “No way!” Discuss how friends don't like criticism either. Help your child give compliments instead. He might say:

“Conner, I like how you play fair.” or “Matt, you're the best math student.” or “Jason, will you teach me how to fix my bike too?”

Praising friends is a wonderful way to keep friends. It teaches your child to look for the best in people. Such an attitude is priceless gift to give others everyday.
Conclusion for Raising Kids with Social Skills:

We are all social beings. We need each other and we want to be liked.

When you teach your child to brag about friends and not himself, he'll learn an important social skill.

Teaching your child to think up fun activities by noticing what others enjoy creates a special bond with friends.

Helping your child realize kids hate criticism and love praise increases a friendly relationship with others.

Your thoughtful discussions about making friends will help your child win friends and become a positive person. You have the power. Take the time to teach your child the social skills he needs. You'll be building character and your child will be happy too.

###

Feel free to use this article in your newsletters, blog, or website when you include the following:

Jean Tracy, MSS, publishes a FREE Parenting Newsletter. Subscribe and receive 80 fun activities to share with your children.

Jean's Social Skills Kit for Kids includes 50 Skills to help your child fit in. No more loneliness. Lots more friends. Get yours today.

Kiddy's Phonics

2009-02-27T13:41:00.006+08:00

CLASS IS FULL!
Thank You

Start: Mar 3, '09
End: Mar 31, '09

From ages 3-5 who can already recognised the letters in the alphabets.

Location: Punggol
Time: Morning/Afternoon
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
Fee: $20 per lesson & per child (min 4 lessons)

Children will learn the basic pronunciation of each letters of the alphabets. Flashcards, keywords reading (ppt slides), writing and more...

For more information, leave your comments and PM.

If you need coaching at students' place, please make enquiries.

Thank you!

Literacy Programme

2009-02-27T13:38:00.005+08:00

GIVE YOUR CHILD THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL READERS
AND TO DEVELOP THE LOVE FOR READING.

For registration of your children phonics and literacy programme, please send in your queries to our email;

phonics.literacy@gmail.com