Setting out with SBOA

The long awaited project from SBOA had materialized with the opening of a new Montessori based preschool "Tiny Tyros" in Mogappair near Anna nagar in 2012. SBOA Preschool is currently offering a 'Starters' and a 'Movers' program. The 'Starters' program caters to 2 to 3 year olds. The 'Movers' is for 3 years and above Their infrastructure is state of the art, with spacious and airconditioned  classrooms. It also boasts of computer aided activities and a well equipped activity room. Their working hours are from 9 AM to 12 Noon. After school daycare facilities are also available from 12 Noon to 5 PM at an extra cost. The school website has a photo gallery with selected pictures of the preschool at the below link http://www.sboajc.org/preschool.html They are located at    Plot No: HIG 62, Type-II,  Third Cross Street,  Mogappair Eri Scheme,  Chennai-600037. Photo Courtesy @ The Hindu

Amazon.in Widgets Some addtional sites for teaching English (I recomend you got through the post named "Kick start your Child's English skills for school" ) http://www.ngfl-cymru.org/  - Gives you the basic alphabets www.orgdot.com/ABC/  - This is an ABC catcher game ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk  - This is a read along Nursery Rhyme site, very colourful and interactive http://www.getreadytoread.org/  - This will help you read with the interactive Gus and Inky Also check out the below blog for free online stuff http://help-with-schooling.blogspot.in/ Photo Courtesy :  RAWPIXEL-609018-UNSPLASH

Amazon.in Widgets English as a first language for kids who speak their mother  tongue  (Not  English ) at home is a challenging task. The basic ground work to be done before they go to school would be To hear a lot of spoken  English This would be easy if both the parents are fluent in  English , but if you are not, then select TV shows, that are preferably cartoons, with clear diction and neutral accent for  eg .  Miffy , Noddy,etc. And sit with them and explain what is being spoken. To be read to  The lesser the words the better, Bright board books are excellent. Start with very simple stories and telling them the basic rules of handling the book, then read to them with a clear expressive voice and  follow  the words with your fingers. Choose an quite time of the day when the child is also alert not necessarily the bed time. To familiarize them to alphabets Hang up an alphabet chart or get them ABCD refrigerator magnets to use. Just keeping the alphabets within their f

Amazon.in Widgets It a usually agreed fact that knowing basic English before the kids start school will boost their morale and make life so much easier for them in an English medium school. Kids in Chennai grow up for the first 2 to 3 years hearing a speaking their native language which could be mostly Tamil and sometimes a variety of languages based on what their parents speak. So when on the first day of school the teacher starts to dish out  instructions  in English the little one who are not comfortable with the language lag behind significantly. This lag may take years to overcome. So with a little bit of help from you and the below interactive sites, we can make their lives a lot easier as they start school. The  best FREE online  resources for  teaching your kids   correct  English  are as follows http://www.starfall.com/ By far the most comprehensive site for learning  English , the colourful presentation makes it a big hit with 2-4 year  olds. www.rif.org/leadi

Amazon.in Widgets The sites that might be useful for 1 - 2 year old kids are http://www.fisher-price.com/  (Easy to colour online pages, peak-a-boo online games, simple ABC song) http://www.smart-central.com/  (All your favourite nursery rhymes and popular songs set to music) http://www.storyplace.org/  (Simple, short, colourful and interactive stories) http://www.tikatok.com/  (you can write your very own story and even get it printed as a proper book!) http://www.starfall.com/  (Great site for Phonics and independent learning) All the above sites require parental guidance and instructions for the kids on mouse handling. Never let the toddler sit at the computer unattended. Photo Courtesy : Unsplash