De JowiTop Preschool (Tadika Impian Terpintar), Skudai

Parents looking for a preschool for their little ones know all too well today that their choice has to be based not just on their child’s academic needs, but also, that the ideal preschool should also help children to become involved active learners, think critically, be creative, and cooperate well with their peers. With several branches up and running, De Jowitop has embodied such values since 2016 when it first opened its doors to little ones in Pontian, Johor, before proceeding to set up another two branches in Johor, which are at Impian Emas and Mount Austin. A fourth one was consequently established in Perlis.

The preschool hides something meaningful behind its interesting name, whereby Kiddy123 managed to uncover it via an interview with the preschool’s founder, Ms Tan. “De Jowitop is an acronym for Joyful; Wisdom; and Top (as in NO1),” she explained to us, and we find it simply brilliant! What’s more, the preschool also has a rather catchy short-form, and that is DJ.

Getting little ones immersed in their lessons

When little children enjoy their lessons, they will tend to learn quicker and more effectively. In regards to this fact, Ms Tan explained that at De Jowitop, the focus is sensory learning and using as much ‘real’ materials which teachers can manage to bring into the classroom for the learning benefits of their students. “The aim is for our young students to be able to use their five senses while they look, touch, feel, etc, so as to allow them a deeper understanding of their lessons,” she revealed to Kiddy123. “And this is regardless of which subject we are teaching them, for this sensorial method of teaching children will help them stay motivated and interested in their classroom activities and they will be able to absorb their lessons more effectively.”

With a combination of structured as well as unstructured approaches of teaching, De Jowitop has come up with a unique curriculum that works well for the different age groups. The approach used for the three-year-olds, for instance, may appear to mimic the Montessori method of teaching, and the reason is that some aspects of it are indeed adapted from the renowned curriculum, but not all of it. “The Montessori method calls for a little more structure to the lessons, and you will have different ages grouped together, whereby the older children will be assisting the younger ones. At De Jowitop however, Circle Time is when all age groups are together. Other than that, we prefer our students to be in their respective age groups, while still adapting certain aspects of the Montessori method, such as the hands-on learning, as well as the experiential and explorational learning,” Ms Tan patiently explained.

Children who are playing are actually learning. When children are having fun, the lessons being taught to them are more easily absorbed. They catch it quickly and it stays with them. That is why playing is something we cannot afford to ignore when it comes to teaching preschool children. That is after all, the best way for them to learn.

Language proficiency: The power of reinforcement

Language proficiency is given due focus here at De Jowitop, to ensure that students graduate with language skills that will bring them further in their lives. The medium of instruction at De Jowitop is English, while Mandarin is used all the way during the Mandarin language classes. “Apart from Mathematics, children also receive English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin lessons on a daily basis, for we believe that only through such reinforcements will they truly excel and be well-prepared for entry into primary school,” Ms Tan shared.

“However, I’d also like to make it clear here that when my teachers come up with their lesson plans for the subjects that they are teaching, play activities are also structured into those plans. That is because we stand by our belief that children learn the best when they are having fun! We always make sure that our students get to involve themselves in hands-on learning with a variety of mind challenging games and structured play that will benefit them immensely!” she stated with conviction.

Even subjects such as Arts & Crafts, and Moral are carried out in ways that little ones will enjoy. For example, each student of De Jowitop is given an opportunity to showcase his or her art piece for Arts & Crafts. And, when it comes to Moral studies, activities such as drama and role play are included into it, making it as interesting as possible for kids, and of course, to ensure that they get the most of their lessons!

All in all, De Jowitop is set to pave the way for a smoother, more confident transition to primary school. It is a name that students associate with fun, while parents know that their children are indeed receiving high quality preschool education.