Vocabulary Building: Binomials

(1) What are binomials?

 Binomials are fixed expressions where two words are joined by a conjunction, e.g. up and down. 

(2) Examples of binomials

- give and take

- rave and rant

- in black and white

- leaps and bounds

- save and scrimp

- part and parcel

What Parents Say About Our Programmes and Teachers...

Here are some testimonials written by our tutees (from the 2016 graduating classes) and their parents. You may like to read some of the testimonials to learn more about our programmes, teaching strategies and teachers. We will continue to upload the testimonials written by our tutees and their parents. To the tutees and parents who have written testimonials for us, thank you so much for writing the lovely testimonials :)

Testimonials from our tutees' parents:

Testimonials from our tutees:

Tapping on Newspapers and Current Affairs for Learning

We believe that it is important for pupils to be aware of current affairs and what's happening around them. Hence we tap on newspaper articles and other media such as the Internet while preparing our English curriculum. When kids deem what they are learning relevant to them, they will be more motivated to learn.

For instance, pupils in the Primary 5 cohort have read our in-house resources on recent events in Singapore and in the world such as the outbreak of the Zika virus in Singapore, the origins of the Olympics and the Pokemon Go hype. Through our customised resources, pupils are kept abreast of current affairs. At the same time, we integrate essential language skills in the resources.

Keeping abreast of current affairs also gives the pupils an advantage in PSLE Oral as they can support their opinions on relevant issues with what they have gleaned from the articles.

2016 PSLE Composition Topic

Our Primary 6 tutees were very happy after the English PSLE as we covered the PSLE Composition topic this year, A Secret, during our Writer's Craft classes. Some kids told us, "Bingo!" 

The pictures given for the PSLE examination were:

Picture 1 - girls whispering to each other

Pic 2 - a sealed envelope with the word secret on it

Pic 3 - out of bounds area with gate

After the PSLE, I checked with a few tutees on their story plots. Although we had done the same topic before, they did not write the same stories. Some of them adapted the story plot that we went through for the topic, "A secret" while others adapted story plots that we had gone through for other topics. Well done! We're really proud of their progress and achievement! 

P5/P6 Synthesis Revision - Questions requiring transformation of words

Here are some questions that your child can attempt for revision:

1)       David was reluctant to participate in the school concert. His teacher noticed it.

David’s__________________________________________________________

Ans: David's reluctance to participate in the school concert was noticed by his teacher.

Comment: There are two skills tested in this question:

(a) Transformation of word from adjective (reluctant) to noun (reluctance)

The word "David's" is in possessive form hence pupils have to transform the word "reluctant" to a noun. 

(b) Change the sentences from active voice to passive voice

2)      The maid was negligent. The baby fell down.

          Due to the maid's ____________________________________________________
  
         Ans: Due to the maid's negligence, the baby fell down.

Comment: (a) Transformation of word from adjective (negligent) to noun (negligence)

3)      Ben was disobedient. He was caned.

          As a result of Ben's __________________________________________________

 Ans: As a result of Ben's disobedience, he was caned.

Comment: (a) Transformation of word from adjective (disobedient) to noun (disobedience)

4)     Ben was sarcastic when he commented on the painting.

        ___________________________________________ with _____________________

Ans: Ben commented on the painting with sarcasm.

Comment: (a) Transformation of word from adjective (sarcastic) to noun (sarcasm)

5)     Pete and Tom are no longer friends. They argued heatedly over a minor issue.

         ______________________________________ because of  _____________________

Ans: Pete and Tom are no longer friends because of a heated argument over a minor issue.

Comment: (a) Transformation of word from verb (argued) to noun (argument). Do note that the word "argument" is a commonly misspelt word.

        

        

2015 PSLE New English Composition Format - A Different Ball Game

In 2015, the P6 pupils were the first batch that had to write a story based on one. two or three random pictures given. The topic for the 2015 PSLE composition was "Being Considerate" and the pictures given were: reserved seating, tray return point and adjusting the volume of the television to the maximum.

Some pupils lamented that there was "nothing much to write about". However, when I asked some of my tutees, they told me that they were able to apply the writing skills that I had taught them. For example, many chose to write on the picture of "reserved seating". One wrote that a girl saw an elderly woman board a crowded MRT train. Nobody gave up their seat to the old lady. The girl had an internal conflict at first. In the end, she decided not to give up her seat. Just then, a younger child gave up the seat to the old lady and the girl was ashamed of her own actions. It took someone who was younger to teach her how to be considerate.

My tutee went on the tell me that she applied the technique of characterisation and elaborated on the elderly woman's physical appearance using vivid descriptions and similes. She also slowed down the moment when she described how the old lady was struggling to balance and steady herself while carrying a heavy grocery bag.

Another tutee wrote on the picture of the tray return point and managed to include an unexpected twist in the end. One more tutee managed to use two pictures, the one on someone adjusting the volume of the television to the maximum and reserved seating, appropriately.

In conclusion, for the new 2015 PSLE English Composition format, it is important that pupils be taught writing skills explicitly. The ball game had changed. It is no longer about memorising whole stories in the hope that they can use the whole story for the PSLE. It is about thinking on their feet and applying the writing techniques that they have learnt.

Tips for English PSLE: 8 Essential Reading Comprehension Skills

Before enrolling their child in our English programme, many parents have shared with us that the open-ended Comprehension component is one of their children's weakest areas. How can parents help their children to improve on their areas of weaknesses and to optimise his or her learning?

To help the kiddos improve on reading comprehension, parents should be aware there are 8 essential reading comprehension skills that the kiddos need to develop. Kiddos need to be able to:

1) skim through the text to get the main idea
2) scan the text for details
3) sequence details
4) use contextual clues
5) make predictions
6) make inferences
7) make connections between text and personal experiences
8) draw conclusions

I'll explain the first two  reading comprehension skills in the following paragraphs.
1) Skimming
It is a rapid reading method in which you have a quick glance at the passage to get an overall idea of the text.

Here are some examples of texts that we skim in our daily lives:
- the newspaper: to quickly get the general news of the day
- magazines: to discover quickly which articles we would like to read in more detail
- brochures: to be informed quickly

How do we skim a text?
- Read the title if there is one.
- Read the introduction or the first paragraph if there is one?
- Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.
- Notice any pictures, charts or graphs.
- Read the summary or last paragraph if there is one.

Skimming  is often the first type of reading that should be done when we read a Comprehension passage. Skimming the Comprehension passage requires the pupils to read through the paragraphs quickly. At the end of this, pupils should be able to make a quick summary of the passage, that is, he should be able to say what the passage is about.

2) Scanning
It is a reading technique used to find specific information quickly. You have a question in mind and you scan a passage to find the answer quickly.

How do we scan a text?
- Know the specific information you are looking for.
- Anticipate how the answer will appear and the clues you may use to help you locate the answer. For example, if you are looking for the year in which a character was born in, you will scan the passage quickly to look for numbers.

We hope you have a better understanding of the first two reading comprehension skills that your child needs to be equipped with. We'll cover the rest of the comprehension skills in the next few posts.

Topics for New 2015 PSLE English Composition Format

Some parents have commented on the lack of available resources on the new PSLE English Composition format at the bookshops. I have compiled a few composition topics.

(1) A Mistake

What was the mistake?

What was the outcome?

(2) A Well-deserved Reward

What was the reward?

Why was the reward well-deserved?

(3) A Dream Come True

What was the dream?

How did the person realise the dream?

(4) A Surprise

What was the surprise?

What happened in the end?

(5) A Disappointing Experience

What was the disappointing experience?

Why was it disappointing?

As educators or parents, you can create your own composition questions based on these topics to better prepare your pupils or children for the new composition format for the PSLE. You can think of three random pictures that can be linked to the topic and include them in the question for your pupils or child to attempt.

For example, for the topic, "A Mistake", the pictures can be the following:

- an ajar door

- a man whose hands are handcuffed

- a pedestrian crossing

Brainstorm with your pupils or child some possible plots. Include a conflict in the story (if possible). Then discuss the merits and shortcomings of each plot and how each plot can be improved on.

Remember, a story with a creative plot will have a higher score. 

Writer's Craft: Types of Conflict in Narratives

Many parents and pupils are jittery about the new 2015 PSLE English syllabus. For example, many have expressed concern about the new format for English Paper 1.

We believe that it is important to teach pupils the craft of writing explicitly and to show them models of good writing. We will be blogging about some of these writing skills.For instance, pupils attending our Writer's Craft classes are introduced to the elements of a narrative. One of the elements of a narrative is a conflict/ problem. In this post, we'll be sharing more about what a conflict is.

What is a conflict / problem in a narrative?
A conflict/ problem arises when the main character wants something but something else stands in his or her way.


Why is a conflict important?
Most of the action centres around the main character trying to find a solution to solve the conflict. A conflict drives the plot. It makes the story more interesting.

How do we identify a conflict?
The easiest way to identify a conflict is to write a conflict statement. A conflict statement is a statement that briefly tells us what the main character wants and what is preventing him  from getting what he wants.
Example:
Cinderella wants to go to the ball but her evil stepmother does not allow her to do so.

Types of conflict
There are five main types of conflict.
(1) Person versus Self
The main character has trouble deciding what action he should take.
Example:
Tim saw his friend stealing. He was in a dilemma. Should he tell his teacher about his friend's misdeed or should he just feign ignorance?

(2) Person versus Person
The main character has a problem with one or more characters.
Example:
Ben and his best friend saw a gang abusing an animal. Ben did not want to get into trouble and suggested walking away. However, his friend wanted to stop the gang. As a result, Ben and his friend argued.

(3) Person versus Society
The main character does something that he wants to do but it is against the law or the school rule or is an unaccepted behaviour.
Example:
Ben's parents were very busy and neglected him. Ben decided to use a spray can to spray graffiti to get his parents' attention but this action was against the law.

(4)Person versus Nature
The main character struggles with the elements of nature such as a thunderstorm, an earthquake, a wild animal etc
Example:
Pete was hiking in the forest when he encountered a wild bear.

(5) Person versus Fate
The main character comes face to face with a situation that is beyond his control.
Example:
Mary was involved in a serious accident and the doctors did not think she would pull through. Miraculously, she survived.

Once pupils know what the different conflicts are, they can decide for themselves the type of conflict that they will include in their own narrative. This will lead to a more interesting story plot.

We hope you have a good understanding of what a conflict is in a narrative and what some types of conflicts are. Tune in to our next post. We'll be writing a post on how parents can help their child to be better prepared for the new PSLE Oral format.

Writer's Craft : Using Characterisation to create memorable characters

My sister-in-law was reading an extract from the book, "James and the Giant Peach", to my nephew who is in Primary 2. She was sharing with my nephew how Roald Dahl used characterisation effectively to create memorable characters. The following extract is on Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, two characters in "James and the Giant Peach".

"Aunt Sponge was enormously fat and very short. She had small piggy eyes, a sunken mouth and one of those white flabby faces that looked exactly as though it had been boiled. She was like a great white soggy overboiled cabbage. Aunt Spiker, on the other hand, was lean and tall and bony, and she wore steel-rimmed spectacles that fixed on to the end of her nose with a clip. She had a screeching voice and long wet narrow lips, and whenever she got angry or excited, little flecks of spit would come shooting out of her mouth as she talked. And there they sat, these two ghastly hags, sipping their drinks, and every now and again screaming at James to chop faster and faster. They also talked about themselves, each one saying how beautiful she thought she was. "

It is never too early to expose the kiddos to good writing. It is also never too early to expose the kiddos to effective writing techniques. Roald Dahl often creates very memorable characters in his stories. Hence his stories are good mentor texts for teaching kiddos characterisation.