Images of cells

The P5 kiddos learnt about cells during the Headstart classes in November. Here are images of some cells that were mentioned in class. They were excited to view some of these cells through the microscope in class.

Cheek cells

Red blood cells

Elodea cells

Onion cells

Five Elements of a Short Story

During the first lesson, the P5 kids in the Writer's Craft class are taught the five elements of a short story. The five elements are: plot, characters, conflict, theme and setting. Here's a video on the five elements from youtube.

Dear parents,

We have a piece of good news to share with all of you. Some of you know that I have been looking out for teachers with the same philosophy and who have a heart for the kids and a passion for teaching to join me.

Hence I am glad to share with all of you that a new teacher, Ms Hayati, has just joined us. Being an English specialist, Ms Hayati will be conducting English Paper 2 classes. Here's a brief profile of Ms Hayati:
- A dedicated ex-English HOD and ex-senior teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience
- Has anchored upper primary primary classes, including P6 classes, for many years
- Has conducted workshops for parents and teachers at the school, cluster and national levels
- Master in Applied Linguistics, NIE
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education, NIE
- Bachelor of Arts, NUS
- Alumna of Raffles Junior College and Raffles Girls' Secondary

Feel free to read her profile under the "Profile" section.

Here are the details of the classes:
(1) P5 English Paper 2 class
Day: Saturday
Time: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Class size: 15 pupils (max)

(2) P6 English Paper 2 class
Day: Saturday
Time: 2.15 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.
Class size: 15 pupils (max)

If you are keen, please feel free to contact me via email or sms.

Holiday English Workshop (PSLE) - Limited vacancies left

Due to requests from parents, we will be conducting a four-day English workshop covering Paper 2 components during the June holidays. We will be guiding the pupils on comprehension strategies, synthesis questions (including those requiring word transformation), editing and grammar.

Details are as follow:
Date: 16 June (Mon) to 19 June (Thur)
Time: 1.30 pm to 4 pm
Fees: $300

Registration is on a first-come first-served basis. Please send an email to serenagreenhouse@gmail.com to indicate your interest. We will reply within two working days to let you know if there is any available slot for your child.

Update: 3 vacancies left 

Answers - PSLE

Pg 124 Q1
(a) When Cup Y is heated, its volume increases when it expands but its mass remains the same.

(b) The air above the flame gains heat from the flame and hot air rises, pushing cup Y up.

Pg 129 Q6
(a) Five objects

(b) No. Light from the light source will not be blocked by the object.

(c) Move the objects closer to one another.

Pg 130 Q7
(a) When light is completely locked by an opaque object or partially blocked by a translucent object, a shadow is formed.

(b) She is walking away. At the start of period Y, Daisy is directly below the lamp and her shadow is the shortest. Then she starts moving away from the lamp and her shadow becomes longer.

(c) The length of her shadow took 4 seconds to decrease from 3m to 0.5 m i the first part of the graph but it took 2 seconds to increase from about 0.5m to 3m in Period Y.

Pg 133 Q10
(a) Different metals expand at different rates when heated.

(b) Less than 201mm. More heat is needed to heat the thicker rod for it to expand to 210 mm.

(c) It would buckle. .When the metal bridge gains heat from the sun and expands, it will expand. If there are no gaps, there is no space for the bridge to expand.

Pg 143 Q20
(a) As the time decreases, the temperature of the water decreases.

(b) The temperature of the water in set-up A decreases more slowly than set-up B.

(c) Air is a poor conductor of heat. The person will lose less heat to the cold surroundings.

Pg 148 Q 25
(a)It reflects light from the furthest distance from Zainal.

(b) It is to ensure that the results are more accurate.

Note:
Why does xx do the experiment three times?
To REDUCE experimental errors so that the results will be more RELIABLE and CONSISTENT.

Avoiding Academic Burnout before the PSLE...

Most schools will have completed their Prelims this week. After the Prelims, some parents or schools will tend to "pump" the pupils with current year Prelim papers of top schools.

I believe that for a child to achieve optimal performance at the PSLE, they should peak at the right time. Over the years, I have seen pupils who suffered from academic burnout before the PSLE. Some fell sick during the PSLE period due to stress or lack of rest.

It is my personal belief that during this period before the PSLE, the kids should not be overwhelmed with lots of revision papers. Instead, they should reflect on the mistakes that they have made during the Prelims and identify their weaknesses. They should revisit and review the topics that they are weaker in and clarify any doubts that they have.

It is all right to do a few revision papers or selected questions during this period to ensure that the brain is conditioned. However, quantity should not be the key focus during this period. Doing more during this period does not guarantee stellar results in the PSLE. As a parent, you could select questions that are more challenging or tricky for your child to attempt if he or she is in the high ability group. If your child is of average ability, make sure your child knows how to do the commonly tested questions first. Then let him or her attempt some of the more challenging questions after you have ensured that he or she knows how to do the commonly tested questions.

To achieve peak performance during the PSLE, the child should be well physically, emotionally and mentally. Hence it is important to ensure that your child is not too stressed. Besides revising and doing some questions to condition the mind, your child should eat more fruits, drink more water and have enough rest.

Tutors = Service Providers or Educators?

Yesterday, I received an SMS from a parent of an ex-tutee. The parent was planning a gathering for me and the 2013 batch of P6 tutees. I was really touched by her gesture.

I recalled hearing comments from friends or others who are conducting private tuition that at times, parents treat tutors as mere service providers and do not respect them. Some of their tutees are also rude to them.

I am very blessed that I have met supportive and understanding parents so far. Most of the tutees are also respectful. If the tutee is rude to me or any of the tutors at the centre, I have a clause in the terms and conditions that gives me the liberty to tell them to withdraw. To me, a child's attitude is even more important than his or her aptitude.

Over the years, I think that my positive experiences with parents, pupils and tutees have reaffirmed my belief that when you teach from your heart and teach with your heart, most parents and kids will be able to feel it and appreciate it.

I see myself as an educator, not a mere service provider. Yes, as my ex-principal pointed out when I left MOE, the sphere of influence as a tutor is smaller than as a teacher or subject head in school. However, I do feel a sense of satisfaction when I see the look of "enlightenment" when I go through certain concepts that the kids find tough. I feel an even greater sense of achievement when some of the kids are inspired to write, read more story books and be more self-directed in learning so as to scale greater heights.