P5 AND P6 WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS SATURDAY, 2 nd APRIL 2016
Outline of Sharing STELLAR What is STELLAR? How STELLAR is used in the Classroom Extensive Reading Intensive Reading Oral Stimulus-based Conversation & Hands-on Reading Comprehension & Hands-on
Stellar Units P1 to P6 (In the handouts) Title and the Theme What could parents do? Exposure to the themes at home Experiences on related themes
Extensive Reading Involves learners reading texts for enjoyment Develop general reading skills -free reading, book flood, reading for pleasure
Reading Activities in Class SSR Sustained Silent/Supported Reading Book Review Class Library What s Up Newspaper (P4 to P6)
STELLAR needs Parents Support Home support help your child learn English by providing English language reading materials at home. Activate child s interest show your child that you believe learning English is both enjoyable and useful in your daily life.
STELLAR needs Parents Support Role models read and write notes and messages in front of your child. Understanding English language learning requires frequent exposure to listening, speaking, reading and writing opportunities and activities rather than use of worksheets alone.
How you can help your child Go to the library together Have lots of books, magazines and newspapers in your home Give your child books about their special interests
How you can help your child Allow your child to choose books to read and reread Read to and with your child (or, have your child read to you) Talk about the books, characters, themes and text types read
Oral Stimulus-Based Conversation Using the TREES strategy
T R E E S
Question (a)
Thoughts (Answer) Decide if it is picture-based. Did you hear the examiner say Look at the advertisement? Yes, I will get the party planners to organise my party.
Reasons What are some of the actions done by the party planners? Look at the title, wordings, captions, etc Since they organise all types of party and for all occasions,
Examples Link the example to the first point that you have brought up. Use 5W and 1 H to elaborate Usually, at this stage, you should talk about your or other people s actions and feelings and still continue to give reasons. Since they organise all types of party and for all occasions, I can get them to organise a birthday party for my younger brother. His birthday is coming soon! I will tell the company that I want to have a clown and a magician to perform because my brother will be over the moon if he sees them. He loves magic tricks and laughing at the funny antics of clowns.
Experiences Link the experience, if you have any, to the example that you have brought up. Or, you can link the experience to your answer to Question (a) Use 5W and 1 H to elaborate Usually, at this stage, you can include about your or other people s feelings. I like to have a company to plan parties because I tried organising parties before and I ended up so tired! I had to design, print and send invitation cards. I remember that I went to so many different shops just to buy the perfect balloons. The company should be able to do a better job!
Suggestion/s Give opinions if it is applicable You can also base your suggestion/s on general themes like helping others, cleanliness, responsibility, etc Even though I save a lot of trouble if I get a company to plan a party for me, it will cost a lot of money. If my parents are not willing to spend money, I can get a few good friends to plan the party together with me. More hands make light work. If the party is for a family member, I can get siblings or even cousins to help.
Question (b) Have you ever been to a party? Tell me about it. What kind of party would you like to go to and why?
Thoughts (Answer) Decide if it is based on the picture. Did you hear the examiner say Look at the advertisement? No!!! Therefore, it might be based on personal experience or general opinion. Did you hear the examiner say Have you Sounds like it is based on personal experience. Active listening Listen to the whole question Have you been to a party? confirmed that your response should be based on personal experience Yes, I have been to a party before. I went to my grandfather s 60 th birthday party last month.
Reasons Why were you at the party? Actively using 5W and 1 H to help you elaborate your response. I was there as my grandmother wanted to celebrate my grandfather s birthday and also to get all my cousins to catch up with one another.
Examples Link the example to the point that you have brought up. Use 5W and 1 H to elaborate Usually, at this stage, you should talk about your or other people s actions and feelings and still continue to give reasons. Talk about examples of things you did, ate, saw, etc At the party, I saw a lot of mouth-watering food. There were a huge cake, different flavours of pizzas and fried chicken wings. My grandfather also received a lot of presents. My grandparents house was decorated with streamers and balloons. We played a lot of games.
Experiences Link the experience, if you have any, to the point that you have brought up. Or, you can link the experience to your answer to Question (a) Use 5W and 1 H to elaborate Usually, at this stage, you should talk about your or other people s feelings. On thinking back, I had a lot of fun at the birthday party. My grandfather was beaming widely throughout. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves on that day.
Suggestion/s Give opinions if it is applicable You can also base your suggestion/s on general themes like helping others, cleanliness, responsibility, etc Going to a party is a good way to strengthen relationships with friends and family members. If I cannot attend any party, I usually will call the person who has invited me and explain why I cannot attend.
Question (c) Celebrating special occasions are important. Do you agree and tell me why? Tell me about other special occasions that can be celebrated. Why?
Thoughts (Answer) Decide if it is based on the picture. Did you hear the examiner say Look at the advertisement? No!!! Therefore, it might be based on personal experience or general opinion. Did you hear the examiner say Do you agree Sounds like it is based on general opinion Active listening Listen to the whole question Celebrating special occasions are important. Do you agree and tell me why? confirmed that your response should be based on a general opinion Yes, I definitely agree that celebrating special occasions are important.
Reasons Why do you say so? Actively use 5W and 1 H to help you elaborate your response. When people celebrate special occasions with me, I feel treasured and loved.
Examples Link the example to the point that you have brought up. Use 5W and 1 H to elaborate Usually, at this stage, you should talk about your or other people s actions and feelings and still continue to give reasons. Talk about examples of things you did, ate, saw, etc My friends and family members celebrate my birthday, Chinese New Year and Christmas with me.
Experiences Link the experience, if you have any, to the point that you have brought up. Or, you can link the experience to your answer to Question (a) Use 5W and 1 H to elaborate Usually, at this stage, you should talk about your or other people s feelings. Let me share how I celebrated Chinese New Year in February. On the first day of Chinese New Year, my parents invited all our relatives to our house. My mother cooked up a delicious feast! Everyone was laughing and having a good time. My cousins and I played games with one another. The person who lost had to be punished by us. Unfortunately, I was unlucky on that day and lost. As a punishment, I had to peel twenty mandarin oranges. My poor fingernails almost came off. In the end, I had the last laugh because my mother scolded my cousin.
Suggestion/s Give opinions if it is applicable You can also base your suggestion/s on general themes like helping others, cleanliness, responsibility, etc I have heard my teacher talk about some American families, which are staying in Singapore, inviting Singaporeans to their houses to celebrate Halloween. Next year, I will invite all my Malay and Indian friends to my house to celebrate Chinese New Year together with me.
PART 3 READING COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES
Engaging with text at P5 & P6
QUESTION-ANSWER RELATIONSHIP (MODIFIED) APPROACH Read the questions Highlight keywords for tenses Highlight keywords for question types Read the text for main idea of whole text and every paragraph Highlight all answers before answering questions Answer the questions
QUESTION TYPES
Vocabulary-based Choose words from paragraph 6 which have similar meanings in context, to the words below. carried strange incredible
Reference What does the little ones (line 18 19) refer to?
Sequencing Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [1m] Mr Fong appeared at the doorway. Mr Ang injured his hands and chest. The pigeon tried to fly out of the room.
Listing Based on information from paragraph 5, describe three different ways in which Maniac was a big help to Mrs Beale.
Parallel ideas/ reason oriented (True / False) Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. Statement True/ False Reason Amanda did not mind Maniac staying with her family. Maniac asked Mrs Beale to let him stay with them Maniac did not feel comfortable staying with Amanda and her family.
Reason-oriented What was Amanda s intention when she invited Maniac home that day?
Opinion-based What can we tell about Mr Fong s character from his response to the situation? Support your answer with information from the passage.
Action-based What did Maniac do which tells you he did not like to sleep on the bed?
Comparison Based on the passage, how did Maniac s presence in the house change Hester and Lester?
Food for thought Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. - Emile Buchwald