Information on EL lessons for 5F and for EL Assessments

ž1. EL Lessons @ 5F : 

a) Work issued – balance of handwritten and typed work to be assigned ( both equally important) – emphasis – learning is fun, and there will be modules for skills training (Writing workshops, comprehension skills workshops, oral skills workshops etc) besides the normal learning units according to the STELLAR readers. 

b) Homework policy – to submit the very next day to be handed in for short assignments. Longer assignments will be given more time. Due date will be specifically stated.

c) English Blog for parents – Homework for the day , important English matters shared, tips to improve English, Assessment matters ( updated regularly –daily posting for ‘daily operations’, tips will be periodic. ) 

2. EL skills to be learnt this year: 

            a) Oral skills

     - stimulus-based conversation with elaboration (following the T.R.E.E.S. strategy - to be taught at a later date) 

    -žreading aloud with emphasis on

¡pronunciation – accuracy and clarity

¡fluency – pacing, intonation and expression                                     

b) Comprehension skills

¡construct meaning from visual texts and ask questions at different levels about texts read or viewed

¡interpret and integrate information from a variety of sources

¡use prior knowledge and contextual clues to make inferences

¡make predictions and generalisations

¡skim for main ideas and scan for details

¡compare and contrast ideas

c) Listening skills

-to be alert to information

-to understand, comprehend and process oral instructions and information 

      d) Writing skills

-Situational and Continuous writing

(Please note: Class writing assignments help to develop their skills in this area. There will be practice for both – non-exam oriented writing e.g. journals, creative writing, and projects, as well as the exam oriented writing practices. ) 

3. Assessment components for SA1 and SA2

Paper 1: Situational and Continuous Writing ( one each to be done) - 1 hour 10 mins    (55 marks) 

Paper 2: 1 hour 50 mins ( 95 marks) 

Booklet A : 

Section	Marks
Comprehension (Graphic Stimulus)		5
Grammar		7
Punctuation		3
Vocabulary		5
Vocabulary Cloze		5
Comprehension MCQ		5
Total		30

Booklet B: 

      

Section	Marks
Grammar Cloze		10
Editing for Spelling & Grammar		10
Comprehension Cloze		15
Synthesis / Transformation		10
Comprehension (Open-ended)		20
Total		65

Listening Comprehension (20 marks) 

Oral (Reading - 10 marks and Stimulus-based Conversation - 20 marks) - 30 marks 

Note: We are embarking on a ž2-year journey ( to peak during PSLE in 2017)

-Do protect your child from suffering ‘burnout’
-Focus on developing and strengthening foundation for English
ž-Practice for analysis, comparison, discussion, communication (oral and written) will   be more important than doing tons of assessments 
-There is a place for rote learning for Grammar…(but must be in context) 

P.S. Reading widely and frequently is still the most important and best way to improve one's command of English. 

      Thank you. I look forward to a wonderful partnership with you to guide your child this year. 

Ow Yeong