December 2008 Archives

Parents, "Don't Stress" the First Day of School!

December 30, 2008

You could call Mrs Pat Chong a mom of many firsts. Many first days, that is. For when it comes to preparing a child for his or her big start to life in primary school, Mrs Chong could claim to know a thing or two. The 40 year-old administrative officer at a local polytechnic is a proud mother to five children aged 3 to 13.

Continue reading “Parents, "Don't Stress" the First Day of School!”»

From Thoughts to Talk: Helping an Autistic Pupil to Communicate

December 26, 2008

Why would you feel a burst of pride to see a student talk to his classmates about the latest storybook adventures of a talking mouse while the teacher is away? What Lurk En did may seem typical for an enthusiastic pupil. However, it was in fact the result of unwavering efforts by Mr Ahmad Najib Muslim, Lurk En's Special Needs Officer, his form teacher Ms Quek Wei Ting and his parents. Together, they have helped Lurk En manage the challenges of his autism and learn how to communicate better with his schoolmates. Therefore, while it was not the right time to be talking in class, Mr Ahmad is more than glad to see Lurk En making an effort to come out of his shell.

Continue reading “From Thoughts to Talk: Helping an Autistic Pupil to Communicate”»

Learning Chinese - from the Classroom into the Community

December 23, 2008

This is the final article in Schoolbag's series of 10 features on the new primary school Chinese Language curriculum. Read the previous ones here. An earlier version of this article was published in Lianhe Zaobao on 22 May 2007. For a Chinese version of this article, click here. "The games I enjoy are bing zhua zei (cops and robbers) and laoying zhua xiaoji (the eagle catches the chicks)." "Mum enjoys going to WuJie Lu (Orchard Road). She says that is where she goes to guangjie (do shopping)." "Dad wants me to go next door to borrow the equipment we need for a barbecue party. How can I say this to the auntie next door in Chinese?" It may not sound quite right to some ears, but these examples show how children actively build up their knowledge and fluency in the Chinese language. Many kids today grow up speaking English at home, so it's no mean feat to get them to use Chinese phrases and words readily in their daily routine. If we want our children to reach their full potential, learning and practising Chinese must go on even after classes end each day. Children learn best in a supportive social environment with many opportunities to apply what they have learnt. With this in mind, the new primary school Chinese Language curriculum recognises the value of the broader community in fostering a lifelong habit of learning Chinese.

Continue reading “Learning Chinese - from the Classroom into the Community”»

Winning Over Young Readers to Great Books

December 18, 2008

What are a centipede, a spider, a grasshopper, a silkworm, a ladybug and a glowworm doing on the classroom table at Casuarina Primary School? Don't worry - these creepy-crawlies are just cardboard characters created by pupils after they devoured Roald Dahl's children classic, James and the Giant Peach. And don't be surprised to see the pupils wearing funny top hats with colourful stripes while they pore over their books, for they are simply following the footsteps of the over-the-top feline in D. Seuss's tongue-twister, The Cat in the Hat. Thanks to the school's literature book club CCA especially for Pri 1 and Pri 2 pupils, even children who recently learnt English are reading and writing with gusto.

Continue reading “Winning Over Young Readers to Great Books”»

Robotics Makes Maths a Fun and Challenging Ride

December 16, 2008

What would you do if you were lost in the middle of a desert? Panic and tire yourself out in a frantic search for water and shelter?

If you have with you a student from Admiralty Secondary School, count yourself lucky. For he or she is likely to know how to determine the group’s whereabouts and chart a way to safety by calculating the group’s bearings from their point of origin.

“Lost in the desert” is just one of several scenarios that students at Admiralty Secondary School find themselves in during an i-RIMS Maths class. Working in teams, the students use robotic cars to plot their bearings and apply trigonometry principles to work their way out of a dry and sandy end.

Continue reading “Robotics Makes Maths a Fun and Challenging Ride”»

Our "Mess" - Teachers Get into the Arts

December 15, 2008

Remember those days when teachers used to tell you off for making a mess in school?

Well, seven talented teachers from NorthLight School have made a "mess" of their own and will be more than pleased to show it to you at the Substation. "Our Mess" is an art exhibition running from 12 to 24 December, showcasing their artwork, ranging from photography, print art to clay sculptures.

“This is ‘Our Mess’, our collection of interests and interjections,” says Ms Felicia Low, art coordinator at NorthLight School and the creator of "Our Mess". An avid artist, she first hit upon the idea of holding an art exhibition six months ago, when she discovered that some of her colleagues shared similar passions and aptitudes for art.

Continue reading “Our "Mess" - Teachers Get into the Arts”»

Rising to a Tall Challenge

December 11, 2008

Seventy-three storeys above ground level, five pupils stood in rapt anticipation on the helipad of Swissôtel The Stamford. The hot sun beat down on their faces as they waited patiently without a word of complaint. Instead, their excitement grew palpably with every minute, and when they finally spotted one of their teachers emerging from the stairway, the group burst into cheers and waved posters wildly in the air!

Southeast Asia’s tallest hotel was the venue for the annual Swissôtel Vertical Marathon, which took place on 16 November 2008. For these five pupils from Park View Primary School, the event marked the culmination of weeks of hard work in a special fund-raising project they had initiated.

Continue reading “Rising to a Tall Challenge”»

Learning Chinese - Going Beyond Grades in Pupil Assessment

December 9, 2008

This is the ninth article in Schoolbag’s series of 10 features on the new primary school Chinese Language curriculum. Read the previous ones here.

An earlier version of this article was published in Lianhe Zaobao on 15 May 2007. For a Chinese version of this article, click here.

Mention “assessment” and pupils and parents alike will shudder at the thought of tests and examinations. Dreaded they may be, but exams remain vital tools to gauge the relative abilities of pupils. However, it’s also important to point out that written tests and examinations don’t provide the whole picture.

Learning is a continual process. Thus, instead of relying solely on formal exams, schools are increasingly turning to continual modes of assessment. Project work, learning portfolios, class reports or even classroom quizzes and group discussions complement written tests to give a more comprehensive view of pupils’ abilities. Pupils also get to display their strengths in different areas and feel less pressure from examinations.

Continue reading “Learning Chinese - Going Beyond Grades in Pupil Assessment”»

A Trail Where Knowledge Springs Forth

December 4, 2008

At a bouldering wall, a pupil gingerly holds on to a rock piece as his other hand reaches out to grab a cardboard with a word splashed across it. It's a race against time - he has to collect the word cards and group them into themes to win points before the other team. His teammates look on and huddled together. "I know! I know! The theme should be 'People'!" whispered one pupil with irrepressible excitement.

The bouldering wall is just one of several activities that line the Spring Trail, a landscape of experiential structures at East Spring Primary School. Drawing inspiration from locations as diverse as the zoo to nature parks and the airport, the trail forms the heart of the school's Discovery Journey programme, in which pupils embark on action-filled outdoor learning adventures in the safety of the school's own backyard.

Continue reading “A Trail Where Knowledge Springs Forth”»

Baking Classes to Help a “Friend in Knead”

December 2, 2008

The homely aroma of freshly-baked pastries whiffs down the school corridor. Following the scent and peals of laughter, we arrive at a room where apron-clad boys and girls chat happily as they put the final touches to their tasty creations.

If you think this is a Home Economics class, you are in for a surprise. These students at Woodgrove Secondary School are in fact budding bakers in “A Friend in Knead” - an outreach programme that uses baking as a therapeutic tool to help students de-stress and build character.

Continue reading “Baking Classes to Help a “Friend in Knead””»