1. LITERACY WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS
25 February 2011
PASIR RIS PRIMARY SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LITERACY WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS
23rd February 2012
6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Pasir Ris Primary School

2. Outline Opening – Miss Farah Aida
( Head of Department- English)
Introduction to STELLAR – Miss Sim Yeow Ling
(ST Teaching and Learning)
Shared Book Approach –Mrs Caroline Silva
Home Support – Mdm Lulubhaina Ismail
Useful Strategies – Mdm Siti Fazlinda
(Learning Support Programme Coordinator)
Extension Activities & Resources – Mdm Siti Rabeah

3. English Department’s Vision
A child who can enhance positive interpersonal relationships through … Language

4. Mission
Every child can communicate effectively in speech and in writing, in the school and in the society

5. Share knowledge on strategies & create greater awareness
Our Objectives
Partners in Education
PRPS Supporting Thrust – Community Partnership
Share knowledge on strategies
& create greater awareness

6. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
STELLAR
Strategies for
English
Language
Learning
and
Reading
STELLAR
STELLAR is the current English Language curriculum for primary schools and it stands for …
A new English Language Curriculum for Primary Schools in Singapore
Pasir Ris Primary School

7. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
The STELLAR Vision
Children who
love reading
and
have a strong
foundation in the
English Language
The vision of STELLAR is to cultivate in children the love for reading and to have a strong foundation in the English Language.
Pasir Ris Primary School

8. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
STELLAR & Language
Teaching and learning of English using more speaking and listening activities
Children learn reading and writing using rich and interesting books, with discussions led by the teacher
With STELLAR, it means that we now have more speaking and listening activities in class and the children will learn to read and write using books, with discussions led by the teacher.
Pasir Ris Primary School

9. What is a STELLAR lesson like?
Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
What is a STELLAR lesson like?
1.Shared Reading Experiences
Children read storybook with the teacher and engage in oral discussions with teacher and peers
3. Language Use Activities in Learning Centres
2. Shared Writing
Experiences
There are basically 3 major strategies involved.
Shared Reading Experiences where children will read the storybook with the teacher and engaged in oral discussions with the teacher and friends
2) Shared Writing Experiences where the teacher models writing and the children will then write in their groups and independently.
3) Language use activities in Learning Centres where the teacher prepares mini lessons with reading, listening and writing activities
The teacher prepares mini lessons based on specific needs of children to prepare them for reading & writing activities; e.g. grammar, vocabulary, word recognition, decoding skills, spelling
The teacher models writing using children’s language. Children engage in writing together and in writing independently
Pasir Ris Primary School

10. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Why Books?
Books…
open up the world for children
help children think and wonder
increase children’s vocabulary and knowledge about the world around them
provide good examples for reading and writing
Pasir Ris Primary School

11. STELLAR Curriculum (Lower Primary)
Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
STELLAR Curriculum (Lower Primary)
The STELLAR curriculum is very comprehensive.
Integrates all language skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing)
Skills are enhanced through daily practice.
Key language items are explicitly taught to children.
The STELLAR Curriculum is very comprehensive as it
Integrates listening, reading, speaking and writing skills
All these skills are enhanced through daily practice
The key language items are explicitly taught
Pasir Ris Primary School

12. STELLAR Curriculum (Lower Primary)
It is in line with the 2010 EL Syllabus.
Its aim is to move learners towards independence using quality children’s books and activities that motivate and engage young learners.

13. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
SHARED
BOOK
APPROACH
Pasir Ris Primary School 13

14. Walking through the Jungle
(Tune: Ten Little Indians)
Walking through the jungle,
What do you see?
Can you hear a noise?
What could it be?
Through here! Over there!
A snake is looking for his tea.
A crocodile is looking for his tea.
Hope it isn’t me.

17. Walking through the jungle,
What do you see?
Can you hear a noise?
What could it be?

18. Over there! A snake looking for his tea.

19. Creeping through the jungle,
What do you see?
Can you hear a noise?
What could it be?

20. Over there! A tiger looking for his tea.

21. How Can You Help?

22. 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.

23. STELLAR needs Parents’ Support
Role models – It is a mistake to think that one can teach children to love reading and literature without possessing that same love itself.
Understanding – English language learning requires frequent exposure to listening, speaking, reading and writing opportunities and activities rather than the use of worksheets /assessment books alone.

24. How? Go to the library together. Promote a reading culture at home.
Read to learn and read for fun.
Give your child books related to their special interests.
Allow your child to choose books to read and reread.
Have a print rich environment in your home.

25. a long session occasionally
When?
A short session of
15 to 20 minutes a day
is better than
a long session occasionally

26. Books that Interest Children
Have clear print and colourful, attractive illustrations or photographs.
Have a good storyline with interesting characters in them.
Relate to everyday life.
Have moral values embedded in them.
Are repetitive and have rhyming words or sight words to help children in their reading.

27. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Encouraging your child
When reading to your child, be encouraging
and supportive.
Praise your child for his attempts at reading
difficult words.
Do not force your child to read aloud to
you if he is reluctant.
Be good humoured when reading with
him/her.
Pasir Ris Primary School 27

28. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Inviting Participation
Shall we read this
story together?
What shall we read today?
Can you guess what this
word is?
Try reading with me
Would you like to read
to me?
Pasir Ris Primary School 28

29. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
When your child makes an
attempt and is successful …
When your child makes
a mistake …
You almost got it.
Try again.
Good try. The
correct word is …
Say it
after me.
Yes, it sounds like that word but this word is …
That was very good.
That's right.
I knew you could do it.
Well done.
Pasir Ris Primary School 29

30. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Do Not…
Do not be angry if he
repeats certain mistakes.
Do not show your
disappointment.
Do not use reading as a punishment.
Do not have unreasonable
expectations.
Do not compare your
child with others.
Pasir Ris Primary School 30

31. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Child : That’s a bid bird.
Parent : Did you say bid bird?
It’s not a bid bird.
It’s a big bird.
Example 1
Do Not Repeat Errors x
Child : That’s a bid bird.
Parent : That is a big bird.
What a big bird it is.
It’s a really big bird!
Example 2
Modelling
Pasir Ris Primary School 31

32. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
How do you Read?
Sit close together. Show your child
that you enjoy reading with him.
Talk about the things in the book, especially the pictures.
Point to the words as you read.
Invite him to read the words you
think he can read.
Make the session enjoyable.
Pasir Ris Primary School 32

33. Spelling Strategies/Styles
- Look, cover, write, check method
- Auditory-visualization
- Auditory-visual-kinesthetic
Word Shape Spelling Aid
Zig-zag Spelling Aid

34. Spelling Styles Spelling Styles Chart
Pathways Procedures for Remembering Words
The First 100 High Frequency Words

35. Spelling Styles Chart Visual Style Auditory Style
Tactile-Kinesthetic Style
Multisensory Style

36. The First 100 High Frequency Words

37. Extension Activities
Playing language games like word scavenger hunt. (Looking for a word in print materials.)
Reading aloud a book and asking your child to identify words beginning with the same sound, for example, ‘p’ – pancake, pick, put, police, pat, etc.

38. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Extension Activities
Helping your child learn more interesting words by thinking of new words to replace known words, for example, ‘big’ – huge, enormous, large, gigantic, etc.
Suggesting that your child give a different ending to the story read
Pasir Ris Primary School

39. Extension Activities Get your child to retell the story.
Retell part of the story. Then ask your child to continue.
Ask questions based on the story.
Ask True /False questions.

40. Useful Links MOE STELLAR - http://www.stellarliteracy.sg/
Edufind -
British Council -
Time for Kids -
Funny Poetry for Children -
Scholastic Parents -

41. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Q & A
Pasir Ris Primary School 41

42. Literacy Workshop for Parents
25 February 2011
Pasir Ris Primary School 42